Fallout Equestria: Ashes to Ashes

by Swordslinger

Eye of the storm.

Emerging from the cellar with supplies in hoof, Braeburn took a slow glance around the room before setting down them down at the cellar’s entrance. There were still a few wayward bear traps about, but they were mostly out of the way and not really worth the hassle of setting them off. As Braeburn mused on what to do, his thoughts turned back to the basement, the conversation he had with Cinquedea still playing in his ears. What would he do now? Leave her as is? Try to convince her to come with him if she got better? Or just pretend she wasn’t even there?

Hell, what would he tell Translucent?

Actually, where was Translucent? With all the noise she makes, Braeburn figured he’d hear either the “boom” of a shotgun going off or a string of cuss words echoing throughout the house. With neither of those two things happening, Braeburn figured that either everything was going perfectly well, or something very wrong had happened while he was away.

Heading towards the staircase, Braeburn couldn’t help but wince as what remained of his legs began to ache as he walked. As great as all this walking was doing for his calves, it really didn’t change the fact he didn’t have any….

Legs.

Yeah.

As he headed up the staircase, each step buckling under his weight, Braeburn did what he could to ignore the growing pain in his legs and push those thoughts away from his mind. That mostly meant doing a few odd brain games he made up to keep himself from growing bored from long days in the office.

Needless to say, they didn’t help very much.

Argggghhh….Ah am gettin’ way too old for this shit….He thought to himself as he made his way to the top of the staircase. Upon reaching the last step, Braeburn noted with some dismay that the second floor was mostly still littered with traps, though of different varieties then the bog standard bear traps that were laid upon the first.

Shotgun tripwires, cans hanged up by thin ropes that presumably acted as an alarm system, and even battering rams made out of metal blocks.

“How medieval…” Braeburn murmured to himself. Looking around for any signs of his two companions, his ears twitched. Voices were faintly ringing in his ears, and he couldn’t help but frown. Was he going to hear voices again? Hallucinate another pony he lost? Who was it going to be this time? Was Twilight Sparkle going to show up and lecture him on the proper maintenance of his feet? Oh, was Scootaloo going to appear, telling him to get back to the garage and fix that place up for her eventual comeback?

So, what was it going to be now?

“Look…….He’s going….”

“And I’m going to…..”

Hold on, that wasn’t in his head, that was...coming from above. The third floor, to be exact. Pivoting, Braeburn headed up the third staircase and climbed his way up.

“Quiet, here he comes.”

Okay, that one was definitely Translucent, so where was Glenn?

His answers came when he got the top of the staircase, a single door in a lonesome hallway greeted him, the door slightly ajar. Before he could make his way over there, it opened with a hoof pulling it aside, and Translucent poked her head out.

“Oh, hey Burn.” She smiled in a surprisingly friendly manner, which immediately set off a few warning bells in Braeburn’s head.

“Hey Lucent.” Braeburn greeted, trying not to let his suspicions show, “Didja find anything?”

“Oh, you know, the usual.” Translucent replied with a wave of her hoof, “Food stuff, ammo, a safe that needs to be cracked, a few bits and bobs, nothing really serious.”

“That’s it?” Braeburn asked.

“That’s it.” Translucent said.

“.....”

“....You don’t believe me at all, do you?”

Braeburn shook his head, “Nope.”

“Translucent, just let him in!” Glenn’s voice called over from inside the room.

Sighing, Translucent opened the door, and stepped aside. Entering the room with a raised eyebrow, Braeburn noted three things.

1. Glenn was currently trying to open a safe embedded in the wall, his back turned to them.
2. There was a Stable-Tec terminal located on a desk, which was still in working condition.
3. There was a Rainbow Dash statuette located right next said terminal.

“...Huh.” Braeburn blinked as he made his way over to the statuette. Picking it up in his hoof, Braeburn looked over the figure, the sky blue Pegasus mare looking as cocky as ever, wings outstretched and ready for takeoff. The words: Be Awesome inscribed in the base. As he held it, a strange feeling followed into him. His joints felt a little bit lighter, his muscles became less sore, every fiber of him became a little bit...better. In fact, he felt better. As if whatever happened to him before was a mere obstacle to overcome, a hurdle to jump over, a challenge to surpass. But for the first time in his life, Braeburn didn’t know whether or not he wanted to feel that way.

“I hear those things have some kind of magic power in them.” Translucent said next to him, piercing his thoughts like a drill, “You should keep it.”

“Yeah….Ah will.” Nodding, Braeburn stored the statuette in his bag.

“Did you know her?” Translucent asked.

In response, Braeburn shrugged, “Ah knew most of the mares pretty well, Ah reckon. Ah was the closest to Aj ‘cause she was my cousin and all, Miss Rarity always insisted that ah should get my mane a “trip to the spa,” whatever that means.”

“What’s a spa?” Translucent asked.

“It’s a place pony could….” Braeburn paused, then corrected himself, “Would go if they needed to relax.”

“Oh, what about the others?”

“Well, Miss Sparkle and Ah never really talked, she always had some project going on or something, she was a real workaholic. Pinkie Pie...Well, Ah honestly don’t know what was up with her, she never was right after she made those Party-Als.” Braeburn shuddered, “Ah remember the time she gave me one, ‘fore they were made into a household name.”

“How was it?”

“Don’t know, the next thing Ah knew, Ah was in Las Pegasus a week later, and Ah was married to a lamb.”

At this, Glenn stopped trying to pick the safe and turned to stare at Braeburn, an utterly confused and slightly amused look on his face.

“You got hitched.” He said a wry grin, “While drugged.”

Braeburn crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, “Well, how was Ah supposed to know what would happen?”

“So what about the lamb?” Translucent asked.

“About who now?”

“The lamb, what happened to her?” Translucent pressed.

Braeburn shrugged, “She was nice, but we both agreed it was better to see other ponies.”

“Heh...Wish I could’ve seen it.” Translucent rubbed her chin, “Betcha the food was delicious.”

“Eh,” Braeburn shrugged, “It was one of those “gallop through marriages”, no ceremony if that’s what ya were thinkin’.”

“Aww.” Translucent murmured, “The past sucks.”

Braeburn narrowed his eyes.

“Oh, er, present company excluded, of course.” Translucent said weakly, then let out a weak laugh, “...Ha ha haaa….Hey Glenn, how’s that safe coming along?” She asked, looking over to him..

“You dug yourself into this grave, dig yourself out.” Glenn responded curtly.

“Don’t leave me high and dry! This conversation is going to get really awkward!”

“It wasn’t already?”

Braeburn crossed his arms, “Translucent.”

Sighing, Translucent lowered her head in defeat, “Okay, okay, I’m sorry. The past doesn’t suck.”

Braeburn nodded, “Good, now, mind tellin’ me what ya’ll were arguing about?”

Translucent winced, and glanced over to Glenn. True to form, his back was turned to them, but it was obvious from his body language he was listening in.

“Well….yaa see, that terminal over there,” She nodded over to the aforementioned device, “ ….seems to have a log written by a pony called Bolted Screw, but I’m not sure if it’s the same one you remembe- and you’re on.”

Before Translucent had even finished her sentence, the second Braeburn heard the name, “Bolted Screw,” he was already at the terminal and immediately started shifting through the logs.

“Come on, come on…” Braeburn said to himself, flicking through the menus with fervor. Finally, he found them. Three logs; Shelter, Defense, and Moving Out. Shelter was listed first, but it was dated….Braeburn checked the date on his Pipbuck with an errant glance.

Ten years, that was the gap between the date on Braeburn’s Pipbuck and the one on the terminal. Braeburn frowned, ten years. But….

“Ah, nothing really sir. It’s just been five years since this door was opened.”

That’s what Zekes said, but he also said Gale was the last one to leave. So, Bolted Screw managed to escape before she did? Or…

“Arrgghh…Ah need to write this down…” Braeburn muttered to himself, there were too many pieces to put it together this early. If Braeburn himself was the last one out, then who was the first one out of the Stable? Rightful Oath, or Zecka?

Thoughts and ideas ran about in Braeburn's head like a buffalo stampede, none of them comforting, his head pounded like a ironshod's factory. Groaning, Braeburn rubbed his temple and clicked on Shelter.

Finally managed to get this terminal up and running after five days of running around this Celestia forsaken wasteland. This damn wires in my skull are not helping, but they do help with electronics, so there’s that. I figured I should take up a log while I stay here to get my head in order. I’m starting to hear voices….Tartarus, who wouldn’t? Not even Oath would be able to walk through this mess without nightmares. And if what I’m hearing is correct, then Princess Luna won’t be able to help soothe them either.

….I need to keep my head together, get the rest of the crew out. I don’t know who’s left in the Stable, but I found a paper note from Oath saying he’s going to Vanhoover, so that’s some comfort. I could really use his advice, colt’s always known what to do, has since magical kindergarten.

Be real nice if I had Big Bang’s Pipbuck, but it’s gone. Somepony stole it from it’s case.

Braeburn blinked, and looked down at his arm. There, true to form, was the large and bulky Pipbuck Big Bang had on all those years ago.

“What….”

“What’s up?” Translucent asked, peering over his shoulder at the screen.

“This don’t seem right, Screw said that mah Pipbuck was missing when he left, but it was in the Stable when Ah found it.” Braeburn said, rereading the entry over again.

“Maybe somepony put it back?” Translucent suggested.

“....Maybe.” Flicking to the next page, Braeburn kept reading.

Doesn’t really matter though, gotta get my head together, find a notebook or something, write this stuff down. I heard there was some kind of organization called “Everfree Masons.” Maybe that’s where Oath was headed, so that’s where I’ll throw my bits in...or caps.

(Who the hell uses bottle caps as money? Poor Ponies with nowhere to.….Oh, yeah. Okay, fair enough.)

Anyway, I’m going to be running a few tests on myself now. I found some info in the Stable, says I’m subject changeling or whatever. Don’t know much about it ‘cept I can now change my appearance, or something. The front yard of this place is pretty clear, I can use it as a bit of a practice ground while I work out the kinks. One hoof at a time and all that. After that, I’ll scrounge up some supplies and see if I can get whoever’s left in the Stable out. Gotta get them before they wind up like me. No pony deserves this, not Zecka, not Braeburn, not even the Zebras.

Okay, maybe a little...just a few pokes with a shock rod though, I’m not a monster.

Braeburn wanted to feel relieved, but felt nothing but confusion well up in him. Screw was Changeling? Then who was Hydra and….Breezie? Was Oath the Hydra, and was Zecka Breezie? Or the other way around? Well, he had a 50/50 chance of getting it right...or wrong, either one.

Still, all he was getting was more questions, and no answers.

But why Vanhoover? Why was everypony heading there? Was Big Bang’s note the cause? Or...something else?

“Land shakes...” Braeburn muttered, placing a hoof on his head.

“Whoa, language.” Translucent chided, holding her hoof up defensively.

Turning around to face her, Braeburn rolled his eyes while Translucent grinned devilishly, “Anything interesting?” She asked.

“Nuthin’ much.” Braeburn sighed, stepping back and rubbing his eyes, “Aside from the Pipbuck thing, Screw was Subject Changeling.”

Translucent tilted her head, “Changeling? Like the stories?”

“Ya heard of them?” Braeburn asked.

“Only bits and pieces.” She shrugged, “Something about shapeshifter vampires, right?”

“That about sums it up, from what Ah heard.” Braeburn agreed.

“Ever meet one?” Translucent asked.

“No, just some rumors is all.” Braeburn frowned, “Ah, cept that wedding fiasco a few years back….” Braeburn paused, then winced, “Ah mean, in the past, Ah heard there was some trouble with Princess Cadance’s wedding but....”

“Whoa, wait, what? Princess Cadance?” Translucent balked, “You mean that there’s another princess out there?”

Braeburn crossed his arms, clearly thinking the question over, “Well, sorta.” He shrugged, “She wasn’t really...ah, involved in the war effort like the other two were. So Ah guess that’s why ya haven’t really heard of her. See, she was sorta the Princess of Love.”

“Love.” Translucent repeated, deadpan.

“Yep, Ah trust ya can understand why there wouldn’t be a lot of info on her?”

“Because in wartime, there’s not a lot of “love” going around.” Translucent grumbled, “Yeah, I get it.”

“Question.” Glenn spoke up, “What do you mean by “Subject Changeling?”” He asked, making air quotes with his fingers.

“That’s a good question, you didn’t tell me a lot even back at the Red Racer.” Translucent added.

Looking in between the two, Braeburn could only shrug, “It’s a question Ah’d like answered myself. All Ah know is that Zekes, a handy-bot, did some kind of surgery on me while Ah was in the Stable that gave me...these.” He held up his metal feet and flexed his fingers for emphasis, “Called me Subject: Minotaur, Ah’m guessing that my friends went through a similar process.”

“Huh, and this….Screw,” Glenn waved his paw, “Was in the Stable too?”

“Yep.” Braeburn nodded.

Glenn opened a mouth to reply, but Translucent cut in, “Moving on, for real, how’s that lock coming?”

“It’s come.” With an easy flick of the wrist, the wall safe flew open, revealing a small revolver pistol, some old world money, and few other bits and bobs.

“Wow...what a rip off.” Translucent said, deadpan.

“It’s a run of the mill safe,” Glenn shrugged, “What did you expect?”

“....More weapons?” Translucent suggested, “More supplies, and you know, more stuff in general.”

“Well, not everything can be a find.” Glenn responded, “Sometimes you’ve just gotta roll with the punches.”

Translucent snorted, “If I had a cap for every time I heard that, I could buy Tenpony Tower.”

Glenn’s brow scrunched in confusion, “What’s a Tenpony?”

“It’s a big tower in the center of Manehattan. Basically it’s...” Translucent’s explanation faded into background noise as Braeburn went back to the terminal, hitting the next log on the list, he rubbed his eyes and started reading.

Well, as it turns out, transforming hurts. A lot.

A whole, whole, Luna-damned lot.

I was out for about four hours when I first tried doing the whole, “Changeling thing.” Didn’t work out quite the way I expected, but then again, nopony expects your neural synapses to overload and nearly fry your own brain. I am never trying that shit again; I don’t want to go into a coma (again) just because I overloaded my nerves.

Anyway, aside from my daily near death experience, I managed to find out more about the locals. Most of them are flighty, and more than once I’ve had to defend myself, my appearance is not helping in the matter. Still though, a few rags that make me look like a hobo, and suddenly ponies aren’t so likely to shoot me.

Instead, they’ll think for a bit, then shoot me.

But, there have been a few helpful ponies that have filled me in. Ever since the bombs fell, the ponies here have been scrambling for whatever resources they could get their hooves on, be it food, clean water, medicine, or whatever just makes their lives better. They, minority speaking, want to either, A) leave the surrounding area, or B) want to establish society here. Slight problems with both of those.

The area far north of Vanhoover is insanely dangerous, to the point of where I’d compare it to the Zebra jungles. Not to mention the radiation plaguing the lands, which is just making everything worse in general. To the south, well, there is a major shit-ton of….“Ghouls,” or some shit like that in Tall Tails. That city took the brunt of a Balefire blast, but in the process, it became a literal hell-zone. That said, a few of the places there are great for looting, and a few buildings were able to hold-up to the blast, so there are a few safe havens in Tall Tails.

East, the oceans. West, the mountains...which appear to missing their tops. Weird. Anyway, put it all together and you get a pocket region which can’t be left, or entered without some serious vehicle power, putting the whole “leaving” thing into question. But, staying really isn’t an option.

For one, I noticed that while Vanhoover is quite large, the fact is, if it does become a working society again, I’m willing to bet it’d become like those old medieval kingdoms before the Sisters. The city would become the “castle” and the outlying farm lands would become the “serfs.” Add in the fact that apparently there are a few working factories and you’ve got a case for a civil war.

So yeah, shit’s messed up, but that’s pretty much the standard for me.

Moving on to more personal matters, I managed to rig a few traps around the estate. Don’t want any looters or some shit like that stealing anything while I’m away. Found a few mines, got to pry one open and figure out to make it. Pretty easy, actually.

Add into that, a few grenade traps just for good measure. They always remind me of Braeburn’s cuite mark. I wonder sometimes if that pony’s special talent is actually making things blow up instead of apple farming like he claims. Be nice if he or Zecka were here right now...hell, I wouldn’t mind if anypony from my squad were here right now. It’d be nice to see a familiar face...even if it’s theirs.

Still, there is Oath, he’s still alive….I’ve got to find him.

No matter what.

“Does he have a crush on this “Oath” or something?”

Braeburn was snapped out of his reading with a jolt. Darting his head over his shoulder, Braeburn saw Translucent rear her head back in surprise, apparently dodging something.

“Hey! Be careful! I nearly got dinged in the head thanks to your horns!” The unicorn took a step back, rubbing the spot where she would have been hit, “Anyway, while you were reading, Glenn decided to make camp downstairs, and the rain’s starting to pick up. You wanna pack it in for the night?” She asked.

Braeburn frowned, glancing back at the terminal, “Well, Ah-”

“It’ll will be here in the morning. Now come on, it’s time for dinner.” Translucent said, grabbing Braeburn’s hoof and dragging him downstairs.

---

Setting up a small makeshift “fort” in the middle of the ground floor, which consisted mostly of just pushing traps aside and putting furniture in it’s place. Braeburn let out a relieved sigh as he sat down on a chair, resting his back against the soft, albeit torn, fabric. His bones ‘popping’ as he did, “Heeyoooo, feels like it’s been years since Ah’ve just...sat down.” He said, closing his eyes and leaning back.

Opening his eyes, he saw a can of beans being floated in front of him, spoon included, being held aloft in a silver glow.

Peeking out from behind the can, Translucent grinned, “Well, technically speaking, it has been.”

“Ah ain’t arguing that.” Braeburn agreed, taking the can offered into his hooves.

“Make sure you eat it this time, no skipping out like at lunch.” Translucent said, reaching into her own bag for her own dinner.

Braeburn’s stomach grumbled loudly in agreement.

“See? Translucent 1, Braeburn 0.” She snarked.

Rolling his eyes, Braeburn gripped the spoon and started to eat the sparse meal. As he chewed on the somewhat cooked beans, his eyes turned to Glenn, who was currently trying to get a fire going in a nearby fireplace. Looking at the hippogriff’s back, Braeburn couldn’t help but feel a stab of pity for his injuries. He was a kid, and already the poor guy had been tortured by a bunch of criminals. Was this the norm for the Wasteland? Or just Vanhoover? Though going by what Translucent said, he was willing to bet on the former.

How did it come to this? Was it the bombs? The ruttin’ Zebras? Or….were ponies destined to live like this? Like...savages?

What a nightmare….

“How’s the fire going?” Braeburn asked, if only to get his mind away from that train of thought.

“It’s going.” Glenn replied, stepping back as a fire flared to life. Crackling and whipping around, fueled by a pile of whatever burnable substances could be found in the house.

As the room lit up in an orange glow, Glenn shuffled back to his spot on the ground, a simple bed roll they found by tearing a faded and worn curtain off a window. Resting his head on a couch cushion, Glenn shifted to his uninjured side and winced as he did so.

“If ya don’t mind me asking Glenn,” Braeburn started, “How did a young guy like yourself get...ya know.”

“Captured.” Translucent supplied bluntly.

“Right,” Braeburn winced, “That.”

Glenn frowned, shifting his eyes away for a moment, then shrugged, “Eh, there’s always some jackass that want’s to press gang you into his uh...gang.”

“Does it happen often?” Braeburn asked.

“From time to time,” Glenn admitted, “You just learn to put up with it.”

“Says the guy who threw up when we saved him.” Translucent chided.

“...I had a bad breakfast.”

Translucent looked at him flatly, “Uh-huh.”

Braeburn narrowed his eyes, “Lucent.”

“Right right...Sorry.” She mumbled.

“....Are you two related, by any chance?” Glenn asked, looking at the two.

Translucent snorted, “Not even a little.”

“Ah doubt it, never had any kids ‘fore the war.” Braeburn said, “And during it didn’t seem like the right time.”

“What about Aj? Did she have any kids?” Translucent asked, going over to her own little cot on the ground, a can of instamash floating in a magical glow next to her head and a bit further away from the fire then Glenn was.

Braeburn frowned, and looked away, “Ah...Ah don’t…”

“Right, sensitive subject, moving on.” Moving back to Glenn, Translucent narrowed her eyes, “So, I take it you know a bit about Vanhoover?”

“Lived here all my life.” Glenn nodded.

Translucent smiled, “Right right...so do you know any good spots where a pony can just relax?”

“....Come again?”

She rolled her eyes, “You know, a place where a pony doesn’t have to worry about being shot at for a bit.”

“....Umm….” Glenn looked to Braeburn, who only shrugged in reply, “I don’t know about any place like that. Sorry.”

“Hm, it’s fine.” Shifting in her heavy cloak and resting her head on the cold ground, Translucent sighed.

Sharing a look with Braeburn, Glenn frowned, “So, uh, you gonna take that off?”

“.....Take what off?” Translucent asked, looking genuinely confused for a moment while she picked herself up.

“That cloak.” Glenn said.

Looking at the two, Translucent’s expression became one of eerie calm, “No.”

“But-”

“I said no.” She said, more firmly.

Glancing back at Braeburn, who shrugged, Glenn rolled his eyes and went to eat his own dinner.

Soon enough, the only noise remaining in the house was the dim crackling of the fireplace. Closing his eyes, Braeburn couldn’t help but ponder what to do about Cinquedea, the mare under the house. Should he let them know? Translucent might not care, but Glenn on the other hoof…

Actually, that was a topic worth pursuing.

“Hey Glenn.” Braeburn began, getting the young hybrid's attention, “So do ya know anything ‘bout these….Adeptus Unitias folk?”

As soon as Braeburn said that, he knew he made a mistake. Glenn’s expression darkened, so much so that even Translucent looked worried from his glare. Part pony he may be, Braeburn noted, but that kid had all the fury of a gryphon in his eyes.

“What about them?” Glenn growled out.

“Just...wanted to know a bit, that’s all.” Braeburn stammered. Sheesh, that plan went down faster than Rainbow Dash’s Ministry. He thought.

“They’re scum.” Glenn spat, “They do nothing but raid crops and kill ponies. They preach unity, but in reality they’re nothing but lying, no good, slimy pieces of-”

“Wooaah there,” Braeburn held his hooves up in a placating manner, “Just asking a question, didn’t mean to get ya all riled up.”

“......Sorry.” Glenn muttered, rolling on his back, “They’ve just done a lot of bad things to my friends and family. I’m not fond of them.”

“No kidding, you hate them almost as much Braeburn hate Zebras.” Translucent said.

“Zebras?” Glenn repeated.

“How does that-” Braeburn began, but Translucent held up a hoof to cut him off.

“Just an observation.” Translucent said, “But anyway, what do you know about them? Aside from your raging bloodlust, that is.”

Glenn bit his lip in thought, “I know they set up somewhere in south eastern Vanhoover, a school, I think. Someplace with a machine factory or somewhere like that, that’s where they make all their gear.”

“Wait.” Translucent blinked, “They make all their things? Like from the ground up?”

“I think so.” Glenn nodded, “Sometimes when I fly up high, I can see smoke coming from their base.”

“Huh.” Was all Translucent said.

Braeburn raised an eyebrow, “Is it that unique?”

“Kinda.” Translucent looked to the ground, “Back in the Equestrian Wasteland, there aren’t a lot of places where you can actually make something.” Lighting up her horn, four symbols appeared in the center of the room, one of which Braeburn immediately recognized, “The Steel Rangers,” A sword piercing through two wings, cogwheels on either side with an apple in the background. “The Enclave,” Clouds and wings, both pierced by gazing eyes. “Red Eye,” A single red eye with a creeping glow, “And finally, Unity.” An Alicorn, bowing her head gracefully.

Shutting off her horn, Translucent sighed, “These four factions are the only ones that could make something. Like, genuinely make something. The only ones with enough resources and ponypower to actually be able to manufacture things, and two of them are currently defunct.”

“Which ones?” Glenn asked.

A pang of fear shot through Braeburn’s heart.

“Unity and Red Eye.” Translucent said, “Both because their leaders got killed, and without their big bosses...well…”

And that fear was gone. Though he didn’t realize it himself, Braeburn slumped back in his chair and sighed in relief.

“They both fell apart.” Braeburn said, “What about the Steel Rangers? What happened to them?”

“Checking in on your cousin’s magnum opus huh?” Translucent grinned, then frowned solemnly, “Listen Burn, there’s no easy way to tell you this so let me get it over with.”

Braeburn found himself clenching the arms of his chair, cracking them.

“They’re fractured.”

Braeburn blinked, “Huh?”

Lighting up her horn again, three red apples appeared, and the Steel Ranger appeared again as well, but with a line between them.

“See, a Ranger called Steelhooves-”

“Steelhooves?” Braeburn blinked again, “Ya mean Applesnack?”

“Who?” Translucent tilted her head quizzically.

“Ah, no, nevermind. Thinkin’ ‘bout a different pony.” Braeburn said swiftly.

Raising an eyebrow but nevertheless pressing on, Translucent shifted her attention back to the projection, “Anyway, see, the Steel Rangers always used to horde tech and stuff like that. At first, it was because they didn’t want anything really dangerous getting into the wrong hooves, like a balefire bomb or a….I dunno, a cyborg that looks like a zebra, or something. But over time, their ideals corrupted and changed, sorta like what happens if you leave an apple out for too long. It gets all mushy and icky. Soon enough, they just began keeping all the really good stuff to themselves. Stuff that could help improve ponies lives, but Steelhooves, or Applesnack, whatever he’s called, eventually reminded them of their founder’s ideals. That they were supposed to protect ponies with technology, not abuse them.”

“So the group split, Applejack’s Rangers, and the Steel ones.” The Enclave symbol appeared again, this time larger than the other two, so much so they were pushed aside, “But, when the Enclave invaded, the two groups rallied back together to fight the Pegasi. But time will tell if they stay together or not.”

There was an audible snap of wood.

Darting her head back to Braeburn, Translucent actually took a step back in fear. Broken pieces of the chair’s arm rests in his hooves, cold fury taking over his expression, Braeburn looked like he wanted to rip a pony’s legs off and beat them to death with it.

“Ya mean to tell me...Applejack’s creation...what she nearly died for….was taken from her?”

Translucent gulped, “Uh, uh, I’m just abridging things here! Don’t worry, Steel Rangers are still some of the best ponies in the Wasteland! Ha..ha….haaaa…..”

Much to Translucent’s relief, Braeburn let the arm rests drop to the floor with a clatter. “Celestia…” He muttered, sinking back in his chair and rubbing his snout, “What kind of a nightmare did I wind up in?”

“Well...if it makes you feel any better, Celestia’s still around.” Translucent said, which instantly got Braeburn’s attention as he sat up, more alert than before, “But the thing is, she’s kinda...in a weather managing system, like, literally in it. She’s the one who’s managed the Equestrian Wasteland’s weather for the past 200 years.”

“....How?” Was all Braeburn could ask.

She lowered her head, “I don’t know, I’m sorry.”

In stark contrast to Braeburn’s downcast expression, Glenn’s was one of confusion, “She’s the one managing the weather? I thought it was all natural.”

“Has there ever been a cloud cover?” Translucent asked in return.

Glenn scrunched his brow, glancing out the window towards the grey sky where a rain shower was starting to pick up, blanketing the land under a grey cloud cover, “You mean when it rains?”

Translucent shook her head, “I mean all the time, a complete blanket of clouds.”

“Not really, only on rainy days.” Glenn replied.

“Huh, guess the weather here is natural. Freaky.” Translucent narrowed her eyes, clearly drifting into thought.

Glenn, having rising to a sitting position, just looked even more confused, “Why is it freaky?”

Translucent sighed, “I’m just used to things being one way or another, that’s all.”

Scratching his head, Glenn merely rolled his eyes and went back to laying down. Taking it as a cue that it was time to sleep, Translucent did the same, but motioned to Braeburn, “Hey, you wanna take first watch?”

Braeburn raised an eyebrow, his question going unsaid.

“You know, make sure we don’t get robbed when we’re asleep.” She explained, then slowly rose, as if realizing something, “Unless you want me to, cause I can totally-”

Braeburn held up his hoof, “Ah spent 200 years’ asleep girl, Ah think Ah can spend a few more hours up.”

“Oh, cool. Take my shotgun then,” Translucent yawned, falling back to her cot as her eyes drifted shut, “It will hellpp...Heelllpp..…..”

Soon enough, she was asleep, and Braeburn was alone with his thoughts.

Watching the fire wisp and whip, he let out a long sigh before grabbing one of the fallen armrests and casually tossed it into the fire. Where it crackled even fiercer thanks to the new fuel, the pops of the wood providing little ambience to the otherwise silent room.

Well, minus the rain pouring outside, that is.

For the first time since Braeburn woke up, he actually had some time to think, a chance to actually relax for a moment.

So...why was did it seem like it was the last thing Braeburn wanted to do? Was it simply because he didn’t want to think about things? Or because he was afraid of what his mind would torture him with?

He just needed to keep his mind, and his hooves, busy….Yeah, that was it.

Braeburn looked at the Pipbuck on his arm, and started to fiddle with it. Might as well, he had nothing else to do but…

Cinquedea.

Braeburn bolted upright, suddenly reminded of the ashen mare in the basement. Glenn was sleeping, or at the very least, close to it. Judging by his reaction earlier, there was no way he would let Cinquedea live, or at the very least, walk away.

If he wanted to get her out, then now would be the time.

But...should he tell Glenn? Translucent wouldn’t really care, at least, she would get over it quickly. But Glenn? The kid seemed to have a real hatred of anything related to Adepts, no way that would he understand.

Braeburn wasn’t a fool, he knew that if he helped Cinquedea out this time, he’d probably either wind up lying to Glenn at some point, or continue to withhold the information.

If Aj were here, she’d tell him to spill the beans.

But Aj wasn’t here, and Braeburn wasn’t the Element of Honesty.

“So….” He mumbled to himself, “What am Ah gonna do?”

---

Cinquedea was having a rough day, to say the least.

First, she woke up on the wrong side of the bed, literally.

Poke.

Second, one routine scouting turned into a major clusterbuck with three of her best friends lying in a gutter somewhere, and she nearly died twice today.

Poke.

Third, somepony kept poking her when she was trying to sleep! And there was this nice, warm feeling on her stomach too, so nice...all she wanted was to fall back into the lull of sleep. She didn’t want to worry about anything anymore…

Poke.

Forcing her eyes open to see whatever the hell was poking her, just so she could bite it’s head off. She had been expecting a rat or something. What she hadn’t expected, however, was the stallion with the golden coat and long hair kneeling over her like some kind of guardian.

Needless to say, it was a bit of a shock. Granted, it wasn’t the first she had today, but still.

Before she could get a word out, most likely asking what the hell he’s doing, Braeburn placed a mechanical finger to her snout, “Shhhh.” He said, then quickly looked around the basement, “Have ya got any supplies?”

The cold metal still placed against her mouth, Cinquedea could only raise an eyebrow at the stallion’s strange behavior, but regardless, she nodded.

“Good, now Ah need ya to be quiet.” He said in that thick accent, which, to be perfectly honest, Cinquedea found both quite charming, and completely annoying at the same time. It was a paradox, but eh, what are you gonna do?

Brushing away his finger with a wing, she looked at him skeptically, “Why?”

He pursed his lips, “A friend of mine would be a mite upset if he found out ya were sleeping right under him.”

“Him?” Cinquedea rose to her hooves, looking at the staircase, “You mean that ghoul?”

Much to her confusion, Braeburn shook his head, “No, different guy.”

“Ah.” She wasn’t all that surprised to hear that Braeburn had picked up a friend, aside from that weird unicorn, and she was even less surprised that it was a local for a hate on for her crew. Still…

“Alright,” She flapped her wings a few times, testing the muscles, they were sore...but useable, “So, you got a plan?”

“If ya can keep quiet, the front door’s your best way out.” Braeburn said.

“That’s it?” Cinquedea tilted her head, “Why don’t I just wait down here then? Why risk being seen at all?”

“Cause sooner or later, they’re gonna come down here.” Braeburn retorted, then sheeply scratched his head, “Translucent’s a bit of a kleptomaniac.”

“Translucent? Who’s….you know what? Nevermind.” Cinquedea rubbed her head, “Anyway, I see your point. Is it safe up there?”

“Them’s be sleepin’ right ‘bout.” Cinquedea’s mind screamed at the numerous grammatical mistakes in that sentence, but kept a calm smile on her face as he continued, “Ah’m supposed to be on watch so…”

“They won’t be surprised to hear you moving about.” She nodded, “Alright, let me grab my things first.”

Gathering up her supplies in a short time, Cinquedea and Braeburn were soon out of the basement and onto the ground floor.

With the fire long since out, the entire room was washed in dark blue, the only contrast was the small beams of moonlight that peeked through the woodwork. On the plus side, it made being unseen much easier for them, on the other hoof….

“Ow! Watch it!”

“Ah’m sorry!”

It also made bumping into each other easier as well.

Wincing and holding up her forehoof, Cinquedea kissed it while keeping pace next to Braeburn. Their brief exchange was sharp but quiet, and it didn’t seem like anypony had been aware of her little “escape attempt.” Glancing at the fireplace, Cinquedea raised a brow at the two ponies….scratch that, pony and a...inverted hippogriff sleeping on the ground.

“Your friends?” She whispered to him.

“Eyup.”

“Hm. Strange company you keep.”

Despite it being hard to see, Cinquedea had little trouble making out Braeburn’s eye roll in the dark.

Arriving at the front door and opening it gently, they were greeted by a blast of cold night wind washing over both of their faces. The air was damp and cold, a sign of the recent rain shower, but the sky was clear. The calmness of the night was a strange thing, everything seemed...peaceful, like all the troubles and problems plaguing the world was a thing of the past.
The stars shone on the night sky, and the full moon hanged overhead in full view. It’s pale light looming over the wasteland, painting the landscape in an almost serene light.

Looking up at the moon, Braeburn let out a wistful sigh, “Ya know...Ah, nevermind.”

“What?” Cinquedea asked, looking up at him.

“Ah, it’s just…” Braeburn gestured to the moon, “Would ya believe me if Ah told ya that there used to be a mare on the moon?”

She rolled her eyes, “I’d call bullshit.”

At that, Braeburn chuckled, “Well, it’s true. Though Ah reckon there ain’t no way to convince ya otherwise.”

“Riiigghht, and there’s magic mirror that transports ponies to an alternate dimension where everypony walks upright like you.” Bumping into him to show it was good natured ribbing, she smiled, “Well, I guess this is where we say goodbye.”

“Ah guess so.”

Flapping once, twice, then thrice, she took the air and hovered over him for a few good seconds. Spinning around to face him, Cinquedea rubbed the back of her head, “So...uh…”

“Yeah…”

“Be seeing you?” Cinquedea offered, too which Braeburn nodded.

“Heh, be seeing you.”

The two of them stared at each other for a short time, before Cinquedea sighed, “Oh, screw it.”

Before Braeburn could react, she darted close to him, and kissed him gently on the cheek.

Braeburn could only blink.

Cinquedea blushed.

“....Uh-”

“Gottagoseeya!” Before he even knew what happened, Cinquedea shot off into the dark night like a rocket.

“...What just happened?” He asked, rubbing the spot where she kissed him, completely dumbstruck.

---

“I’m telling you, I thought I heard something last night.”

“And I’m telling you, that was probably Braeburn moving about, you know heavy his legs are!”

That was the first thing Braeburn heard when had woken up from a thankfully dreamless sleep. As he had bothered to lumber himself out of bed, which was just what Translucent had slept on earlier, he asked her if she had made any coffee

To his complete and utter horror, all she said in reply was, “What’s Coffee?”

Truly, the Wasteland was all his nightmares incarnate.

So, there he was, staring at the terminal he hadn’t finished reading the night before, coffee-less and with one hell of a migraine. There were bags under his eyes, his horns seemed to be even heavier, and he had this damned taste in his mouth that would not go away. All he really wanted to do was crawl back into bed and pretend that all of this was just a bad dream, but Translucent had stored away her cot while she and Glenn prepared breakfast, leaving Braeburn with no choice but to read the final entry terminal Bolted Screw left.

It wasn’t exactly the thing he wanted to wake up too, but he had nothing else to do, “What’ja leave fer me Screw…” He muttered to himself, then hit the last log.

Wow, how long has it been since I wrote in this thing? It’s been a few months, but it feels like years. It’s easy to forget now, the days are just a blur. I’ve done a lot here, both in his house, and in Vanhoover. Hope those guys in City Hall will be alright, I did what I could but...I feel like….

No, I made my choice, better to just...watch from the sidelines.

Haven’t been able to make it into the Stable yet, the door’s too hard to reach without special equipment, and I don’t have enough explosives to make it into the mountain. That, and the fact I’d run the risk of blowing up my friends because I don’t know how the Stable is structured. Really, whoever decided to put a Stable inside a mountain is an idiot. Can’t lower the lift without a code, or a Pipbuck, both of which I lack. Can’t hack the console either, doesn’t have an interface for it, so, that leaves me nothing but a headache. Not giving up though, just gotta find another way in…that can’t be the only entrance. It’s too big, you’d need multiple ways in for construction crews so they actually build the damn thing. Maybe there’s a way in from underground, like a water reservoir or something. The above ground water is irritated, but any groundwater should be alright, I think. That could be a way in...The sewers under the Vanhoover countryside are like a maze, I think with a little bit of excavation, I could find a way in.

Just need to find a map or something, and a compass.

Luna, I wish I had a Pipbuck.

“If ya wanted one so much, why didn’t just ask me fer one?” Braeburn muttered, “Could’ve put in a word for ya with Apple Bloom….”

But that is neither here nor there, the other thing is though, I found her.

I found Zecka.

I don’t know how, or why, or what the hell is going on, but Zecka is holed up somewhere in the northwest, past all the radiation and monsters. She’s alive and that’s all I care about. At least, I think she is. Code Talker mentioned a strange looking Zebra came to him, and there’s only one “Zebra” up here that I know of.

Before he had even knew it himself, Braeburn had grabbed the terminal and reread the line.

Again.

Again.

Falling on his rear in a daze, Braeburn could only stare at the terminal, trying to process what he saw.

Zecka was alive, and Bolted Screw found her.

He knew that Zecka was alive, in the back of his mind at least. It was a simple process of elimination. He was the last one out, so that meant the others had gotten out too. But...that wasn’t the question Braeburn needed answered, the question was; “Is she still alive?”

The answer to that wasn’t in the terminal, even as Braeburn forced himself to read the rest of it. Just...hoo-ha about how Screw had to leave the home because he thought he was being watched or something.

The logs didn’t matter anymore.

But who was this….Code Talker? Was it a pony Screw knew? From the sound of it, this Code Talker was some pony who knew how to...Talk...Codes? Like computer codes? Binary? That would make conversations hard, it’d just be a lot of ones and zeroes. That said, Braeburn wouldn’t be surprised at this point. This world just seemed to get crazier and crazier...

Questions buzzed in Braeburn’s head as he made his way downstairs, the wooden planks creaking under his weight. What Braeburn expected to see was Translucent and Glenn to be all packed up and ready to go, instead, he got rather peculiar situation.

Translucent was sitting on Glenn, who currently had a defunct heater in his paws and was glaring at her with all the fury he could muster from under her rump.

“....Ah’m ‘fraid to ask.” Braeburn said, deadpan, “But Ah’m gonna anyways; what happened?”

“Well, little mister fussy brinches here-” Translucent gestured to Glenn, “Went down into the basement,” Braeburn’s heart spiked, “And found this little heater thing turned on.” Floating it in front of him in a silver glow, Braeburn fought back the urge to gulp as he recognized the heater made for Cinquedea.

“And?” He asked, trying to keep the panic out of his voice.

“Well, Glenn here thinks that somepony was in the basement last night, cause this thing looks recent.” Translucent explained, “I think that it’s just been left there for a while. I mean, it’s just a heater, big deal.”

Braeburn glanced at Glenn, “And yer sitting on him cause…”

“He makes a comfy seat.” Translucent quipped.

The only thing she got in reply was a blank stare

“Alright alright...Sorry.” Mumbling out apologies, Translucent slowly got off Glenn and huffed over to a stash of supplies, which included the supplies Braeburn had found in the basement, his knapsack sitting neatly on a presumably empty ammo can. Turning her head to him, Translucent held up the aforementioned bag in her magic, “Oh, by the way, managed to enchant this bag last night. Congrats, your purse is now bigger on the inside.”

“Right, thank ya kindly.” Braeburn said, then walked over to Glenn and offered his hand.

Brushing the offered appendage away, Glenn huffed his chest and got to this feet, “Chick’s stronger than she looks…” He muttered.

A thought occurred to Braeburn, it was a stab in the dark but...“The name “Code Talker” mean anything to ya?” He asked.

That got Glenn’s attention, “How do you know that name?”

Braeburn shrugged, “Was on Screw’s logs, ya know ‘em?”

Glenn frowned, “Yeah, but...he’s a slave.”

“....What?”

“A slave, you know. Forced servitude?”

“Uh….Glenn?” Translucent reappeared behind Braeburn, raising her hooves in an X gesture, “X-nay on the slave-ay.”

Glenn glanced at Translucent, “Wait, why?”

The only thing she did in reply was glare and shift her eyes to Braeburn. Confused, Glenn followed her gaze, and recoiled slightly.

“Every time, every time Ah start to think that this world ain’t so bad.” Braeburn all but spat out, his voice laced with pure revulsion, “Ah’m reminded that this place is just a shithole.”

Grabbing his knapsack from the pile and throwing it over his shoulder, Braeburn walked out the door without so much as a glance at Translucent or Glenn.

“...Guessing they didn’t have much slavery back then?” Glenn asked, glancing at Translucent.

“Well, I told him yesterday that his hometown became a slave pit, so I guess slaves kinda a bad subject for him.” Translucent rolled her eyes, “Of course he’s mad about slavery! I’m mad about slavery! Wanna know why? Cause it’s bad, dumbass!”

Huffing, Translucent gathered up the rest of supplies, dumped a load on Glenn, and walked out the door after Braeburn.

“Sheesh.” Glenn rolled his eyes, gathering up his stuff, “These ponies are so dramatic…”

---

The trip back to Nelson was a quiet one, aside from the radio being played on Braeburn’s Pipbuck.

“...Ponies on the expressway, with no features, with no faces. Ponies milling about me, trudging off to nameless places...”

“Do you know this song Braeburn?” Translucent asked, for only for the sake of conversation.

“Never really listened to this mopey dopey crap.” Braeburn replied, glancing at the radio to flick it off, but as he raised his finger, the song cut out abruptly as an androgynous voice familiar voice came in.

“This thing is on right? Oh, the little red light’s blinking...Oh, it is? Cool. Anyway, as it turns out, there’s a new rumor going about a pony walking on two legs with a 100 on his back, has a Pipbuck on his arm, or something. There’s also...uh, am I reading this right? A floating specter in a brown cloak with him….Er...Yeah. Don’t take that last one seriously.”

“....Floating specter?! Who does that little….” Translucent snapped, then paused suddenly, as if remembering something, she looked to Glenn, “Uh, Glenn, do you know what who Coloratura is?”

“Nope, I’ve never met him or her. Been around for a while though.” Glenn remarked, “Always plays the same songs over and over again.”

“Anyways, good news! The two I mentioned seem to be pretty good at killing ghouls, the Haybarrel is reportedly cleared of them, and is ripe for looting…..you’re all going over there now, aren’t you?”

“Huh, whoever it is, their kinda slow.” Translucent noted, which caused Braeburn to glance over in her direction.

“Slow? That happened yesterday, mighty fast if ya ask me.”

“It’s just…” Translucent paused to search for the words, “Back in the heartland, there’s this DJ that has a really good information system. Like, really good. Like, he knows about stuff as soon as it happens.”

“How does he do that?”

“Nopony knows.” Translucent shrugged, “Magic?”

“....Ah would find that bullpucky….but…”

Translucent tapped her horn with an audacious grin, “Yep, the unicorn doesn’t know how it works either, just roll with it.”

“Righhttt…” Rolling his eyes, Braeburn adjusted his knapsack’s strap slightly for comfort. Damn thing was starting to get prickly, it was a shame he simply couldn’t tie it to his waist like a normal pony, but as his current...situation didn’t allow that…

Well, there was a lot of things he couldn’t do.

Like having a decent cup of coffee, for one.

Since the trip to the Thoroughbred Estate was a short one, the trip back to Nelson was a simple one as well.

Well, it would have been, if not for the fact that as soon as Braeburn set one metal foot near Nelson’s wall did a bullet ring out and split the ground in front of him.

Three things happened at once, Translucent drew her shotgun, looking for the shooter, Glenn dove for cover, and a gruff voice rang out.

“Alright, stay right there you horned freak! I got you right in my sights!”

“Easy there mister!” Braeburn called back, holding up his hooves and extending his metal fingers in what he assumed to be a placating gesture, “We’re friends with Rail Spike!”

“Rail Spike? Wait...you’re…” Poking their head out, the shooter was...a griffon? The same one from the restaurant the day before, thick red hair, sharp eyes, and enough bulk on him to make lifting the hunting rifle in his claws all too easy.

Emerging from a piece of rubble, Glenn glanced up at the older creature, “Dad?” Glenn called out weakly.

“Dad?” Both Braeburn and Translucent exclaimed at the same time.

“Glenn? What in tarnation are you doing out there?!” He called back, “You were supposed to be back for supper yesterday!”

“Just getting some stuff for the gate, since it’s broke!”

The griffon rolled his eyes, “Uh-huh. And you two were at The Watering Hole yesterday, right?”

“That’d be us!” Translucent yelled up, putting away her shotgun as she did, “And you are?”

“Name’s Grendel.” The griffon said, slowly moving the rifle away.

“If ya don’t mind me asking,” Braeburn spoke up, “What’s the hostile reception? Weren’t like this last time.”

“Ah, that’s cause with the gate busted, we’re being extra cautious.” Grendel replied, “Anyway, get yourselves over to the front, I’ll let you all in.”

As Grendel disappeared from view, Braeburn turned to Translucent, “Ya got stuff for the gate right?”

To which, she nodded, “Oh yeah, got gears and parts for days.”

“Anything else?”

“Ammo, some cloth, (remind me to stitch you some leg covers later,) and a lot of junk we can sell off for supplies.” Translucent said, looking through her bags.

“Ya can sew?”

She snorted and gestured to her cloak, “Somepony has to keep this thing wearable.”

“If you two are done mingling,” Glenn spoke up, a slight edge to his voice, “We’d better get to the gate pronto.”

“Oh, relax Glenn. I’m sure that your dad’s a nice and upstanding fellow.” Translucent said.

“It’s not him I’m worried about…” He muttered in reply.

---

“Gone!” Whack! “For three days!” Whack! “Where were you?!”

“Mom! I just had to-”

“Don’t talk back to me! Do you have any idea how worried you made me?!”

“Mom, I swear, I-urk!”

“And now look! You’ve brought two….I’m sorry, who are you two? You were at the restaurant yesterday, right?”

Braeburn couldn’t help but grin at the scene in front of him. Leaning back on a pole with Translucent at his side, who was also fighting to hold back a laugh, Braeburn greeted her kindly, “Nice to meet ya ma’am. Name’s Braeburn, this here is Translucent.”

The mare, who seemed to be the one where Glenn got most of his color coordination from. A light shade of teal mixed with a faded yellow mane, just like Glenn. Hell, she even had his blue eyes, if that wasn’t a mark of heritage, then Braeburn didn’t know what did.

Smiling pleasantly at them, the mare bowed her head in thanks, “Well, I suppose I should thank you two for bringing my boy home safe. My name is-”

“Um,” Translucent wearily held a hoof, “Miss, I don’t mean to be...uh...rude, but I don’t think Glenn can breathe in that headlock.”

Looking down at her son, who was currently trapped in his mother’s hooves and turning an interesting shade of purple. Clicking her tongue, all she said was a light, “Oh.”

“Everything’s….going...dark…Is...that you...grandma?”

Rolling her eyes, Glenn’s mother released her son from the headlock. Breathing in large gulps of air, Glenn held his throat and sent Translucent a thankful look. Who merely gave him an unsure smile in reply.

Chuckling to himself, Braeburn crossed his arms and glanced over at the nearby front gate, which was currently being repaired under the strict supervision of Duct Tape and Rail Spike. From what he could tell, the repairs were going well, apparently having such a large amount of stuff being delivered to them meant that jury rigging a new gate system would be easy. Duct Tape certainly lived up to his name though, as pretty much everything began to be covered in tape.

“Hey Glenn,” Braeburn said, still looking at the gate, “When ya can breathe again, mind telling where ya think Code Talker is?”

“Code Talker?” Glenn repeated, still holding his neck, “Yeah, he’s at the Dragoon’s compound. Works as a food server there, I think.”

“So...like a waiter?” Braeburn asked.

“What’s a waiter?”

“Nevermind.”

Translucent raised an eyebrow to him, “So, that’s our next destination then?”

Braeburn turned to her, “Eeyup. Probably gonna be dangerous.”

“Neat.”

“Could get us killed.”

“As if.”

“....Ya know, ya don’t have to come with me if ya don’t want to.”

“Please,” She snorted, “Where you go, I go. We’re friends after all, right?”

A small feeling welled up in Braeburn’s chest. It was small, it was feeble, but it was there, and that made all the difference. “Ah thought Ah was yer pack mule.”

Translucent rolled her eyes, “You can be both.”

The two looked at each other, then shared a laugh.

Shifting forward and getting off the pole, Braeburn nodded to Glenn, who was startled by the sudden address, “Thanks for all yer help Glenn...Oh yeah, ‘fore Ah forget. Lucent, pay em.”

Translucent cringed, “Do we gotta?”

“Yes.” Braeburn replied, bluntly.

“Right right…” Reaching into her bags with her magic, Translucent pulled out a bundle of caps with her magic, “Let’s see...it was forty, right?

“Fifty.” Glenn said.

“Right...Fifty.” Sighing, Translucent added a few more to the pile, and held them in front of Glenn.

Reaching out with both paws, Glenn took the offered money. “Thanks.” He grumbled.

“Don’t mention it kiddo…” Translucent muttered.

“Right,” Braeburn nodded his head towards the gate, “Let’s get going Lucent.” Waving goodbye to Glenn and his mother, Braeburn and Translucent began to make their way to the gate.

“You know where you’re going, right?” Glenn called after them.

Holding up his Pipbuck in response, Braeburn glanced over his shoulder at Glenn and smiled kindly at him before turning away.

“...Now Glenn, I know that-” His mother began, but was cut off.

“Don’t you start.” Glenn said sharply, “Where’s dad?”

“Still on his shift. Now come on, let’s get these bandages changed.” Grabbing her son by the hoof, Glenn was slowly dragged away to his abode.

Braeburn and Translucent on the other hand, had made it to the gate of Nelson, where Rail Spike nodded in greeting as they approached.

“Hey there you two, going already?” He asked.

“Eeyup.” Braeburn nodded, “Gotta find a guy named Code Talker.”

“We should probably find Vanhoover first.” Translucent said, “We have a lot of junk, but not a lot of stuff you know what I’m saying.”

“Ya two should visit Bertha’s then.” Rail Spike interjected, “She’s a trader, she’ll probably have something for ya.”

“She nearby?” Translucent asked.

“Bertha lives in Vanhoover’s town hall, which is were a lot of other shops do business too.” Rail explained, “If you want guns and medicine, that’s where you want to be. Fair warning though, there’s another Polka gang that’s been causing a bit of trouble, so keep your heads down.” He glanced at Braeburn, “For some of us, that’s harder than others.”

“So we got a destination, a few pit stops, and it’s riddled with danger.” Translucent whistled as Braeburn rolled his eyes at the height joke, “This is turning out to be a regular adventure.”

“Ya have those often?” He asked.

Translucent grinned, “Only when it’s interesting.”

---

Experience Points: 925/1,251

Current S.P.E.C.I.A.L stats.

S: 5

P: 5

E: 7

C: 4

I: 5

A: 2(+)

L: 1