> A Courier Aid > by BronyofMeddlers > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Well, this is certainly new. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ch 1: Well, this is certainly new. You know how you always think that you seen strange things in the Mojave Wasteland? You know with the Super Mutant community, the Brotherhood, and being sucked up to another area entirely that wants you dead? Then something come along even stranger than what you experience before and you begin to think. ‘Huh, you know, just when I thought the Wasteland show me something and I thought it was done, something new comes around to make me even more paranoid.’ Oh wait, before I say anything more I should introduce myself to you all. Hello, I am the Courier, even though I have a name and all. The name’s Meddler, and before you ask, yes my mom did call me that. Probably because my nose stick’s to where it goes to and it tends to go towards trouble. Anyway I’m a mexican man with black hair and a nice shave on my face, brown eyes and all. As for what I wear? I’ve wearing this fancy as hell Advanced Riot Gear that I escape from the hell hole named the Divide, not going back by the way, for any reason at all, ever. I usually stick with my AMR (or short for anti-material sniper rifle) for the nice long kills, especially for those damn Deathclaws, my useful Survival Rifle that I snag from the Zions Canyons, and the shovel that I keep when I need to dig up something or bury someone. But I usually keep a few other things packed away in case of emergency, like fighting against something that ain’t a waste of ammo for my killing things. For my survival gear it’s the basic stuff, stims, water, the bottles that take the sting out of those those damn Nightstalker’s bite, the usual shit. Ah, and enough caps to make those guys at the Tops jealous as hell. Right now I’m passing by that good old Cannibal Johnson place, you know the same one from the Remnants, I love those guys, especially Johnson, he stood by my side while I fought against that bitch Lanius. Right so like I said before, I travel right by the guy cave because I felt like being alone, normally I’ll be traveling with a companion or two but for the moment I feel like being alone. Sometime I like to just wander and think, unless I have to kill some morons who disturb said thinking and such. As the dark night fill the entire sky my mind thought about my friends and the adventures we all had before I became the new boss of Vegas, who knew that taking over the city isn’t so simple? How am I suppose to know that being a boss means making sure everybody don’t fight all the time? However there something that made me stop as some sort of light show came right by shack a few steps away, My left arm raise as my eyes look for the name of the spot, and lo behold! Cap Counterfeiting Shack is this place name, oh wait there Cazador all over the place. Hmm, on one hand I could just leave it be, but on the other there might be something of use to me. Oh screw it lets find out what it is! As my hand reach for the Survival Rifle to get ready to fight and carefully tip-toe to the light show, my IFF (I call it whatever I like) show me reds buzzing around in the NW, but there appears to be a fading and reappearing yellow. As a precaution I took my ‘precaution grenade to blown some bastards away’ out and use V.A.T.S. to see how much I can, by the glowing balls of ghouls! Just how many of these bugs are they! There are like, what fifty of these things? Okay I can work with this, and with a few targets being spot with V.A.T.S. and some shots fired, with the explosion from my grenade the numbers just got lower to about, thirty. Okay now I just, what is that? As the lights disappear to reveal a strange bird thing. Amber eyes look around in confusion, around them are light purple color, a white feather head, gold color like talons shuffle around, her brown wings move a bit as if it prepare to fly, the lower half of the creature seem cat like, seem like one of those things call ‘lion’. There three feathers that are larger than the rest with the tips of them in the shade of purple. So what do I call it? Bird-cat? Tweety-pussy? Half-breed? Well whatever it is, it definitely needs my help with all the bugs slowly coming to her way. My left hand quickly eject the waste magazine from my rifle as a new one pop in, and so did the slaughter began. *** (gilda) When I took the apprenticeship of a warrior to guard the old fool, this isn’t what came up to my mind when my entire body transport to somewhere else. After Dash left me for those pony dweebs this got me thinking on my future and what I’ll do. So when my ears hear the news of a warrior is taking in a apprentice to train to, my talons reach out for this chance and never let go. But when the griffon told me that we need to guard an old griff who’s some powerful magic user that made me skeptical, thought the only ones who can do that stuff are those dweeb ponies, well turns out he use a wand to do his ‘work’. However the idiot decide to make a spell to transport somegriff to make the journey easier, and the fool point his wand at me and didn’t even look as he transport me off, so I thought I’ll be in Cloudsdale or probably back in the Griffon Homelands, but no I’m in some strange place with giant flying strange bugs. The way they came to me seem like they decide I might make a good meal, before my talon raise up to defend myself some strange thing, on its two legs with outlandish garbs on it holding a black thing with its two claws began something, a golden thing on its wrist is notice by my eyes. It held the thing and something came out of it, it look like some strange crossbow of some kind as the attention of most of these bug things went to it, most of them went down but a few manage to hit it, it ignore the attacks as it use the weapon in its claw to attack more and more until it stop to grab a black thing and place it into the weapon. It hit with accuracy that makes a expert marksman look like a child, finally after a while the bug things all died off. As it put it’s weapon away it’s head turn to me, it look at me with red glowing eyes, a mask that cover its face, everything about it calls out dangerous in my mind, my instincts are demanding me to run away from it now, otherwise it will get me to. But my body refuse to move, refuse to even make a tug as it slowly walks to me, but it stop just three steps from me, it body is higher than myself, my head only reach up to its stomach if my eyes didn’t deceive me, but what confuse me even more is that it crouch down to my level, letting me see it on my level. It then spoke something, a language that my mind couldn’t understand at all. There is a moment of silence as we both look at each other as it then began to remove its mask thing, which is a helmet as a tan face with fur on its head with brown eyes look at me, its eyes are fill with gentleness and no hostility. My nose can practically smell the musk of male on this creature, and the fact it, he hadn’t shower for so long. He then spoke again, this time in a gentler tone to me, but once more my ears didn’t understand him at all. this brought a frustration that I can understand so well. But he look around, trying to see something, he put his helmet on his head and lower his hand down, now I may not understand his words, but that don’t mean that what he is saying is a no brainer. He took out his weapon again as he began pointing in the direction behind him as he charge ahead, there are shouts and the same loudness of the weapon like of his this went out for a minute or two as silence came. After a while he came back to me with some blood on him, there isn’t and wounds as far as my eyes can see, which means the ones he attack are the ones who got their blood on him. He came back down to my level with his claw, they don’t look like claws now that my eyes can see the details of them, they don’t have a sharpness on them. He put his weapon away on his back as he spoke again in a gentle tone, now normally I would reject his limb but my brain told me not to reject him no matter what. Because lets face it, I’m in an unknown territory, with no way of knowing where I am, where to find food, and probably to look out for. He’s my best chance of surviving of wherever I am. So my left talon took his fore limb as he shake it and got up. He look around before walking, but he stops to turn his head to me with his body motion ‘Follow me.’ And so my body did as I came up to him right by his side. Hopefully my mind didn’t made the wrong choice about this thing. *** (meddler) Okay news of the day Meddler, one you found this hybrid in the middle of nowhere and about to be a Cazador snack. You stop that and try to make it your friend, only problem is that some ‘assassins’ from the remaining Legion try to kill you, and you pay back with bullets in their body. Now you somehow gotten this creature trust you and it, honestly it looks female. I could be wrong but hey it’s a possibility. Now all I got to do is make sure she stay with me to my place, and without stupid people try to get information, easier said than done. As it, she came up by my side with a look of somewhat trust on her face, hey I can’t blame her for not wanting to run away from me, I probably might eat her in her point of view. I’m lucky enough that I manage to get her to follow me. So we been walking in silence for a good hour and a half until we reach the outer gates of Vegas, I notice some member of the Kings by it. “Sup guys?” I call out. They acknowledge me but notice my new friend. “What’s that?” “A pal of mine, please tell the King that she is going to be a guest of mine and I don’t want to cause trouble with the rest of you guys or anyone else. She’s lost, probably scare and confuse. So please spread the word that if anyone try to mess with Feathers here is going to have a problem with me.” The guy held up his hands. “Don’t worry pal, we understand you travel with strange companions, beside you help us so much buddy, no way anyone want to mess with your pals.” My head nod. “Just clarifying the situation, but you gotta admit there are those who are stupid enough to try to attack me.” One of them sigh. “True that, true that, later Courier.” My eyes roll as my right hand open the door to allow myself and ‘Feathers’ inside. Honestly the name came up to me, now that one problem is over with another one is gnawing in my head, how to make her understand me. I know for a fact she is intelligent, but she probably speaks and understand a whole different language. Question is how the hell am I, oh wait! The brains at the Bowl, they work for me now! Oh I almost forgot about them, maybe they got a translator or something to help communicate with Feathers, but I need someone to keep an eye on her, hmm. We walk through the streets as the corner of my eyes began to notice her looking around in, shock, surprise, and sadness? Hmm, maybe she never seen a place like this before, if so then she’s bloody lucky. Hopefully this won’t bother her too much, can’t help her out if she’s too afraid, but then again can’t blame her for that, probably in a different culture and way of life at all. Which reminds me that if Dr. Klein don’t have a translator thing then he or someone could build one? Its not impossible, but it might take sometime. A shout came as a thug try to attack me and Feathers, my hand went to the pistol as my V.A.T.S. activate on the two thugs as my aim took to their heads, one shot to number one, then shot number two hit them with two idiots dead. My view turn to Feathers in pure shock as she saw me kill to guys. I really hope she isn’t having seconds thoughts about following me, if she did then it would be much harder in finding out where she came from. I gave a quick jog to see what they got and nothing. Of course, these thugs never gotten anything good. So my body went back to its original position to the door, my head turn to see her standing there for a while, but soon she steadily went up by me with a small look of fear in her eyes. Again, I can’t blame her for that, to her I must look like a monster that can kill her in a snap of a fingers. Thankfully she knows I’m her best bet of surviving, so we both continued on to the gate of the Strip, the Securitron Mark II stood in their everlasting duty against trespassers. We stop before them as my mouth open to greet them. “Yo guys, listen up, this here is my new friend, which means she is allow in the Strip whenever she wants, that means she is grant access to Lucky 38 with the rest of the gang. Got it?” The gatekeeper gave a acknowledgement. “Of course sir, new data has been enter and all Securitrons now have this information.” My head nod. “Good.” “Have a nice day.” As my feet began to move my head turn to Feathers, she look a bit hesitant at me and the machines, with a motion of my hand she slowly follow me in. I have to admit she got guts to go through with this whole thing. That makes me respect her somewhat. As we enter in the Strip a chuckle escape from me as Feather eyes widen and her beak open of the sights of this place. After letting her gaze around we both move to my place, the tall building name Lucky 38, as we both enter in my ears heard a familiar voice. “So how you been Cass, haven’t heard from you for a while.” And there behold a man of Caucasian heritage with a red beret on his head and sunglasses hiding his eyes, his body cover by 1st recon survival armor with a sniper rifle on his back, in his hand holds a drink as he lean on the bar table. Before him is a woman of the same heritage with a cowboy hat on her head, she wore a brown jacket with a button shirt underneath and some jeans and boots. Behind her back is a Caravan shotgun, in her glove hand is a bottle of Moonshine. She gave off a laugh as she gave a small drink. “Well mister ‘Go off and be a guard for the caravans’ I decide to help Meddler into the business side of the new job he got, all he pays me is booze and a place to sleep, with a meal and a place over my head. Honestly that’s all I need. Nice to see you around here Boone.” He nod his head. “True, I hear that Meddler sometime travel around even though he’s the new boss of this place, still can’t believe that he manage to kick out both NCR and the Legion. Who knew?” Cass gave a small laugh. “Hopefully it won’t go to his head, he don’t need all that ego you know!” Boone shake his hand as he took a small drink. “You know he’s a modest guy, no way he’ll have all that ego get suck up to his head.” told Boone. “Yeah but, hey there Meddler how are you doing? Guess who’s, what the fuck is that!” shout Cass as she and Boone notice my new pal, my hands raise up in defense as my mouth spoke. “Hey guys take it easy, she ain’t around here, she lost and confuse as fuck. So please for my sake take it easy with her. Also she can’t understand us seeing that she probably from somewhere else.” Their expressions became less tense as they lean on the bar. “Alright Meddler, since she came in with you she’s a friendly?” ask Boone cautiously, hey we all have to be careful on who we trust sometime in the Wasteland. My head nod. “Yeah, she’s no threat, but is probably scared shitless by my presence.” Cass interrupt me. “Well this is you we are talking about Meddler.” joke Cass, my eyes roll. “Yeah, yeah, hardy, har har. I’m a scary guy, that is really funny Cass. Anyway I’m taking her up to the suites and grab a few things, I’m heading out and I appreciate it if you guys can keep an eye on her, if I guess right she doesn’t know the danger of the Wasteland at all, and I don’t mean the things you have to keep an eye out.” They both nod in understanding of what I meant, there are worse things in the Mojave than the usual stuff. My attention turn to Feathers as my hand motion her to follow me to the elevator as we both head up to the suites, we exit out to the many rooms of this place, as my feet took me to my room, my hands opening the door (for privacy mind you), and open up the weapons locker my search began to find the Transport thing to the Bowl. As a precaution I grab my plasma pistol and put away my Survival Rifle, including putting away my shovel and AMR for my Mercenary's Grenade Rifle, and my Super Heat fist of DOOM! I know it’s call something else but I don’t give a single fuck. After finding it my body turn to Feathers, it took me an hour for her to understand that I need her to stay here for now, with me pointing my finger down on the ground while my other finger point at her, and pointing to me while the other pointing to the door. You know the idea of me making drawings came to my mind but there’s a problem, one my drawing are shit, and two there aren’t enough paper to use, much less pencils. So after giving her the message and exiting out of 38 and using the thing my hopes came up as to think of helping poor Feathers in the situation she is dealt with. *** (gilda) So he’s gone. Well that is to be expect after all. He did told me to stay here for a while, problem is that he didn’t say how long though. There is nothing to do here, sure I could look through his stuff but then that would be a tad bit rude, meaning he could take it the wrong way and might rape me, kill me, and eat me, and in that order as well. But what else am I suppose to do but sit around? I’m BORED! Here I am in some other place with no way of talking to the dweebs here and, My stomach growl as my right talon held onto it, huh guess its been a while since I had gotten the chance to eat yet. So that could be something I can do right? Eat, and probably sleep. Not else to do around here. So after looking around and, WHOA! There is this, freaking strange dog right before me, metal all around it, some of it on the dog and it’s brain is cover by glass. What the talon is this creature? I know its a dog but still! My attention turn to some floating ball thing with metal sticking out of it looks at me, what is this thing? My mind boggle as these two, things just look at me, my body react in fear as my body move back, but only to stop when my flank hit something, my head turn to see a burnt being with skin strange and, and with that my mind couldn’t take with all that has been dealt with this place as it just shut down and my body fall down on the strange rug ground. *** (Cass) “Okay I have to ask, what the fuck is this?” ask Raul as me and Boone enter in the suite, we both see Feather knock out on the ground with ED-E floating by and Rex cautiously sniffing her. The ghoul look pretty confuse and honestly who can blame him? Not everyday when you see something as strange as Feathers come around these parts. “Hey Raul, that’s Feather, she someone that Meddler found during one of his ‘walk’s’, and decide to bring her in, and if you’re wondering where he went, he just said ‘heading to the Bowl’.” Raul head nods from Boone explanation. “Ah, so are we going to carry her on the beds then?” both me and Boone sigh as we all agreed that it would be funny to leave her there, it wouldn’t be right when Meddler comes back. So with the combine help of me, Boone, and Raul we carry her on the bed, but after words we talk about how much she weighs. “Jesus Christ! She’s a fucking ton and a half!” told Raul, Boone shakes his head. “No, she probably weigh just about 220 pounds or something.” While my shoulders shrug as my back lean on a wall. “Don’t matter now, say how long until Meddlers come back anyway?” Raul shrug. “With him? Hell if I know.” *** (meddler) “WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU NEED PARTS TO BUILD A TRANSLATOR THAT BIG?” Klein move back a bit from my outburst. “Well to simple put we need parts in order to make it that big. We never work with this type of size before and we got to make sure it works right.” My hand slap to my uncover face as a sigh escape from my mouth. “How much do you need?” “Oh just a few sensor modules, a few fissions batteries, maybe a few electronics here and there.” told Doctor 0, and at once my mind slowly regret this whole thing but hey perhaps there might be some good out of all of this. *** (arcade) “So how long until you think Feathers there wakes up?” Cass ask, Boone look at her with a raise eyebrow. “Normally a few hours, but we can’t say for sure since we never seen something like her before.” As my body enter in to see the two talk they turn to me. “Oh Arcade! Didn’t know you came to visit, what's up?” normally I wouldn’t be here since I’m busy with the Followers, but sometime I visit Meddlers place time to time to catch up with the guy. However what came to a surprise is the fact Cass and Boone are talking about someone I never got the chance to meet. “So who’s ‘Feathers’?” my question came out, Boone point his finger to the beds, my head went by the door to take a quick peak as my eyes see a hybrid of a bird and a cat. My attention turn to the two. “You gotta be shitting me.” They both shake their heads. A sigh escape from me. “Meddler?” They both nod their head. “Of course, whenever something new comes up, he is always connected with it. Okay how did this happen?” “Better sit down on this one Arcade,” is all Cass said as they both explain on what they know about what had happen. So Meddler went on of his ‘walk’s’ and discover something odd, next thing he knew he found Feathers and brought her here, and up and left to the Bowl finding something of use, and well Feathers just pass out by seeing Raul, she probably never meet a ghoul before. “Huh, you know this wasn’t what I expect when I came up here, but then again this is Meddler we are talking about, unexpect things are always his schticks after all. “Anyway have you guys heard from Lily or Veronica?” sadly they both shook their heads. “Last I heard from Lily is when she left to see her old home and Veronica is still with those Brotherhood guy’s. So its a bit hard for her to meet up with us, but we try.” told Boone, a sigh escape from me as my head shakes. Sometime I miss those two, even if one is using medication and the other is with the Idiots in armor they’re nice people. “Well if Meddler going to be out for a while, may as well sleep for a while.” I said, both Boone and Cass agreed with me. “It probably gonna take him a while to get back here.” said Boone. “Who knows, maybe Meddler is in a pool full of woman and is enjoying himself.” joke Cass. *** (meddler) “OH GOD, OH GOD, OH GOD! WHY ARE THEY HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE!” My legs carry as fast as they could, my head quickly turn to see Night Stalkers chasing after me, honestly I thought I got rid of them all the last time I pass here, I had a pretty good feeling a certain doctor save some for some test. “DAMN YOU ALL! I’M GONNA MAKE YOU PAY, OW! YOU FUCKER!” My plasma pistol came out to blast random shots at them. “WHY! JUST WHY!” *** (gilda) My eyes slowly open to see the old red paint on the wall, my head slowly rise as my nose smelt something cooking. It took my mind a while to remember what happen, then it came back to me. The travel by magic, the meeting of the strange guy, seeing the strange creature, even that one thing. Guess my mind couldn’t handle it all. My body slowly rise as my talons land on the ground, slowly my nose follow the aroma of food to what seem to be the kitchen to see the one in the hat with the pair of glasses on his face. He took something out of the pan and place it on the plate. It smell familiar somehow, the creature with the hat, who looks like a guy, turn to see me. He took a plate and place it on the table, he spoke something, and again can’t understand a single word. But from what I can tell he seem to indicate that he made something and one of the plates is for me. My right talon move the chair out to let me sit to see an, omelet? “Well at least they aren’t ponies.” my mouth mutter as my mouth began eating from a bite, honestly its not half bad. Not like back home but hey could be worse. They’re actually are quite chewy. They kept at talking and seem to be discussion something, what I don’t know and honestly don’t care right now, right now I’m focus on eating this food, or at least until the door opens with a slam. Our heads turn to see the guy who brought me here with a different look, same cloths and all but it looks a bit damage, even the way he walk seems like he had a long day, he had something in his left talon thing as he brought it on the table by me and slowly walks out. It look like some sort of headgear, or more like a helmet covering the entire backside with it covering the sides and it end at the front, it looks more like a helmet than a head covering. Thing is its probably fit for someone like, oh. With my talons starting to shake they gently grab the thing in fear of letting it go apart by the mere force being place on it. My talons slowly turn it around as it is upon my head, at first nothing happen, then something click and my mind feel nauseous the moment my talons let go of it. My mouth shut in fear of letting my food going back out of my stomach. That’s when my ears hear the language that couldn’t be understand, became common as if my life never change at all. “So what is that thing you gave her anyway Meddler?” My head quickly turn to see Sunglasses speaking with the one who brought me here. “A translator that also works like a helmet, no offense Boone but I am dead tired.” ”I had to travel all around the Bowl, scounge for the items to even make it, and got attack by Night Stalkers, Crazies and killer plants. I been hit in so many places and had to use my Stimpaks to restore myself and lets not forget me staying up the entire night to even get here.“ “So forgive me if I’m a bit snappy right now, if you excuse me I’m getting some shut eye.” with a shuffling of movement and with a slam door shut Sunglasses sigh. He turn back to the room I’m in to see me. “Can you understand?” And with that my mouth open to speak. “Yeah, I do.” He gave a sigh which sound of relief. “That’s good. Now you probably have tons of questions to ask, I’ll answer a few but I can’t promise I get all of them.” He sat down beside me with a chair turn around for him to lean on. “Normally Meddler be doing these type of things but as you probably heard he’s not in the talking mood.” My questions start out simple, where I am, who they are, the simple stuff. He told me his name is Boone, they are a species call Homo Sapien, or in other words Humans. He told me that we are in a place call the Mojave Wasteland, we live in the after effects of a war and are basically surviving. Soon my questions gotten more and more bold, about the one who I met name Raul, about the flying thing call ED-E, everything about the Wasteland and the dangers with in. But my heart became even more despair as the information came to me. That they never heard of my homeland, my kind, even Equestria with all of those puny ponies. My mind almost break down until my questions came to the one who brought me here. “Who Meddler? Well, that’s a bit of a strange tale. We don’t know much of his past and he don’t usually tell us about it, all we know is that he’s a Courier who does odd jobs, or rather was a Courier, now he’s the boss of this entire place. And let me tell you, if you think that’s strange, well the stories he said are even stranger.” “And trust me, we been traveling with him for sometime to know he isn’t a tall tale sort of guy.” And so he told me of the factions that use to reside in the Mojave, the NCR, the Legion, how he took over Vegas with the Securitrons and how he finish Mr. House. He told me of the remaining factions that remain on his good side, the Followers, the Brotherhood, those who live in the Mojave. Then he told me of the stories that surround Meddler, the Zion canyon, to Big MT, to even a place call the Sierra Madre. My mind almost lost it of all the tales, strange tribes? Brains held by globes, even the dead walk with clouds that can kill you? But that isn’t the kicker, when I decide to ask if there is anything else he stop and look away with a sad look. He then spoke. “Well there is one, but that isn’t for me to say, let just say that there is one story beside his life he will never tell at all. Even to us.” “What’s that?” “The Divide.” The door open to reveal a yellow hair man with the same color as the other two who I saw before, his glasses are lift up by his ‘hand’ with a look of surprise, he look like some sort of healer of sorts. “Boone, is Feathers awake?” A snort came from me. “‘Feathers’? The names Gilda, and who are you suppose to be dweeb?” He response with a laughter. “Dweeb? That’s the best you got? Wow that’s terrible, as for me I’m Arcade. Nice to meet you ‘Feathers’.” He laugh a bit more, before a insult came from me someone else came through. The woman with the hat. “What’s so funny?” she ask, Arcade turn to her wiping a tear from his face. “Oh sorry Cass, it just that ‘Feathers’ over here is a girl with a name call Gilda! And she call me ‘dweeb’!” She look away with a shaking head. “Can’t believe I’m agreeing with you there Arcade, but that is a weak insult, hell I can do more than saying dweeb.” My eyes glare at the two of them as they both laugh and chuckle. “Anyway that’s all I can say, if you excuse me I got to leave. Got another job heading to Goodspring for me.” told Boone as he got up, all three shook their hands together with Boone as he head out. “So you guys all know each other?” my question point towards Arcade and the one call Cass. He gave a small chuckle. “Oh yeah, you can say that we all met by Meddler one way or another. There are more but Lily is gone to her old home, and well Veronica is with her group, the Brotherhood. “Want us to tell you some adventures about we all had? Pass the time until our ‘leader’ wakes up.” suggest Arcade, a small smile open up as my head nod. “Sure, go ahead.” As he and Cass sit down in front of me they both recall how they met Meddler, for Cass its when he use to run an errand for a group call the Crimson Caravan. He persuade her to give up her company, but they both found out that two groups who are both the heads of the Crimson Caravan and the Silver Rush try to kill her business. Which got her piss off and demands their heads. Meddler persuade her again they can bring them down with NCR, which they did. For Arcade he said that Meddler came to Old Mormon Fort in Vegas where the Followers reside, and talk a bit with him. After some adventures here and there they brought up the Remnants and convince one of its members to help Meddler to take the Dam that the NCR use to held down. The Remnants are part of an old military group call the Enclave that died out in the past, Arcade father was part of them as well. He had an idea to go with Meddler to the battle but he convince him to stay with the Followers which is a good thing. They told more adventures about the others who travel with this fame person, the Super Mutant Lily, the ghoul who I met name Raul, and Veronica as well. But the more I hear about these adventures with this figure, the more I know that no matter what Meddler won’t give up a friend at all, that he will side with them, even if the adventure or mission is suicidal or if there is a easier way out he isn’t going to give them up. Even if he just met them for a few hours he would consider them trustful, which is saying much considering where we are in. He also said that Meddler got strong sense of right and wrong, that’ll he won’t shoot someone even if they annoy him, best bet is that he’ll beat them up till they give up. But that don’t mean he has a dark side when he see something he don’t like. They told me that he slit the throat of a man who shot him in the head, that he and Boone with EDI head to Caesar base to slaughter them all because the way they do things, that he has ways to get into people he can use. On one half that is scary, but in another it makes sense. You have to do what you can to survive. Arcade told me that Meddler still thought of that when he first meet them all, I ask what did he felt. Arcade just shrug and told me at first he didn’t trust Meddler the same, only way for Meddler to trust you is to travel with you and talk with him until he view you as a friend. He also said that he and the others are call the ‘Courier Companions’, it’s a nickname that many of the Mojave use since these guys been with Meddler for quite a while. And speaking of nickname he told me that whenever Meddler meets new people who hang out with him he give nicknames to them. For example Arcade nickname is ‘Mad Doctor’ and Cass nickname is ‘Boozy’. So they assure me that I’m not the only victim of his nickname fetish. The hours pass as they told stories of what they did when they travel with Meddler, it became around the evening time when our stomachs growl. “Oops, guess we’re starving, hang on.” He got to see what to eat, he took out some steak and some cans. “Here some Brahiam steak and some Cram.” “Its the only thing we got for now, hang on I know there some Nuka-Cola.” add Cass, after they got the drinks and food they began eating, after a while I began digging in as well, beggars can’t be choosers right? As we all ate together we heard a bark as Rex came in smelling the food with his tail wagging. “Rex don’t, you already ate earlier.” told Arcade, he gave a pitiful whine as finally Cass gave him a bit of steak. He gave a happy bark as he began eating. “You can’t ignore him when he’s begging.” told Cass, Arcade sighs as he return eating. “Yeah I know, but still.” After finishing the food we heard a groan as our heads turn to see Meddler without his helmet and gear on him, he wore a simple pair of pants with a white shirt. “Hey guys, give me a moment.” told Meddler as he pass by us to open the fridge to get some strange looking water. He finish as he turn to us. “So how’s the helmet?” he ask to me. My shoulders shrug. “Well it’s good for now and probably won’t be a hassle so, yeah.” My gaze didn’t turn away as he sat down by me. “Well?” he said, my eyebrow made an arch. “What?” “Are you going to say it?” “Say what?” “Let me explain it to you. ‘Thank you for taking me and and providing for me as you try to find a way for me to talk to you all and not get screw by anyone. Again thank you Meddler for deciding to save me and not letting me rot.’” Arcade try to hold back the laughter as Meddler does a poor job of impersonating me. He probably did it on purpose. “You’re so annoying dweeb!” This cause him look at me, his facial expression began to change, from a neutral look to a look that he’s trying to hold back laughter, but it became too much as he fell on the ground holding his sides and just laugh. “My God! Is *snerk* Is that all you got?” he went back laughing as his cheeks became red from all the laughter, finally he stop as he gather his breath and slowly got up. “I have to admit, that is the most pathetic insult I ever heard of all times, and trust me I heard worse insults thrown at me.” My cheeks for some reason became warm, why I got no idea. He sat down with his talons, hands, almost made the mistake right there. One of my earlier question to Boone is of the things on their wrist, he just said they’re hands. Its a bit strange to say but it make some sort of sense. Anyway he sat down wiping the tears away from his face. “Ha, ha, ha! Ah I need that Feathers,” before I correct him Arcade spoke for me. “Her name is Gilda, Meddler.” He look at me real quick and just shrug. “ Well at least its not silly than what I originally thought before. Still Feathers is a nice nickname.” His position change as he lean on forward on the chair, with his hands together and just looking at me with a stare unlike anything my mind could think of before. Once I thought staring right in a dragon eyes is consider dangerous, but looking at Meddler, it made me shiver with fear that never appear before in my entire life. Just what is he? “Now then Gilda, I know you got questions and probably got answers for them, understandable. However its my turn to ask a few questions now. We already know your name, now I wish to know where you are from, because there is no fucking way you’re from around here. You’re too naive, too innocent, too clean to walk these lands. So Gilda please tell me, just where are you from?” And with that my mouth open like a floodgate and everything that came from my mind, my memories just reach his ears, he didn’t even move from his position as he kept that stare, just look at me with the emotionless expression. My attention never turn away from him as my mouth kept going and going until he raise his left hand. I still don’t know why I blurt out so much to him like that, I just took one look at him with his body in that form saying ‘Tell me what you know and I will decide on your fate.’ My body shake with fear and uncertainty as he just look and tap his hand with his right finger. Finally be breaths out and sigh. “Well, that explains much then.” My attention finally turn to Arcade. “Meddler you’re not serious thinking that she,” he held up a hand and just look at him. “Arcade we been through strange shit, we both know I been through stranger shit. So Feathers here saying she’s from another place that has magic and got transported here isn’t that crazy.” “Trust me when I say this dude, I seen strange shit in my lifetime. Remember that I got transport not once, but twice to different places that seem damn impossible to see or believe. Beside Feathers here is proof enough that what she say is true. Question is how are we going to take her back to her home?” This gotten a surprise look from me and Arcade. “W-What?” He turn to me, this time with a gentler look in his eyes. “Gilda I’ll be honest, you don’t belong here. You came here by a simple accident and need to leave, this entire Wasteland? It’ll change you for worse than better, the things here will haunt you.” He thinks I can’t watch out for myself? I’m a griffon for crying out loud! We are descendents of warriors, fighting is in our blood, and this guy just tell me that I’m not ready for these lands? But another part of me, deep in me agree with him. I should be angry that he insult me as such but, but there are things here that make me sick, people who eats others? Monsters that can easily kill you? Even the land itself can kill you just by standing there if you aren’t careful. I’m just so confuse right now. My mind snap back into reality as the familiar talking of the two came to my ears. “You know no one actually has that type of technology, hell I don’t think those glass brains at MT got anything like that.” told Arcade. “Then what the hell are we suppose to do? She can’t stay here forever, sooner or later we got to find a way to get her out of here.” reason Meddler. Arcade groan as he rub his eyes. “I’m not arguing with you Meddler, but we have to face the facts, we need a bloody miracle if we can,” “Hey there boss!” our attention turn to Raul in his strange black cloths, with a quick glance Meddler facial expression turn from worry to joy in a snap. “RAUL!” he ran to the ghoul and gave him a hug. “How’re you doing buddy?” “Easy boss, I’m a old man remember?” Meddler let go, but his laughter didn’t cease the moment he hug the strange looking dude. “Yet you still can shoot faster than even I can!” A small smile appear from Raul face as it went quickly away. “Nice to see you still happy like the idiot you are, but there’s a problem boss.” His expressions change to serious as the laughter died away. “What happen? Is it Fiends?” Raul shook his head. “No, but there seem to be something in the,” A loud explosion came out as a loud voice can be hear of those who understand my language. “FOOLISH FOALS! DO YOU NOT KNOW WHO YOU ARE DEALING WITH?” And on cue all three sigh. “Please tell me its a Legion, just please oh please Raul tell me its one of those bastards.” said Meddler in a hopeful tone, Raul sighs again. “I could lie to you if you want boss but I guess it’s something like birdy over there.” Meddler sighs as he shakes his head. “Give me a moment,” he turn his head to Arcade. “Good here?” My head turn to the blond man as he nod his head. “Don’t worry, I’m not heading anywhere.” Meddler attention turn to me. “Hey Feathers, you better come with me, if its someone where you come from then its best for you to translate for us.” He went out of the dinner room as my talons slowly move as me and Raul move to the metal door to wait for Meddler. He came out wearing his garbs when we first met, but this time he got some serious firepower, or at least I think its serious with all the things on him, and since Raul tone gives me an idea from his tone. “You’re serious boss? Isn’t all that overkill?” “Please Raul, remember what I say. Nothing say prepare than having powerful weapons on your side.” > Chapter 2: The face-off between a legend and a alicorn who got problems > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ch 2: The face-off between a legend and a alicorn who got problems (gilda) The ride down to the ‘elevator’ is silent as me, Meddler, Raul just stood and no words spoke as we got out, the loudness became more often as the never-ending shouts of a native from my world became boring. That’s when Meddler ask me what is she shouting I basically said she shouting ‘get away, leave me alone, don’t make you destroy you.’ That stuff. He just gave a sigh and merely mutter, “I really hates Fridays, for once why can’t things go right?” Raul whisper in my ear. “Don’t mind him, he just hates these things coming up on Fridays. You should've seen him a few weeks back on a Friday, man wasn't that a field day.” Meddler turn his head as he spoke out, his helmet cover his facial expression, but I have a pretty good feeling he’s glaring at Raul. My eyes look at the golden thing again as a question pop in my mind. “Hey Meddler what is that thing on you? Is it gold protection or something?” Meddler gave a little laugh as he turn his head to me. “Well this thing is the Pimp-Boy 3 million, it tells time, my health, if my limbs are cripple, what I got with me, including stuff that isn't shown on me, how good I’m at something and these ‘perks’ things I got to help me out.” “It also tell me of how much Rads I got, a radio, and useful as a flashlight. It’s also good as a map in case I don’t know where the fuck I’m at.” Don’t know what most of the stuff he said is but all I can gather is ‘it’s a useful tool on my arm.’ As the doors open my mouth drop in shock, there standing with her hooves up in the air with dark fur, a strange wavy mane and tail with slit eyes shouting with her horn glow stood Nightmare Moon. For some reason this gotten my mind to be blank and gone off for a moment. Meddler began shaking me, trying to snap me out of whatever my mind is thinking of right now. “Hey Gilda? Gilda? I need you to stay focus!” With a shake of my head turn my focus got back, but seeing a pony legend being alive right here did cause me to doubt things. One of them is thinking ‘how the claw am I going to survive this?’ Another is ‘what the claw am I going to do?’ The most favorite is ‘WE ARE GOING TO DIE!’ A slap hit my right side of my face as Meddler is looking at me and is shaking my shoulders. “Gilda, listen to me. I need you right now, need you to pay attention and translate for me okay? Can you do that?” My head slowly nod up and down as he let go and notice that he knelt down to meet me face to face, he raise himself up and dust off the dirt off, he turn to Nightmare Moon and took out something. “Feathers, close your eyes.” With a quick shut my ears hear something thrown as a second later something explode with Nightmare Moon scream in pain, with a dash of movement something jump and hit something. “You can open your eyes you know.” Told Raul. As they slowly open my jaw drop in shock as Nightmare Moon, the boogymare of all ponies, is on the ground in a choke-hold by Meddler as one arm is over her throat while the other is holding a small weapon to her head. “Feathers, tell big black emo that if she use whatever the hell she do with whatever magic she got I’ll blown her head off, because I got not time for this shit!” shout Meddler in an irritated tone. The shock quickly pass by as my talons move to Nightmare Moon and my mouth move, though there is hesitation within my tone, its not everyday where you see a legend before you in such a position. “Hey, the guy who’s holding you down is going to kill you with one blast from his weapon if you try anything.” She look at me with a sneer. “Please! This foalish mortal has no chance with us!” “Tell her that I’m no ordinary being, I am the motherfucking ruler of this place she is in. And if she got any understanding of people in power then she’ll know how to give me some goddamn respect.” As the translation went on for about five minutes of threats and words Meddler found a compromise. “Alright how about this? I challenge you to a fight, no magic, no wings, just strength, I’ll won’t use any of my weapons or healing stuff, all I will use is my fighting glove. If you win I’ll let you go and let you live your life. But if I win, you will do what I say? Got it?” And the odd part? She agrees. “Very well, let us battle mortal!” her tone sound like a sure win. As he let go and walk to Raul and handing him his things my concern gotten the better for me, sure Meddler is good and all, but this is a powerful legend we are talking about. “Are you sure this is a good idea? You’re about to fight a goddess from my world. There is no chance you’ll win!” A chuckle escape from him as a strange hot golden glove appear on his right side. “Please, if I can handle getting my head shoot through twice and live through it, then I’ll be able to survive fighting a ‘goddess’. And hey if she break her word I’ll get my boys to shoot her down like a Bloatfly!” While I never heard a thing before the tone of his voice convince me its something easy to kill. Hopefully his confidence won’t get in the way, normally I’m not like this, but there something about Meddler makes my mind think twice on my thoughts about him and the way I speak to him. Like he knows things far beyond of my mind to process it, see things that would make the strongest warrior to turn away, even surviving something that’s deadly to many while he just shrug it off, as my bottom sat down a chuckle came from Raul as he look at me. “Let me guess, trying to figure out boss?” my head nods as these two beings face each other before they slowly move step by step. “Well let me tell you something, something I learn by traveling with him.” My head turn up to him as the sound of running is coming to my ears. “When you first meet him you don’t know what to make of him, but as time pass traveling with the guy, you’ll learn he’ll bring out the deepest parts out of you and you just don’t know why or how.” The first strike came when a shout came from Nightmare Moon, my head would of turn to see the fight, but my attention is still on the experience ghoul. “One time I ask the boss how he could be able to let us talk more than we let on. And you know what he said? He said ‘I just don’t know Raul, maybe the reason is because you let me talk to you by letting you see my actions, after all actions speak louder than words ever will.’ “ “SUBMIT!” Both of us turn our heads to see a down Nightmare Moon with Meddler over her breathing hard. Well it looks like he’ll, wait is her horn glowing? With a blast to his face he fell down by Raul. She got up as her bruises began to disappear. She just cheated as if she didn't care on her word. “Raul, give me my stimpacks. Now.” told Meddler in a cold tone, my head turn to him as his helmet is off and is a few feet away from his head. He got up as he crack his neck and open his right palm to let Raul give him his medicine, Meddler put the stuff in his coat as he took out five small metal things. “Better close your eyes.” suggest Raul, with a quick shutting of my eyes something fling and Nightmare Moon scream in pain once more, my eyes open quickly to see Meddler beating down on her, not caring if he cause more pain or how much she scream from the beating. At first it look like he want payback but after a few hits on her legs and throat it looks like he’s trying to make her suffer in ways that my mind could never imagine. Especially with him pulling on her wing. “Oh fuck, not again.” mutter Raul as he move as fast as he could to stop Meddler with one hand on shoulder. “Feathers get Arcade now!” The serious in his tone and the way Meddler act convince me to fly straight in the building and head to the place we start before we went outside. “Arcade! Meddler is acting strange, like really strange, to the point that you’re needed!” my shout became heard as he quickly ran up to me from the bedroom and push the button as we both enter inside of the elevator. “How strange did Meddler look?” Arcade ask, honestly I have no idea, but all that came out from me is this. “I don’t know, after getting hit by a blast to his face he became a bit more violent.” He sighs. “Yep that got to do it.” As we enter out we see Raul trying to calm Meddler. “Come on, sure she may broke her word but its to be expected after all.” The way he looks is terrifying enough, especially the tone coming out from him. “I don’t care Raul, let me be so I can mount this bitch head on a wall.” Raul raise his hands in the air as he try to give reasons to him. “Look boss try to calm down here, just relax okay?” One part of me wonder why Nightmare haven’t use her magic by now or fly away, but the moment that I took a look at her eyes gave me a clear answer. Fear. Deep terrifying fear are set in those eyes of hers, she dare not even move for out of fear of being harm even more. Arcade slowly came to Meddler in a calm tone. “Meddler this isn't you, take a deep breath and remember that you don’t kill like this. You don’t beat someone down who can’t fight for themselves.” He turn to Arcade and shout in that tone. “AND WHY SHOULDN'T I?” A wince escape from me as my face try to keep a neutral expression. “Meddler think for a moment, remember that she doesn't come from here, she is from somewhere else. She just try to defend herself, I’ll admit she did broke her word, but that means that you won Meddler. Meddler you don’t beat down someone who can’t fight back, you’re not a Legion.” This cause him stop for a moment as he breaths in and slowly out. Finally he just walk away, took his damage helmet and put it on. He pass by Raul and Arcade and spoke in a harsh tone. “I’m going for a walk.” A moment later after he left the two let out a breath as if they held them in caution of being the victim. Arcade turn to Nightmare Moon. “Alright lets see how much damage he cause on you, Gilda can you translate for me to see how much Meddler cause?” “Ah, right.” So my head turn to Nightmare Moon as my voice manage to get her attention. “Hey, this guy here is a doctor, he’ll patch you up, you just need to tell me how much pain you’re in.” She look at me as the tears start coming down on her face. She just curl up and cry, Arcade sighs as he shake his head. “Damn, never thought it would come up this fast. It’s getting worse.” “So can any of you tell me what the CLAW was that all about?” I ask in a loud tone. The two look at each other as if they are deciding who would say it first. “Well, did Boone told you about one story that Meddler haven’t told any of us?” My head nod. “Yeah, the Divide.” “Whatever happen to him in that place cause him to be, different.” told Raul, Arcade knelt down to see how much damage Nightmare Moon been in, Raul kept on. “Before the Divide the boss is what you saw, friendly a bit, funny at times and a casual guy, but after the whole thing…” “Let just say he acts different now, he has these ‘episodes’ of him being out of place with a serious anger in him, it can cause anyone to be crying down like horse girl over here if they see his eyes. We don’t know what he did but the rumors said around him that he remember things, things he purposely forgotten.” “But whatever he remember cause him to be like this, what’s more he decide to go on walks to clear his mind. It helps bit by bit, but it’s not going to last. We both know that.” add Raul. “There, you’re all better. Hey Gilda, can you get her to the place? Don’t worry I’ll grant clearance. Also can you ask Rex to follow Meddler? Normally we would leave him be, but we got to be careful this time. Who knows what could happen.” My head nod as my talon gently grab her hoof and help lead her to the Lucky 38. I would ask more but the way those two look at each other shows that there isn't much to tell. As we move into the tall building and went up to the elevator and settle her on the bed did my attentions turn to Rex who lay down with his tail wagging. “Hey, Arcade wants me to tell you to follow Meddler, can you do that?” with a bark he got up and left. As my attention turn to Nightmare who pass out from all the action and is sleeping on the bed I lead her in. “Man this could of gone bad,” My head turn to Arcade who sat down in a chair with a sigh coming from him, he took off his glasses to rub his eyes real quick to place them back on. “We try to help Meddler with his problem but he won’t budge a bit, sometime he’s too stubborn for his own good.” “Is there anyone he would actually listen to?” He gave a sad shake of his head. “Not really, the only one that could possibly calm him down is Boone, but he ain't here most of the time.” “Well at least he doesn't drink all the booze.” told Cass as she enter in with a glass bottle in hand. “We almost got someone kill in cold blood and all you worry about is Meddler drinking booze?” shout Arcade, Cass shrug. “Not saying I’m worry about that, just saying that Meddler could be worse by drinking alcohol.” Arcade gave a lasting sigh. “Yeah you’re right. But we have to figure something out sooner or later. Which reminds me.” he turn to me. “Hey Gilda can I see your helmet real quick? If tall, dark and crying is going to be staying here then we need to find a way for her to understand us.” My head nod. “Sure, just be careful with it, who knows what Meddler would say if he found out you damage it while looking through it.” He gave a small laugh. “You got a good point there. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.” With a removal of my helmet and passing it to him he look at it and walk away out of the room. Cass point her thumb to the bed, indication me to get some rest. Which is a good idea, since after all the excitement I could use a good nap. With a jump on the bed and laying down my eyes close and sleep a good sleep. ** (meddler) With a final clink of placing my helmet back to my head with my hands, a long sigh came from me, right now I’m leaning on a rock in Red Rock Canyon and just watching the sky as the sun slowly set. Its nice to see the sun slowly going down, and thankfully I have company to see it. Rex came by my side after making his business and curl around by me on my left side. My left hand gently scratch his ears as my mind wander. These walks help me during my troubles, but I know sooner or later that amends have to be made. Especially with that one being. She didn't deserve to face me in my, ‘episode’ and deserve better. I only hope that she don’t get too scared of me, that would be quite awkward than it already is. I know I should talk to someone about what happen to the Divide but...would they understand? Understand what I did back then? What I remember that once long ago that my mind try to forget. But my voice never try to bring it up to my friends, even those closest to me, for fear of what their views may change of me. Still though, me and Rex should get back, its a bit dangerous to travel in the night, even for the likes of me. Who knows what could come up? So we both travel side by side, honestly its nice that one of the guys sent Rex with me, because I am in some dire need of some form of companionship. That’s one of the things that I probably need, someone to travel with me to make sure my episode don’t come back again. Just like back then when it just me and my crew, man do I ever miss those days. They always manage to watch out for me as I do the same to them. Sigh. But everyone is so busy, Arcade with the Followers, Ver with the Brotherhood, Boone with his job, Cass with the paperwork, Lily off somewhere, Raul with his wandering, only ones who stay beside me is ED-E and good Rex here. Hmm that reminds me, I need to get some armor for Feathers and a weapon for her to train with. Maybe I can make some leather armor for her to get use to until me and Arcade can figure out a way to send her and that horse back to where they belong, My thinking got interrupt by a flash behind me and something that sounds like a scream. My head turn to see something black heading to me, before my legs could even move it impact on my chest with a loud oof coming from me as my back land on the ground, with a check of my health it’s cut by a third of what it suppose to be and a cripple chest. Just grand. My arms push it off whatever the hell land on me as my hands search for a stimpack to restore my chest and a few more for my health as a precaution. Rex bare his fangs at the thing that land on me, it move away a bit from both the canine and from me. And with a turn of my light things just got even more fucking complicated. THE FUCK IS THIS THING SUPPOSE TO BE? My mind shout out in my head. It’s black all over in some armor, bug wings, blue eyes things, a horn on it’s head, fangs, its some sort of insect that been combine with some horse thing, although the holes in it’s legs and tail say that it some sort of reject. The size of it reminds me of Feathers. Serious though what the fuck am I looking at? I swear if those brain globes got anything to do with this then I’m considering of a quick retirement because I am not in the mood for this kind of shit! And its fucking speech is some sort of bug sounds. Even more perfect. One part of me say just fucking kill it because it got the balls to fall on me, another say to stay my hand. For all I know it could be of use to me. But my anger is slowly getting the better of me and, wait. Is it, running from me? Okay that’s it, you just got yourself one ticket of a beat down. With my legs running to it and grabbing on its hole hooves things my hands force it down as it went on the ground. My legs went down to hold it down on each side of it as my hands began beating the shit out of this bitch. It cry out in pain as my beating continue on, this went on until my mind decide to give it a bitch slap for no reason. Normally I’m not the type of person to do this but considering that my day is shitty from all that I had to put up with I don’t give a damn right now. But again my day got interrupt again by some assassin. My fist’s stop the beat down as my legs pull me up and my hand went to a weapon that I may or may not forgot to bring. Only thing that came with me is my glove. It will do. “Stay the fuck here bug, I’m not finish with you yet!” it just lay there with what appear on a scare look on its face. Good, now time for me take my frustration on these morons who made me more piss off than usual. My V.A.T.S. activate to get me a good chance on how much asswhoping I’m going to give. After picking a few targets the smashing begin, after a few hits one die, snag his rifle to beat one over the head while smashing him repeatedly. Rex jump on one which gave me time to remove my glove to aim at his head with a helpful V.A.T.S. the one trying to give Rex trouble just got headless. A bullet hit me in the shoulder as my aim turn to a Legate. A few rounds in him manage to end his pathetic life. My aim look to another that's about to charge at me, my hands turn the weapon around to use it as a club to smash his face in, then took aim and shot him in the same face that got smash. My aim went to one that’s trying to run, sadly he never got fast enough as his legs gave him a problem. Rex jump at the fucker and rip his throat out. “Good boy.” I said as my hands drop the weapon and got my glove back on. We went back to the creature to see it still there where it obey my order, probably because it fear that I’ll catch it again and give it a worse position than it is already. Cracks on its shell show, some green liquid ooze out some wounds that are open, it curl itself in a ball in fear of looking at me, if this is just some leftover Legion the first thing that would pop in my mind would be congratulating on myself for such a good job, however it’s not a Legion and is something that got in my way by accident. Just looking at it made me uncomfortable, sure it land on me and hurt me earlier but it didn't deserve a beating from me, or to face the aftermath of my stress. So out of guilt my left hand took out a super-stimpak that I carry in case that there is a wound to damage for me to heal with a usual one. After injecting the thing into the creature the wounds began to heal. It look at me in confusion as a sigh escape from me. “Sorry about earlier, my mind got to angry of what happen earlier and you didn't deserve what I done for you, so what it worth I’m sorry.” My knee bent down to its level as my hands took off my helmet to let it see my face. “I don’t know who you are, what you are, or why you even in a place like this, but I know that you probably didn't ask for this whole thing. Again sorry. Let just say I’m not exactly the most stable person right now. “ The expression on its face change from confusion into something else. Sadly my knowledge of facial expressions on different species haven’t been good lately. “Anyway I know that I’m probably the last person you ever want to have help with but if you want to come with me I’ll,” the creature went up to me and put it’s hooves around me as it nuzzle my right side of my head and something wet came down to my neck. Oh fuck I think I made it cried. After a few minutes of this it let go of me as it rub it’s face with its hooves. Honestly I still don’t know what the fuck happen, one moment I’m apologizing to it that I accidentally kill it and then the next it hug me and cry as I am it long lost sibling or something. I swear these strange shit stuff that happens to me is going to get me screw over somehow. “So, yeah, like I said if you want to travel with me that’s cool.” As my hand went on my knee to lift myself up the helmet went up in my mind as my eyes look down to see it still on the ground, before my knees even bend it pick up my helmet and began buzzing its wings up to hold it clumsily in its hooves to me. After grabbing it with confusion in my expression my hands place and secure it without a word from me. “Okay then, let’s go you two.” I told the dog and creature, Rex bark as the creature for some reason chirp to me in confirmation as the two began to follow me. My mind still is confuse on what the hell just happen five minutes earlier and wonder if my beat down went a bit too far as I may or may not accidentally kill a few brain cells in its head. ** (Cass) “And done! Well I can safely assume I manage to work this stuff out. Hmm still need to test it though.” spoke Arcade, as he got Gilda helmet in one hand and in the other hand he have a what appears to be an Remnant helmet. Or at least at first glance, the front is longer than what it suppose to be and the angle is wrong. And for some reason there’s a hole in the middle of it on the top. Seriously though what did he do now? “Arcade what’s with the helmet?” He turn to me, noticing me leaning on the door wall as my arms cross over each other. “Oh hey Cass, after looking at Gilda’s helmet schematics I decide to see how it can be copy with another helmet with all the parts that can be use. And it turns out I can, now the question is will it work like Gilda’s.” “Which reminds me, is Meddler back at all?” he ask, my head shakes as my mouth gave a sigh. “No, which means this walk is longer than most walk’s. Still I heard that Rex is with him, hopefully he’ll come back, otherwise well we may start worrying.” Arcade gave a nod as he went into the bedroom with Gilda and the strange horse are sleeping. He gently shook Gilda first as her eyes open with him returning the helmet to her, she place it on her head and gave a yawn. “Got enough sleep?” he ask, Gilda crack her neck and gave her head a few shakes. “Yeah, I’m fine, what’s with the helmet?” As the two talk my attention turn to a Securitron coming up to me, however it had a familiar face, Yes-man. “Hi there! I just to want to let you know that the Big Boss is heading back to Vegas quite soon, and he got himself a new strange guest!” You know at first when I travel with Meddler seeing strange new guest became quite a shock, especially when I first met Lily and ED-E but after traveling with him nothing sorta faze me as strange shit seem to come to him. “Did he say anything?” I ask, after his reprogramming when he came back he never took orders from anyone, but for some reason he obey Meddler, maybe it’s because Meddler made him connect to everything, but who knows when it comes to machines, still we always ask and never order because he probably won’t obey them. “Well all he did say is that this guest probably came somewhere far away and also bring out the Moonshine.” Damn, he never ask for Moonshine often, which means he in a mood to get drunk on his ass. “Okay, thanks Yes-man.” “No problem.” He disconnect as the original face of the Securitron came to the elevator and left. As my attention went to grabbing some booze Arcade call out to me. “Hey Cass, come over here!” Ugh, he better have a damn reason for calling me over while I get the booze ready for, is that horse wearing that Remnant’s helmet? And indeed she is, Nightmare Moon, damn I can’t keep a straight face with that name. The name itself is laughable and can’t be taken seriously. We need to make her name more serious in order to be serious, otherwise we’re going to be laughing for every time her name is mention. “Arcade, is she wearing a Remnant helmet?” A smile appear on his face as he nod his head. “Well it use to be a Remnant helmet until I change it a bit to make it fit her head and horn, not as great as Meddlers though, maybe he can upgrade it so it can be better,” The elevator door open when Meddler walk in with a happy Rex by his side. “Hey there Meddler! Better?” A grunt came from him. “As soon I get some Moonshine, also say hi to Buggy.” Our attention turn to a strange horse bug thing with a horn and some fangs. “The fuck is that?” We both said at the same time. “Strange, that’s what I thought too.” said Meddler, he grab the Moonshine from me as he took off his helmet and let it fall as he began drinking. “I didn't give you the booze yet. “ I start to say. He turn his head to look at me. “Guess what? I’m not in the mood to give a damn.” Sometime I wonder why he’s an asshole, but considering all the shit he has to put up with in his life like the bug by him, I can say he have a good reason to be such an asshole. The creature he dub ‘Buggy’ took the helmet with its hooves and move by him as it chirp, wait chirp? Okay now I’m even more confuse, just what kind of strange bastard decide to make this thing chirp like some bird? Arcade slap his forehead. “Meddler I don’t usually question the stuff you do since it’ll would cause me brain damage but I do question the predicaments you somehow gotten yourself in. Especially how you manage to find not one, not two, but three creatures that don’t come around from here.” “Hell if I know Arcade. Hell if I know.” Is all Meddler said as he began drinking. Gilda decide to see what’s all about as her head appear by the door. “Hey what’s with all the, CHANGELING!” The three of us notice Buggy drop the helmet as it began being chase by Gilda. We watch this out of fun as Gilda chase it until Meddler got sick of it by grabbing Buggy and putting it behind him as he stood before Gilda. “How about you explain me what a ‘Changeling’ is Feathers, because I am not in the mood for this shit. Okay?” Gilda gave him a defiant look as she explain what Buggy is. “It’s a Changeling, they are a race of beings that can shape shift at will into any shape, like for example me, or a pony. They feed on emotions, but the biggest one for them is love, they also take away a pony and replace them to get their love while the original is stuck in some cocoon who knows how long.” “So that’s why I’m freaking out and am right now warning you to get rid of it!” Meddler look down at her and cross his arms with a surprising answer. “No.” “What?” Well it looks like Meddler is up to something. Better wait it out. “You hear me, no. If I last remember correctly not only did I bring in a griffon, a horse thing with a horn and wings, and letting Buggy in my place when I could easily kick you all out and let you fend for yourselves and probably die.” “But did I? No I didn't. Because I decide to let you all in and try to be understanding. Think for a moment Feathers, without me you probably wouldn't gotten that helmet. Shit if I left you alone some Legion would of found you and you’ll be a place far worse than death.” “Beside,” he said as he turn around and is before his room. “My heart hasn't felt love inside it for such a long time.” And with that he enters in with Moonshine in hand. Buggy look at Gilda and slowly move to get Meddler helmet, pick it up with its hole hooves and went inside Meddlers room as its wings buzz in a average pace. For a second we expect it to get kick out, but the door shut as loud as it could be, Rex whine as he went up to me. A sigh escape from me. “I know Rex, you want some attention, don’t worry about it.” Gilda went by Arcade as she see me giving attention to Rex. “Is he for real? There’s no way he’s going to trust that thing is he?” Arcade looks down at her. “And he doesn't trust you enough to let you live here?” This gotten her to shut her beak. “Call Meddler a fool but if he trust someone or in your case somegriff enough to let them live here that itself speaks of how much he trust you to be around here. If having a emotion sucker, a creepy horse thing, and a bird-cat living in his place isn't showing trust then we all must be crazy.” “Is it true?” All of our heads turn to Nightmare as her Enclave head pops out to see us. “Is it true that he never had love in him for a long period of time?” Huh, from what Raul said about how Gilda describe her, you think she didn't live up to the boogeyman potential. But then again how can you when someone like Meddler shows up and start beating everlasting shit out of you and possibly cause mental scars? Arcade rub his chin for that question. “That’s a pretty good question, honestly we have no idea, hell the only thing we can get from him is friendly affection as an old comrade in arms or a family member, as close as family we can be. Never ask him about his love life since I know better and he isn't gay.” “Also because you don’t want to be in a awkward position?” I add, he gave a shrug. “Guilty as ever, now then we need to give you a nickname Nightmare,” She gave a little huff. “Why? Nightmare Moon is a perfect good name.” “But it’s not making us take you seriously, just say it out loud when you’re announcing your presence to a deadly band of evil creatures.” response Arcade. She breaths in and spoke her name. “Nightmare Moon.” After a minute she look at Arcade. “You make a valid point there, very well for now on we shall be call Nightmoon!” “There, now we can take you a bit more serious.” told Arcade, my left hand went up to open the booze that’s been in my hand for a while now as now is the perfect time to get drunk off my ass. Gilda turn to me in a look saying ‘Please, give me some booze.’ Thankfully I’m in the mood to share. “Follow and be drunk Gilda, we both need it.” > Chapter 3: Exposition, Filler time, and stuff. What more do you want? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 3: Exposition, Filler time, and stuff. What more do you want? (meddler) As the screams and shouts come all around my surroundings, at first my mind didn't know what happen, one moment I’m deliver something, the next explosions everywhere. My left hand reach for my 9mm pistol as the Marked Men began coming at me, my aim point to one head and fire. They come in a pattern, one down, another attack at me from my left, my body turns in a roll to fire at another. This been going on for five minutes as I fight for survival. Until my ears hears a voice. “Meddler.” My body froze as my head turn to see, her. Looking at me with her skin burn off, her eyes glare at me in accusation of the crimes I made. What’s worse is the boy by her. The same as the woman, the Marked Men grab onto me, my body struggle but the two walk to me as their eyes began to glow as their mouths open to reveal a scream of a wrathful banshee. My eyes dare not close for the fear within me overcome my strength. Then more appear, a woman, a man, and a sister. All of their eyes glow as they all scream in unity with the woman and the child step forward. “Why? Why did you do it?” My head try to turn but the Marked Men held my skull to face the glowing eyes of the boy. Tears roll down my face as there is no words that came from my as the boy roughly grab my head and scream in my face. “WHY DID YOU DO IT?” Then all of a sudden a new voice appear in the crowd of the Marked Men around us. “We see you are haunted, we admit we have a different view of you.” Darkness surround all of us as the Marked Men disappears into the shadows and the voice spoke once more. “It is time for you to be awake.” ** (Still meddler) My eyes open as my head moves around in fear, my breath quicken as my heart is going faster than it usually does. The familiar red around me help me gain back my senses as my breath go in slowly and out, my heart slowly return to it’s regular pace. My right hand went up to rub my eyes as a groan escape from my mouth. What the hell was that? The nightmares don’t usually get me out like that, in fact maybe my brain is telling me that I shouldn't drink before going to bed. My head move to see the empty bottle of Moonshine on my right, my eyes look down to see my white shirt and underwear. Okay, so far I’m not naked. Good. My ears just start to hear a snoring of sorts, it sound strange like a breath in and breath out in the sound of chirps. Now why is that so familiar, oh fuck me with four females. The memories of what happen last night came up to me, the touching of the ground, the beating, the killing of Legion, the moody mood of me, including the drinking of the Moonshine. Buggy snuggle by me as it’s head is on my chest as its hooves curl up inwards, the lower legs are on my legs. Normally I wouldn't mind this since its been a long time that I gotten someone in my bed, but the fact that I don’t know if Buggy is a dude or not is a big reminder to me. My left side slowly moves away from Buggy as my body attempt to get up, Buggy didn't open it’s eyes as I’m up, then the hangover came knocking to my poor brain. “Ugh, new rule. Never drink booze before bed.” My left hand hold my head as the other attempt to find the lamp to turn it on. After clicking the thing on my eyes search to find my clothes, thankfully they’re on the ground by a few feet away from the bed. “Okay, one, two, three!” My upper body move up as my legs getting wobbly as my mouth clamp down to not let a groan escape from me in worry that my noise might make Buggy awake. My hands grab my pants to place them on, and after gathering the rest of my clothes on me there’s a shift on my bed, my head turn to see Buggy open it’s eyes and look up to me. “Um, morning.” I said. Hopefully it’s not afraid of me because if it is then I might need to find a way for it to trust me when I get another translator, okay what the fuck? Buggy got up as it wings began to buzz as it float straight at me, then unexpectedly wrap it’s hooves around me as it rub it’s head on my armor chest. I am really questioning the brain cells in this thing. I know that if someone just beat the shit out of me I would of hunt the person down and do worse things to him. Not hug him and show him affection. You know maybe after getting a translator I’m going to ask it questions that will finally make me stop being so damn confuse on it. “Okay then, a good morning to you too.” As my hands gently remove it hooves around me as my body turn around to open the door to the bright light of the electricity. “Oh wait, my helmet.” Before my head turn around a chirp is by me as Buggy is holding my helmet in it’s hooves. What is it with Buggy and always getting my helmet? “Um thanks,” My right hand grab the helmet as Buggy lets go. “Okay then, let’s get some food.” My helmet went on my head and my fingers connect it to the places it need to go. As my head turn to my right to see Cass walking out of the bed room with her holding her head, even the legendary drunkard can get a hangover as well. My right arm lean on the wall as my legs slowly move to meet her, my mouth open in a small tone. “Hey Cass, you good?” She groan. “Yeah, just give me a moment. Damn who knew that Gilda is a drinker?” A snort escape from me. “I’m just surprise that she didn't got any booze ever since she came here. And speaking of our new guest, anything odd?” her head shook. “Naw, but Arcade left and so did Raul. If you don’t mind I’m heading to back to my bed, I can get a day off from paperwork. Later Meddler.” She turn to walk back in the room with the many beds. My head took a peak in the dinner room to see Gilda holding her head with her claws as her head is on the table, the horse is just sitting on her tush just looking at her, until she notice me. Is she wearing an Remnant helmet? She is wearing one, normally I would be suspicious on who made it for her but the only people I know who could make a translator is Arcade and Veronica, since Veronica is with her people I’m betting it’s Arcade. I’m more actually impress that he manage to shape the helmet to her head setting. I should probably ask him how he manage it. And where he got it from. “Greetings Meddler, we see you are awake with the Changeling.” My head nods as my left hand move a chair to sit down before her. Buggy chirp as it settle down my legs and began rubbing it’s head on my right one. “First off, I want to apologize for what happen yesterday, you can say my mind wasn't in order when you blast me with your horn. I have these episodes which tend to happen whenever I either get too stress or something trigger it, mostly it’s from being shot at too many times, someone I really hate, or when I’m piss off by someone stupid enough to get me angry.” At first I thought she would just gloat at me apologizing to her, what’s more surprising is that she isn't cringing away from fear, that’s not the usual reaction I get whenever my mind get snap, which is a good thing actually. She nod her head and reply. “We understand.” What? “The one name Arcade and Raul explain that you are having troubles from something call the ‘Divide’ and is living with the aftereffects, that is understandable. For you see we are the ‘effects’ of something huge in our world. It is something that we do not wish to speak freely about.” My head nod as my hands are place together with them resting under the helmet chin. “We all have secrets we don’t wish to share to anyone.” It seem we both have things we can’t freely say to just anyone. Which makes us have something in common. “Now then quick question, since Feathers over there is having a terrible hangover and you are completely sober answer me this,” My right hand quickly points down to Buggy. “Why the hell is Buggy acting this way?” A chuckle escape from her as I swear she gave me a smug look behind that helmet. “I admit I don’t know much of her culture but that doesn't mean I can simply ask her.” My left hand raise up. “Wait you mean to tell me you can speak another language?” Another chuckle escape from her. “After a fashion Meddler, one moment.” My mind thought for a moment of the information that just pass. Wait, Buggy’s a girl? Well that answer one question. She began chirping in high and low tones as Buggy stop rubbing her head to my leg as she raise her head up to look at Night Wavy (My nickname for her), as they began talking in chirp’s and then after five minutes of talking Wavy began laughing, she laugh so hard that she hold her sides as she fall down and turn left and right. Feathers shout at her. “Do you mind? Some of us are trying to recover from a hangover!” Wavy didn't stop as she kept laughing and laughing until she gain her breath as her laughing stop. She slowly place her hooves on the table as she got up. A few minutes of gathering her breath she sat down in her position as she turn her helmet head to me. “Ah Meddler, you are going to be in such a surprise when you get her a translator.” “And why the fuck you aren't going to tell me, in fact what you two talk about?” I ask. Again I swear she raise her eyebrows at me in a huge grin. “Well what’s the fun in that if I just told you? Beside seeing your reaction is going to be fun!” Why do I have the feeling that when I find out it will just make me so confuse and angry at the same time I’m going to be stupefied? Better yet why do I feel a headache coming on that don’t involve a hangover from last night? Buggy, wait got to find a new nickname for her, damn maybe I can ask her about the Changeling name? That way I can easily give her a new nickname. “Hey Wavy, what’s her name?” My right thumb point to the one whose head is rubbing my leg again. “Wavy? Ah right, Arcade told me of your name making ideas, the Changeling do not name themselves as they always change into different beings. Even if they do it is rare. At best you should name her yourself Meddler.” Okay, for someone saying they don’t know another culture the seem to know a few things, but then again she met Changelings before? Probably because she manage to speak her language. Now then, names, names, names… With a snap of my mental fingers a name pop up. My head look down to her as my mouth open. “I dub thee Loyal, because for some reason you still want to be with me even after the shit I put you through.” As Wavy spoke to Loyal again, Loyal look up to me as she jump up in my chest as she began hugging me around my chest and nuzzling my helmet cheeks. My hands took off my helmet to allow her to feel my cheeks, she look back to me in the eyes as she return to her face rubbing. Then my mind gave a red flag as my eyes notice where she is position in. My hands went to her sides as they gently pull her off of me and place her back on the ground, she gave a chirp to me as she went back rubbing my leg, my right hand rub her head and scratch her ears. “So who’s hungry?” I ask. “We are hungry, we try to find food that is edible for us, but due to our problem in understanding your language we do not understand what there is to eat.” My hand left Loyal as my body get’s up to search the fridge. “Hmm, there’s some gecko eggs here and mantis eggs. I can probably make something with these.” My left hand start the oven as the cooking begins. A few minutes later plates went before Wavy, Feathers, Loyal, and one for me as my hands put the plates down on the table. And for drinks pure water. “Here you go guys, hope you enjoy, and be thankful that I’m giving you pure water, because normal water is going to give you rads.” “Rads?” ask Feathers. “Short for Radiation. No matter where you go there’s bound to be radiation. Enjoy.” As my hand pick up the fork and began eating my ears hear the other voices. “By the claw! This is awesome, where did you learn how to cook this?” spoke Feathers. “We agree with the griffon this is something unexpected.” told Wavy as she temporary takes off her helmet to eat and place it back on when she comment on the food. My eyes notice Loyal began chewing it a bit and began wolfing the food down and finish her water. Normally I would comment of bad table manners, but she probably hasn't gotten any food since last night, which is likely my fault. Hmm Feathers said that Loyal eat emotions yet she can eat solid food. Maybe the reason why she can eat food is because sometime is a bit hard to get emotion’s? You know what? I’m not going to question why she can eat or not. That shit can be Arcade problem. Right now I’m going to enjoy my food and worry about things I do need to be thinking about. Like getting armor and weapons for these three, also getting some lessons ready to teach them the basics. We finish up on breakfast as Feathers is getting over her hangover. “So now that’s over with, what now?” My right hand scratch Loyal as my other hand is rubbing my chin. “Well, now we get armor fit for you three. Because there is no way in hell, that I’m letting you go out in the world without some protection and lessons.” “Follow me.” I add as my legs move to allow my body to get up, my right gave a ‘follow me’ motion, my eyes give a glance to see Loyal getting my helmet as we enter in my room. My head turn to my desk with my new ‘diary’ computer, behind it is bookshelves with all my different books in it, including my other junk I collect, across from the desk is a guitar mount on the wall from my time in Sierra, under it are two sofas with a pillow and two. Before them is that table with a magazine of guns or something. Between the sofas is that pot plant which I have yet to get rid of since it’s dead. Across from the sofa is a few wardrobes and a target wall where I usually practice shooting at with my guns, my head look a few steps from my desk to my two wardrobe, one of them is my cloths wardrobe and the other is fill with all the miscellaneous stuff that I found in my travels. By those two is one of my weapon trunk and over that is the Lucky 38 logo with a few bullet holes in them, honestly I got bored one day and decide to shoot it for the hell of it, the other one is just before my bed, as my legs stop my body turn with my head to see the others coming in through the door. “Just stay there you, oh you gotta be fucking kidding me.” My head turn to see Wavy stuck in the door. How the hell did she manage to get fucking stuck? Even Lily who is taller and got more mass is able to get in the doorways, yet Wavy is stuck? How the fuck does that make sense? My left hand slap to my face as my legs move to help Wavy get in. “Alright breath in, and on the count of three I’m going to pull you in, ready?” She nod her head to me as my hands grasp her shoulders as my body tilt in position of moving her in. “Alright, THREE!” As her breath suck in we manage to get herself in my room. She then look at me with a glare, or at least from what my mind could think of as she look at me. “You didn't count.” My shoulders shrug. “First lesson girls, try to adapt to the unsuspecting problems in your way. For example what I just did to you Wavy. Now then I want you all to stand still when I call your name to get measurements.” “Why?” ask Feathers, she gives an arch eyebrow to me. “Well I need to know what armor will work on you all and what I need to adjust to make sure it fits with your body structure. Now then quick question what would you prefer? Leather armor with metal on them or no metal on? And do you prefer fast weapons or slow using weapons?” “Why are you asking such a question Meddler?” ask Wavy, my attention is split as my eyes began searching for armor that I never wore anymore and probably never use, but keep as a precaution. After getting a few armor her question is answer. “Because I need to know what you are comfortable with and how much you can deal with when getting shot at or shooting at. Otherwise what’s the whole point in teaching you all how to understand the basic of the Wasteland?” My eyes look all over as my hands search for the most important tool to help them with getting armor on them: the measurement tape. “I swear I know there’s one around here, where the fuck could it be?” A few minutes later with a fruitless search an idea pop in my head. “One moment,” As I left my room and search around Lily bed for the tool a sigh of relief came from me as my goal is partially complete. “I knew it was here, just looking in the wrong place.” As I enter back in my room my voice call out my first victim. “Feathers, get your feline tail over here.” As she gives me a look of ego, she walks to me as my hands stretch the tape, before I could start my ears hear a voice. “Meddler, just what are you doing and who are these guys?” My head snap to see Veronica standing in by the door as she wore an armor robe and her hood over her head. A smile came out on my face as my hands drop the tape as my legs rush to give her a bear hug. “VERONICA! Man am I glad to see you again girl, how have you been doing?” She gave a smile to me as my arms circle around her and a few minutes let her go. “Well beside getting bear hug by you and finding stuff for the Brotherhood not bad, but you didn't answer my question Meddler.” My head turn to the three as my answer came to my old friend. “Well it’s a long story but short answer is they’re from another world entirely and temporarily staying here.” “Right now I’m trying to see their measurements so I know what to work with when I make their armor, the catbird is Feathers, the bug horse is Loyal and the tall wavy horse with a mass that makes Lily small is Wavy. Girls meet Veronica, a Brotherhood of Steel member and one of the Companions.” “Veronica is her nickname by the way, her real name is Punchy the Woman Finder!” And on cue she punch me in the shoulder as she gave a scowl. She pass by me and introduce herself. “Don’t mind him, my name is actually Veronica, and Punchy is the name I’m stuck with when I’m around him.” “We know, we already learn of his name choosing ideals.” Her head nod and turn to me. “No offense Meddler but this is a woman job,” My hands clasp on my face as my expression gave a false shock. “Gasp! Punchy! Does this mean you admit that you’ll learn how to do woman stuff and leave the fighting to the men?” She gave an arch eyebrow to me and sighs as she shake her head. “I should hit you for that, but it’s been a long time since I last seen you so I’ll just overlook this one time.” My tongue stick out to her. “Don’t you mean this 457 time?” My view turn to the three as I gave a mocking warning. “Whatever you do, don’t bend down, she’ll try to eat you out!” She push me out of the room. “And that’s enough out of you.” My arms wave as my act continue. “But they need to know you have thing for the same gender Punchy! They need to be warned.” She walks back in my room as it is now overtaken by a ruthless amazoness. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to rough them up too much. Yet.” she wink her eye to me as she playfully reply as she close the door. My hands went to my pockets as a sigh went out from me. “Well can’t say I didn't warn them.” I mutter as my right finger press on the elevator button to go to the penthouse to see my lackey Yes-man. *** (still meddler) Thankfully something good happen for once. “Hi there! I got someone who you probably want to meet Boss!” told Yes-man. My ass is currently sitting before Yes-man because I’m too lazy to stand, my hands cross to each other as my legs cross in a manly fashion. “Oh? Is it the NCR? Or Boomers?” “Nope! In fact here he is now!” That’s when my ears hear a very old and familiar tone, one that took me off of my seat and turn my head to see. “Hello there friend, fancy meeting you here after all this time.” “VICTOR!” My hands wrap around the Securitron bot as a loud laugh escape from me, even though we haven’t been traveling together, or been through adventures with him at all I still consider him a close friend, after all without him I would be dead. My arms let go as my head turn to Yes-man. “How the flying hell did you manage to get Victor here back? I try everything I could,” Victor explains to me. “Well ever since your little dance with Mr. House I been offline, or was until you’re pal here found me and brought me back.” A pain look came on my face. “Sorry about that Victor, didn't thought that you would be part of the casualties. Can you forgive me?” He gave a laugh to me as he pat me on the shoulder. “Nothing to forgive Meddler, it ain't your fault, still I’m surprise how you run things around here. Especially with Goodsprings.” My head nod to him. “Yeah, still nice to see you back among the living. What will you do now?” He gave a thought as he reply. “Well I may travel back to Goodspring but if you want I can stay around here for a little while,” “YES!” I interrupt him, a moment of silence later as a cough came from me. “I-I mean, yeah you can just let me know where you’ll be staying around,” My head and attention turn to Yes-man. “Thanks by the way, I’m surprise you would do a thing Yes-man.” “Well you whenever you sit down and think you would be nostalgia Boss, so I then thought. ‘What if I can make the Boss even more happy?’ And so I found a way to get Victor back. Anyway there’s nothing much around here that needs your attention Boss, have a nice day!” My head nod to him. “Keep me posted if something comes up.” “You got it Boss!” As the connection is cut of my head turn to Victor. “Come on then buddy, there’s much I have to tell you. And let me tell you, it’s a doozy.” And for once a large smile that my mind never thought of appear on my face as my spirit feel lift up as I can feel myself gaining back of my old regular self. *** (gilda) At first I thought Meddler was being an ass when he mock at Veronica, but maybe there is some true in what he said about Veronica trying to get in with us. We been at this for hours as the three of us got measure, she been looking at us as she turn around us looking at our muscles and giving a few ‘hmm’s’ or ‘uh huh’s’. Which make me feel awkward as she eye us. Nightmoon got it the worse as she been rub a few times to ‘test’ the muscle with the armor. Thus I believe the three of us learn a new lesson that day. When Meddler warns you about something then you better fucking listen. And this cause me surprise, not the lesson, just the fact that my entire mind just swore without even thinking on it. Guess Meddler is rubbing off of me. Loyal is fidgeting around as we finally got on our armor. It’s probably strange to wear armor when your entire body is armor itself. Right now I’m in some reinforce leather armor with metal coverings on the chest and my shoulders. It starts with my neck as it ends on my claws and my paws. My tail can't be cover since it’s a bit difficult to make armor for a tail. Thankfully she made some sort of gloves for my claws since I’m going to be using them most of the time. The armor had to be cut open for my wings and tail to be free. The same is for Loyal and Nightmoon. However for Loyal it’s just reinforce leather armor. The changeling start with her neck as well but the covering of the armor ends on her hooves. Nightmoon got the a mix deal with me and Loyal as metal cover her body with the leather under it, we had to get rid of her old armor since it’s useless now. “Anyway the armor part is done, now all we need is to find weapons for you girls and you’ll be all set.” told Veronica, she began taking what’s left of the armors that been cannibalized to make our armor in the condition they are in. “So quick question, what’s with the helmets you two have?” ask Veronica, my beak open to answer. “They’re translator, we can’t speak your language so Meddler had to get stuff for mine, while Arcade made Nightmoon her’s. They also provide protection in case we get hit in the head.” Veronica nod her head. “Good thinking. Have to say now that you three are in armor you all look pretty nice,” She start to look at us with a very unusual look. “Really nice.” Red flags appear in my mind as my eyes widen of what she might do. Thankfully the door open to reveal Meddler. “Hello! Don’t mind me just getting stuff.” told the Courier. Oh praise the gods! We’re saved! He look at Veronica and then at us, then to her again. “Punchy, were you just about to ask these three ladies on a date?” Veronica gave a playful look at him. “Maybe, maybe not. Why?” His eyes roll as he walk to us and stood between us and the woman who might strip us of our gear. “Punchy I know it’s been a long time since you had a woman in bed, but come on! These gals just got here and wouldn't stand a chance with you after their tails.” “Besides,” as he turn his head to us with a smirk on his face. “Maybe they rather have a real deal dick chase them than a finger pusher.” I would be enrage of what he just said to us, I really would but I rather swallow my pride and let him talk like that than let the ‘Woman Chaser’ getting a hand on us. My eyes glance at Nightmoon and Loyal expression, Loyal’s is confuse as she probably don’t understand a word, and Nightmoon's face is hidden. And I have a pretty good feeling that they agree with me at once. “And now that I think about it if you keep this up Punchy I may or may not tell your girlfriend about your advances on these innocent women.” Wait what? Veronica gave a surprise look, then a glare at him. “You wouldn't dare,” Meddler turn his head to wink at us, then turn his back to her. “I will and shall.” After a few minutes of silence they both laugh. “Goddammit Meddler, I miss your silver tongue.” Meddler walk to her as he gives her a hug. “And I miss you whenever you try to find new conquest to pillage Punchy.” They’re treating this as all some sort of joke? What the claw is wrong with these people? Nightmoon ask them the same question. “Why are you two laughing as if you both remember an old joke when Meddler just made sexism and vulgar comments and threaten you?” Veronica pull away from him as she answer. “Well it’s quite simply really, Meddler is ‘unique’ from people, for one he see how long he can push people's buttons with until they snap. In this case it’s always new people who might have potential of being friends or old trusted friends, trust me on this, you girls aren't the first to see this.” “Still he always say different things to different people. At times he respectful, at others he is insulting as hell. Don’t ask me how to understand him, because trying to understand a guy who got his brains mess up and stitch back together by a guy, a machine, get pull out, get put back in again, and got metal stuff in them is like trying to figure out how to have sex with a deathclaw.” “And trust us, that’s not a good idea.” add Meddler. “So in other words Meddler is just insane?” I said. They both thought for a moment with their hands on their chins. “Well,” start Veronica. “It’s close, but I rather say I’m batshit crazy that is too awesome for normal people to understand.” finish Meddler. “Or just batshit crazy that is living in the wasteland.” add Veronica. “Now then,” said Meddler as he claps his hands. “Time to see what weapon you girls are be able to use.” He began searching around his weapons crates to see what we can use, finally after a few minutes of looking and testing of using said weapons, we got what we need. Nightmoon told Meddler despite Loyal and her have hooves they got magic. The look on his face speaks skeptical until her horn glow to raise him up, which convince him that they can handle weapons with their magic. I gotten a handgun call a 9mm pistol, including a Combat Knife in surprising good condition, and a pair of knuckle-dusters call Love and Hate. Meddler told me that he got them off a raider and decide to keep them. Loyal gotten a silencer .22 pistol, a Ripper, and a Caravan Shotgun. Now for Nightmoon she gotten the heavy stuff, a Mini-gun to mow down with, a chainsaw for anyone got near, and a weapon that Meddler said to be use as a last resort if all fails. He call it the BFG, but Veronica said it’s the Fat Man. “There we go! Now then it’s time for real life training! Veronica, you in?” ask Meddler. Please say no, please say no, please say no, The gods must of hear my plea, because she shake her head. “Sorry Meddler, but I need to get back to the Bunker, otherwise they might start to wonder where I’m at again.” Outwards my expression didn’t show anything, but on the inside I’m relief. Oh thanks the gods! “Ah, oh well. Take care Punchy.” said Meddler as he hug her, a chuckle came from her as they said their goodbyes, as she enter in the elevator Meddler turn his attention to us. “Alright then gals, before we head out there is one thing I need to do,” before he said anything more a metal thing came by the door as it speaks. “Hi Boss! Something came up.” His head turn to it. “Yes-man? What is it?” “Well there’s a message that been sent over from Primm that been taken out from the Mojave Express and it’s from the Sheriff there! He said something strange came to his place and he thought you should take a look at whatever he found.” “Ah, thanks Yes-man, I’ll get to it, watch the place for me.” “No problem Boss, have a nice day!” As it left he turn our attention to us. “Well girls guess we better find out what the whole problem is, this is a good chance to see you out in the field as you experience the Wasteland with me and two others.” He walk out to call someone. “Hey ED-E! You’re with me! Also tell Victor that he’s with us, meet me and the girls at the casino floor!” A beep came out as he put his head in the room we are in. “Well what are you all waiting for? Come on!” Before we even move he enter inside to get something in the crate. Loyal buzz her wings as she look for something as well. He close the crate as he took out a rifle with a scope, another rifle that I first meet him with, a long gun with wood fuse with the metal, and the glove he use to beat down Nightmoon with. “What are those weapons you have? I recognize the glove, but the others I do not know.” ask Nightmoon. “This rifle,” He point on his back. “Is the Anti-Material rifle, the one I’m holding is the Survival Rifle, the one other one is my Mercenary's Grenade Rifle, and the beauty that is wonderful in close quarters combat is the Hunting Shotgun.” “Ah, and the golden thing on your arm?” Meddler roll his eyes as he plainly said. ‘It’s a useful tool for me to use.” Loyal went before Meddler with his helmet in her hooves. “Ah thanks Loyal.” He said as he took his helmet and pat her on the head, she gave a big chirp as she lean on the hand for more petting. He gave her the satisfaction until he stop to put his helmet on, he turn around to walk to the elevator. “Come on, adventure waits for no one!” *** (meddler) The winds move against me as my radio is on the usual radio with Mr. New Vegas, right by me is ED-E who floats with nothing to say while Victor just roll. Thanks to Yes-Man Victor got all clean up, the girls aren't use to Sercution yet so it’s going to take them a while to get use to seeing him. From what I remember from Feathers explanation of her world tech didn't improve yet. Still they make good progress, thankfully nothing got sprung up yet, for now though. My eyes look at my Pimp-Boy to see we’re by Hunter farm and about to go through the Junction 15 Railway Station, from what I gather from the news some Vipers are around there. This makes a good time to see how these girls will react to killing. One way to find out. “Okay you three, this is it. We’re probably going to get ambush so its time to step up with the simple fact of life around here.” “Oh what’s that?” ask Feathers with a hint of arrogance in her tone. “Killing.” Is all I said. The moving stop for those three as my head turn. “I’m not kidding, these guys will show no mercy to you, so don’t give them mercy as well. When I’m going to shoot something you better step up and shoot with me. Otherwise you’re not going to make it out here.” “It’s harsh but it’s kill or be killed. I don’t expect you to be ready since you all are, well clean.” Wavy press her hoof down. “Clean? Do not expect us to be savages that we don’t wash regularly!” A sigh escape from me. “I’m not talking about that sort of clean. I mean you never got blood on your hooves, or claws in Feather case. You never kill before, sure you all fight at one point I’m sure, but you all never taken a life, have you?” All that came back from them is silence. My head nods. “See? Which is why I’m going to save at least three for each of you, or at least something you can shoot at. You have weapons for a reason.” Feathers turn her head away, obviously didn't expect me to be this serious. “Now then, when we get near just follow my lead, and at least try to shoot as much as you can. Get ready.” I said as we began walking once more. It didn't even took us ten minutes to see them all. My hands took out the Survival Rifle as they began firing. “Take cover and fire,” I order as my legs move to head straight to the Vipers, ED-E laser began shooting at one, while Victor began firing his sub-machine gun, my gun took aim as the shots began to let loose. One fell down, another try to sneak at me until they got hit by a shot, probably one of the girls. It’s a losing battle for the Vipers as they are defeat without me sweating. My eyes look to see who is still kicking, thankfully two are still alive, one is near death. Victor must of heard me since their legs and arms are cripple. My head turn to the three as my voice got to them. “Alright, Feathers, get your gun out and shoot this one, Loyal shoot the one other one, Wavy tell Loyal what I just said and shoot the one that is near death.” They all look at me as if another head is on me. “Meddler I know that you’re just,” start Feathers but I interrupt her. “No, either you do this or you will never learn, never learn the most basic rule of the Wasteland. If you wish to live another day then you must take away the one who try to steal it away.” Wavy spoke to Loyal of all this, she looks at me then to the body as she took out her weapon with her horn magic, hmm going to take a while to use that. And without any hesitation in her she fire straight between the head. This gotten Feathers and Wavy a bit surprise. “What the claw?” Wavy spoke to Loyal a bit, the tone sound angry of how loud it is. But Loyal calmly spoke back to her, now just because my eyes couldn't see her expression behind her helmet face don’t mean that she got the gist of what I’m trying to teach them all. Her own horn glow as the chainsaw began running, it went to the near death one as he scream out in pain of being chop up, Feathers look away in disgust as sounds of vomiting isn't hidden from us all. This became a good chance to loot the bodies as my legs lower down to the corpse to see what they got, they got the ammo and caps including other stuff which are junk. Somewhat, and I’m in luck since a magnum pistol is found, it’s in decent condition and my mind know who it’s perfect for. “Here you go Wavy, you can use this peashooter whenever you have to kill things that don’t deserve your awesome weapons of mass killing.” As her horn glow to take the weapon Feathers shout at us. “How can you two be so damn calm about this whole thing? Meddler you’re just looting the bodies as if it’s a normal thing and Nightmoon how could you just,” Wavy turn her head at Feathers and spoke in a emotionless tone. “Have you forgotten who I was? I’m the one that ponies fear back then, I fought against my own blood for dominance of the night, it is true it’s wrong to kill but Meddler is our teacher here and Loyal told me that she understand what Meddler is trying to get us through, she told me herself that in order to stay alive we must make choices, choices that could either haunt our minds but let us live, or not do as he ask us and be kill.” She turn her head to me. “That is why I will do what must be done, in order to live another day I must keep it from being stolen. Just like you told us Meddler,so that is why I will listen to you, you know these lands more than we do, you are the teacher and we are your students.” The only thing that came from me is this. “Huh, okay that isn't what I expect, but okay but you do realize that this is just the beginning, right?” Her head nods to me. “Good,” My attention turn to Feathers. “Okay girl, just take your time, we’ll be here all day waiting for you to get through this.” My hands place the weapon away on my back as my arms cross over each other as we all wait for Feathers to make the kill. Remember Meddler, this is for her own good, we all have to get through this stage. Remember what dad, My head quickly shake’s away as that simple word is getting bury deep down. No, remember that he’s gone now dude. Don’t lose it again, not in front of them. Feathers slowly took out her 9mm pistol as she aim right at the Viper who is begging not to be kill, Feathers claws shake with desperation as her eyes look to me, pleading not to do this. But my arm’s still cross as my body is still in the same position. Tears slowly come out of Feather eyes as she turn back to the Viper and shot once, then twice, then until nothing came out. That’s when she lost it. She drop her gun as she just cry. My legs began to move as my knees went down to hold her against me, she fight against me as she beat on my chest. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” Her screech went out, my body wince but my arms still hold her as my voice kept a good calm tone to her. “It’s okay, just let it out. Let it all out Feathers, take all the time you need, okay?” The resistance went down as she just bury her face to me as she weep and weep. My head turn to the rest. “Victor we’re going to be here for a while, ED-E stay around. Wavy if you want a hug to, don’t hesitate. Same goes to Loyal.” Wavy shake her head. “I am fine, but I will take on your suggestion after Gilda is done.” My head turn to Feathers as she kept crying. Damn Wasteland, no matter what good you may find something will try to corrupt it. This time though it’s me that just took some innocence from these girls. It’s a douche move from me but I can’t shelter them forever, have to let them learn sooner or later. I just wish that I didn't had to do it this way. Level up-(Wavy,Feathers,Loyal) Nightmare Protector -With Nightmoon as your companion she’ll watch your back both in the physical world and with a Mini-gun, V.A.T.S. gain by twenty-five percent. (Gilda) First Blood-You commit your first murder, now whenever you face your foes your health increase by twenty percent, but you’ll lose a point in intelligence. Long sight-With Gilda as your companion, she’ll spot enemies faster than you can notice them with a cry of her bird heritage. Follower of the One-With Loyal as your companion you'll never have to worry about giving her stimpaks as she'll heal with your admiration, and fight even harder in your name. Attacks raise up to twenty five percent. Old Friends-With Victor as your companion he'll cover your side as he'll take down anyone who dares harm his old friend, explosions, guns, and charisma raise up by thirty percent and one point. > Chapter 4: Wait there’s another one? Well just perfect! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 4: Wait there’s another one? Well just perfect! (meddler) We made camp that night as Feathers finally stop crying, we’re just about a mile or two away from Primm, just by one of the old Powder Gang camps. Victor elect himself to take watch, ED-E just settle down on a rock, Feathers just sleep from all that happen earlier. Loyal settle down on my right side as my right arm gently held her close to my leg, my other side with my attention is currently being occupied with Wavy. She settle with her back by my left side, her head lay on my leg as my hands run on her neck gently. Not a single word escape from any of us, which is probably a good thing from all this drama that happen earlier which would ruin the mood of calmness tonight. And that calmness went downhill when assassins fucktards from the Legion show up trying to shoot me, or until Victor and ED-E went up and attack. Feathers woke up with a quick turn of her head, the same for the two by me. “Excuse me a moment.” I said as my body got up and took out the Carbine as five minutes slaughter happen with a half of minute of looting the corpse and finally heading back to be in the original position that me, Wavy, and Loyal were in before it got ruined by idiots of the Legion. However Wavy switch her position as her voice spoke. “Lay by me Meddler, it’s easier for your back to be in a comfortable position without looking like an old man.” Behind my helmet my eyes roll, as my body settle by Wavy left side, her head is back on my leg, with my hand just petting her neck. Loyal get the same idea as she push her head to my other hand, a chuckle came from me as the petting of her head came. Feathers just curl back to sleep, she didn't want a single thing to do with me, honestly I don’t blame her at all, I did cause her to lose what innocence she had left from experience all the bad stuff in the Mojave Wasteland. My hand look through the radio on my Pimp-Boy as it went on the Mysterious Broadcast. And then this familiar song came to our ears. Feathers slowly spoke out with a croak voice. “W-What song is this?” My eyebrows raise up in surprise to see her speaking to me. “This song was made by the pre-War era, have you all heard the place Sierra Madre Casino that I visit?” Feathers nod her head as my hands search for some water and flung it to her, she felt it get hit on her side as she look down then to me, and she drank it all down in one gulp. “Well,” I continue on as my right hand scratch Loyal ears. “This song was made by a woman, someone by the name of Vera Keyes. She was a singer at the Casino, but you probably all heard it by now from the others.” What surprise me is that Wavy object. “But we wish to hear your view on it, you saw it all, thus it makes sense to say more.” A chuckle escape from me. “Alright, well it all began when I visit this bunker from the Brotherhood,” All night I spoke my adventure of the curse casino, of meeting Elijah who now got a bullet in his head, God who made peace with Dog and are now one being, Dean who off somewhere, and Christine who is now the new warden of the place. All in all, the night became a bit more bearable despite the heat and sand. *** (meyers) Things have been peaceful in Primm, ever since Meddler came up and made me the new sheriff of this small town things have been good, sure there are a few crimes here and there but they are usually dealt with fast. And speaking of Meddler he walk down the highway from the left with a strange group with him. A cat bird, a large dark equine with a wing and a horn, a small bug equine, a Securitron with a cowboy screen. But ED-E is a good sight to see, been a while since we all last seen the little robot. However the large equine creature makes me wonder if the creature we found earlier has something connect to it? Best to ask Meddler himself when he gets closer. As he walks up to me two feet away he nods his head in acknowledgment. “Hello there Sheriff, the one with the bug helmet with black coat is Wavy, also known as Nightmoon, the bug is Loyal, the tweety bird is Feathers, also known as Gilda, and you already know ED-E and Victor behind us.” My head nod to them all. “Hello, I'm the Sheriff here, the names Meyers. Meddler must of told you of town name but I'll tell you anyway. Welcome to Primm, stay out of trouble.” Meddler give small chuckle. “Come on Meyers, no way they’re going to cause trouble if I'm around to make sure they don't do anything.” He means well but there is a reason why I'm warning them. “Well the first one that came to Primm cause some trouble, it almost look exactly like Nightmoon over there without the wings and a bit smaller.” Meddler stop chuckling as he slowly ask in a small tone. “Can you please say that again?” A sigh escape from me. “Best to just show you.” *** (Due note that since this is Wavy POV she can understand Changeling language and speak it, however Meddler won’t understand it until a translator will be found so do not expect them talking to each other.) At first we are skeptical when this Sheriff told us that another being came to this ‘Primm’ place, from what he describe to us we can gather that he is talking about a unicorn. Although which begs the question is why a unicorn is here in the first place? We enter in this casino place with a metal thing in the middle of the large room, we walk past it and stop before two doors with the window being crack here and there. Meyers stop and turn his head to us all. “Now then Meddler we put it in this room as a precaution with Slim. Normally if the situation was any different I would of put it in jail time or possibly shoot it, but the way it look at us made me thinking.” “It look scared, lost, and someone that doesn't know any better.” Meddler speak to him. “So quick question, why did you call me of all people?” This is a good question to ask seeing that he could ask anyone else for this problem. “Well you’re probably the only one that can do impossible things, and hearing you being a mediator and a problem solver this makes things a bit easy for me to trust you.” “So you rather trust me than NCR?” ask Meddler, Meyers nod his head. “Yep, beside it’s better than making it stay here with no idea what to do with it.” add Meyers as he open the door. It’s a unicorn like we thought, but it, rather she got light magenta gray hair, a white coat on her, violet eyes look at us with an alarm look, her eye-shadow look fade as it hasn't been attained for a long time. On her side is her cutie mark are three fleur de lis, her body slowly move back as she see not only us, but Loyal and Gilda. A strange metal thing with a hat on its head turn to us with it’s arms up. “Slim stand down, they’re with Meddler.” told Meyers. It’s arms went down and move away somewhere, it didn't hold much interest to us. However we believe that most of her attention is on me and Loyal, we can see the fear in her eyes as she look around to see a way out. Meddler slowly breath in and breath out as she calmly spoke. “Okay, Wavy? What the fuck am I looking at?” He turn his head to us as he spoke more. “Because I am seriously debating on just walking away from this whole mess and just letting Meyers deal with this, no offense.” Meyers shrug. “I don’t blame you from all that you been through Meddler.” We took this opportunity to speak. “She is a unicorn, from what we can gather she is from nobility of some form, the way she look we can guess she is from Prench. The look of what use to be eye-shadow tells us that she gone downhill, from what we do not know.” Meddler slowly breath in, took off his helmet to use his left hand to pinch the bridge to the nose to his face. “Please tell me, for the love of God that you can speak her language, oh please, oh please, oh PLEASE! Tell me you can speak her language because right now I’m slowly losing what fucks I have for this week and let me tell you they are slowly going out faster than a Fiend using drugs.” We do not know what a Fiend is or why he use this metaphor but we can clearly see that he is losing what patience he got from all that is going on to him. We nod our head. “Yes, we can speak her language in a fashion but we are quite rusty in the dialect from being unused for a long time. However from what we can see she is afraid of us and of Loyal so getting her to calm down isn’t going to be easy.” He pinch once more as he try to calm down. “Just...Try your best Wavy, I’m sure you can make her calm down. If you excuse me I’m going to find some armor that I can use for her, better be safe than sorry.” As he left our attention turn to the Prench pony. We clear our throat and spoke to her. {“Greetings, we know you see us, but do not be afraid. We are not here to harm you, neither us or the changeling who is name Loyal. May we know of your name?”} She look at us in surprise as she slowly speak back. {“I-I understand you Nightmare Moon, b-but I don’t understand that you say you mean no harm. Why?”} Our body rump went down as our body settle in a sitting position. {“Because we do not wish to bring eternal night anymore, we know you do not believe us and do not trust us. That is understandable, including Loyal as well. However do know that we truly wish no harm on you, and if we remember correctly we did ask you a question.”} She slowly move forward as she look at Gilda who is laying down in disinterest. Loyal just look at her with curiosity, Meyers just speak to machine and they both leave, seeing that they are not need in this conversation. {“I am Fleur dis Lee, I use to live in the capital Canterlot, until I had to leave due to personal reasons.”} Hmm, ‘personal reasons’? Sounds like she did go downhill. We better assure her that she can trust Meddler. However what happen next came as a surprise to both me and Fleur. {“Don’t worry about us, I never try to harm you or use you to get emotions! Unless of course Master tell me to do so, then you got a reason to be afraid, but knowing Master he would never do that!”} We both look at her as Fleur speak after five minutes of silence. {“How could you easily speak my language changeling?”} Loyal head move in a confuse expression and turn of her head. She reply. {“I been to Prench before I came here to Master, I use to be of the Hive until my use to be Hive came to Canterlot for love and got blown away. Now I’m happy here with Master and have no need to be part of the Hive!”} Fleur turn her head to us as she decide we would be easier to speak than Loyal. {“What about the tall being who walks with you? The one with the red eyes, it smells blood on it. Something I haven’t smell before, before,”} she look down as she give a longing sigh, something we are familiar with. Perhaps things gotten so bad where she is from? {“We admit he does smell of blood, only because this land is harsh and will not easily grant mercy to those live in it, the first and only harshest lesson you have to learn when living here is that in order to live another day you must take it away from another. Survive by killing those who dare take away your next day.”} She look at us with a surprise look on her face, then she look down again as she began to ponder, our ears hear a door being open as our head turns to see Meddler grumbling as he carry something on his shoulder. “Can’t freaking believe that it cost that much for this armor.” As he gotten closer Loyal buzz her wings as she move to him for attention. "Master!" “Hang on Loyal, give me a minute.” he said as he toss it down just by my hooves as he turn his attention to Loyal who jump on his chest. “Woah!” he exclaim as he land on the ground with a thud. Loyal began nuzzling his unarmored face as her hole fore hooves settle on his sides as chirps begin to escape from her muzzle. “Sigh, just what am I going to do with you?” Meddler said as he began scratching Loyal behind the ears, she gives a sigh as the rest of her body settle down on him and give more chirps in exchange for more scratches. Fleur took our attention from this site as she speak to us. {“I can’t believe that a Changeling can just act like this as if it is nothing at all.”} A small chuckle escape from our muzzle. {“It is because Meddler is a special type of being, do you see the strange clothing's on the ground? That is armor that will be made just for you, and the helmets on me and the Griffon? These allow us to communicate to him due to our languages being so different.”} {“So if he goes up to you and look around you, don’t be afraid, he is trying to find a way to make the armor fit you and aid you in case we get into a fight.”} Gilda made a gag sound from the chirps Loyal is giving to Meddler. “Can’t you stop being dweebs for a full minute?” A snort escape from Meddler as he made a comeback. “Can’t you stop being so childish without someone holding your claw?” They banter on as our attention went back to Fleur. She seem surprise of the talk despite not understanding a single word, that and our head didn't turn at all from what is currently going on behind us. {“Like we said, he is a ‘special’ type of being. Now the choice is simple, you can either come with us and learn from the best in these lands or you’ll have the armor and wander around. Trust us, the latter choice is unwise, there are many things here that can easily kill you, and there are worse fate than death.”} She seem to be in deep thought as she start to shiver from the imagines in her mind. Her ears flatten, her iris went small, and her voice speak to us in a tremble tone. {“P-Please, teach me.”} Our head nods to her as our attention, including our eyes turn to see Meddler with Loyal in his lap like a dog, while Meddler is currently bantering with Gilda. “Meddler? Her name is Fleur dis Lee, she wish to travel with us, and learn from you.” He stop as he turn his head to us. His helmet lay by his right side as he place it back on his head and clap it on him. “Alright, now then this is going to take us a while for me to get the armor right for her. Plus I need to get the news to Meyers.” He gently move Loyal out of his lap as she understood that he need to move. “Be right back y’all.” As he left the building with Loyal following him Glida spoke to us. “You know I wonder why the claw we are still with him.” Our eyes roll behind our helmet. “Because he is our only chance of surviving this entire Wasteland?” “You know what I mean Nightmoon. Still though you gotta wonder, are there any more unexpected surprises coming at us?” She makes a good point, first it Loyal pop up, now this Fleur, maybe more will come or not. Only time will tell. *** (meddler) “And done. There you’re all fitted in this armor until we get back to my place.” This Fleur gal shift in her new combat armor, it’s basically the same like Loyal, now all that is left is to make a translator for her and Loyal. Wavy translate what I just said and Fleur nod her head. “Normally I would help you with weapons and all but we don’t got the stuff to test it out with you, so now we’re heading back to my place. Let’s go y’all.” “Take care Meddler,” told Meyers, my right hand wave back as we all went out of the casino. “Same to you Sheriff, same to you.” Right now Loyal is on my left, EDI on my right, Victor behind Loyal, beside him is Feathers, and behind those two are Wavy and Fleur. While my feet move my hand went to my Pimp-Boy to look at the map. “Alright let see, nothing going on right now, so I’ll just put up my marker to the place.” Then a very familiar and so annoying sound went to my ears. “For the Legion!” My hands went to Survival as my IFF show red to the left on my side. “It’s the annoying idiots from the Legion. Let’s waste them.” As my body turn to see the familiar look of the Legions and began firing something pop in my mind. Wait, usually there’s just five of these guys. Not fifteen of them. What the fuck is going on here? Feathers must of notice this as she took out her 9mm and firing them. “Didn't you told us on the way here there only five of these guys whenever they attack you?” Victor fire his rockets as some limbs began to fly, ED-E fire his laser-gun, the sound of the Mini-gun roar as my eyes quickly glance to see Loyal up close to one with Ripper being hold by her magic. After a few shots went out from the Survival as more shouts went out. THE FUCK? My head turn to see a score of Legion. “What in God’s name is going on here?” My hands switch to my Grenade Rifle until my eyes notice a Legion got a grenade flung at us. “EVERYONE SCATTER!” my throat shouts out as everyone saw it coming at us. Good news they got out of the way, bad is that Fleur is the one near it. So with my feet rushing to her my body shove her out of the way as the grenade hit me with its explosion. My body wheel around on the ground as my weapons flung somewhere. My view began to be dizzy as my head turn to see Fleur on the ground on her side, my Hunting Shotgun and Grenade Rifle a few feet from her, but my attention turn to the shadow is above me. “Death to the Killer of Caesar!” Huh you know, I never expect to die this way, I thought I would of went out by going to the east and kill every single Legion there and drink until I can’t tell if I’m a woman or a man. Then something happen. A woman scream went out as his head got blown off by a familiar Shotgun. My eyes turn to see a glowing Hunting Shotgun being hold by a pink glow or something, my head move to see Fleur, except that her eyes and face got a look. Oh fuck she got the crazy look. Rarely you seen such a look but when you do you better pray, ‘cause there’s nothing that gonna stop the person. I just pray that she knows who her allies are. My body got up to quickly grab the weapon to pump it. My view turn to her as she look at me with that look. “Look I know you probably don’t understand me at all but I know you can see what I am about to do.” A Legion rush at me, my body instinctively turn to him with a fire of my Shotgun to the face, without looking to see how much damage I give to the bastard my attention went back to Fleur. “Look what I’m doing,” my hands went to get more ammo out of my pockets to put them in the slot. “There only eight shots in this thing, use them wisely and aim at the chest,” my right hand bump my chest, then at the legs. “And the legs! And if you want to fire again,” My body quickly turn to another Legion to fire at him and pump the weapon. As the shot went out my body turn to show her the pump movement. “You see this? Better remember it got it?” As my hands push the Shotgun to her her horn glow to grab it, my head move to see my Grenade Rifle, my body crouch to grab it as my ears hear the Legion being push back. They seem to be gathering in a pile as an evil idea went to my mind. My V.A.T.S. activate as a few random victims been chosen for my wonderful toy to be use on. With few shots fire and reload a couple of them began flying around with their parts scatter. As hands reload the Grenade Rifle and search around it began to be pull on, my head turn to see Fleur with her horn glow around my Rifle, she still got that look on her face as my hand let go and the other one search for more ammo. Normally I wouldn't do this, but the last time I meet a crazy woman who want my weapon it did NOT went well, at all for me. Sometime I can still hear that crazy laugh of her’s. A shiver went through me as she began to take my ammo of the Grenade Rifle and the Hunting Shotgun which she still have in her magical glow, and with that she charge with a war-cry or scream at the Legion. Hooves began to move by me as my head slightly turn to see Wavy by sitting down by me. “We see that you are not fighting at all, pray tell us why?” My left finger point to Fleur having a murder spree. My head and eyes still look at Wavy while I continued on. “Do you not see her at all killing those Legions bastard?” Another war-scream went out as explosions and the painful shouts of Legion came around as Wavy took a glance at the battle then to me. “We see your point.” *** (gilda) After getting Fleur to calm down, or rather ‘Psycho Mare of Explosions’ as Meddler like to call her now, he began to loot the body with Loyal and me searching around, when we ask what are we suppose to find he just basically told us that get everything that looks useful. Which is almost everything they got on them. Meddler you are SUCH an ASSHOLE! You know I just realize something, I just killed who know how many people and is not bothered by it. Either I gotten use to being here being here in the Wasteland or I am in serious need of help. Maybe Meddler knows someone who I can talk to, which reminds me why do we need all this stuff? Seriously there is so much stuff here we have to put them together to form a bag in order to carry all the stuff. “Why can’t we just, oh I don’t know magic this stuff toward the tower place?” I ask, Meddler who carry the weapons as much as he can gives a snort. “For one while it’s a nice idea to think about there’s a small problem with that idea Feathers.” Explain Meddler as we walk down the road. “Indeed, the location is far away, even if we or Fleur may have magic, don’t mean that we won’t be exhausted at all, and even if we done it the rest of you may have to help us when we feel tired from all the magic.” add Nightmoon. “You know all this talk about magical shit got me thinking, aren't there any spells or stuff that allow someone to have a large space in a item or something to make carrying gear easy for people.” ask Meddler, and at once both my and Nightmoon head turn to him. He looks back at us as he simply reply. “What, you seriously mean there is something like that?” At once we both slap our heads. “We both come from a place where is magic is possible Meddler, you would think that the ponies wouldn’t think of this right now.” I told him, he turn his attention to Nightmoon. “Well do you know how to use the stuff?” Nightmoon give a snort. “Please, magic isn't ‘stuff’, it is a delicate and powerful thing that exist all around us, it can’t be force or be demanded. It must be,” Meddler wave his hand back and forth. “Wavy, this is me we are talking about. You know most of the stuff you said is ignorant to my ears when it comes to magic. The question I am asking is do you or do you not?” “Yes, we do. However if you want it so badly then you must ask us.” Meddler then ask with no hesitation. “Hey Wavy, can you put that spell on my suit? And another one when we get back to my place? Pretty please with a Deathclaw Omelette? And with Nuke-Cola?” A chuckle escape from me as Nightmoon gives a thoughtful look. Then answer back. “Hmm, very well. However we can’t do it now, perhaps when we get to the your Tower we shall do as you plead.” Meddler nod his head as he turn to Victor. “Hey buddy quick question, are you able to contact Yes-man at all?” No matter what Meddler say that thing unnerve me at times. How can it move and speak without a mouth at all is impossible. But then again the same can be said when Meddler scoff at magic at times. “I reckon I can partner, why the question though?” Meddler scratch his uncover neck as he answer back at the thing. “Because there seem to be a sudden increase of those assassins, usually they’re only five, not fucking twenty. Which got me thinking,” “Careful there, thinking is dangerous to you.” I add, he wave his hand at me. “Oh hardy har, but I’m being serious Feathers,” he continue on to Victor. “But yeah, maybe the Legion is cooking on something, and if they are then I need to be prepare on what it is.” “Hmm, reckon you got a point there, alright I’m going out quick.” with a flash of the glass on it a strange smiling thing appear. “Hi there Boss! How are you today?” “Not bad Yes-man, anyway I need you to do something.” My head turn to the left to see some buildings with people moving around, some look at us as we pass by. My eyes scan them moving up ahead to see them turning to the left by some rocks. “Alright thanks Yes-man, update me as soon as you can.” “Say Meddler where are we now?” He look back to me as Victor move away from him. “Oh we just pass Sloan and are heading to the Quarry Junction, basically they move stone around and sell it.” “Now that reminds me something, I got to get parts for Loyal and Psycho Mare, I just need to find some good helmets that can be of use. But where in all of the,” “HEY MEDDLER!” All at once our heads turn to see, oh claw no! Her. My blood froze as my eyes see Veronica walking with three other people wearing strange armor on them, the three of us stop at once as Veronica stop to catch her breath. “Hey there didn’t expect you to come this way, how’d you been?” Meddler shrug. “Oh not bad, found a new girl to be in my new posse,” he went close to her to whisper in her ear. “Trust me you do not want to be with this one, she got the cray-cray look. Saw her myself killing twenty Legions with a Grenade Rifle and Hunting Shotgun.” Veronica step back with disbelief on her. “Seriously?” She move her head to see Fleur by ED-E who is floating near her, she moves her head back to meet him in the face. “You sure?” Meddler nod his head. “I am damn serious, when she get push around she go into a crazy killing mood. Which is why her nickname is Psycho Mare of Explosions.” “Huh. Wait you said twenty Legions, when did this happen?” ask Veronica. “Oh just about an hour and probably a half ago. I thought it was the usual assassins until more show up. I ask Yes-man to do what he can to find out if this happen all around, because if it is then the Legion is planning something. And if the Legion is trying something then NCR is gonna try something as well.” Now that’s silly. Why would these NCR dweebs try something like the Legion? And it appears Veronica got the same idea as well. “Meddler that silly, why would NCR try something as well like the Legion?” ask Veronica, one of the suit guys speak in an arrogant tone. “We have superior armor and weapons, what can those uncivilized savages can do?” “Hmm, let see for a moment,” said Meddler. “First of all they got more numbers, second is that they have armor-piercing rounds, third is that they’re more organize, do I need to go on?” The two bicker as Veronica move by us. “Remember what I said about him being different to different people? Get use to seeing this all the time girls. Still it’s nice to see the newly made Paladin to be remind of his place.” We see the two continue on until the other one silence his companion. “Shut it Junior Paladin, we may be the Brotherhood but Paladin Meddler got good points.” Paladin? Nightmoon probably got the same thought as we both look at Veronica. She shrug as she answer to the unspoken question. “You see Meddler help out the Brotherhood before the battle of the Dam and when he ask to join us we, or rather the Elder had to give him a simple test. So he’s a Brotherhood member and a Paladin.” “But Paladin Servan! Even if this outsider is one of us he is underestimating our superiority of,” The other one who is now name Servan silence him. “Junior Paladin Octan shut your mouth or I’ll shut it for you. You are still new straight from the Bunker to say what is and what isn't to a Brotherhood member.” He turn his armor helmet to Meddler. “Apologies Paladin Meddler, some of the members have been listening to Head Paladin Hardin.” Meddler just wave his hand back and forth. “It’s no problem dude, I’m use to battling against egotistical idiots.” The Junior is about to say something but a quickly turn of Servan helmet made him stop. “Anyway there is reason we are here. We got reports from our Scouts that some Legion’s are being spot just by their base Dry Well.” “Hmm, troublesome. Hey if you guys see them coming your way just holler in my direction and I’ll help you guys as much as I can. Just promise me that youwon’t try to take apart my Securitrons like last time, still haven’t forgiven you for all that stupidity.” told Meddler. Servan give a small chuckle as he reply to Meddler again, honestly I’m surprise that they haven’t notice us right now. My head turn to Veronica to ask if she told us about this ‘Brotherhood’. “Hey Veronica, did you told them about us?” She gave a sheepish grin. “Well I couldn't leave it out on my report to the Elder, beside it help make good pass time on how we can joke on how much insanity is in Meddler head?” As their conversation end Servan speak to Veronica. “Come on lass, time to go, we need to move along.” She nod her head and look at me. “Take care Gilda.” she pass by Meddler. “Have fun with all these girls Meddler, try not to get them into trouble.” “Me? Give trouble to these ladies? Oh please I would never do such a thing!” Veronica give a scoff to him. “If I recall trouble give itself to you Meddler.” And with a wave of hands with a simple goodbye we move on. *** (meddler) “Okay Wavy, do I need to take off my suit or what?” Me and Wavy just enter in my room after we all went to Gun Runner and sold the shit from those Legion whores, it’s funny to see so many people different reactions with the girls. Unless they were almost got shot at, then that’s a whole new thing. Still after we left Gun Runner and head to my place where Arcade came along and said he got time, I took him aside to see if he can help Feathers by being a shrink for a little while, he (thankfully) understood and accept for the task. I wouldn't do this but when you kill someone for the first time you get a different reaction to a different person. Psycho is currently taking a bath with the weapons gone from her, I couldn't trust her with them if she just suddenly snap and start killing people. Victor gone to the Strip to hang around and ED-E just float around the Suite, Loyal just rest on my bed as she holds my helmet in her hooves. I swear she got a fetish with my helmet. I just know it. Wavy shakes her head as her moving mane move back and forth. “Nay Meddler, just stand still as we activate the spell. It will take a minute or so.” Her horn began to glow as a wave of energy surrounds me, then it end as a sudden flash hit us in the eye, blinding me and probably Loyal as my mouth open and curse. “MOTHERFUCKER! GODDAMMIT MY EYES! THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU WAVY?” My sight begins to return as Wavy look away from me as she rubs her forehooves. “Um, oops?” A sudden movement on my eyebrow begin to show as a my anger is slowly rising. “Okay Wavy, the fuck happen and please speak in something I can fucking understand.” She give a small breath in as she answer. “Well Meddler, it seems that if we use high power magic it will have something strange as a result. We did as you ask but the result is that it won’t work on your suit but for your ‘Pimp-Boy’. In short all you need to do is press an item to it and it will go in your inventory but without showing it, and if you wish it out just look for it. But the downside is that you are limit on how much you can carry.” A small pass of hot air escape from my lips. “I see. Well it’s not what I ask, but it’s better than nothing, go on ahead and take a rest Wavy.” Before she left my mind thought of something. “Wait, you said ‘high level’ magic, what about holding stuff with your horn?” She turn her head to me as her body is halfway through the door. “Simple levitation with our horn is small compare what we done, it won’t do much at all.” My head start to nod in understanding, plus it’s easy for her to make things like this simple to me. I may be smart, but I’m not magically smart at all. “Okay, now if you excuse me I got a helmet to make for Loyal, then to Psycho.” her head nod to me as she left my room. As the search for parts and scrap metal became my new goal a thought went to my mind. What kind of helmet will it be? I search in my wardrobe of armor and clothing's when my eyes notice an old Ranger helmet that my head once wore before I gotten the armor I wore on now, for a moment nostalgia went through me as this helmet been the one to cover my expose head, only reason I haven’t sold this thing is that it reminds me of the good old days. Now it got a new purpose. To help out Loyal. After finding the parts I need I quickly went out of my room to the workbench in the dining room and work for about half an hour, honestly I’m surprise that Loyal didn't follow me out of my room yet. The top of the helmet is kept, but been change around to move around the structure of Loyal head, the front part has been modified for Loyal muzzle and is removable to allow her to take the helmet off and on. I gotten the schematics from the first helmet earlier from the brains, the helmet is different from Feathers one but easily adaptable with a few tweaks here and there. As I left the room with Loyal new helmet in my right arm and entering my room my eyes raise up to see her sleeping on my bed curl up with my helmet in her hooves. Now that is adorable right there. And her armor is on the ground. My hands place the helmet on the desk as my eyes search for the Codac R9000. After finding it in the other wardrobe (don’t know why it’s been there) and took a few pictures of Loyal. “We see you are being a pervert.” My head turn to Wavy with her armor off, I swear she giving me a smug look behind that helmet of hers. “Hey I can’t help it if Loyal looking so damn adorable! I mean look at her, she look so damn cute the way she is right now.” And right on cue Loyal move her head to see me with her eyes open. My hands place the camera down as they grab the helmet without me looking, a grin appear on my face as my mouth open. “Guess what Loyal? I just finish your new helmet, come over here so we can place it on you.” As she buzz her wings and sat down before me, my knees bend down to open the front part of the helmet as a minute later her ears pop out from the side, the frill on her head lowers to allow the helmet to be place, which honestly is freaky. Seriously how the burning fucking hell did she do that? Eh, I’ll just pass it off as a species that can do shit card. Works every time, one time I saw a Deathclaw being nice to its young, well before I blown it’s brain out, to be fair they were in a place they weren’t suppose to be. “Can you understand me now?” I ask, she move her head around to get use to the new limit space she is dealing with. Then nuzzle me as she finally speak. Which gives me an heart attack when the first words went out of her mouth. “Master, I’m so glad you can here me, what is your desire?” Warning: Heart is failing from shock, brain is shutting down from mental breakdown, be prepare to be unconscious from the shit you have gone through. Activating protocol: What the FUCK just happen? Error: Too much stress, too much stress. Prepare to shut down now. Shutting down, have a nice nap. And with that my body fall down to the ground as darkness cover my sight. Only thing that my ears finally hears is this. “What happen? And why is Meddler on the ground?” ask Arcade. “Oh, just...Too much stress.” Level up! (Feathers, Wavy, Loyal, Psycho) Explosion Mare-With Fleur with your companion all explosions will hurt your hurt your foes with thirty five percent damage and will cause broken limbs. (Fleur) Bloody Mess-Five percent overall damage, including more violent death ends to foes. (Fleur) Crazy Mare Killer-Whenever you get fifty percent health, enough is enough, your damage is double with whatever weapons you have and more critical up to thirty three percent. Magical Pip-Boy-Nightmoon magic grant you the ability to carry your items on your Pip-Boy without carrying them around on you, you’ll never burden carrying your things on your back, however you will be restricted with your luggage on the limit of your weight. > Chapter 5: It’s time for some backstory with our characters > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 5: It’s time for some backstory with our characters (wavy) Arcade eyes are rub with his hands as he breath in and give a heavy sigh. “Alright, so let me get this straight, Meddler is knock out because Loyal,” he point his thumb to Meddler body on the bed without his armor, revealing only his shirt and underwear and his Pimp-Boy. Loyal is rubbing her head on his arm giving a few chirps as she try to comfort him the way she knows how. “Said something that reminds him the Legion and the word was ‘master’, and not only that but the recent activity from the Legion as well? Am I getting this right?” Our head nod to this information. “Indeed, we only assume that he would be surprise by this information, however instead he just pass out. We would ask why this happen?” Arcade once more repeat rubbing his eyes and breathing in and out. “Just how much do you know of the Legion?” Our head move to the side in confusion. “Well, only thing he and Boone said is that they are bastards that deserve to die. Nothing else though.” reply Gilda. Arcade slap his head and sigh. “Yeah well, let me explain you what the Legion are since there is a reason why they didn’t go in much detail. Let’s head to the dining room so it’ll be easier to speak about.” “Wait, what about Fleur? She probably need to know about this as well.” add Gilda, we admit she brings a good point. “What the one who finish with the bath? Well we need a helmet and a few things, unless of course one of you can translate what I say to what she can understand.” “We can, we can easily speak her language and understand it. We just need time to translate, that’s all.” Arcade nod his head. “Right, anyway follow me.” We exit out of Meddler room, or at least until we notice Loyal is still by Meddler side. “Loyal, follow us, what Arcade say will be said only once.” Her head turn to us, her eyes are fill with worry and confusion, she didn't know she would cause Meddler to be in this position and is afraid for his well being. “We promise that you can return to Meddler as soon as Arcade is finish.” we assure to her, finally after debating she move by us with a buzz of her wings and walk with us to the dinner room. Arcade is sitting before Gilda and Fleur as we both sat down by them, my head turn to Fleur, who is eating some Potato Chips and drinking some water, she look to us in confusion. {“What is going on here? Why are you all,”} she start to say, we answer back. {“The one name Arcade who is before us is going to tell us of a enemy we have to be wary of. I will translate for you so that you may understand each word he will say.”} “Alright, now forgive me if I don’t fully explain all about the Legion since that not many would want to go into history of this group. Originally there was no Legion back then, and Caesar was from the Followers of the Apocalypses, or that’s what I heard from the others.” “From what we all heard is that the Legion was form from tribes, he conquered tribes left and right until he got the title ‘Conqueror of the 86 Tribes’ and were ignore until the first battle of Hoover Dam.” {“There was a call Caesar who was part of one group until he made another one as he conquer tribes until he earn the title ‘Conqueror of the 86 Tribes’ and then a battle happen.”} “The ones who fought at against the Legion are the NCR, and they went on it until NCR won by tricking the Legion, so Caesar went back and made a base call the Fort and wait until the time was right. Now for the Legion itself they were basically a slave army with a strict hierarchy that view woman as sub-human.” “And were mostly use as breeders.” We pause for a moment as we hear the information. When we first hear Loyal a few day’s earlier of her dedication toward Meddler we thought it would be amusing. But now when we hear of this information, we see why Meddler went to shock. He never wish to own someone, yes he overtook New Vegas, yes he first view everyone as something to use, and yes he sometime difficult to understand. But he is also one of the honest beings we ever seen so far, he never want to own someone, but when he hear Loyal, one of his new companions to call him master… It cause him to breakdown, we didn't almost hear Fleur trying to speak to us as she nudge her hoof on our leg. {“What did he say? Nightmoon mad’am what did he say?”} Our head shake a bit to gather attention to our mind as we soon speak to her. {“Arcade said that the Legion were a male hierarchy that view mares as breeders and sub-beings.”} We can see the shock in her expression and then anger form on her as she stomp her hooves on the ground. {“How dare they, we should go and teach this so call ‘leader’ a lesson on humility!”} We turn our head to Arcade with a confuse expression, we open our mouth to translate what Fleur just said. “She thinks that we should go and make Caesar pay for what he done.” Arcade give a small laugh as he reply. “A bit too late, Meddler already went up with Boone and ED-E as they slaughter every Legion at the Fort, including Caesar.” We open our mouth in shock under our helmet, our head slowly turn to Fleur as the words slowly came from our tongue. {“Arcade said that Meddler already did the job for us mares.”} Fleur move her head back in surprise as she then speaks back after a minute. {“Ah, well good job for him.”} Our mouth translate to the others who cannot speak Prench. “She congrats Meddler for doing a good deed. Is there more?” We said. “Well nothing much beside of how much Meddler hates them all, I think that’s one thing he and the NCR can agree on. As for the rest of the Legion they sort of separated since there was no one left to lead them all.” Our head nod as we gather this from when he said ‘was’ and ‘were’, however there seem to be organize from what we seen when we left Primm, we decide to speak about this. “But Arcade, we notice they seem to be well lead when we left Primm, how can this be?” Confusion is set in his expression as he rub his chin. “That is a good point there Nightmoon, honestly I have no idea, hopefully we can figure this out before something big goes down.” He look at the time and sighs. “Sorry to cut this short but I got to leave, have to make sure that nothing went bad from my absence, take care guys.” As he raise himself up and walk out of the room we ‘felt’ something in Meddler room, our body went up as we ourselves went out to head to his room. We do not know why we are acting this way or how we can feel such things, perhaps since we were once part of Luna we inherent her sense of nightmares when one dreams? It would make some form of sense when we first felt such a thing some day’s back. As we enter in we see Meddler moving around with his eyes clench, our body lay down by his bed as our horn glow. Usually we would never try to do this at all, we do not know if this will even work at all, but if we wait and sleep then he might awaken. We do not wish for this to come, we wish to speak to him now to calm his sense’s before he awakens, we only hope that this will work. As our horn gently touch Meddler head sleep overcame our eyes as we close them and sleep. *** (meddler) Darkness raise up as my body moves through the dead and burning smell, my body spins as my left side narrowly move away from an attacking ghoul. A hit went to my riot armor as my right hand raise up the Plasma Pistol to shoot at a Legion, my legs quicken toward the light as my body stop before a cliff. My eyes see a town, a community that is around a canyon. It look so peaceful, wonderful, and, “Well, look what we have here. The Courier.” My head snaps to see a dead face, Caesar with blood on him, a bullet in his chest with a few bruises on his face. My eyes widen to see him walking up to me with a smirk on his face. “Do you remember this Courier? This is your home that you made, the one you settle into.” My head turn to this place before me, it was call something else once. For some reason that confuse me my mouth couldn't say the name, of what it was before, but it can say the word of it is call now. “The Divide.” A flash of light went around me as a few seconds later my eyes open to the sun fill skies above me, around me is the familiar setting of my home. My left hand holds a rope that is tied to a large bag that is fill with mail and supplies that I gather before my department from the Mojave Express. My right is within my pocket as it holds a familiar coin from a much longer memory. My duster move against the gentle wind, my face is moving to see so many faces, so many memories, and at once my body is moving against my will. All the while my ears are fill with Caesar voice. “Do you remember all of this Courier? All of the faces here, the people who you trust and love. Do you see this false peace here?” My eyes try to close from all of this pain within my heart, but my body refuse to obey me. My eyes look around to see NCR troops moving around, civilians walking around, smiles all around. Then all at once my mind freeze as my eyes see a too familiar person three steps from me. The person turn as a smile grow on that face, the legs move as arms stretch out as the chest touch mine. And that voice, oh that voice cause so much happiness and pain at once. “Meddler! How are you dear?” My throat dried even before my mouth open as to say words that spoke from me so long ago. “Well I’m doing fine love, how’s our little trooper?” A smile move on my face, even though within me knows it is false, yet even I cannot tell if this is a nightmare or a memory. Hell it can even be both at the same time. “Doing fine, he’s almost finish with school, so is the job done?” A chuckle escape my lips. “Almost! Just got to deliver this shit to the office and I’ll be back to see you and the kid!” A smile is on her face, mischief is set in her eyes. “You damn better Meddler, because when you get back we’ll have so much time to be together,” Her mouth crept up to my right ear as she whisper in a lustful tone. “Because I got a new bag of toys to use for the both of us back in the room. And I’m quite horny from the last trip you made to it.” A blush appear on my face as my arousal went up. A toothy grin is form on her face. “Don’t keep me waiting love.” “Oh if she only knew what you brought with you to change that little plan.” And another flash of light went around me. *** My legs move through the office as my right hand moves the bag on my back on the table. “Hey, packages from the West.” Smiles from all around are shown from the other who work here with a few approval hoots or two, the clerk nod his head to me. “Thanks Meddler, hopefully the morale is up, haven’t heard much back home.” A familiar arm is wrap around my shoulder, the tone of the voice is full of joy as a male voice speaks out to me. “Hey there buddy! how’s the trip back to good old NCR?” My head turn to see a Caucasian male, yellow hair down to his neck shown, a light beard form around his mouth as his brown eyes look at me with familitary of an old friend. “Henry you crazy bastard nice to see you too. As for the trip it’s not bad, still see the debates of the ‘leader’s’ going non-stop and all. But I did manage to see my folks, heard that they were thinking on coming over here to see the kid.” A laugh escape from his mouth as he gently shakes me. “So, you manage to get something from the old hoots?” My nose snort as my reply came forth. “You know if dad heard that he might order you to do 200 push ups. Just because he’s retired from being a Colonel doesn’t mean he won’t make you a recruit again. And mom still got her rifle all nice and prime to take off a raider head.” “Whatever Meddler, so did you got my package?” his tone turn to serious, my head nods as my head turn with my hands searching in my bag to take out a small box, and a giant ass robot, it look freaky as hell. I heard it’s some sort of machine the Enclave use in the past or some shit, my hands pass the two item’s to him. “Don’t know why that General wanted me to give this to you, but here the package’s. I swear you guys in NCR always keep your dirty little secrets.” “Well no offense Meddler but we love to keep our porn close to ourselves. Not all of us got a woman waiting in our bed ready to,” My right hand went to his mouth and clamp it. “Hey! Careful there Henry, I don’t want the others to look at my wife with all the gossip you bring around here.” A chuckle escape from my grasp as he push my arm off. “Well Meddler sorry to say that I can’t help it, you’re too easy of a target to make fun of.” My eyes roll as a sigh escape from me. “Anyway Henry gotta go, things to do and all that.” “Take care man!” “Ah if you realize what the box truly held back then, perhaps you might of stop it all.” Once again a flash of light went around me, I swear these things are getting damn annoying. *** My hand close the door behind me as laughter can be heard in the other room. My eyes look to the living room with the sofas and pictures on the walls. My head turn to hear a voice that haunts me before it all happen. “Daddy! You’re back!” My body been push by a inch as a little boy of ten hug me as his face look up to mine, a face full of joy. A smile form on my face, but within my mind is of terror and pain of what will happen. “Well kiddo guess what Grandpa got you?” “Is it a BB gun? Oh is it a thousands caps?” ask the boy, a grin form as my right hand search my pocket as a my hand grasp the coin and took it out of it’s temporary prison as my fingers flip it to him, he caught it as he look at the silver coin. “What is it?” he ask as he hold it up to see the picture imprinted on it. A face of a man on the side, the size of it is larger than most coins, the words on it say’s ‘In God We Trust’, on the top of it say’s ‘Liberty’, and under the face is the year ‘2015’. “This is a family heirloom that went all the way back from our great-great-great-grandfather. Now it has been pass on to you my son, try to take care of it, okay?” His head nod up and down with a large smile on his face. “You got it daddy! No way will I ever, ever, lose it!” A laugh came from me. “Good to hear kid!” Then that’s when the all familiar siren came around. “Daddy, what’s going on?” My head turn outside. “I don’t know, I’m going to check it out,” my body move against my will to stay, because I knew what is going to happen next, that will become the greatest and most shameful thing that will always haunt me. “Ah and here it is. The moment when you done what you ‘had no choice’.” The light went around me, and for once I truly wish that it would take me away from this whole thing. *** “Henry what’s the hell is going on here?” I shout as NCR troops move past me, he turn with a frightened look on his face. “Look Meddler, this is a really bad time right now, just go home and,” My hand went to his shoulder as my voice raise up. “BULLSHIT! Henry you know that avoiding this thing with me is not a good idea, beside you might need my help, so drop it.” He look at me as he sighs. “The Legion are attacking, we spotted a few from the north and are heading our way as we speak. Meddler go back home, we can handle this.” My head shakes as my eyes look to a Service Rifle, my hands grab the weapon and turn the safety off. “You’re going to need everyone to stop those bastards. Count me in.” Henry gives a small chuckle. “No matter what I’ll do, you’ll just ignore me and try to help. Fine, come on Meddler. Let’s go kill these bastards.” As we both move through the streets Caesar voice fill my ears. “Oh Courier, no matter what you do, the next moment will forever be burn in your mind. Even if you try to forget it all. The instincts will always be part of you, your ‘anger’ of the Legion never truly left you even if you wipe your entire mind.” We both stop the gate of my community, all the NCR wait, and wait as we hear the troops of the damn Legion start to move around it, my eyes look to all the troops around me, some shake of anxiety, others from fear, and a few of will probably be the biggest battle of a life time. Finally a large explosion hit the gate’s as we all hear a voice shout to us all. “DO NOT LET A SINGLE BASTARD THROUGH OUR HOMES!” And at once we all fire our shots as the Legion enter in from the destroyed gates of this place. My sight move from the left to right as most of my fire went to their chest, my ears hear troops giving them all as we hold our position. As hours pass from the fighting we slowly force our way back and back, we lost ground as the Legion kept pushing and pushing until we all remain inside the Missile Base Headquarters of Hopeville, my heart aches of the terror that I will soon unleash upon everyone. Including myself. “Henry, I hope that everyone got out safe, we all know what could happen if the Legion got to them.” He turn his head as nothing came from him, at first I thought he look at the casualties that the Legion did to us, wounded troops all around us, some are sleeping on the ground. There was 500 troops station here, now there is only 100 left. Henry took something out of his pocket. It’s a trigger, but there is no hole on the front and it’s not a laser pistol. “Henry, what is that you got?” He look to me with eyes fill with despair and tears. “A last resort. If the Legion try to take this area, well we been order to fire the missiles on ourselves.” My mouth open in shock as my mind knows what will happen next. “Henry! You know there is no way we can,” He interrupt me. “Don’t give me that Meddler! We have no choice, any moment now they will take over this place and use the missiles to destroy the NCR, we can’t, no shall not let them do this, no matter the cost we will end them. Even if it cost us our lives.” My body moves straight at him and force the thing off of his hand. “Don’t do this Henry, I swear to God that if you do this, I’ll,” Before my words form next a loud explosion hit the base itself. My body move from the blast as does Henry, the trigger left his hand as it went a few feet from me. The sounds of guns and death fill my ears. My eyes look to see Henry with a sad look, my head look up to see the Legion are coming closer, then to the trigger as my left hand quickly grabs it. Henry shouts at me. “MEDDLER! MEDDLER DO IT NOW! PRESS IT NOW!” Tears went down on my face as five words exit out of my mouth. “Please, forgive me everyone.” My finger press it. And the light finally enveloped me one last time, as my mind know what will happen next, that will cause me to purposely erase my memories. *** My voice give out a groan as my eyes slowly open to see the ruin room, something on my body as my head raise up to see Henry body on me. His back facing the door as troops of both sides earn burn marks on their body, my arms push Henry off to gather myself up. My ears hear something move away, my head turn to see a empty vial with a needle in a spot near where my body was. My eyes look to see him with his eyes close, my right hand quickly move to his throat and felt nothing. A cough escape from me as my voice croak. “W-What?” My left still holds the trigger as it quickly let go, my eyes dart around to see the dead around me. My mouth is dry as my head turn while my eyes try to find something to drink. Sadly there is nothing, my legs move as my ‘past’ mind gather it’s thought, a Service Rifle is found in my sight as my hands grab it, a few magazines are near it as my left hand gathering them, my ears hear something. A groan, my head turn to to see Henry slowly going up. “Henry, how the hell did you,” Then as his skin turn red, hair slowly gone as he begins to charge at me, my body turn as he slowly turn around. My hands begin to shake as my instinct know what to do when dealing with a ghoul. “H-Henry,” my voice speak out as it whisper, my arms raise up in a aim position with him in my sight. My arms shake as tears begin to run down again, he slowly comes at me, my throat gulp as the words finally came out. “I’m so sorry.” And then when he charge my finger press the trigger and fire each shot at him, again, and again, and again until he finally falls. Then my ears hear the others slowly getting up, my mouth open in another whisper as my ‘past’ mind remember something. “Oh no, Melody, Felix.” My body moves as fast as it can go as it moves left and right dodging the abominations that I have made. My body walks out to see the burning sky, the sands and burning wreck. My eyes search to find my house, and at once they found it. My legs move as fast as they can be push to my home, finally the house is in my sight as the sounds of the Others are slowly coming up, my right leg is up as it kick the door open. “MELODY! WHERE ARE YOU LOVE?” my eyes quickly search around to find them, but they aren’t in the living room, that’s when my body move to the basement, the door is lock as my hand use the Rifle to push it against the door, then shoot the knob as my legs kick the door, my body went down to try find them, but instead of seeing my family alive, despair fill my heart as my eyes see the two with the same marking’s as Henry. My tears went out even more as my voice cry out. “No, no, no, NO! NO! NO! DAMN YOU HENRY! DAMN YOU LEGION BASTARDS! DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL!” The two slowly went to me with the look of hunger, my head shakes as my arm instinctively went up to aim, my voice went up to a whisper. “Please, don’t do this, I love you both so much. Please, no more. Please turn back.” My pleads are ignore as they charge at me, my hands fire at them as a whimper escape from me as my eye’s see the bullets going through them, one by one. Finally they stop dead. My hands let go of the weapon as my back move to the wall, my body slide down as my arms wrap around my head as the ‘past’ me couldn't take it anymore. This went on for maybe fifteen minutes as the noise’s outside became more, my hands wipe away as my body slowly move to the two, dragging them in a loving embrace as my hand search their pockets, my wife got the key to the emergency caps, including some caps in her pocket while my son still got the coin in his own pockets. Tears went down again as my right clench it and place it in my own pocket. My body went to the door and unlock it to reveal a large bag of caps. as my right grab it, my voice went out. “Forgive me love, forgive me son, forgive me everyone. For I have committed a great sin to you all.” As my body turn to see the two one last time my lips went to their heads and give a quick kiss on the foreheads. My body move to the stairs, knelt down quickly to grab the weapon and moving up, as my legs move toward the exit, my head turn to the memories that are within this household and finally turn back to the exit of this damnable place. As my body move did things go to worse. The curse ones began to move straight at me, my hand drop the bag down as they fire at each one, all the while Caesar voice fill the ears. “One would say what I done is a blight to all of humanity, but many don’t know what you have done here Courier or chose to forget to, out of the two of us you are the bigger monster than I am. You were the one who brought the package, you were the one that pull the trigger, you were the one that killed your ‘friend’, and you were the one that killed his own family.” Tears went down on my face as I slaughter the ones who I once call friends and neighbors, the weapon went out as my hands eject it and place a new magazine in. Caesar went on. “Do you remember what you done next? Oh I do, instead of staying there in your home you ran away back to the corrupt West, to find out why you brought the device, only to find out someone you care order it. Your own father. Do you know what happen next?” My head shakes away as my mouth whisper. “No, no more.” A dark chuckle came from him. “In your own rage you killed him, you left like the coward you are. The guilt almost destroy you until you hear about a Pre-war machine that can make people forget things, so what did you do? Ran away to it giving all the caps you have and ask them one thing, and when they ask what you want to forget what did you say?” “‘Everything. I want to erase my own past and forget of all I done.’ And so it was done, then you hear about a package in the Mojave and ran to there. That’s all you are Courier. A coward that runs away and away, never looking back.” “That’s all you are Courier, that’s all you ever will be.” They came closer now, grabbing onto me as they hold me down, dragging me down into the darkness. My head looks up to see a smirk Caesar. “Sooner or later you will pay, pay for your sins Courier. But then you are paying them now, question is who blood will be on your hands?” Then a new voice came, a strange familiar voice. “Enough of this, we grow tired of this foolishness nightmare.” All at once everything stop, the hands move from me, my body raise up to normal, the background change into a growing darkness, the darkness wrap around my entire body as it moves me away Caesar and near to a four leg being. My mouth opens in shock and my tone fill with surprise. “W-Wavy?” Her head turn to mine, the helmet gone and her look is of how she came to New Vegas when she arrive. A smile form on her face as she turn her head to Caesar. “You will not harm Meddler as such nightmare, he is now under our protection as of now.” Caesar look at her as his skin pales as a dark laugh came from him. “Creature, I am merely doing what I am suppose to do. Cause him grieve and remind him of his failures. But you do not belong here, this is not your domain.” Wavy smirk at Caesar. “We know that we do not belong in this place call the Mojave, but when it comes to dreams and nightmares that is another thing entirely. Allow us to introduce ourselves to the likes of you,” Her hooves raise up as does her body, then she slam her forehooves down on the ground as the scenery change into some sort of hall. Large glass on the windows, stone all around us, carpet under our feet, my head turn to see some sort of throne, the voice of Caesar speaks out. “What is going on here? WHO ARE YOU CREATURE?” My head turn to Wavy with that smirk still on her muzzle, She then open her muzzle to answer. “Normally we wouldn’t say this as we learn that it would cause our foes to laugh at us, but for now we make an exception,” Her voice begins to shout each word in a loud tone which is painful to my ears. “We! ARE! NIGHT! MARE! MOON!” She then add one more word as a gate appear behind Caesar. “Bitch.” The gates open as something drag him in, he screams as he enter in, the gates close and disappears as Wavy head turn to me. “Are you alright Meddler?” Our head slowly nod. “Wavy, mind explaining to me what the fuck is going on before my mind decide to think that it’s crack from all of this,” My hands move around as my body move around in a circle. “Strangeness?” Her head nod as she moves to the throne thing and sit down on it, a chair appears by her left side. Her left fore hoof move to it as to say I can sit on it, my legs start to move as my body went up and turn to allow my ass to sit on the chair. My head moves to Wavy as her muzzle moves to explain. “Honestly Meddler we do not fully understand at first. We know that we have inherent a ‘gift’ from somepony before we enter here; the ability to enter into dreams and well meddler in them,” my eyes roll from her ‘joke’, if it can be call that. “At first we did not know we can do this, but this is our second try of enter in your dreams, or it’s a dream now, we do not know if what we saw is a memory or a dream.” My shoulders shrug. “Honestly Wavy even I didn't know at all as well. So what you’re saying is that you can enter into dreams and shit?” Her head nod. “To be exact, yes we can, normally when we sleep we can enter into other dreams, but for this time we use some magic to enter in your mind, we did not know that this would work at all since magic is now a tricky thing here. But we are gratefully that it aid us instead of troubling us.” “Meddler, when we first enter in your dreams, we were shock to see such a thing that you harbor in your mind. The death and pain you hold in your heart and mind.” My head turn away as a sigh escape from me. “We apologize, does this talk make you uneasy?” My head slowly turn to the concern gaze of Wavy. My head shakes. “Wavy, it does make me uneasy but for other reasons. I never talk to someone about this because what the hell am I suppose to say to them?” My body move up as my mouth opens in a mock explanation. “‘Hey there buddy? Can I talk to you about the time when I brought a dangerous thing into my home where my wife and kid are at? Not only that can I also tell you that I am the one that pretty much made the Divide into what it is and kill so many lives and destroy what was a great home to me? Not to mention for some reason I am the sole survivor when I should be dead?” “‘What’s that? You’re getting your weapon? Now why would you,’” My right finger went to my head. “BLAM!” My head and body turn to Wavy. “We...See that this would be a problem Meddler, and we know from experience that speaking about sins we done in the past would be uneasy to speak now.” My head turn away as another sigh escape from me. “Yep, no one in this whole damn Mojave can know what I went through.” that’s when my body feel a wing around me as my body is slowly push toward Wavy, my head turn in shock to see her doing this. That’s when I realize she is giving me a hug, or at least is trying to. My right side is press to her left as she nuzzle my head with her eyes close, my right arm slowly moves around her in hesitation as a few seconds pass by as my body hug her side and some of her front. Then the tears went down on my face. “Damn it, damn it.” Wavy didn’t even say a thing as she allow me to cry on her and accept it. Finally what seems like hours my body let go as my left hand is wiping away the tears on me. “Sorry about that Wavy, not use to getting a hug like that or be pussy like so.” Her head shakes as she answer back, her eyes open to look at me with such a wonderful and understanding gaze.“We know what it is like to cause damage against love ones and to hold such pain in the heart.” She open her left fore hoof again to welcome another hug, and one I accept willing, we hug for a while as she lay her head on mine. “We will make a deal with you Meddler, we will tell you a bit about our lives in exchange you slowly tell your life. Deal?” A hearty laugh escape from me. “Thanks, Wavy, and I accept. Still quick question, did you honestly meant that I would be under your ‘protection’?” She temporary let go with a smile on her face and a nod. And we went back to hugging once more. For once, perhaps I can finally let go of my pain and accept the healing of someone who understand my position. However she ask something that that I’m not ready to speak about. “Meddler, we wish to ask about something, it is about your family, you see we,” “Wavy, I just got done going through a recurrent traumatic experience in my life, now I am going to say this once and only once. Do not bring up family, all it’s going to is to ruin the moment okay?” All she did to respond is a nod of her head and the silence, at least one good thing from this whole thing is that she knows when a scar that is slowly healing, and when it comes to my family, even my parents and sister, that wound is taking a long damn time. *** (meddler) My eyes slowly open as my eyes to see Wavy slowly waking up herself, my eyes look down to see both Feathers and Psycho sleeping on the couches, Loyal is sleeping on my other side with her head on my right shoulder. My nose slowly breaths in as a breath went out. Okay I went through one hurdle and now I gotta go through another. Small steps Meddler, small steps. My body slowly gets up as my shoulder moves from the two, Loyal quickly wakes up as she see me up and awake, her helmet is off as she chose to have comfort than communication. Wavy raise her head up and gives a small yawn. [“We see you are awake now Meddler, are you better?” My shoulder shrugs. “Somewhat, still need to work with, oof!” my body push down as Loyal glomp me on my left side with her push her head on my chest, her horn is thankfully away from a position of pain as she rub her muzzle on my chest with her ears flatten and tears coming down her eyes. Oh fuck, not again. Okay Meddler you can do this, just...calm her. And then figure out her side of the story. My right hand gently rub her head as my mouth open to give calming noise. “Shh, shh, shh. It’s okay, you did nothing wrong Loyal, it’s not your fault, okay?” My hands gently raise her head to allow her eyes see into mine, a smile form on my face as my thumbs rub the tears away from her face. She move forward to nuzzle me, which I accept as my hands wrap around her and holds her as she gently cries. My head slowly move to Wavy who is seeing all of this. My mouth opens as she reads my lips. ‘Get her helmet please.’ She nod her head in understanding as her body is up with her head move around to search for the lost helmet. She finds it as her horn glow to grab it and float it to my now outreach hand. As it gently moves on my palm my other arm let go as my hands move over her head as my hands place it on her, she submit as she allow me to attach the helmet to her. She then speaks to me. “Master, are you angry with me?” My nose breath in as my answer came out. “No Loyal, I am not, confuse? Yes greatly so, but angry? Not even a bit.” She went back onto my chest hugging me, which I allow and sighs. Finally the door open to see Raul looking at me with a surprise look. “Hey Boss, glad to see you’re awake.” My head nod. “Yeah, anyway how long I slept for?” He sighs as he answer. “About a full day, it’s morning already.” My head nod as something came to me. “Wait, why are you here Raul? Normally you just sleep at your shack, what’s up?” He sighs again as he shakes his head. “Bad news Boss, really bad news. But I’ll wait for you to get ready okay?” My head nod as my mouth speaks. “Thanks Raul, appreciate you for being patience.” With a nod return from him he moves away from the door as he gently close it. My attention turn to Loyal. “Hey Loyal?” My hands gently push her away as she moves back and sit down on her rump looking at me. “I need to ask you some questions okay, hun?” I ask in a gentle and patience tone, she nod her head as a sigh went out and my question is ask. “Loyal, why are you calling me Master?” Level up! (Wavy) Protector of Dreams-With Nightmoon as your guardian of dreams, you’ll sleep better and have a better chance of looking around your environment with one point of Perception. > Chapter 6: What’s this? More backstory? Stop with the feels! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 6: What’s this? More backstory? Stop with the feels! I was taught that you should never disobey your Master or Mistress, never question them, never say a word against them, not even to harm them of the wrong they done to you. We were the slaves of the ponies, and that’s all we were ever be, from the day we arrive to the day of our death we will be their slaves and only theirs. We Changelings been serving the Ponies for a long time now, way back when the Unification start, I don’t know what the exact date or year it was but we were found by some Ponies explorers who found the first Hive. The first Changelings were taken as slaves to work for the Ponies, and we accept, we didn't knew any better. For a long time we were used by the Ponies for entertainment and work, in exchange we get emotions to eat, this work for a long time. But over the years the Ponies began to become crueler and nastier when it comes to us Changelings. I was born with my Hive home out by Trottingham. Each Hive is ‘rule’ by a ‘Queen’ who watch over us all and direct us, above the Queen is our owner, they say that if the owner fucks with a Queen then their DNA will be in the slaves and will always be loyal to their owner. It’s always a false tale, yet almost all the owners do this. I was born like the rest, came from the Queen as a egg, went out from said egg and thrust into with the others newborns until we all can walk and speak. From there we all go to a small ‘school’ to learn how to be a good Changeling slave from a bad Changeling slave. Even taught how to fly, but for some reason never on our horns though. Then I learn how to speak the language, and soon to the unspoken rules of Changelings. *** “Now then Changelings, what are the rules of the Serving Changelings?” ask the mentor Changeling, some of our hooves went up as some of us spoke in ‘oohs’ and ‘me! Me! Me!’ finally one of us gotten to say. “Never disobey our owner, never question, never speak out against them, and never, EVER harm our owners.” The mentor nod her head, with a smile on her face. “Good, now then,” The bell’s began to ring as the mentor look back toward the door and spoke out. “Little ones! move against toward the wall, straight position! Our Mistress is coming in!” Our bodies move straight to the wall and stood our backs straight as our rumps sit on the cold stone. The doors open as an Earth pony mare walks in, her hooves move as our heads bowed with our eyes looking down to the floor. The Mistress moves and stop at a random Changeling, she moves and stop giving a ‘hmm’ as she finally stops to me. After what feels like hours the Mistress spoke out. “She will do, as well the others. Move slaves, you all just been bought to your new Mistress.” As she moved back to allowed us to move our hooves, my eyes look to the mentor with a sad look on her face. That was the last time I ever saw her, she moved on to another owner before being beaten to death. Why I didn't know, it didn't occurred to me for a simple reason. We never ask what happen to ‘defect’ slaves. *** Changelings were always move around in different Hives as we were constantly sold to different Masters and Mistress. I was move toward Prance when I began to speak and understand Prench. We Changelings were everywhere around Equestria, we were even outside of the nation, our Masters and Mistress tend to move around the world, it really depend on the Pony. After staying in Prance for a few years I was sold and moved back to Equestria, right to the capital. *** My hooves move with the many others as our collars connects to one another with a simple chain, my Mistress is riding in the carriage as we were moving behind the connect carriage with our chain collars. My eyes look down on the ground as it was disrespectful to look at other ponies or anything at all without the owner approval. I didn't know how long I or the others were going to stay here in Canterlot for, only thing I hope is that I get a good owner, not like the others I seen in my years of serving. I hope that I can be good slave Changeling for them. *** We were staying in the slave’s pen in Canterlot Castle, and there we meet our Queen, the one who change the winds of fate herself, Queen Chrysalis. I still remembered every detail of her when my eyes first saw her. Dark Green hair down to her neck, holes in all of areas of a Queen as they should be, her somewhat green eyes look down before somepony. Her color like all the rest was black, her large insect wings shuffle as she nodded her head. My ears heard the words that were spoken. “Yes I understand Mistress. It will be done.” Her voice of two was different, unlike many Queens she was the only one that had this uniqueness. My eyes glance to see a pony of the same size as her, however her hair wave like a rainbow, her coat was white, jewelry on her shown of her power, her purple eyes squint toward the Queen. Her tone was harsh and filled with coldness of the night. “See that you do slave.” As she moved away from the Queen and walk towards the rest of us, my eyes move down to the ground in fear of being punished for looking. She moved past us without a single notice, my eyes move to see some Changelings like us cleaning the floors, but their stomach were small, ribs could be seen with a look of starvation in their eyes. My ears heard a voice shout out. “You slave!” Another voice spoke out. “Y-Yes Master?” said a slave, my eyes quickly move to see a Master of white coat, armor on him as he look down a nymph with a rag on the ground, her eyes look up to the stallion “Go between my legs and suck me off, now!” She gulped as she looked away. “B-But Master, I,” his hoof slam against her face as she cried out in pain. “Don’t you question me slave! Use that mouth to suck me now, I need a bitch and you’ll do just fine! Now get sucking, otherwise you’ll get no food!” Tears shown on the nymph as she moves between his legs as my ears heard a sucking sound, and a groan from the stallion. “That’s right, keep sucking like a good bitch that you are.” My eyes look down again as my ears heard the crack of a whip. “Keep moving slaves!” *** I recently founded out that all the Changelings here were undernourished and had no choice but to comply to the desires of our owners, which means it was common to see nymphs and drones bending down to suck or be ride on. I had to suck few of my own when I cleaned the floors. However a few weeks later I saw something that will never be removed of my mind. I always had to move around but never did I witness rape, it was usually an agreement between the owners and us slaves, but rape was another thing entirely. And it was horrible, to this day I can still hear her screams. After that event things gone to worse as Changelings were getting abuse on sight, one night Queen Chrysalis had enough with all of this and form a meeting with all of us Changelings. It was a huge event that night, one that brought me hope. *** “I had enough of all of this, do you my fellow Changelings?” a few shouts of approval rang out in the room that held all of us in this large room. Chrysalis stood before us on a large soap box with green fires as torch as she look at each of us with a determined but caring look. “For too long we Changelings had serve our Ponies owners for countless years, and what have they shown for it? Abuse, pain, torture, sadness, and brutality against us all! We allowed them to do these to us, but no more!” “We will show them that we will not be their slaves anymore!” A Changeling spoke out. “But how will we do this Queen?” Chrysalis spoke with a smirk on her face. “In a weeks time a mare by the name of Princess Cadence will appear for her wedding with the ‘beloved’ Captain of the Guard, Shining Armor. We will take her when her guard is down and I will disguise myself as her until the time is right to rise up!” “But how! We only just fly around and have these horns on our head as decorations, how will we fight back Queen?” She shook her head as a sad sigh escaped from her muzzle. “I expected this, you see long ago our ancestors once learn how to shape-shift into other beings. Even more that we once had magic, but due to generations of neglect we haven’t use these abilities, until today.” Her horn glowed as green fire moved around her entire body, soon Queen Chrysalis was gone, and Princess Cadence stood there. Some of us gasp as the fires move once again as Chrysalis return. “This was a gift we once pride ourselves, something that we can do at will, and shall do once more. We can disguise ourselves into anypony if we have the energy to do so.” “For our magic it is quite simple, we have the abilities as of the unicorns, but only simple things. But with these things we shall rise, who shall stand by me?” My mouth open as I spoke. “I will.” “So will I, my Queen.” As we all swore on our Queen her smile only gotten bigger and bigger. “Excellent my Changelings, now we shall learn of how to shape-shift and be prepare to strike back against our oppressors!” “Be prepare to fight for not only our freedom, but for all Changelings!” *** It took us weeks to succeeded in the shapeshift art, however we done it. We would of worked on our horns, but not many learn how to do so, but the rare few like me learned how to elevated items. However we learned that Princess Cadence just arrived and was in her room for the time being, Queen Chrysalis took this chance to put her to sleep and away deep in a place the unfortunate were placed in. The Crystals Mines. Most slaves there who were ‘defect’ or a ‘uniqueness’ was place there to mines for crystals for the Ponies, most never survive from the lack of food and water, it was a place of death. Queen Chrysalis turned to Princess Cadence for a time being and watch for her wedding, I and many others was ordered to wait until the signal went out, which was a shout saying ‘Changelings! Now is the time!’ Not only would it tell us, but many others who I founded out that were apart of this. Many Changelings were coming all over for this one moment. But there was a problem, Captain Shining Armor place a shield around the capital, many of our brethren was forced to wait, Queen Chrysalis assured us that she had a back up plan, we asked how, she told us that she knows a way to make sure Shining will do as she said. So after a few day’s we assumed that we would be ready, ready to fight for our freedom. Oh how wrong we were, and it all happen because of six mares that enter into the capital. *** My eyes look down as six mares pass me by, a white unicorn, a orange earth pony, a pink jumping earth pony, a blue pegasi, a yellow pegasi walking for some reason, and a purple unicorn. I didn’t look at them all due to the fact that if I look without being order I would be punish. I was place by Queen Chrysalis side as her ‘personal slave’ but in truth as one of her messengers to spread the word of the need to know, which is a huge honor to me. They spoke briefly as I try my best to not listen. We moved to different places as we stop at a kitchen, a room of cloths, and the party room. My eyes quickly glance to see the purple one looking at Queen Chrysalis strangely, I only pray that she didn’t put her on the spot. Thankfully she didn’t say anything, I followed the Queen until the next day where she picked me up in the slaves pens, where me and three others stood in our waiting position for the Mistress to call us, I glance at Queen Chrysalis who tried her best to act normal with her owner before her. We were in the hall where the wedding will take place, however the purple one came in accusing the Queen to be an impostor. I held my breath as my eyes quickly glance to see Queen Chrysalis in a shock expression, but she start to cry as she ran from the whole thing, I followed her as she smirks at me. “Just watch my follower, just wait and see.” *** After that the purple one apologize to the Queen, but in a quick move Queen Chrysalis used her magic to subdue the purple one and ask me to take her to the mines. The next day we were all prepare as the wedding almost finished as the Queen and Shining Armor stood together, then everything went downhill after that. The purple one escaped somehow and with her the real Princess Cadence, and what’s worse is that we went ahead on schedule. That’s when things got even more worse. *** As Chrysalis fired her horn against her owner in a battle of struggle she shouted out to the rest of us. “Now my Changelings! Now is the time to fight back! RISE! RISE AGAINST OUR OPPRESSORS!” My head raise up as so does many others as we all cried out together as one. “RAH!” We moved toward against any Ponies, those that were closer to us, those that were marked as targets, and those that done harmed to us. My horn glowed to a Pony as my magic pushed her to the wall, I wasn’t strong enough to lift Ponies but pushing them is another thing that I could do. Chrysalis pushed back against her owner as she slowly was winning with her beam overcoming against her owners own, finally she went down on her side, her horn blacken from the smoking coming out on the top. Chrysalis look down as she begins to laugh and laugh as she shouts out. “I did it! I actually defeated Celestia! Take that bitch! Now we shall take back our people pride! Our hopes! AND OUR FREEDOM!” Both of our heads move to the six mares running out of the doors, Chrysalis shouted out to us all. “STOP THOSE MARES! I WILL DEAL WITH CADENCE! MOVE!” “LET’S GO!” I shouted out as our wings begin to buzz, we took flight in the sky chasing after the mares, we would won but the first and harsh lesson I learned is that superior numbers mean nothing if you don’t have the experience. Which means we got our tails kicked pretty badly, thankfully we manage to overtake them and brought them before Chrysalis. Her owner is stuck in a green cocoon with Cadence being going through the same thing with two Changelings by her using their horns, Chrysalis look at her and the six mares we capture. “We have won this day, we are free, free to chose what we wish, to look at others, to live our own lives.” Her head turn to glare at Cadence her eyes burn with anger. “Now then, I want you to write down this letter,” Her horn glowed as a letter appear and floated toward Cadence muzzle. “Equal rights to Changelings and all rights privileges? Are you serious?” “I AM SERIOUS! WE SHALL BE FREE, FREE FROM YOU PONIES WHO HAVE ABUSE US AS SO!” Her hooves slammed down on the ground as cracks appear under her hooves. This was it, the final moment of our freedom, only to be harshly taken away as the doors slam open to reveal somepony new. A blue color mare of the same looks of Celestia, except of her color and size. Her eyes glared at us all, her body is covered in dried green, oh no. “WE SEE THAT THE DISOBEDIENT SLAVES ARE REVOLTING! NEVER FEAR WE ARE HERE TO END THIS FOALISH CAMPAIGN!” Her horn glowed as she fired her magic at Cadence hooves as she is freed, she turn her head to Shining Armor who is still standing there after this whole thing, he shakes his head and their horns connected to reveal a burst of energy out of pure love in a shape of a dome, the closest Changeling that was near them was disintegrated. It shocked me that something that love could do such a thing. I was just twenty steps away from them as the blast hit me, my ears heard the screams from Chrysalis as the rest of us were pushed away, my eyes see some crash onto the wall, I was pushed out of the window, others were being pushed out as the city was slowly getting smaller and smaller as I was pushed back by the dome of love. Suddenly everything went light. *** (meddler) Present. My hand’s hold onto Loyal as my left arm is around her back holding her close to me, while the other is slowly petting her, as much as it could pet since she still has her helmet on. My eye’s look to Wavy as her helmet hides her emotions or expression on her face? Muzzle? Fuck it, muzzle. Feathers has a face of shock all over her, the open mouth and wide eyes give me that idea, as for Psycho herself I have no clue, but I’m going to make her wish that she will never get the idea that Loyal will be a slave to anyone ever again. Even me. Loyal head move up as she push me back to look me in the face. “Then I fell upon you Master, and well chosen to follow you,” She nuzzle on my face, or as much as she tries since she got the helmet on her. “Even to death.” A long sigh went from me as my head shakes. “You don’t need to call me that, I am no one master, you’re a free, um woman, er mare, ah free person.” I said after trying to find the correct word to say, she rubs her head on my chest, showing affection. “I don’t care, you are my Master, always and forever. What you command will be answered my Master." Fuck, getting her to stop calling me that is going to be hard, which begs the question on why she is calling me master? “Loyal, why are you calling me master? Because if I remember correctly I beat the shit out of you in my ‘mood’, and probably giving you mental scars from what you experience.” And if remember correctly if she can feel emotions and ‘feed’ on them then what she felt when we first met must of been horrifying. “Because you are right, you made me afraid when we first met Master, your anger was hot and red, big and terrifying, but when you left and return you change, change into something so sad, guilt. It was so large and so painful to feel, then I feel sympathy, it felt so wonderful.” “I never felt sympathy from anyone to me, never felt any concern or anything good in all my life. That is why I decided to follow you, and make you my Master.” If I follow right then because she feel my guilt from me, realize that I care about her, and then decide to follow me and call me master, honestly I can’t decide if I should mark this off on the ‘crazy shit moment’, or get Arcade with me so we can figure out how to get her out of ‘calling me master’ thing. Which reminds me, time to have a talk with Psycho that owning someone is not a good thing. My hands remove from Loyal side as they gently push her off of me. “Now then Wavy, I’m going to need you real quick to translate to Psycho for me okay?” Wavy push herself off the ground as she moves in front of me and speaks. “Meddler wait! There something you need to know.” My eyes look at her, anger show on my face, she moves her head back from my expression, she moves her head back to look at me and speaks. “We know you are angry, angry at hearing of a species being like the Legion, however hear us out,” My nose breath in as it went out from my mouth, my arms cross together as an impatient look went on my face. “You have a minute.” She nod her head and went on. “We know that Loyal life was hard, but there is some confusion of her story. You see, from what we remember Changelings were never slave’s where we were from, we heard of them yes, but they were never slaves where we were from.” My eye raise up, my face turn into a ‘are you fucking kidding me?’ look. “We are speaking the truth, we know that they were around from our home, but we never made them slaves, we are speaking the honest and only truth to you.” The honest truth eh? Well I have to admit that she is being honest to me, but that don’t explain that Loyal is telling one thing, but Wavy is telling another. Fuck, this is so damn confusing, how the fuck am I suppose to handle this situation? My attention, and so did the others turn our heads to the door as a knock went onto the wooden barrier between us and outside. “Yeah? Who is it?” The door open to reveal Raul as he stick his head into the room. “Hey Boss, just to let you know that you really are needed out, it’s rather important.” My right hand went up to rub the upper part of my nose as a sigh escape from my lips. “Raul I know that we’re friends and all, but what in the name of all that is Holy, would want you to stick your head in here while I’m having a heated discussion with all these girls?” Raul speak only one sentence. “NCR.” A touch of breath enter inside my lungs as they’re forcefully out of my mouth. “Who’s the fucking moron that think that going to my base of operations is a bloody good idea?” Raul only speak a name, with the rank. “Colonel Hsu.” Another air of breath went out from me. “Well looks like they send someone who I actually respect. Got to give them credit where it’s due, at least they haven’t send an asshole to me, alright Raul, give me five minutes and I’ll speak to him, where is he anyway?” “Front of the doors, he’s still waiting there, I’ll tell him that you’ll be coming down.” My head nods to him. “Thanks Raul.” “No problem Boss.” as he shuts the door my head turn to Wavy. “So you’re saying that Changelings are known but were never slaves?” she nod her head, Feathers decide to put her two caps in. “Yeah, even back in my home, Changelings were known, but they were never slaves, I know for a fact during my stay in Cloudsdale and my visit to Ponyville I haven’t seen a single Changeling around, I’m pretty sure that Princess Celestia herself banned anything with slavery.” A snerk escape from my mouth. Feathers arch an eyebrow, my hand wave back as my body tried it’s best to hold back the laughter. “S-Sorry, it just that the words you just said, Cloudsdale, Ponyville, Princess Celestia, I just can’t take them so, so,” My body shakes as my mouth begins to laugh and laugh. My body drop to the ground as my entire backside roll back and forth as my legs kick in the air, my arms hold on my stomach as the laughter still escapes from me. “C-Celestia? BWAHAHAHAHA! Who names their child that? BWAHAHAHAHA! Next you’ll be saying that they solve their problems by hugs and friendship!” Feathers reply. “They sorta do actually.” More laughter escape from me as after five minutes I catch my breath as my body slowly gets up. “Ahaha, ah man, I needed that, thanks Feathers. Although now that I think about it I got a crazy idea.” They all look at me as my ass settle on the end part of the bed as my hands wipe the tears away from my face. “Okay, just bear with me, what if you all came from different places?” That got them the ‘are you fucking crazy?’ look, well except Loyal though, not to sure about Wavy. “Look it sorta makes sense, I mean you all came from the said location of,” My voice whispers quickly. “Can’t believe I’m saying this,” My throat clear as I continue. “The magical land of Equestria,” Another snerk escape from me again. “Nope sorry, couldn’t keep a straight face, still thinks it’s a bit strange for the namings and all.” “You weren’t this cheery when we first met, and you look all serious.” told Feathers, my hand wave back to her. “That’s because I was trying to keep up the serious look back then, I swear I was trying to hold it all back in from all the magic shit you told me, I believe you guys when you said you can do magic, but that’s only because I seen strange shit in my time and just chalk that up in my ‘strange shit list’.” “But honestly can you not blame me of laughing? I mean half of your names are so damn funny to mock, especially Wavy full name, I just can’t take you all seriously with those types of names, plus they’re so easy to mock.” Wavy nod her head. “He has a point there Gilda, they’re are easy to be mock.” My head nod. “See? Still getting back to topic, you all came from the same ‘land’ but what if, and remember this is just me thinking here, what if you all came a different ‘zone’ of the same land?” this got them to think for a moment. “What do you mean Meddler?”ask Wavy, my left hand rub my chin. “You see a couple of months back just before the Second battle I was traveling with Arcade and ED-E, we enter in a place called Vault 3 which was filled with Fiend bastards, and we’re were scavenging until I found a book, something about parallel universe or something, honestly it didn't look all that great to me, but Arcade took an interest in it and ask if he could keep it, I just said go ahead, and he began reading.” “After we killed all those bastards there we left, however after Arcade finish the damn thing he began telling me all about that a universe could be the same, but a choice could be made that can cause different universe’s base on that choice that as made.” “I listen to it somewhat, but I didn't care for it earlier since I had other things on my mind, but now that I look back, maybe there was something useful from all that talk. So what if you all came from the same ‘Equestria’ but came from different universe’s of it?” They didn't say single thing until Feather speak back. “Meddler, that is some serious fucked up shit you just said.” My head nod back to her. “Honestly, I’m agreeing with you, but we can all agree that today has been a serious fucked up ever since I found you all.” And with that Wavy and Feathers nod their head, Loyal just place her head on my lap. “Now then, Wavy can you bring Psycho up to speed? I got a important meeting right now, see you all soon.” My legs are moving upward as my body move toward the door. Loyal almost beings to follow me until I speak to her. “Loyal I’m not mad at you, but I need you to stay here for a little while, only reason is because the man I am about to meet needs to not to be scared as fuck. Okay hun?” She looks down and move her forehoof on the ground, but she nods her head at me. A smile form on my face. “Good girl.” My left hand open the door as it opens, Loyal buzz her wings to my helmet as she pick it up and went toward to me and present it to me. My right hand grab it as it settle in the arm pit of my right arm. “Thanks, see you all soon.” And with that I took my leave. I really hope that Hsu is here for a damn good reason, I really don’t want to have more stress on my plate. *** (meddler) Annnd stress just came to me. After getting Hsu and his two body guards in former Brotherhood armor, honestly I just got a little tick of from not knowing he would bring his posse with him. So I lead them from the front door and leading him to the Casino floor and just sit on the stairs. “No offense Hsu, while I do respect you, it doesn’t mean I fully trust you in my place, even with your bodyguards.” He nod his head to me as he look at my Securitrons standing guard. “I don’t blame you, ever since you took control of New Vegas some NCR feel rather angry of your decision and what you done to Oliver.” My shoulder shrug, as my eyes look at him behind my helmet covers. “To be fair Oliver was an asshole who deserve to be thrown over the Hoover. Seems fitting after what he did to other troops in the NCR.” He settle down in the stairs, his two guards just stand with their weapons ready, Laser Rifles shown in their hands. “Still I don’t hate you Meddler, after all if it wasn’t for you then I would of lost good men from Curtis betrayal, not to mention you help save Ander’s from the Fiends former base.” My head nod as I reply. “And I don’t hate NCR, there are good people in it, I just hate your pussy leaders. Speaking of which how is Kimball these day’s? I heard that good Chief Hanlon is a senator now and giving Kimball hell.” Hsu chuckle as he reply. “He was, until Kimball step down after the Second Battle,” his facial expression change on his face as he continue on. “Unfortunately there is a problem, and that problem is Kimball.” My hand slap on my helm face. “Fuck,” my response came out in a hissing manner, a long sigh went from the hiss as a word finish my sentence. “Continue.” “You see Kimball is pissed that not only did you took Hoover Dam, all of the Mojave, but killed Oliver, he tried to get a campaign to strike back to get the Mojave back, but the people didn’t see it the way he did. All they saw was a man who is so obsessed with a place and will get it even if the bodys starts to pile up.” “So when he got off the seat of presidential power he decide to take manners in his own hands, decide to gather those with the same feelings of others who feel that you should be taken down, thankfully not many joined up in his little ‘crusade’,” as he use his two fingers together to show how the word is use carefully. “But those who do are veterans and some soldiers who are going to do everything they can to get Vegas, I heard rumors that some have a personal grudge against you,” My hand wave back and forth. “Them and everyone else, hell I can’t remember half the people who try to kill me get killed themselves.” In my mind is a whole different response. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuckkity, fuck, FUCK! Oh this isn’t good at all! FUCK! Guess my decisions back home are starting to return to me with an advance of putting a Fat Man straight up my ass and firing straight through me up to my mouth. “Guess I was right in being paranoid, I knew that someone from NCR would try to get after me, since the Legion is doing the damn same.” His facial expression turn into shock as the bodyguards finally said something, or one of them did anyway. “What the fuck?” My head nod of confirmation of what I just said. “Oh yeah, I been getting assassins after me since the Battle, usually I just killed them all and move on, or until a freaking score went up and ambush me. Thankfully I wasn’t alone in that time, but that attack got me thinking, if someone is getting more people to attack me, that means someone is leading the Legion, and soon someone would try to get me from the West.” “You mean you thinking that someone back in NCR territories someone would attack you just from an Legion attack?” ask Hsu. “No offense dude, but if one big group attack someone, pretty sure other groups will notice and try to do the same. I wasn’t one-hundred percent sure, but it’s good to be paranoid as hell than be wrong and get stab in the back.” Hsu still got that shock on him, but he slowly nod his head. “I see, well at least we know that the Legion is acting up. Still we are going to have heads knocking when we get back home, but the question is who are leading the Legion?” My shoulders shrug as my head shakes. “Hell if I know Hsu, hell if I know. Still it’s nice to know Kimball is after my head, any other surprise I should need to know?” He nod his head, a small smile form on his face. “Actually there is some good news, while some dislike you from taking Vegas, other’s remember the good you done for NCR, if you need our assistance, don’t hesitate to call us up.” My head nod as we both get up and shook hands. “Thanks Hsu, you better get back, hopefully you’ll have a safe passage.” He nod his head. “Thanks, and I hope that you’ll show those Legion bastards what happen you mess with a legend.” My head shakes. “I’m just a guy trying to make Vegas independent.” I said with modesty. A chuckle escapes from him. “As if, stories are spread about you Meddler, most of them outweigh the bad. Take care.” And so we part as he and his troops left the door, while I went to the elevator, as my body enter in and the door close behind my mind only thought of one sentence. Well this fucking sucks. *** (meddler) “Okay, almost done, and finish!” As my hands pick up the Combat Helmet reinforced mark 2 that has been altered for Psycho sake, for one there’s a hole in the helmet for her horn, second the parts for the translator has been add. My hand place it on the Pimp-Boy as it disappear, on the screen it said that it’s in my appearance inventory, it’s nice to have this thing be of use beside telling me how much rads I got, but I would of enjoy it if I had my suit have pocket space thing, I can imagine how much damage I can bring to anyone who piss me off. My body move away from the workbench as I exit out of the dining room, its been about an hour or two since my last conversation with Hsu, I decide to tell Yes-man that there are some renegades NCR troops and be on the look out with the Securitrons all around. The same goes to watching out for the Legion, I also relay the message to the Boomers, the Brotherhood, and the Strip. Better be paranoid as hell than be kill by a small mistake. I hear Arcade talking to Loyal in the pool room, earlier I order one of the Securitrons to head to the Mormon Fort and bring Arcade, when he came I ask him to help figure out how we can make Loyal stop calling me master, I reassure him that she been like this for a long time back where she’s from. And mention my theory to him, he seems to understand that they could be from different ‘Equestria’s’ and should be careful when speaking about them and their homes. My head poke in to see Wavy speaking to Psycho and what appears to wrapping up something, probably what happen earlier. My head turn to see Arcade sitting by Loyal speaking to her, Feather isn’t to be seen around, my head turn to hear the water running. “Wait, is she still taking a long ass shower?” My ears hear Cass asking the question, my head turn to her walking by me with a whisky bottle in her left hand. “It appears so Boozy, how can she take a damn long time washing herself I got no damn clue.” I reply. My hands begin to take off my helmet off as it now rest in the crook of my right arm, a sigh escape from my lips as Cass notice my distress. “Something up Meddler?” A small smile appear on my mouth. “Well Cass, not only I found out that some NCR rejects are after me, but some Legion who are beginning to form from whoever is now leading them, but that Loyal been a slave since birthed.” My body lean on the wall by the door as I continue on. “So yeah, you can say something is up with me, and that is stress.” She shrug as she lean on the opposite side of me on the wall. “As long you don’t decide to drink all the booze,” a small laugh came out from me. “Not to worry, unlike you, I rather drink when my mind feel like to drink.” She took a small drink as she continue on. “Still I don’t blame you with all the stuff you got to deal with Meddler, so what you’re going to do?” My left began rubbing my eyes as a long sigh escape once more. “Honestly I’m going to try to help the girls to survive as much as I can try, also try to find out how to deal with the problems, hopefully I can figure out a plan by the time the Legion leader will be known and figure out where Kimball is going to strike.” “Hey Meddler, can I talk with you?” My head turn to see Arcade walking up to me, Rex pass by me as he walk up to Loyal and sniff at her leg, my eye’s turn to Arcade with a nod from me, he went out as he place his hand under his chin with his arm under the other. “So did you figure out how we can help Loyal stop being a slave?” I hope he found a way, but the sad look on his face, with the frown on his mouth, and the shaking of the head tell me something else. “I’m sorry Meddler, but if she been to a shrink in a few years ago perhaps, if she got out a few months ago, maybe. But Meddler, she been a slave her entire life. There no way I can help her break the mentality of a slave. She going to call you Master for the rest of her life, there nothing I can do to mend the damage.” My head shakes as my eyes plead to him. “Doctor Mad, there just got to be something, anything, that can help her be free,” I said, but he shakes his head as a sigh escape. “Meddler, I know you’re hoping that I can do something, but there is nothing that I can do, I can’t fix someone who been born a slave. Only thing you can do is to let her stay by your side.” My eyes close as they are rub again as a long sigh went out from me. “Well, thanks for trying Arcade, I appreciate you doing this for me.” My right shoulder is gently pat on as he walks by me. “You are a good friend Meddler, no way I’m going to just let you handle this by yourself, see you later Meddler.” As he walks away to the elevator my eyes are rub again. “Well hopefully you’ll have less trouble, right Meddler?” said Cass, who is trying to cheer poor me up. A small smile form on me. “Yeah, hopefully,” My head move to Psycho as she is finish speaking to Wavy. “Now if you excuse me, I’m off to see to girls, talk to you later Boozy.” As I enter in the room, my ears hear her scoff as she walks away. My arm move with my helmet as it touch the golden tool on my arm, as it disappear my hands click on the switch’s as my eyes look for Psycho own helmet. It appears in my right hand as I step Wavy and Psycho. “Excuse me ladies, don’t mean to interrupt but I got something for Psycho.” Wavy turn her head to me as Psycho begins to speak. Wavy then translate. “We request that you do not call us ‘Psycho’, we wish that you will call us by our name.” My hands place the helmet on her head as it fit quite nice, I put the straps on the bottom so the helmet won’t be blown away or force off. “Well Psycho, if you didn’t look at me with a crazy look and began killing those Legion bastards with the shotgun and the Grenade Rifle then I would’ve of call you something else.” A snort came from her as she reply. “I still think that, wait did I just understand what you just said?” My head nod as I explain. “Yeah, that helmet is not only protection, but it works as a translator to make you understand and speak our language.” She looks at me as her head nod, then turn her attention to Wavy. “You were right, he is ‘special’ indeed.” My eyebrows raise as a snort came from my nose. “And the fuck is that suppose to mean Psycho?” Wavy answer for her. “Oh nothing, anyway we should get some weapons for her, right?” My right eyebrow give a quick twitch as a long sigh escape from me. “Fine, fine, if you gal’s want to keep damn secrets from me, that’s all right. As long they don’t involved backstabbing me or shit I don’t give a fuck.” My hand wave at Loyal and the two others. “Follow me, unlike last time we are going somewhere a bit more awesomer than my room for weapons.” As the buzzing of wings are moving, so the moving of hooves. The two still talk in that language of Psycho and from the giggling of the two I have to say they’re just doing girl talk or something. We stand before the elevator as my thumb press on the button. “Master, where are we going?” Loyal ask, my head turns to her looking at me, it’s a bit hard to know if she looking at my face or somewhere else due to the helmet. “Like I said, we are going somewhere a bit more awesomer than my room.” *** (Psycho) The elevator us took us down somewhere, at first I thought it’s the large area that leads outside, but the moment the elevator stop and open it’s door made me rethink on that thought. A large light blind me for a moment, thankfully my new helmet manage to stop the light hurting somewhat. Meddler voice fill my ears as he speaks out in pride. “Welcome to my room of awesomeness and nostalgic!” My eyes blink as he walks out of the elevator, one by one the three of us walk out to see weapons on each side of us, there are signs on the top showing what type of weapons they are. On my left are ‘Pistols’, each has a title under each weapon, a regular pistol shown a ‘9mm Pistol’ sign underneath it, a pistol with a strange design with the title ‘Mysterious Magnum’ under it shown by it, however around the weapons are armor, each standing tall. “Meddler, what is this place?” ask Nightmoon, he turn his head with a smile on his expression. “Why Wavy, I said this is my room of awesomeness and nostalgic,” he point his finger, still think it’s a bit strange of what they call it. Fingers. “Right by us are the guns of sidearms I have collect and upgrade, sometime I find weapons or things that deserve to be mount on the wall or shown,” My head look to see a suit of armor with the title ‘Remnants Powerarmor’ on the bottom of the boots, behind it are a large sorts of weapons with the words ‘Energy Weapons’ behind it. “But, how do you manage to collect such things?” I ask, he answer as he turn his head and wave his right hand. “Caps, I gotten quite good at finding money for a long time, sometime in places people least expect, or sometime random jobs.” Seeing all of these weapons around make feel, giddy as a foal, why? My mind thought as my hoove’s keep walking with the others. We move past the ‘Rifles’ showing all the different rifles on the walls, then pass strange armor’s here and there. A yellow sort of armor with the word ‘Sierra Armor’, we then stop before a desk of sort showing on the top a book of sort, and as my head turn a head mount on a wall. A scream came from me as he quickly turn to face what appears, only to give a small laugh as he seen what my eye’s just witness. “Oh that, don’t worry the real head ain’t on it, it would of rot the moment I took it, no that’s just the helmet of the bastard who was Caesar right hand man,” “Lanius.” He moves around the desk as my head turn to see a wall with many holes on it, before it is a table with different items on it. “Now then, Psycho it is time to see what weapon you choose, and judging from your massacure earlier I got a pretty good idea on what you like.” He moves around us as he went to the wall with the word’s ‘Shotguns’ and ‘Explosions of DOOM!’, after moving around he return with two things in his hands, one was a black weapon of sort, the other a weapon I once use but in a different form. “In my left,” He raise his left arm up. “Is the Riot Shotgun, this thing can hold up to twelve rounds and is a semi-automatic shotgun with a high damage per-second. However this thing use rare ammo which is a twelve gauge slug ammo, so use it wisely. This other beauty,” he lower his left to raise his right. “Is the 25mm grenade anti-personnel weapon. This thing can fire up to six shots, each can deal a blow of explosions of death,” his arm lower as he look at me, a smirk on his face. “Happy are we?” My mind didn’t notice, but some slavia is out and down on my chin, my hoof wipe it away. What is wrong with me? Why did I drool over these two weapons? “Now then, I trust that you’ll be able to use these two weapons to kill any enemy, which is why we are going to do some target practice on that wall over there.” My horn glow as they quickly take the weapons away from his hands and move to the table before the wall, my ears hear the conversation between Meddler and Nightmoon. “Meddler, how did you construct this entire place? And better yet why?” As my new Shotgun fire he answer back. “Well after killing House I decide to make this room when Yes-man came in, took a while but this place as created. And the reasons for the weapons and armor is quite simple. Because I can.” “Also because I was running out of space in my room. Best to leave the good stuff where no one least expect it.” “We see the reason why you would need space, but why the mounting?” My horn switch to the 25mm grenade APW, their conversation went on. “Because I don’t give a fuck, also Lanius held a special place on the wall, a place where I can throw shit at him.” He shouts out at me. “Okay Psycho, you can stop now. Now come over here so I can show you what the ammo look like okay?” My body turn to walk up to him. He lean down as we are both eye level. “Alright, ready to learn more?” My head nod as my mouth speaks. “Go right ahead.” Owner and Slave-With the bond between the two grow stronger when you fight together, her Nerve will raise one point whenever she is by your side with your admiration feeding her, but if she is discourage of your opinion of her she will lose Nerve. (Fleur)Destructive Training- With the teachings of Meddler you’ll be more effective with your Explosions and Guns skills, both skills are automatically raise by two points, damage is raise by twenty-five percent. > Chapter 7: A wild masochistic mare appear! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 7: A wild masochistic mare appear! (meddler) Journal entry Day Seven: week four It’s been four weeks since the girls came to the Mojave Wasteland. I’ll be honest, teaching them the tricks are harder than it looks, especially due to three of them have hooves, and Feathers need to sit on her ass to shoot things. Still we manage. I haven’t heard anything from both the Legion and the NCR Rejects, on one hand that’s good, but on the other that makes me paranoid as hell. I asked King and the others around in Freeside and the Families to keep an eye out and an ear open. I told them that we might be seeing some Legion’s or Rejects around the Mojave, and they might try to take Vegas. Thankfully the agreed with me and promise to keep an eye out. Hopefully we might manage to figure out who’s leading the Legion so I can go over to whatever hole they’re hiding and bring out an massacre. As for the girls they seem to have a knack for favorite hobbies. Wavy seem to collect case’s for bullets or lasers and plasma, she told me during our trip at Gun Runners she learn many things, and one of these things are finding ways to make other types of ammo. She seem to have a knack of finding case’s better than me. Feathers, ah she been doing good so far, since I ask Mad Doc to be her shrink for a while she seem to improve, she’s not shaking from shooting someone, or thing. Still can’t stop crying for a while, I been trying my best to help her but she decide to have a tight beak. Won’t step in until she feels like I should know what she is thinking in that head of hers. However she tends to fly over New Vegas from time to time, same with Wavy and Loyal. I hear that it help improve their mood a bit. I merely remind others who see them that if they shoot them then I will shoot back with my Red Glare. Psycho have improved since traveling with us, she give us bit's and pieces of her home time to time, but nothing major, I won’t pry until she is ready to tell me. However whenever she use her new toy’s she tend to go on a rampage of mass destruction whenever she get’s that look. She almost remind me of Lily. Still it’s nice to see her not breaking down like Feathers, but she tends to have her moments in private. Which reminds me about the wings, one time I accidentally stumble in on Feathers as she was ‘cleaning’ her wings, let just say my jaw went in pain for a bloody week, despite having awesome healing implants. Or that hard skin implant. Wavy explain that whenever one ‘preen’ a wing, it’s a private moment for themselves or close lovers. I apologize the next day after that, she seem to take it well. Now for Loyal, I have accept the fact I am her, ‘master’ I try all my best to make her say something less...Bitter to my ears. Sadly that isn't the case, she still’s call me master no matter what. Thankfully the guys spread the word of her ‘condition’ and whenever I pass by the streets of the Strip and Freeside people give me a sympathetic look. Which helps me, despite the way I look. But for some reason she began to be a bit more, affectionate to say the least, always rubbing on my leg or hugging me, hell even snuggling close to me. I give affection back to her as best I can, only explanation I can come up with is that since I been ‘feeding’ her with my emotions she feel happy or some shit, hell if I know anything about another species. Still she’s damn good at being a sneak, I swear I didn't even hear her when I went sleeping one time, then she just land on my chest without me noticing. She scare the shit out of me, she apologize but still. As for me? Well ever since Wavy been in my dreams the nightmares been going on less, they still come time to time, but the effect’s are lessen. Wavy try to help me speak more of my life, usually the little stuff, my hobbies, some bit’s and pieces. But whenever I try to speak of the heart of my problems I freeze up, my heart clench of the pain that I can never try to repeat inside of my mind. Thankfully she doesn't push, she knows it’s hard to say things of your pass you still can’t get over so easily. The girls seem less of students and more of very close friends to me, probably even more closer than my ‘Courier Companions’, probably because they’re not that busy as the others. And thankfully the guys seem okay the fact I spend most of my time with the girls. Yet I hear rumors that they're beginning to be called ‘Meddler’s Girls.’ Don’t know if I should be laughing my ass off or go hunt down the idiots who name that title. Nevertheless, I have a pretty good feeling about, Journal entry interrupt. *** My fingers stop typing as my head move down as my left leg is clung on by a familiar shape. Loyal rub her helmet head on the leg, my left hand automatic pat her head as she look up to me. “So Loyal, what’s the occasion?” I ask. My eyes look down to myself as I had my armor off and decide to wear a pre-war clothing's since there isn't much to do in my place, my armor is standing in a mannequin, I decide to get one for my armor and place it my room just for the hell of it. Beside I like the way it look as it just stand watching out for any intruders. Getting a mannequin, is another thing altogether, let just say hunting Geckos and using their skin are a chore to do, especially for specific one as well. “Master, there is someone who want’s to speak to you.” My eyebrow raise up as my hand move down to her neck to give a little scratch, she gives a chirp of pleasure of being scratch. “So who’s the person?” “Hey Meddler, how are you doing?” My head turn to see Boone standing by the door. “Hey there, how are you doing Sniper?” A small smile form on his face. “Doing good, you?” My shoulder shrug as my right hand click at the save screen and turn off my diary computer as my legs gather the rest of my body up. “Well beside figuring out about those NCR Rejects, the Legion’s, and trying to help the girls out with adapting to life here in the Mojave I’m doing fine.” A frown form on his mouth as he gently shakes his head. “Still can’t believe that NCR is doing this,” My finger of the right hand point up. “Well they’re not NCR anymore, there just Kimball band of idiots.” “Point, anyway there something I need to talk to you about.” My head nod as my legs move to the door, Loyal buzz her wings and follow me like a dog. “What’s up?” He gives a small sigh as he speaks. “I heard rumors on the road that something there’s something scaring off Prospectors at the NCR Correctional Facility.” My eyebrow raise up in surprise, as my expression give off the same look. “That place? I thought nothing went on over there since I killed those Powder Gangers." He nod his head to me. “Exactly, now it may be nothing but there been some odd noise’s in the building’s there.” My right hand begin to rub my chin. “So you think it could be the Legion?” “Perhaps, or maybe some of the Rejects, who can say?” A small smile form on my face. “Well if it’s either them or not it’s worth checking out. Feel like traveling with me my old Sniper?” A smirk form on his face. “Never miss it, it’ll be good to cover your ass again.” he said. “Ha! More like I cover you ass Sniper.” I reply. “Keep dreaming Meddler, so who else is going?” He ask. Hmm, good point, let see...Can’t be Feathers, she and Psycho are out shopping with Victor to watch their tails, Wavy is off by Gun Runners with Rex last I hear, and Cass is handling something somewhere. “Hmm, I know.” My voice raise up. “ED-E, let’s go on an adventure!” A beep reply back, my head turn to Loyal. “Let’s go, we might need your ‘expertise’.” She nod her head and rub against my leg. My head turn to Boone. “Give me a moment to get my gear,” he nod his head as my body turn to the weapon trunk as my hands move to grab my AMR, only reason I bring it around with me as a precaution. My right hand place it on my Pimp-Boy as it disappears in it, next my Super Heat Saturnite Fist, then my Mercenary's Grenade Rifle, and finally my Survivalist's. And out of caution I put my ‘precaution grenade’ in my pocket and as well as two flash-bangs. You never know when you need a flash-bang. I decide to pick up the Hunting Rifle and place it on my back for the time being, my eyes check my supplies, ever since Wavy place that spell on my Pimp-Boy I been experimenting on what I can use and see if anything change about it. Food went first as they went out just fine, same with ammo, stims went in through perfect. But when it came to armor my body feel so heavy, I notice my Pimp-Boy weight meter said that I went over the limit. I talk with Wavy about this and she warn me that I have to be cautious when getting armor, since they would add more weight than the other things. Thankfully ammo don’t weigh a damn thing so I took all my ammo as I wish for and out of precaution I decide to take two Doctor’s bag in case I get cripple, there is only so much a Stimpak can do to you. When I discover that my caps can be place in and taken out easily, well let just say many manly tears shed that very day. Right now my weight said that I’m no where near my limit, which is good in my book. My hands push the lid down as they push on my knees as my body went up, my head turn to see a surprise Boone. “I ask Wavy to do magic shit on my armor, didn’t work but for some reason my Pimp-Boy decide to be given a gift of it, sadly it’s not unlimited so I have to watch my weight.” I explain to him, he then nods his head as he reply. “I see, well at least you won’t carry everything like you use to do,” My eyes roll with a pfft sound coming from my mouth. “Please Sniper! You know very well how much shit cost back then.” A smirk came off from him. “Yeah, about half a cap as ever today.” We both give a small chuckle from old joke we remember. “Now then give me a moment to change up and I’ll be ready, Loyal?” She moves upward with her wings buzzing looking at me. “Get your armor on sweetie, we need to be ready.” with a nod of her head she move to get her things in the wardrobe across on the left side of the bed. Ever since she decide to stay by my side, I decide to let her place her stuff in a wardrobe so that she won’t have to travel back and forth where the other girls sleep in. Which is the ‘Guest’ room. “Um dude, mind shutting the door real quick? Privacy and all that?” He nod his head as I ask, with a quick shut my point of view went to my armor. “Alright, out from firefight and into the cave of Deathclaws.” *** (Boone) At the NCR Correctional Facility… My eye look through the scope of my rifle, my head pull back as my eye see a dead body just by abandon trailers. “You see it?” I ask, as my ears hear Meddler take out his rifle to see what I just saw. The night cover us as the stars shown in the sky, with a full moon looking down, honestly it feels nice to be with Meddler again, he needs an old friend to travel with time to time. “Yeah, I see it, let’s get a tad bit closer to figure out how recent it is.” my head nod as my hands place my rifle on my back, my head turn to see Meddler in his regular suit which is the Advance Riot Gear, Loyal stand by him as our knees push up as we stand. We move down from the cliff on the left side, my eyes give a quick glance as he takes the lead, been a while since I travel with him, but I can see the effect’s of improvement. The way he walks, looks around, and the occasional petting of Loyal. Loyal still got her Pistol and her Caravan Shotgun on her back and hip, both seem a bit worn from much use, I hear that she use to have another weapon but from the lack of usage Meddler decide to take it back since she seems fit with her two weapons already. I remember about two weeks back when I came back to the Lucky 38 to see more girls there, especially Loyal, after talking with Meddler and an almost beat down from me, he and Arcade explain that she been a slave all her life, that they tried to make her not be a slave, but fail. And after thinking for a while and apologizing to Meddler I try to get to know her and the others. When they explain about their ‘magic’ I was skeptical, until they prove it to me by Nightmare using her horn and made Meddler float in the air. I may believe that they all came from a whole different place but there are a few things that I have doubt about their ‘home’. Still, I hear from Arcade and Cass that ever since these girls shown up in his life, he’s been getting better from whatever he is dealing with. Anyone who just see him time to time may not notice, but traveling with him for long period of time has let me see things that aren't notice before. Ever since he return from the Divide he been getting constant nightmares whenever he get over his ‘mood’s’, some are just twitching fingers, or mumbling. The worst ones came with moving his entire body, sometimes we had to use Lily to hold him down, before she left. Other times he just stay silent and just isolate himself in his room, or just go alone in his ‘walk’s’, sometimes on rare occasions he take’s alcohol and drinks until he became a crying mess, but he always close the door on that occasion. Now ever since the girls show up he became more social, he goes out of his room, talk with them on subjects of surviving the Wasteland, even letting them travel with him on his ‘walk’s’. Don’t know much about these girls beside the fact they all come different places, but maybe that’s why they get along so well. Or at least how I see from it. Who knows, maybe one day he’ll tell the tale of the Divide to them, and possibly to us, but that will be a long time. We stop before the body as we see the identification, Meddler give out a whistle as we all see who it is. “Damn, a Legion scout,” he kneel down to see the wounds and check for anything. My hands take out the rifle to look around the area, can’t hurt to be cautious since from first glance it’s a fresh kill. Meddler went back up, wiping his hands. “Well, it’s fresh kill alright, probably about maybe half an hour, tops. Holes in the chest and what appears to be bite marks on the neck, question though, is it the only corpse?” Both of our heads turn when Loyal speak up. “Master, I smell more up ahead in the buildings.” A nod went to her from Meddler. “Good job, let’s see if we can find more bodies to see what the hell is going on here.” My head nod in agreement. “Yeah, somethings up, if a fight happen then there should be more bodies around, or at least graves around so we know who’s dead or not.” Meddler look around, he turn his head left, then to right as he speaks. “And no crucifixion as well, somethings really up.” We move toward the Facility as we enter in it’s only passage, however more bodies are shown around, and blood everywhere. “Damn, I didn’t expect a massacre to be in here, I don’t need to check to know their all dead, and it looks like they all got the same wounds as well, Loyal, ED-E, stay with Sniper. I’m going to see what they got.” as he went to the bodies and check them through my head turn down to the standing Changeling. Honestly the mask hide her expression but her head moves away from the sounds of dead bodies being move. Even if she travel with Meddler there are things that she just can’t get use to, I don’t blame her, at times there are things that I’m not use to, especially his ‘episodes’. Meddler came back after searching the bodies. “I found something, a holotape, hopefully we can figure out what happen.” he play the tape as we all hear the recording. “We secure this building for the glory of the Legion, right now we are awaiting orders to,” “Sir something just moved!” “What is it?” “Some sort of creature,” SLASH *Sounds of blood being spilled out by force.* “AUGH!” “DAMN YOU DEMON!” “ROAR!” The recording end as me and Meddler just look at each other. “There is no fucking way that’s a Deathclaw, they would of seen it on first glance, and no Nightstalker can make holes as that, so only one fucking explanation that I can think of is that whatever they faced was something new, and it’s still around.” told Meddler. “Question is, where?” at once our question is answer as we hear a large roar outside the room. “When in doubt,” Meddler start’s, our bodies move toward the door that leads to the inside of the Facility. “Go where the former boss lives at.” I finish as he opens the door, with Hunting Rifle in hand. He charge out as he aim to the left, then the right. “Okay, no bad guys that I can,” Then something grab him as he shouts out in surprise. “SON OF A FUCKING BITCH!” My legs move with speed as I exit out first to see something black and large holding on Meddler right leg as he dangling in the sky, my eyes look down to see something before the shadow thing, glowing green eyes with red iris glaring at me, nothing else can be seen due to the thing around it. My ears hear ED-E sounding his alarm of an enemy attacking. “FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, WILL SOMEONE GET ME DOWN FROM HERE?” Meddler shout’s out as he try to aim at the creature, but the limb that is holding his leg moves him around, my body quickly change as my eye look through the scope to fire at the large limb. It hit but nothing change as Meddler is thrown around more. “OH FOR FUCKS SAKE!” As he press his weapon his Pimp-Boy and shouts at us. “BOONE! LOYAL! ED-E! DISTRACT IT FOR TWO SECONDS!” My head nod as my aim move to the creature hiding in it’s shadows as my finger press as my rifle hit around the eyes, my ears hear Loyal shooting her pistol, and ED-E laser as we manage to get the creature attention, Meddler shouts at the thing. “HOPE YOU LOVE GETTING BLOWN UP YOU SHADOW USING ASSHOLE!” A small projectile went from up above us as it hit by the thing, the eyes change to surprise as we hear Meddler shouts. “FUUUCK!” he hit the ground a few steps from us as the shadows disappears, my attention turn to Meddler as he takes a Doctor Bag and slowly patch himself up. He get’s up as he crack his neck. “Alright, now it’s on!” he said as he took out his Saturnite Fist and a flash-bang. “Here’s the plan, I’m going to charge ahead getting it’s attention,” He turn to Loyal. “Loyal I want you to pull this pin when I charge and throw it as far as you can toward whatever we are facing,” He turn to me. “Boone if I get caught I want you to get a head-shot.” My head nod. “ED-E you’re just going to help Boone with the kill.” ED-E give a beep, my head turn to Loyal took the flash-bang with her ‘magic’ and wait for Meddler as he turn toward it. “GUESS WHAT TIME IT IS?” Roar Meddler as he charge at the creature, it’s attention turn on him as Loyal soon pull the pin and thrown over Meddler as he stops before the creature and cover his eyes, as my head turn away as out of the corner of my eye saw a flash. My ears hear a female scream, then a hit on something, and another as my head turn to see Meddler using his Fist beating down on the thing, the shadow’s behind it disappear as Meddler stop hitting it as he lower his right arm as he kneel down to inspect it. He put his left hand up and wave at us to come over, my hands still hold my rifle as the three of us get close to see what we just fought against, he took out a Stim as he press it on the thing, my ears hear him speaking softly to it as we went closer. “It’s okay, I know that,” He quickly jump up and away as it went on him. “Oh fuck!” he shouts as he try to shake his leg as it grab his left leg. He moves his head toward us. “Uh mind helping me?” A sigh escape from me as my hands place my rifle back on my back, however something surprise me as he began nudging it with his foot and sighs. “Hey guys, hope you don’t think wrong of me but she ain’t letting go, which means I got to force her off.” As we went even close he begins to force it off with a light kick on it, but it doesn't let go. Which means Meddler have no choice but to force it off harder, that’s when it moan, he slowly turn his head toward me as I’m five steps away. “Did you just hear that? Please tell me I was just hearing things.” As my eyes look down to see the creature on his leg it resemble a unicorn like Fleur, except this one have dark gray fur, long black mane down the side, a black helmet on the head, the horn is curve smooth point of red. My eyes went down to see some form of armor on the front part, with a red cape down on its back, my eyes went to the tail of the same long black length as Fleur tail. Metal cover the hooves of both front and back, my eyes finally see the shape of a muzzle which is nuzzling with Meddler left leg. Red eyes look up to him as the head went back to nuzzling the leg. “Meddler you sure it’s a girl?” I ask, he nod his head as he give another gentle kick on the side. “Oh yeah, I got a sneak peak when she went on her back when I punch her,” When he kick a little harder she give a small moan as she look up with a strange look on her face with a fork tongue hanging out, her teeth are sharp, only the front part it seems, unlike Nightmoon whose teeth are all sharp. “If I’m thinking right, and sometime I hate being smart, she takes pleasure of being in pain,” My head turn to him as he try to nudge her off. “You mean she loves taking pain?” He nod his head. “Strange I know, if I remember my conversation with Arcade when we meet a ‘special’ guy who wanted to be ‘punish’ with pain and enjoy it. He had something call masochistic.” “And if I think right, she got the same thing. But that begs the question, why did she killed all the Legions bastard here?” he made a point, my head look back at the building we exit out. “Maybe she was in some form of defense mindset, and the only way to get out is to beaten up.” He shrug. “That could be it, but that also raise another question, how the hell did she came here in the first place? Why, of fuck!” she jump on his chest rubbing his armor front with her face. “GET. OFF!” he shouts as he push her off, she jump up again as he use his left hand to punch her in the gut, she went down as she on her back showing her stomach. Meddler slap his armor face. “I just made this fucking worse did I?” My eyes turn to him with a nod of my head. “Yeah.” He groan as he turn to Loyal. “Can you translate whatever the hell she is speaking?” Loyal went by the unicorn speaking in another language, the mare turn her head to Loyal as they both made small talk. “Master, I can barely understand her a bit, except for a small Prench, but anything other than that I have nothing, I try to understand what she is saying but I can’t understand all of it. However she does view you as a ‘possible handler’, and something about ‘beating in a domination fight’?” She went up at him again as he dodge and gives a groan. “Oh fuck me, I have no choice do I? I have to do this, otherwise this is going to haunt me.” He wave his hand toward the wall of a building. “Guys I take no pleasure in this, just...Just wait over there while I try to make this quick.” As we all move to the wall we see Meddler beating her with no problem, however he looks at me as I know he takes nothing good from this whole thing, my nod reassure him that I won’t think him any less, it’s either this or let him feel guilty of leaving her here. And we both know that he hates doing anything that reminds him of the Legion, and this is one of them. *** (Wavy) We return to Lucky 38 in the Suites as the training at Gun Runners went well, we met up with Gilda with Fleur and Victor and return to our temporary home, Victor depart from us as he went up at the Penthouse. We had a good time learning how we can use simple things to make dangerous ammo. We discuss the events that happen during our travel around New Vegas, Gilda and Fleur told us that they discuss articles of clothing's with a woman name Sarah of Vault 21, they told us that they purchase some clothing's and armor that would be wonderful to have. We ask them what, Gilda simply said she thinks her armor needs to be check on and possibly repair, Fleur merely said some of the clothing's would be wonderful to wear on a special occasions. We heard that she was once a ‘supermodel’ back where she use to live, but never hint on anything else. However Cass return with a large bottle call Moonshine which is like all the other alcohol, but is quite stronger. We decide to enter our room and look at the different ammunition we produce and made at Runners, Gilda and Fleur are across from me talking about the clothing's, then to armor, and finally weapons. However before we decide to join in the conversation, we hear the elevator door’s open as we hear the voices of Meddler speaking. “God I need a stiff drink. A big one, hey Cass, you’re here?” Our ears flick as our hooves move as our body went to the door and look through to see Meddler, Boone walk by him, he notice us as he sigh’s. ”What is wrong?” we ask, our ears hear more movement as we see Loyal buzzing by him, ED-E moving to another room, and then some pony jumping on Meddler left leg and nuzzling it. Boone point his thumb as our head turn to him. “That’s wrong. We heard talk about something strange going on at the NCR Correctional Facility, we discovered Legion were trying to set up shop, but when we got there they were all killed. All by her.” Our eyes widen as we turn to see Meddler forcing her off with his other leg. Before we said anything he interrupt. “She’s a masochistic.” Our mind thinks on the word as we try to remember where we first hear the word in our time before our banishment, sadly we can’t remember. Thankfully Boone explain to us. “She’s someone who love to have pain inflicted on them.” Our eyes widen behind our helmet, our head turn to see Meddler explaining to Cass as he kick the mare on the ground, her stomach shown to him as he press his leg on her chest, a small moan went out from her. ”Is she crazy?” We ask, Boone only shrug. “Honestly I have no idea, Meddler seem to think so as she force him to fight him in a battle of dominance. You can see he won that battle.” Our head moves back to Boone. ”We see Meddler isn't taking this well.” Boone slowly shakes his head. “No, because it remind him of,” We finish for him. ”The Legion.” he nod his head. “Yeah, anyway if you excuse me I’m going to get some shut eye, take care Nightmoon.” Our head nod to him as he went in the guest room, our head turn to see Meddler rushing to us, getting to his knees as he place his hands on our side as he try to shake us with his head looking up to us. “Please, oh please, oh PLEASE you can translate what she is saying because I’m losing my damn mind of her wanting me to ‘punishing’ her!” This cause us to be shock of the way he is asking us, he usually don’t ask in a position like this. Unless he is desperate. We breath in and breath out as we reply.”We will try to communicate with her,” We move around him as he lift himself up as we move toward to the mare, when we went closer she seem almost familiar. A pony from our memory from our counterpart Luna, when her head move up to meet our face, her red eyes look at us, her armor and red cape made us think back. Back when our ‘sister’ and us travel to a place call the, Oh fuck. She’s Sombra, well at least we know why she looks familiar. But if we remember correctly, isn't Sombra a male? Maybe she came from an ‘Equestria’ like the rest of us, but the gender swaps? It makes sense. We clear our voice as we speak to her, we hope that our dialect of Crystal can get her to understand us. [”Greetings, we are Nightmoon, will you kindly say to thee of thy calling?”] We realize that we are rusty with the language, hopefully she’ll be able to, [“Greetings to thee, we are Umbra, former Queen of the Crystal Empire. We see that you are some form of royalty, or perhaps former like us thou?”] Well at least we can speak to each other, now comes the difficult part, trying to speak to her, while trying to understanding her. Hopefully we can figure out what her world is like. [“Indeed thou are right, we use to be a ruler, until we came to these lands, would thou kindly allow us to hear thee tale of what thou lands were like, before thine came these lands?”] Her head nods to us as she reply. [“Yes, you see we ruled the Crystal Empire, our lands filled with many stallions with not many mares, so it’s hard to find a good mare when so many are getting lovers left and right, we had to protect ourselves from many males, thought of dark magic we done. Though we may take it thine much of our mind when we dabble in such things.”] [“We control the Empire with dark magic, and fought against thou Solaire and Artemis, sadly thine were defeated and banish, but before we left we cursed our entire lands so thee brothers did not take it from thou.”] Our ears try to understand much of her dialect, but it tends to go back and forth of of present speech and past speech. We then ask the heart of our question about her, ‘questionable ideals’. [“We wish to ask thee on of thou motives when meeting Meddler,” she look confuse as we clarify to her. “The tall one wearing the mask,”] she nod her head as we continue. [“We hear thine desire to fight a stallion in a ‘game’ of domination and thou lost. We wish to understand thee why? If what thou said is truest, then you would have easily defeated him when you encounter him.”] She look away with what appears a blush on her face, she answer back as she barely look at us. [“We were release during our banishment's, sadly thine mind was filled with dark magic, we couldn't think straight at all, all we could think of was the crystals. After thine forced exit we came to a building of sort by flash of light, our mind still addle by dark magic we destroy anything that came upon thine sights.”] [“We were then knocked back into sense by thee tall one when thy use a flash of light and a hit upon us to gain our sense. We then felt more than one hit and we, enjoyed it.”] The blush on her face came heavily on more than usual. [“We admit that during our reign we never, found a suitable being to be equal to us, we focus on the magic more than finding a being to be with, sadly we never encounter anyone with a set of steel between their legs when we query. Before thine studies we always wonder of being ruled over felt like, and of how much we can enjoy it.”] [“We tested a few things in our alone time and found it to be enjoyable, but we couldn't take thine risk of showing anypony of our enjoyment, nor could we find a pony of our needs, the crown of responsibilities wear heavily on our brow. But now,”] She turn her head to Meddler who is currently hitting his uncover helmet head to a wall mumbling to himself. [“We are free of thou troubles, when we gain strength when he stood over us we took thine chance of getting more, we admit we were affected by the side effects of dark magic, manly gathering thine wits.”] [“However we spoken to his Changeling, sadly the poor thing couldn’t understand all of our speech, thankfully she manage to get the point across to him and we battle for dominance, to see if he is worth to take me, to make me all his.”] Her fork tongue hang out as her eye look upward, her face show of a daydream of naughty things as the blush and giggling tell us this much. She return to the land of reality as she look at us and went on. [“Suffice to say, he proved more than we originally thought. He taken us down on more than one occasion, and shown that he is clearly more than we are, thus we have submit to him and allow us to be with him. We have not been taken by him yet, but we will when he is ready to be the dominant toward us.”] Our head turn to Meddler as he finish slamming his head on the wall and just laying his head on the wall with a sigh coming from him. And now we understand why he has been in such a mood, dealing with someone as this can be quite...hard to be patience with. Hopefully we can try ease his anger and let him stay calm, with the word being ‘try’. [“We will be right back.”] We said as we move toward Meddler, he turn his head to us as his forehead is read with the amount of hitting on the wall, his eyes look at us with hope. “Please tell me that you found a way to talk to her or something? Please tell me her wanting me to punish her is all a bad dream?” The way he look at us show stress that will explode if we don’t consider wording our sentence carefully, we took our right wing and gently press him to our side. “We try to do what we can, we can understand her somewhat and the talk went as well as it could, but it is clearly seen that she wants you to lead her, to be dominate toward her. If we may make a suggestion?” He look up at us with despair slowly coming in, the hint of madness almost taking him. “Perhaps you can take this to your advantage, we all know that you are sometime unreasonable when you are highly stress. And you have a need of beating something up, but cannot inflict pain to those you care for. Even if you went out and fight against the Legion assassins, or animals, or even ghouls, it is not enough.” “She wish to be control, and we know how much that unsettle you, but think from her perspective. She has rule for a long time and been banished twice, when she discover her ‘passion’ there aren’t many who could go up to her and call her bluffs when she wish to fights.” “We know that she demand a fight from you and lost, we can see that you need a way to destress, so we think you should use her as you see fit.” “WHAT?” Meddler shouts to me. We flinch back from his response but we went on. “We know this may seem like a thing from the Legion, which we know you despise so, but think for a moment, she doesn’t know how to live a normal life, all she ever know is having an isolated life with many males around her, all she had to ease her loneliness was her ‘ideals’.” “This will help her feel special, feel like someone cares for her, and in return you can find a way to destress when trouble comes. Beside there are a few perks of having someone submitting to you,” We stop as Meddler took out his Survival Rifle from his Pimp-Boy and pointing it up under my head when we realize our mistake of our last sentence. “Wavy, if you weren’t my friend and the fact like you I would’ve blown your fucking brains OUT!!!” We slowly move back as he aim his weapon straight at us. “Who the fuck do you think you are?” He said as he slowly walk to us, his voice getting loud as kept on talking. “Wavy I put up with shit from every single one of you all since fucking day one!. I put up with Feathers being a pussy, I put up with your speech and fucking fatass body. I put up with Loyal fucking shit of serving me when she should be fucking free, and I even put up with the shit of Psycho when she ask for fucking money when she wants to go fucking shopping!” Our head turn to see Boone slowly walk to Meddler with a cautious look on his face, our head turn to see Gilda and Fleur putting their heads out on the door, our eyes see Loyal trying go to Meddler, but Cass stop her hand shakes her head. “Meddler, calm down, there’s no need to do this.” Meddler swung his weapon at Boone as he shouts. ”STAY THE FUCK OUT OF THIS BOONE! JUST STAY THE FUCK OUT! ME AND NIGHTMARE MOON ARE HAVING A FUCKING CONVERSATION!” We flinch as he speaks our full name, we now realize he is beyond angry, he is full of rage and fury that his tone alone can kill a radroach by making them explode in a billion pieces. Boone however try to keep peace between the two of us as he slowly get between him and us. “Meddler, I know you’re angry, and having to face all of this stress isn’t good for you. But you can’t put on the blame on Nightmoon, she’s just trying to help.” he said as he try to sooth Meddler anger by reasoning with him. "HELP? SHE’S TRYING TO FUCKED WITH ME BOONE! YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I HATE BEING FUCKED WITH!” “Meddler take deep breaths, try to remember that she doesn’t understand you,” start Boone, Meddler interrupt as he move close to him with his rifle point at Boone chest. “GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY BOONE! GET THE FUCK OUT OR I WILL SHOOT YOU STRAIGHT IN THE CHEST!” Boone shakes his head, he look at us and mouth ‘Move back, slowly.’ Our head nod as our body slowly moves back as Boone turn his head to Meddler. “Meddler you won’t shoot me, even in this state you won’t shoot me. It’s not your nature Meddler, just try to think for a moment, if you do shoot me and shoot Nightmoon you’ll just have more trouble, and we both know you already have enough of that from your travels at the Divide.” Our body moves back to Gilda and Fleur as we see the surprise of Meddler face and after what seems like an eternity he breaths in a long breath and slowly breaths out. After closing his eyes repeating the breathing process he open them as he look at Boone, a dark look shown on his face as he speaks in a cold and emotionless tone. “I’ll be in my room.” He put his weapon away on his back as he move to the dinner room, went back out with two bottles of Moonshine and shuts the door behind him. We hear a lock as Loyal moves to the door and knock on the door. We all hear him shout from his room. “LEAVE ME ALONE!” We see Loyal flinch and whine as she leaves the door and into our room’s. Boone sighs as he turn to us as he speaks in a harsh tone. “What were you thinking Nightmoon? Didn’t you see that he was stress already? You should’ve just went to either me or Cass to talk to him.” We turn our head away as Gilda speaks up for us. “Hey, Nightmoon was just trying to ease whatever the fuck happen!” Boone turn his head to her. “Well she failed, and now we have to wait for him to leave the room when he’s finish brooding and drinking.” He turn to us, we see the harsh look in his eyes behind those glasses of his. “If I didn’t step in when I did, you would be having a new hole in you to breath in.” The shock went on the two girls by me as my eyes quickly turn to them. “You’re kidding!” exclaim Gilda, Fleur just speaks out in Prench. {‘By Celestia mercy!”} Boone nod his head as he look to us. “Trying to persuade Meddler when he’s stress is a really bad move, I thought you knew that when you all stay here for four weeks, guess I was wrong.” He turn his head away as a sigh escape from him. “But I can hardly blame you since this is one of the rare times anyone of us seen him like this.” add Boone. Gilda facial expression turns to surprise. “Wait, you mean this happen before?” Boone nod his head. “Yeah, it happen just sometime after he return from the Divide, he was talking to Arcade at the Mormon Fort, I was with him at the time with Rex, then all of a sudden a Legion lover walk up to him claiming that Meddler is the bane of all things.” “Meddler told him to piss off, but he went talking and talking, then a Follower try to make him stop, sadly it was a woman and he slapped her, but when she went down something change in Meddler, he just took out his Plasma pistol and shot him in the head as he kept beating and shooting at him.” “Shouting in the same tone we all saw earlier, he kept saying ‘Fuck off you Legion swine, you’ll never harm her, none of you will!’ It took all of us at the Fort to make him stop, after we got him to calm down he just left, I try to follow him, but he went to the Lucky, took booze and shut the door.” He turn his head at Meddlers door. “At first I thought he meant that woman, but the more that I thought about it, the more I think he was talking about someone in his life, someone close to him.” Gilda ask as she gulp. “Who?” That’s when Boone shrug. “I don’t know, like I said he never tell us his life before, so it could be anyone.” We know it’s not his wife, perhaps it could be a family member? One way to find out. We move to the door as Boone look at us and speaks. “Are you trying to get shot at?” We turn our head to him. “We only wish to try to speak to him.”He shakes his head. “Not a good idea, just wait till he blow steam and try tomorrow.” And by the time the day pass he will be tight lip. Perhaps we will have a better chance in his dreams. “We shall rest, hopefully we can try to make things better.” We turn our body to the rooms and rest on our bed on our belly, the first time we try this the bed almost break, so Meddler request a stone bottom from the Quarry Junction, after placing the stone under the bed we had an easier time sleeping on the bed. We took our helmet off and our armor, with a flash of our horn, thankfully some magic spells doesn’t twist when it comes somewhat simpler things, like teleporting things. We close our eyes as we rest our head and dream, and hopefully we would be entering in Meddlers dreams soon enough. *** (meddler) My armor is on the ground, my helmet? Fuck if I know, my mind is fuzzy as the booze went down in my mouth, my back is laying at the end of my bed, my body is right next to the trunk. My left hand lift the Moonshine once more as my mouth drain the rest, right after my hand thrown the bottle right at the wall. “Fucking horses, thinking they can solve all of their problems by talking shit,” my mouth mumble, damn my mind can’t even think straight. My body slowly raise itself up as my body turn to the bed, after a few movement toward the side my body falls as the darkness of sleep promise me bliss of all that happen today. Finally my eyes close as my dreams take form. (meddler) My mind pass through some very strange things, honestly my mind felt fuck up, especially with that song in the background. It finally stop as I stop at a door, my mind stilling the effects of the Moonshine as everything still feel and look blurry. My left hand opens the door as there is darkness within the doorway, my eyes look up to see one word. ‘Sister’, my eyes turn as my ears hear a familiar voice.“Hello Meddler, how are you?” My eyes see Wavy, all in her original armor and her mane waving around as if the air is pushing it, she look down on the ground when our eyes meet. Her head turn as she sighs and look back to me. “We wish to apologize, we didn't mean to make you angry Meddler, we just trying to,” My hand raise up as a sigh escape me. “Wavy look, I know you’re just trying to help earlier, but the way you sound it was terrible.” I said, she wince and looks away as I reply to her. She moves her head up as she slowly speak out. “We wish to ask you, what happen? We know you were stress but it wasn't from the nightmares, we been dealing with those since we enter in your dreams.” My head turn as a sigh escape from me. “Normally I would be ignoring your question or telling you to fuck off…” My eyes look upward as another sigh escape from me. “But what happen didn't happen from the Divide. It was from my earlier life.” my head turn to hear as she look at me with surprise on her face. “That pony, she made me remember a sour spot in my life. My sister.” The background change as we’re in a park, a bench form behind me as my ass sit down, Wavy move by me as she sit down as well, we both look at the old playground before us as my hands are holding together. We see a girl, about twelve year old, chasing a boy of ten all around the swing-set. My eyes look at the girl, her light amber hair dance down to her neck as her light tan skin move in a small dress, her brown eyes look at the boy. Wavy then speaks to me as she see this entire scene. “Meddler, who are those two?” It feels like an eternity as my mouth slowly opens and answer to her. “This is from my memories, during the time I lived in California, the boy is me, and the girl that is chasing me is my sister.” My head turns to her as my eyes begin to water, it’s been so long since I remember something good like this. My mouth continue to speak. “There is a reason why I despise the Legion Wavy, why I hate the leaders of NCR beside being total dicks. It all began with my sister.” My right side turn to see the two happy children as my eyes close, the tears slowly coming down. “My sister was a huge supporter of NCR, so big that she joined when she was of age. I decided to join after her when I went of age.” As the memory fade away Wavy speaks in surprise. “You were part of NCR?” My head nods as time fast forward to an older pair of the two. “Yeah, I was a Private, my sister became a Sergeant when I finished boot camp. Old man was damned proud of us when we became part of NCR.” “My sister was the strongest out of the two of us, she was always damned stubborn when she wants to be, hell she would never give up without a fight going down. I looked up to her as a model you can say, someone to believe in.” A small chuckle escape from my lips. “I loved her so fucking much that we would write each other’s letters, even though it was against the rules since we had to limit paper uses I didn’t give a damn, we were siblings to the end.” My eyes see a familiar old face greeting the two as they all walk with each other. Wavy whisper his name. “Henry?” My head nod once more as my tongue lick my lips to get the moisture around them. “Yeah, we were best buds in boot camp, he transfer to another unit while I stayed behind in a camp around in The Glow, and Blooming Field.” “I was station there for at least four months, during that time me and my sister letter to each other, she went on ahead on the action, then the letters stop. At first I thought she just got caught by her superior officers. So I didn’t pay much attention, then days turn to weeks with nothing from her.” My head turn to Wavy as the scene change once more. “That’s when I got worried.” My eyes turn to a scene where a younger version of me with NCR uniform move through the landscape with Henry by his side. “I heard that my sister group move somewhere close to Legion territory, No one heard from her and I intended to find out why, I asked Henry to come with me, and thankfully he did.” “We went on for maybe weeks till we met up with Rangers, and by God was I thankful that we did. We found out that they were ordered to find her group. I told her them that she was my sister and allowed me to joined up.” “I thought it was against the rules to leave your post and join with another group without permission.” Wavy ask, my head nod in confirmation. “Yeah, it was against the rules. Me and Henry left our post without a single word from command, they already knew that, but I don’t know how the hell they allowed us to continued. Maybe they felt pity or sympathy that I wanted to find my sister, or hell maybe they wanted a kick of seeing a greenhorn fighting with them.” “Either way I was determined to find her and take down anything that stands in my way.” “We went northward to their camp, then we did the usual thing Rangers do, recon, snipe, and kill anything that looks a threat. They made short works with bastards since there were only a small bunch of them, but…” My eyes look down to see the younger me look around, then move to the slave pens, a Ranger move past the me as they unlock the door, they undid the bomb collars on them all, until they all look at one. A woman. Wavy gasp as she see the damage on lone woman curl up in a ball shape. The younger me move to see the woman, he slowly moves down as he moves back in shock. Wavy speak to me as the scene slowly disappear, her tone is shaken of such cruelty. “Meddler, was that woman, y-your sister?” My head shakes as the tears came down gently again on my face. “Yeah, they broke her will, shaved her head, beaten her down until her ribs are broken, bruises on all over her body, not to mention the whips marks on her back and body, not to mention being rape over and over.” Finally the scene disappear as I add another sentence. “And that’s only the physical, the mental was far worse.” We move through crazy shit without even moving ourselves, Wavy look around as she notice my head doesn't even turn a single bit as my eyes look on ahead. We then are shown a small room of my sister on a bed, her body all bandage up, a blanket is over her as we hear my father voice speaking to a medic in the hall outside of the room. “How’s the damage doc?” My head moves to see the doctor shaking his head. “Terrible, we manage to aid her physical wounds, but whatever the Legion did to her mental mind is far worse. When I first diagnose her she called me ‘Master’.” My eyes see dad cringe as he slowly speaks back. “Can you help her?” The medic shakes his head. “It’s too soon to do anything, what I can say that she needs time off from the military life and be stick to home, preferably with someone she can trust.” The old man nod his head. “My boy can do it, he quit NCR life.” “What?” said the doctor. He went on. “Yeah, turns out the reason she was in there because some fucker in command order her group to hold a position no matter what, and her group paid the price as they were killed, well except a few.” “Anyway when my boy found out he was pissed as I was, he went to find the fucker and did me a favor of punching that smug shit right in the face, he got discharge for punching an officer but he said and I quote. ‘Fuck you all I quit you Legion fuckers!’” The doctor laugh a bit as he turn serious. “While I was checking her I discover something, she’s with a child.” Everything change as Wavy speaks to me. “What happen next?" My shoulder shrug. “ I don’t know, after I quit when I punch that asshole he was detain to some shitty job after that whole thing, his name wasn’t worth remembering.” My head turn to Wavy as she want to ask, but feel bad for even saying a word about it. “Yeah, after my sister was raped and got a kid in her when we got her out, early to know if it was a girl or boy, but finding out of it’s gender wasn’t my problem. It was taking care of my sister, I won’t even tell you how heartbreaking it was seeing her like the way she was. All my life I look up to her, now I have to look down because how fallen she went.” “I tried to be patient with her, but it was hard to get her to stop calling master, and asking for…” My head turn as Wavy went close to me, pulling her wing around me as she gently nuzzle her head to mine. “We understand now Meddler, you don’t need to say anything more.” My head shakes as my left arm gently push her off. “That’s not the worse part, after weeks of treating her and taking care of her guess what?” The scene change as a young version of me went to the bathroom as the me scream in shock as the body of my sister is laying down on the floor, a fresh cut on her throat show with red coming down her body. My tears slowly stop as my mouth speaks. “After three weeks she slit her throat the moment she took the chance. All because she couldn’t have a ‘master’ to guide her,” My head turn to her as my anger rise up, the tone of my voice change itself, from sadness to righteous fury. “She was a strong woman and the Legion put her down, made her weak and pitiful.” “This one memory, this one thing made me despise the Legions, made me hunt them down whenever I get the chance. Give them a reason to kill them, to make them pay for all the pain,” My head turn as my voice whisper. “Made me not set the rockets down on them all.” My head shakes as the scene disappear, my body turns to Wavy as we both return to the park once more. “You see why I didn’t want Loyal to call me master, why I don’t want that pony to make me ‘punish’ her and dominate her. Because it makes me bitter, bitter all the way down to my heart. Because whenever they call me that title or wants me to punish them,” “I look at the mirror to check if I’m a fucking Legion, because this is as close as I can get to be one of those fuckers. Do you finally understand Wavy? Why I don’t want to do this? Why I don’t want to rule them?” My body sit down on the bench as a chuckle drip in remorse settle in deep in me. “And the irony is that if I don’t do it, then they might slit their throats, or worse go to the Legion or some fucker who’s going to make their lives a living hell. And we have enough of that just by living in the fucking Wasteland.” My right side begins to feel a set of feathers on it, on my left is Wavy pressing her side to mine, her head gently nuzzling while tears fall down on her muzzle, after a few minutes of nuzzling me she croak out her words. “We understand, we finally get the point you are trying to make to us Meddler, and we wish to apologize for asking you such a thing, to make you more bitter of the fact that there is no way to save them but to take them in, to be cautious around them. Because you have to remind yourself over and over that you are not Legion.” “But remember Meddler, you have friends with you, people who know you than everyone else, and that they will stand by you no matter what.” She moves back as she wipes the tears away from her eyes with her wings. “Meddler, we thank you for putting in so much trust to us, of revealing things about your sister, we will never forget such an act. But we must know if you will accept Umbra, if not then,” My hand went up as my head shakes. “Don’t worry, I know it will be hard but I have no choice, because if I don’t then who will care for them? Who’s going to care for you all?” She look down on me with a surprise look on her, then a small smile. She bent down her head as she gives me a light kiss. My eyes widen in shock as she moves her head away from me with a small smile on her muzzle. Before one word came from me light appear around us. “Time to wake up Meddler.” My mouth open as I manage to speak to her. “Wavy you son of a,” And everything went white. *** Level up! (Wavy, Loyal) The burden of a ruler-You’ll defend your ‘property’ with no bars holding back, your endurance raise one point when they’re around you. Protector of Dreams(2)-With your heart slowly opening toward Nightmoon things are slowly growing stronger between the two of you, your V.A.T.S. have increase by twenty with Nightmoon by your side. > Chapter 8: Singing an old nostalgia song...And other stuff. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 8: Singing an old nostalgia song. (Meddler) Ah God...My fucking head, ugh it feels like a Deathclaw just pound my head in it’s mating season and on the other side is it’s bitch getting ride on. Fuck, my head is killing me, sometime I wish that I didn’t get my brain back in my head. Okay time to open the eyes. My eye slowly open as the light burns them temporary. AH FUCK! MY EYES BURN! FUCKING LIGHT! UGH, FUCK! After blinking them my eyes are getting use to the light as my head slowly raise up to see the blanket off on my bed, my armor off, and the door shut. My head slowly moves to the left to check the time of my Pimp-Boy, and it said around eleven fifteen, a small groan came from my mouth as my headache came on again. “Ah fuck. Okay dude, get the fuck up, otherwise they might get in and make my headache worse.” After talking to myself my body slowly gets up from the bed bit by bit. My eyes search around for my armor, and after a few attempts of getting it on while trying to survive the war within my head of headaches I finally suit up and attempt to walk to the door, before falling down on my face. “OW! Fucking floor!” My voice shouts, until my hands cling my head from the loudness of my voice. “Oh fuck, okay, next time whisper shout Meddler, because that fucking hurt my ears.” I whisper to myself, my body slowly raise up as my head try to remember where I place that fucking cane, forgot what the hell it’s name is, but all that my brain remember is that it came from the fancy place I visit. After countless search of the weapon trunks, it has been obtain from the wardrobe, on the right side, the reason it been place there I have no fucking clue. What I do know is that my body have something to lean on, my body slowly pace toward the door to open as my eyes flinch from the light from outside the room. My ears hear a conversation or some shit on my left, while another on the right, my left hand slowly cover my eyes as my right clench the cane handle, the hangover is slowly starting to make my head fucking worse by the minute I’m walking around. Then it went worse as my body just got hit by something, which made me land on the ground on my right side, the thing cover around my left torso side, with it’s limb around my back and some of my front. Then something began to nuzzling under my chin as my ears hear someone shouts. “Loyal! Why the hell did you just jump Meddler? I know you miss him and all but seriously girl, you should’ve just fucking waited until he was ready!” My mouth groan as my eyes clench as my give a small whimper. “Boozy, please don’t shout, my mind can’t take anymore punishment from the pain, including my ears.” I plead to her as she came by me, her shadow covering my face as my eyes open to look down on the Changeling who is nuzzling me to the point of cuteness, and of pain for my side. But mostly cuteness. “Hey Loyal? Can you please get off of me? I really want to stand again, you can nuzzle me all you want when I can sit down, okay?” She look at me and without a word she nod her head and went off. My body slowly went up as a groan of headache pain came from me. My head turn to the smell of food as my mouth opens. “Who the fuck is cooking?” I ask. Cass smile as she turn her head. “Believe it or not, it’s Gilda.” We both move toward the dining area. My head pop in to see Feathers cooking on the oven making meals and handing them to Psycho. She use her horn to set them on the table, my eyes turn to see Wavy and Boone eating and talking, Rex eating some food in his bowl, and ED-E just chilling. But my eye’s return to Feathers with three words coming from my mouth. “No. Fucking. Way.” Feathers stop cooking to turn her head to me, her eyes widen in surprise as she looks at me leaning on a cane. “Meddler? The fuck happen to you? You don’t usually have a cane with you? Did you break something?” Cass move by me as she give a small laugh and reply. “Yeah, his brain, took too much booze to the head and this is the after effects, having too much Moonshine is going to make you lean on stuff till the headaches are long gone.” My eyes turn to glare at her. “Shut up Boozy, I still have this cane and can use it to hit you.” She chuckles as she walk away from me. “Sure Meddler, keep telling yourself you can still kick ass even after getting your ass drunk as hell.” My finger flip her off as she turn and laughs waving her hand, my flipping finger went to my head as my mouth curse her. “Boozy, you’re a sadistic bitch.” My head move to see where I can sit my ass down, and thankfully there’s a spot at the table, my legs move to see the chair move by an glow, my eyes turn to see Psycho nodding her head to me as my head nod back. My body moves to sit down as a sigh escape from me, then my lap became occupy by Loyal sitting down before me, wrapping her hooves around me and began to nuzzle me again. While Loyal show me how much she cares for me my head turn to Feathers. “So how in the name of all that is Wild have you manage to cook? Hell I didn’t even know you cook at all!” She looks away as a small blush came on her face. Why the hell is she blushing in the first place? “Well, you see before I even came here I just learn the basic, since griffons need to know how to cook and all in case they travel all around.” She stop talking to flip something. “Eventually after being here and trying to find a way to cope with all shit going on, then one day I just thought ‘why not make a meal?’” She stop as she place something in the pan. After moving the food in it she went on. “Anyway the first one to notice was Raul when he got back, he ask if he could try some food and I decided ‘why the hell not?’ and soon he told the others and I’ve been cooking more and more.” “Uh huh, and why the hell didn’t I notice?” I ask, she took the food out and pass it to Psycho. Cass decide to answer for her. “Probably because you got too much stress on your head that you couldn’t notice at all.” My head nod from the response. “Point, it’s true I’ve been trying to deal not only the shit around here, but from forces that will try to fuck with me if I don’t let my guard down, not to mention it’s been hard to notice you girls all the time while trying to keep an eye out from any danger.” I said. “Which is why we can’t fully blame you on not checking up on us all the time.” told Psycho, the plate move before me on the table, my left hand gently move Loyal to see an Omelet. My eyes widen as my words slowly came out. “Is this, an Deathclaw Omelet?” I ask my head turn to see Feathers nodding her head. “Yeah, I found the recipe and after a few tries I manage to get it right,” A fork move on the food as it stab down, before my hand could even move on it it moves as my eyes glare to Psycho. “Give me my fork Psycho.” She stick her tongue out to me. “Not until you promise us that you’ll be open more to us.” My eyes slowly turn to Wavy as she try her best to not look at me. “Excuse me a moment Loyal.” I said as I move her off of me as my right hand grab the cane, move to Wavy and grab her suit as I move her with me, she try to struggle back, but my glare made her come with me. We move to the corner of the room as my voice whisper to her, the tone within my mouth is harsh as I try to keep my tone down. “Wavy, what the fucking hell did you say to them all before I woke up? You better be straight with me Wavy, or I swear to God that I’ll stick a mini nuke straight up your ass and let it explode so all your bits get destroy on your end.” She looks away as she quietly speaks to me. “We swear that we didn’t tell them the full story, we only said that what happen to you yesterday was something from your past, something that cause you to be vengeful toward the Legion.” My eyes glare at her with anger full within them, a long breath escape from me as I whisper to her. “Wavy, I trust you with that tidbit information and you do this to me. I should slit your throat right now. Really I should.” She looks away as she moves her head to me as she reply back. “We know, but sooner or later you have to say something to someone, otherwise you’ll never be back to your usual self ever again, you’ll just hold it all in until it’ll all explode again, and maybe this time it might be worse.” My eyes close as another sigh escape from me. “Dammit Wavy, I hate this, but you’re right, you’re fucking right. Sooner or later I might have another episode, which is why I’m going to agree with you,” before she said anything my left finger point upwards. “But at my own pace, without help from you, got it? You’re on a thin line here Wavy. Right now I trust you and will agree that I have to tell about it all, but not right now, not without your interference. If you so much as tell them a sentence I’m going to rip your wings off and use you as target practice. Got it?” She nods her head of how serious I am. “Good, now we are through being serious and shit we can finally get back eating.” My hand let go of her as my head being to pound to me again. “Arg, fuck. I fucking hate hangovers.” “Allow us Meddler.” told Wavy as her horn glow, touch my head, and suddenly it went away. “Huh?” My eyes look to her. “How the fuck, oh wait, your magic. Damn that’s useful as hell.” “Thankfully it’s not a high level, so it’s good to use once in a while.” said Wavy as we move back, my eyes look to her with an apology from me. “Sorry, it’s not easy for me to talk about myself sometime Wavy.” Her head nod as she nuzzle me on the cheek, how the hell she manage to get the helmet not being hurtful during the rubbing is something I have to ask later. We both move back to our spots, my eyes look to Psycho with a grin on her muzzle, a sigh went out from me as I simply said. “I’ll try my best, but no promises.” And with a moving of the fork back on the plate I begin eating. My eyes look to see Loyal bringing a bottle water by my plate, my right hand tap her head and allow her to nuzzle it as my left use the fork to eat my food, after a few bites my eyes widen. Damn, this is actually pretty good. I’ll admit it’s been a long time since I had anything this good. Wonder what she put in it? *** (meddler) Journal entry Day: Two, week five. It’s been a week since our newest ‘member’ came along with the rest. Punchy came by yesterday, thankfully she and Mad Doctor answer my plea to make something to fit for Umbra. Punchy ask me why and I only said that being around the new girl is making me slowly lose my patience. They said they found something and manage to fit her, what they made, they didn’t say for some reason. And we all figure something out, a trick you can say with Loyal and Wavy helmet, we found a way to open the front parts to allow them to drink and eat food. It turns out quite helpful since they can have a conversation with us and eat without taking their helmets off all the damn time. As for me telling my life, well I’m slowly getting better, I try to tell them some of the happier times of my life, sadly they become bitter quite shortly. Hopefully I can stop being a pussy and fucking tell them what’s on my plate. Anyway the girls do their best to keep Umbra away from me the time being, but from what I hear Psycho and Umbra are butting heads together and Feathers try her best to calm the situation. But things are slowly getting worse, or from what I can tell, Boozy on the other hand help me gain some taxes from the casinos earlier and let me tell you I became surprise of how much I just got. Still I should probably do something nice to the girls for putting up with me. And maybe find a, Journal interrupt *** (meddler) The door slam opens as Feathers came in, eyes wide as a scare look is on her face. “Meddler! We need help! I’m trying to calm between those two but I’m losing their patience!” My legs get up as my Pre-war clothes moves on me with speed. “The fuck? Then why aren’t you staying near those two?” I ask. She looks back while answering to me. “Nightmoon is stalling them until I get you over there,” she turn her head to me. “Come on!” she screech at me, my eyes flinch as hands rub my ears. “Damn Feathers, careful I only got a pair of ears on me Feathers.” She look away with a ‘oops’ look on her face. “Sorry, I’m just nervous about what might happen if we don’t get you over there pronto.” My shoulder shrug as I enter out of my room. “Don’t blame you Feathers, still it’s nice to see you being the calm of the group and trying to think of others.” While we both walk to the commotion my eyes glance to see her giving a small blush. “I don’t know what you mean dweeb!” A small chuckle escape from me. “Don’t act like that, I seen the way you try to be the peacekeeper of the group.” I said as we hear the shouts getting louder in the bedrooms room. My hand open the door as my ears hear the talk between the, fuck am I looking at? My eyes see Psycho with her Riot Shotgun pointing at Umbra, her mouth bare with her teeth clench, Wavy using her chainsaw between the two trying to calm things down. While Umbra is growling with her horn glowing, my eyes look on her bare form as I remember that her armor and cape on her went off during the second day. There isn’t really a need for her to wear such things since they’re basically useless in here, only thing she manage to get is the chair floating by her with her magic. Good thing that the girls talk me out of giving her a weapon yet, I’m still not at ease with her with that look she gave me all week, and is that what the hell I think it is? Why the fuck is she wearing that thing? I swear if Punchy did that to make a prank to me then I’m going to have a long chat with her. My eyes look at the Lombomite mask and goggles on her, the entire thing been change to fit her head, and what’s more her ears are flatten, her hoof on her right move forward on the ground in a charge position. Wavy speaks to the two. “Detest you two! There is nothing to argue about!” Speak out Wavy, the Riot Shotgun pump move as Psycho crack her neck. “Not until this whorse take back what she has spoken about me!” Umbra snarl at Psycho. “We will not say such things until you have given a formal apology with a whipping!” My hand slap to my face as a long sigh escape from me, as my hand drop my eyes turn to Loyal who is hiding behind the beds, honestly I can’t blame her, this isn’t her fight. Sadly this is one of mine now. How the hell did I came to this position? Back then it was just me shooting and running, becoming the greatest person to ever live. Now I’m babysitting girls who live in different worlds and can’t seem to get along for fucks unknown. God where did I go wrong? My nose breath in as my voice shout. “HEY!” All at once they all look at me as my feet begin to move to the two, Wavy moves back with her chainsaw as she see me to try to talk some goddamn sense to the two. “Alright, I don’t fucking care who started what, what I do want to know is how the hell did this all fucking started!” My head turn as my eyes look at them, their ears flat down as their horns glow disappear as their objects of use drop to the ground. Psycho speak up first. “She speaks about me being part of your harem! Not only me, but to the others as well!” My eyes turn Umbra as she looks at me. “But beings of power always have a harem! That is the nature of things, Solaire has a harem, so did his brother, even that Changeling King has one, full of stallions I might add, but nevertheless a harem! Why you don’t have a single one remains a mystery to me!” A long sigh escape from me as I try with all of my might to not punch Umbra. “Maybe because I don’t want a fucking harem Umbra? Ever think of that?” She steps back in shock. “Not want a harem? You mean you have all these ladies around you and not once did you ever thought of a thing? They're standing right there! Waiting to be taken and be rut so hard that they,” A chair hitting her to the side interrupt her as we all look in surprise to see Psycho breathing hard with steam coming out of her nose. “How the bloody hell is she doing that?” I mutter my sentence as my eyes see Umbra getting up, a strange green light fill the goggles as she snarl at her. That’s when my ‘Get the two mares away from each other, or you’ll pay for the damages’ sense kick in as my body moves between the two as my hand raise up to calm the two. “Now, now. Perhaps you all are abit,” Umbra growl at me. My head turn with a disapproving look on me. “Did you just fucking growl at me?” I ask, and she move her hoof in the same position as before as she look at me. “We first thought that you would be so great and dominate toward us, yet all we have seen so far is you talk and talk, we believe now is the time to change such thing and prove to us again that you are what you say you are.” My finger point at myself as an angry look came my face. “Are you speaking to me in that tone bitch? Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Wavy answer for her. “Meddler, she’s saying you’re a faker. And that she will fight you again to be the ‘dominate’ one.” My nose breath in as it breathes out. “Umbra, that is not a good idea. People fight me for less,” A chair hit me as my body moves toward the wall as my back and the wall met each other, my body slides down as a wonderful chair just got ruin by a stupid mare. “Look I’m trying to be nice here, how about you stop being a total bitch and just,” Her horn glow a dark green color with some black around it as she fire right on my Pimp-Boy, at first nothing happen, but when my eyes look on the screen it begins to short-circuit. The words begin to disappear and the whole thing begin to fry as small sparks came out of the thing. At first my mind went to surprise to see my Pimp-Boy acting like this, finally it went black as it end it little trauma. Then something came up as I remember something. Wait, I remember putting my ammo, caps, my supplies, and… OH FUCK MY ARMOR! MY WEAPONS! My right hand search on my Pimp as my eyes search for anything at all, but then one sentence appear on it. ‘We’re sorry, all your things have disappear.’ Suddenly something snap in me, at first sadness of the loss of my things, then anger, wait anger isn’t the word that should be use. Rage, now that’s better. Not only I lost my things in my Pimp, but my Pimp-Boy can never work, that makes me stress, and bad things happen when I’m stress. Finally my voice speak out. “Loyal, can you get my Cattle Prod from my weapons trunk before the bed? And bring it to me?” My body slowly gets up as my neck crack. “Can you girls please assist me real quick?” My ears hear the buzzing of Loyal wings moving out of the room. “With what?” ask Feathers. “With me getting this bitch to understand the point I’m going to make.” My body moves as Umbra horns glow again, however she is hit by a hoof to the face by Psycho, which gives me time to put Umbra in a chokehold. “Meddler! What are you doing?” speaks out Wavy. My fist hit Umbra face as my ears hear Loyal coming back in. “Something I should of done long ago, but been a pussy about it.” My hands grab her body as my arms hold her to me and thrown her out of the room. My eyes turn to Loyal who’s holding the thing with her magic, my right hand grab it’s handle as my left pat her head. “Good girl.” I said with a smile, I move out of the room as my left hand grab Umbra right hind leg, my eyes turn to Boone as he look at me. My eyes look down as he see me being this way, but my ears hear something else, and it isn't me being a hypocrite. “It’s okay Meddler, Nightmoon told me what’s been going on, I know you don’t think it’s right but it’s got to be done.” My eyes look at him with a nod to me. A sigh escape from me as the dragging begins. “Thanks, you have no idea how much that means to me bud.” Well at least I can somewhat sleep well tonight, knowing my pal won’t try to kill me about this whole thing. Umbra start thrashing as she snarls and growls at me. My right side turn to hit her on the side when she makes a noise. “Shut it bitch!” My hand give a tight hold on her leg as I drag her to my room, thrown her in and shuts the door behind me, locking it and a long sigh went out from me. “At first I thought waiting it out will be a good idea, when that didn’t work I decide to ignore it and try my best. that didn’t work as well, apparently I have no choice to be a bastard to you, to make you remember your fucking place whore.” I said as I move around her, she looks at me as she snarl and charge at me. My hand let go of the Prod as my feet move back, my hands raise up as I use the trick that Ranger taught me long ago at Novac. My hands grab her on the shoulders as my arms move her back down on the ground on her left side, I use this opportunity of her shock to grab the Prod and slam it on her side with her yelping out in surprise. She look up to me as my right hand slam the Prod on her flank, she groan from the shocking hit, and whimper, her ears flat as move on her back, revealing her belly to me. “I don’t fucking think so cunt.” I said as slam it on her belly, she moan from the pain. “Get on your fucking right side again bitch, you don’t move without me ordering you. Now.” I told her as I made my point of hitting her again, this time on the chest. She move to her side, her head move up to let her eyes look up to me. “Now then, you want to be fucking punish like the slut you are?” I ask, her head nods up and down as the Prod slam on her head on her left side. A moan escape from her. “Now then bitch, here’s what I’m going to do,” The Prod slam on her side again as she give out another moan. “I am going to beat you and make you beg for your ‘release’, then who knows? I never done this before, but I’m sure I’m going to make you pay for destroying my Pimp-Boy.” *** (psycho) We all hear the moans and sounds of beating within Meddlers room, they been at if for at least three hours. My head turn to Nightmoon as we are in the dining room all drinking Sunset Sarsaparilla, Gilda is currently on my left side, Loyal is sitting next on Nightmoon right side. And Nightmoon is sitting before me at the table, Boone already left, we hear the sounds stop as we all turn our heads at the door as we all hear a door opening. The sounds of shoes fill the hall as Meddler walks in with a tired look on him as he walks to the fridge, opening the fridge door to get some booze out and walks toward us, sitting on my right side as he open the top of the Whiskey bottle and is about to drink it. Until the bottle glow as it’s yank out of his hand. Meddler glare at Nightmoon as her horn glow and the bottle float by her head. “Give me the damn bottle Wavy, I am not in the mood for shit today.” “We know that you want to drink when you want to forget things but you must remember something, your Pimp-Boy, you should do something about it.” Meddler wave his hands up as he reply back to her. “Does it look like I know shit about Pre-war getting hit by magic shit? I may be smart but I don’t know shit when it comes to magic interacting technology, hell I’m lucky that it didn’t explode on my fucking arm!” “Do you have a spare?” She ask, Meddler give a scoff. “Ha! Does it look like,” He then slap his head with his right as he remember something. “Fuck me with booze. Mack!” He went up as he left the dining room, we look at one another as we wonder what he’s doing. We hear the elevator door open as it close, my head turn as my mouth open as I finish the strange drink, Gilda decide to speak. “So anyone have any idea what’s he planning?” Nightmoon reply back as she place the front of her helmet back on. “We assume he is planning to head out and need to find something to make him feel ‘safe’. And judging from the noise we believe that he is heading to his office place to find suitable gear.” “But why?” I ask, she looks down to me. “Do you remember that spell I use on his Pimp-Boy?” My head nods to her question. “Well he keeps his important things in there, weapons, caps, and his armor that he wears all the time.” My eyes widen as my mouth open a bit. She nod her head as she went on. “Yes, which is why he went to his office to find something to wear.” My head turn as my ears hear the elevator door opening. Footsteps move toward the door as we see Meddler in a strange…Outfit. On his entire front is a worn cloth, with bags on his chest, a belt on his chest, with two more belts on his waist, worn pants and boots are on the lower part, yet there are knee guards on his knees. Yet his coat is sleeveless, with nothing covering his head all except for a bandana. He walk by us as my eyes look to the back of his coat, a symbol of a two-head bear with a star above it. NCR. Meddler open the fridge as he takes out a bottle water and drink, my eyes look down to see a gun of sort on his side. My mind quickly thinks back on what it’s call. A magnum. Hmm, never see that on his side before, must be special. He notices us all looking at him and his outfit as he sighs and scratch his head with his right hand, his left is currently holding the water. “Alright, just bloody ask your damn questions. But can you at least get your weapons so we can leave to get a Pip-Boy?” he ask, until he notice the weapons laying by us already. “Ah, well never mind.” “So Meddler, what’s with the coat?” ask Gilda. Meddler gives a sigh out and finish his water. “I got this coat from a guy name Ulysses at the Divide.” My eyes raise up as my ears finally hear something about the untold story of the place. Before my mouth open to ask the unanswered questions in me he walks out. “You better hurry, otherwise I might decide not to bring you all!” he said, a groan came from me as Nightmoon sighs, Gilda just shakes her head as Loyal give a confuse look. “We must be patient with him, it is like we said before that tale holds much to him and of the past within it. However he is right, we have to hurry.” And with that we all move, but my eyes take a quick glance in Meddler room to see Umbra body on the bed, my eyes see some marks on her and her slow breathing, the elevator door opens as my investigations are cut short as my body turn and enter in the elevator. However I did manage to ask one question. “What did you do to Umbra?” He turn away with a sigh, and a small blush. “Well...Let just say I worn her out from all the activities of punishing her. And I’m leaving it as that.” *** (Feathers) “Godfucking dammit! Gah!” Meddler shouts as he walks out of Mick and Ralph’s with us behind him as he turn Nightmoon. “We are going to the Atomic and you will not deny me my booze!” he said with his finger pointing at Nightmoon, and she nod her head. “Very well, however we ask that you don’t become addictive to the stuff.” Meddler wave his hands up in the air as he turn and walks away. “You won’t hear an argument from me Wavy! I don’t want to be another Boozy, but I swear if Mick wasn’t such a nice guy I would’ve shot him in the fucking head!” He hit a stone on the ground as we move along with him. We originally head to Mick and Ralph to obtain a Pip-Boy of his that he trade in for his Pimp, however Mick told him that they sold it to some guy for a large amount of caps and weapons, needless to say this new information give Meddler a reason to drink down his troubles, since we all know that Pip-Boys are beyond rare. He told us when he met with Doc the first time, the guy practically gave to him without a single regret, and it made Meddler surprise of such a thing. We made our way inside of the Atomic after five minutes of walking, and trying to make sure Meddler isn't causing a scene. Which is sorta hard to do when the guy don’t have his booze to begin with, my head turn to hear a woman voice greeting Meddler. “Hey there, what can I get for you?” Meddler sits down in the bar stool. “Something hard.” My eyes see a black hair woman wearing a suit as she takes out a strange drink as she open the top and just let Meddler take it as soon as she place it on the bar. She glance at us and speak to Meddler. “So these are the fame ‘Courier Companions’ I hear so much about, mind introducing them to me?” Meddler stop his drink as he reply. “Ask them yourself, I want to get drunk.” As he went back to his booze she turn her head toward us. “Well I heard about you girls, but we never meet did we? I’m Garret, Francine Garret, I co-own this place with my brother, who is currently sleeping his ass off upstairs.” told the woman. My head turn to see not many people sitting down in the chairs behind us, or casino being play, my head turn as my beak open. “Slow day isn't it?” She give out a small laugh as we hear the door being open, my eyes look to see a very strange looking man. A old hat on his head, with some holes on the top and on the front where some light reveal the man face, a long white beard on his face, my eyes look down to see the beard going down until it stops at the belly, the cloths he wear remind me of something. Something of nostalgic. The jacket on him is worn out, the pants are of a fade blue with those strange tip boots, a magnum is on his left side as he move past us without a care of what we are. A pair of gloves are on his hands, with a strange Pip-Boy on his right arm, his left hand is holding a large bag as he grunts as the bag move as it resettle back in balance. He eventually move to one of the tables and sit down, with the bag drop by his foot. At first we ignore him, or rather I try to ignore him, Nightmoon decide to speak to him the moment he sit down. “Excuse us, we don’t wish to be rude, but have we met before?” she ask as she move right by him, Loyal decide to sit down by Meddler on the floor, Fleur went and sit down in the chair by where the guy is sitting and I just hang by Meddler and just eavesdrop their conversation. The guy’s chuckle is old as his voice, like my great-grandfather, except if he doesn't live in a place like this and hasn't die from a terrible story of a griffon maiden and a sparkling thestral. It’s not a good story to read, to anyone, at all. However my ears begin to hear a very strange song in the background, very strange. It almost made me not hear their conversation. “We haven’t met per say, but perhaps a lifetime ago we meet each other in a very odd situation.” He said. “May we know your name?” ask Fleur, he reply back with a nod from a glance from me. “Well I go by many names, sometime I am call by Wander, or sometime Traveler, even Guns man, but I wish to be call by Chance, that’s always my favorite.” For some reason during their talk the music seem, comforting to me, and I just don’t know why. “Chance? Very well Chance, we are Nightmoon, beside us is Fleur, over there sitting down by our friend is Glida, on the floor is Loyal and the one drinking is Meddler.” My ears hear a surprise tone from him. “Meddler? As in the Meddler? The one who kick out both NCR and the Legion?” My head turn to Meddler cursing at the old man. “Oh fuck off will you? Leave me to my troubles!” My eyes wince as my head turn to see Nightmoon apologizing for Meddler. ” We apologize, Meddler isn't in the exact mood to greet others, ever since we found out that his former Pip-Boy has left and he has no idea how to fix the one on his arm he felt the need to drink his trouble away.” explain Nightmoon. And to my surprise the guy just nod his head. “Can’t blame him for that, however I may be able to help him out,” He speaks louder to let Meddler hear his voice. “I know something about Pre-war tech.” My head give a slight turn to see Meddler stop the bottle from going down his mouth, he sighs as he gets up and walks toward the table, with Loyal behind him, he sits down with the bottle in hand, a annoy look on his face as he speaks back. “What do you want in return?” My eyes see the old man smile. “Well that’s quite simple. A song.” All at once we look at him surprise. My rump decide to sit down as my body move to sit next to Meddler, Nightmoon and Fleur are sitting next to the guy, while Loyal and I are sitting next to Meddler. “Seriously? A song? No caps? No supplies? Not even a weapon or some job?” The guy shakes his head. “What can I do with caps? Nothing much, I've already got enough supplies and why bother with a weapon, or even some pointless job? No I just want to a song, from you Meddler. Something from the past.” Meddler rub his chin as he think for a moment. “Well, there is this one song. It’s something my mom would always sing to me and my sister.” My head turn as surprise fill my expression. He never speaks anything about his life, even about his relatives. I don’t know if it’s from the booze or from this trade but it’s amazing that Meddler is speaking about this at all. “Oh and where did she hear this song?” ask Chance. “Well she said it was when she travel to the upper west, even north back in her traders days. She seen this one stranger heading to her caravan, wearing some strange bulky power armor, and a Brotherhood helmet on his head. And a pair of a strange companions, a ghoul wearing some NCR armor and a dog.” “On his arm was a Pip-Boy on his right arm, and he sounded so old, how old she didn't say, just that he probably seen many things. Anyway she heard him singing the song coming from his Pip-Boy ask what it’s called. He said it’s something from Pre-war era. And they traded stuff and part ways, before she left him she copy the song on some paper and kept it. She memorize it by heart and sang it to me and my sister.” Wait sister? My eyes look to see the open mouth of Fleur, and the head pointing of Loyal as we all realize he has a sister. Before my beak open Chance interrupt. “And will you sing this song?” ask Chance, Meddler nod his head as he takes another drink. “May I see your Pip-Boy while I work? It’ll give me a chance to listen while working at the same time.” Meddler nod his head as he remove it and pass it to the old man. “Here you go, now how did it go?” mumble Meddler to himself. He tap his fingers as he snap them as he clear his throat. And by the gods his voice is so amazing. I don't want to set the world on fire I just want to start a flame in your heart In my heart I have but one desire And that one is you, no other will do I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim I just want to be the one you love And with your admission that you feel the same I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me I don't want to set the world on fire I just want to start a flame in your heart I don't want to set the world on fire, honey, I love you too much I just want to start a great big flame down in your heart You see, way down inside of me, darling I have only one desire And that one desire is you, and I know nobody else ain't gonna do I've lost all ambition for worldly acclaim I just want to be the one you love And with your admission that you feel the same I'll have reached the goal I'm dreaming of, believe me I don't want to set the world on fire I just want to start a flame in your heart While my eyes look at Meddler singing they fail to notice the old man working, and before my head can even turn to see what he did, he speaks out. “Done. Nice singing voice by the way.” He pass the Pimp-Boy back to Meddler, as he place it back on his left arm again and move the buttons his eyes widen as he slowly look to Chance with his mouth open. “How. The. Fuck. Did. You. Fix. This?” The guy just smile. “Well like I said, I’m good with Pre-war tech, anyway I notice your friends don’t have any Pip-Boy’s on them.” Meddler sighs as he lay his head on the table. “Yeah, but why the fuck do you care?” That’s when he manage to surprise us yet again. “Because I so happen have five Pip-Boys with me, including other goodies. And I’ll give you them for three things, a song, a promise, and a free pass in the Strip.” Meddler look at him for a good five minutes as he finally speaks out. “I should question on why you want these things or what’s your angle, but honestly I don’t give a fuck right now, this is probably the easiest deal I made, ever, of all times.” Meddler went through his Pimp-Boy and something went out. “I always carry this thing as a precaution in case I meet someone who deserve this.” It was a card of sort as he pass it to Chance. “This is a pass to the Strip, show it to the guard and you’ll be let in. Now what’s the promise?” The guy wave a finger on his left hand to Meddler. “Ah, ah, ah! First the song, then the promise.” He then search in his bag as he speaks out. “Any song will do, but it got to be an oldie but goodie!” “Hmm, I may got a song, my old man sang me this song one time. Hopefully I can get the words right.” reply Meddler, after a few minutes he began to sing again. The roads are the dustiest, the winds are the gustiest The gates are the rustiest, the pies are the crustiest The songs the lustiest, the friends the trustiest Way back home (Back home) This time my ears can hear a background behind the singing, including the extra voices, my eyes search around but for some reason the people singing it aren’t around while Meddler sing on. The trees are the sappiest, the days are the nappiest The dogs are the yappiest, the kids are the scrappiest The jokes the snappiest, the folks the happiest Way back home Don't know why I left the homestead I really must confess I'm a weary exile Singing my song of loneliness The old man take out five Pip-Boy’s and work on each one of them with pressing a few things here and there, when he’s finish with one he went to another. I did try to pay attention to him, but Meddler voice bring my attention to him singing. The grass is the springiest, the bees are the stingiest The birds are the wingiest, the bells are the ringiest (The hearts) the hearts the singiest (The arms) the arms the clingiest Way back home (What about the sun) The sun's the blaziest (And the fields) The field's the daisiest (And the cows) The cow's the graziest (And the help) The help's the laziest The boys, (are the wittiest) The girls, (are the prettiest) Way back home (The pigs are the snootiest, the owls are the hootiest) The plant's the fruitiest, the stars the shootiest (The grins the funniest), the smiles the sunniest Way back home Don't know why I left the homestead I really must confess I'm a weary exile Singing my song of loneliness The old man place each Pip-Boy before us as he went up and walk around us all, then sits back down with a bottle and listen to Meddler finishing up. The food is the spreadiest, the wine is the headiest The pals are the readiest, the gals are the steadiest The love the liveliest, the life the loveliest Way back, way back, way back, home (No place like home) Sweet home After he finish Nightmoon speak to him with surprise in her tone, honestly I can’t blame her since I never known that he can sing that good. “Meddler, we didn’t know you can sing, sing so well. Why didn’t you mention this at all?” “Oh I don’t know, maybe because I don’t sing too often and the fact that I didn’t want to mention it.” told Meddler. Before Nightmoon give a comeback Chance gives a cough to turn our attention to him. “Now then, your new Pip-Boy’s are on the table before you, just place them on the arm that you don’t use to fire your weapon.” All of us place our new tool on our arms, mine on my right, Nightmoon on her left, Loyal on her left and Fleur on her left, I’m probably the only right claw since they don’t need to use their hooves to fire their weapons. “Now what’s the promise?” ask Meddler, Chance just wave his hand. “Oh nothing much, all I ask is that you give love a chance, even if it’s from someone of a different race and stuff.” He picks up his bag as he walks by us. “Anyway I got to head out, so long!” Meddler react quickly as he went up from his seat and shouts. “What the hell do you mean by that?” The guy turn his head with a smile on his face. “Just saying, since you’re surrounded by wonderful females who care about you and all. Take care kid, and who knows? We may meet again one way or another.” As he open the door and walk away Meddler sighs and look at the booze, and then just close it. “Wait you’re not going to drink?” I ask, he shakes his head and put it away in his Pimp-Boy. “What would be the point? The guy got this thing fix and in an act of kindness with strangeness given you girls Pip-Boy’s, wait.” He then notice the last Pip-Boy before him as he slap his face. “Fuck, this one’s for Slutty.” He let his head fall down on the table. “Goddamnit.” “Ah right, you’re gonna have to give it to her while trying not to get molest at the same time?” ask Fleur with a sly grin on her muzzle. “Shut the fuck up Psycho, I know where you sleep.” “Is that a promise?” she add to him, he lift his head and glare at her, and to me as a chuckle escape from my beak. “I hate you guys, except for you Loyal, your nice.” add Meddler as Loyal move by him and nuzzle his arm. Meddler sighs. “Well let’s get going, the sooner we get this over with the better.” *** (Wavy) “WILL YOU FUCKING HOLD STILL SLUTTY?” shout Meddler as we hear crashing and moving in the room on the other side of the wall of our room. “NEVER!” We breath in as we hear more movement and cursing from Meddler. “GODDAMNIT SLUTTY!! HOLD STILL SO I CAN PUT YOUR FUCKING ARMOR ON!” It’s been two hours since we return to the Tower, we’ve been hearing this running and shouting since Meddler made Umbra armor, and been trying to get it on her. We can tell that this is a lost cause. We move our fore hoof to see our Pip-Boy to check our inventory, our Mini-gun is in, so is our armor, including ammo, extra ammo, some stimpaks and finally some caps we found during our wandering with Meddler. We decide that we use the same spell we use on Meddlers Pimp-Boy the moment we came back and see if it can work. Thankfully it did, we try it on the others and they work as well. However it left us somewhat drain from the amounts of energy and decide to take a rest on our bed, we ask for a book to pass the time, Meddler found us a book call Guns and Bullets. Which is quite a helpful book, we turn our eyes to see Gilda laying on the bed reading a book call the Wasteland Survival Guide. Our hoof went down as we move our head to see Fleur coming back from her bath, water drips from her hair as she sighs, the mare move past us to take her seat on the couch and rest for a while. Until she looks at us and ask. {“They’re still at it?”} Our head nods. She look to her Pip-boy in amazement as she went on. {“It’s amazing to see this work, telling of our health is, if our limb is damage and what we’re good at. Not to mention that it’s waterproof.”} We reply as we decide small talk can possibly pass the time. {“Yes, it’s no wonder why Meddler decide to ‘punish’ Umbra, and went to booze afterward we found out that there wasn’t another one at the store. How are your skills anyway?”} Fleur look down on her Pip-Boy as she use her horn to switch her screen to the skills. {“Well, my biggest is the Explosions at sixty-five, Guns at fifty-seven, and strangely Unarmed at fifty-four, the rest are around thirty or so. What about you Nightmoon?”} We move our head down as our hoof went up, our horn glow to switch to our skills, as our mouth open to reply to Fleur. {“Our Guns are at sixty-two, Repair at sixty, and our Speech is at seventy. It’s amazing to see it as so.”} Our eyes flinch as we hear the final crashing sound with Umbra cursing. “GAH! NO! I WON”T BE ARMOR,” A slap interrupt her. “QUIET IT SLUT!” That’s when we decide to take our helmet off and place it in our Pip-Boy, because whenever Meddler slap Umbra, always expect more to come. We’re surprise that Meddler is getting use to Umbra and her way’s, perhaps he is slowly healing of the damage that is within his heart. We hear another crash and some more shouting. Or because he finally decide he doesn't give two shits and decide to just roll with it. We just wish that we can find something, anything to get out of this room and do something productive, because if we guess right, then we’ll be hearing more slaps and beating until night time. We would fight a large horde if we can get out of, Then we feel a tap on our shoulder, our eyes move to Gilda who taps her helmet and pretend to put something on her head. A few seconds later our helmet is on us as we hear Meddler calling out to us. “Hey girls! Get your shit together, we’ve got a problem!” Ask and you shall receive. Meddler enter in our room with his armor on him and him loading his Survivalist rifle. “I got news that the Brotherhood are fighting against the Rejects! Wavy, Psycho, Feathers, you’re with me. Loyal is going to stay to keep an eye on Slutty, Victor is on his way there to give them a hand.” We move quickly as we gather our armor on us as Gilda ask questions. “Where are they at?” Meddler place his rifle on his back. “Those idiots are attacking them at their home base, come on! We don’t have time to waste here!” *** (Meddler) “Hurry up girls, I can practically hear the shouts!” I shout as my legs move through the sand and rocks, we’re heading down from the north toward the Hidden Valley. My head turn to see Feathers catching up as she land by me, same with Wavy, Psycho had to hoof it with us as she catch her breath, my legs stop to let Psycho catch her breath as they move again. My head turn to see the fence starting to show as we get closer, and the shouts of fighting. “I don’t get it, I thought that the Brotherhood are superior in weapons and armor.” said Feathers, a snort came from me as we slowly gets closer to the fight. “Yeah, but NCR has more troops to use and possibly have tech that can kick the Brotherhood ass.” I reply. “And you know this how?” ask Wavy. We enter in the Valley as my hands take Survivalist out and a crack of my neck. “I don’t, but it’s better to be paranoid and survive, than to be silly and dead.” We move closer as the Rejects seem to have a hard time getting in as the dust roll around us. Seem the Brotherhood gotten that dust thing up and running, question is how long will it last? Better yet how the hell did the Rejects manage to find their base in the first place? We stop a few steps away from the Rejects behind one of the false bases the Brotherhood use. ”What is the plan Meddler?” ask Wavy, my legs crouch my hand take out the AMR to use the scope to see how many Rejects there are. Hmm, okay, seem like there’s only a few of them, probably scouts at first and decide to attack. But who is the victim of command here? Oh where, oh where, have you went? Oh where, oh where can you be? You’re not there, or here, or anywhere. Oh where can you be? That’s when I finally spot the bastard, and it seems they change the color on their suits, instead of their regular brown color, they change it to black and blue. However this asshole got a beret on him and is shouting, so it’s easy to assume him being the victim of the day. Then something odd happen, the dust stop moving around. Which means they’re gonna notice my posse. Sometime I hate being out in the daylight. “Okay listen up, Psycho, Wavy, you’re on point of causing serious damage around that door. Feathers, you’re going to do hit and run tactics, I’ll give support with my rifle. On my mark.” I whisper my orders, the girls begin to gather their weapons. I move up on the false base rock as my legs crouch to get a better aim, I activate my V.A.T.S., aim at the bastard head, and fire with his head having a new hole to breath. Then falls down, this cause the others to move to my direction, and give the girls a chance to raise hell to these bitches. My hand move on the rifle to let a case out, and another shot in to make my kill. My scope move as my eye search another target, however my eye notice Wavy using that Mini-gun like a pro, the way she spin that baby of death around, with that laughter is amazing, then I notice a miss shot by her hooves. My aim turn to see some snipers trying to hit Wavy with that poor ass shot. How the hell did they get there anyway? Where did they come from? Unless...OH FUCK! My arms went to aim at the snipers as my finger fire, but didn’t do much from the distance where I’m at. My head turn to hear the shout of Wavy, she lay down on her left side, her right hoof bleeds as a bullet went through. “Everyone! Get to Wavy and bring her to shelter! I’ll cover you girls!” I order as my AMR fire again and again to give the girls cover fire, my ears hear Feathers shout out to me. “We’ve got her! Get over here!” With a quick turn and running toward cover behind some rocks, my body slide and move to Wavy as my hands drop my rifle and take out some Stimpaks to help the wound heal up. “Wavy is there a bullet in your hoof?” I ask as my right thumb uncap the syringe. Her head shakes as my hand press the thing in her hoof. “Meddler, how the claw did those snipers take us by surprise?” shouts Feathers as we hear the shots of Rejects firing at us behind our cover. “They must have radios to contact to one another. Question is where the fuck is the Brotherhood? You would think they would of be out by now.” I said. “Perhaps they are taking cover until they can deal with the Rejects in a manner they can win.” suggest Psycho. My hand drop the empty Stimpak as my hands take the AMR and aim from the cover. “We better hope so Psycho, otherwise we’re going to be fuck if we don’t have some goddamn backup!” My body raise up to aim and fire at the bastards, manage to get a shot before ducking from their troops attacking down here. “Damn it! Wish we got some fucking cover, wait.” My head turn to Wavy. “Hey can you use that magic thing to make a barrier of sorts?” I ask as my hands reload on the mag. Her head nod as she reply back to me. “Yes, however it depend on how powerful you want the barrier, and how long we can make it for.” My rifle shot out at a Reject trying to get too close to our cover. “Make a barrier around us and lower it whenever I take a shot, can you do that Wavy?” I ask as my head duck under a shot. She hesitate for a moment before nodding her head. “Good. Make a barrier now.” Her horn glow as a blue sphere surround us as my legs move my upper body up as my eye look through the scope, and my voice shouting out. “Okay girls, on my mark I want you to shoot these morons. Mark!” The barrier slowly dissolve as my finger fire, each shot hitting true to the snipers, two remaining through my scope as my arm lower the gun and me dropping down to cover. The sounds of the shots from the girls are ringing in my ears as Feathers pistol shoots out, the sounds of grenades being push out of Psycho gun fill me with a strange calm, probably because less work for me to shoot these assholes. The barrier reappear again as my eyes look to Wavy, she seem to be doing alright for now and doesn’t look tired. My legs went up again as my aim went through the scope to see my victim’s, and with a aid of V.A.T.S. two idiots bite the dust. Now we’ve gotta deal with these guys down here. My AMR went to my Pimp-Boy as my eyes search for another weapon, a minute later Survivalist's went out as my body went up, let the barrier go down, shoot some troopers, went down with the barrier up. This repeats on for about a good five minutes as I decide to strike a conversation. “So girls, any idea why these assholes decide to hit the Brotherhood first?”” I ask as my body went up and shoot some Reject who thought that trying to fight for the wrong guy will getcha kill by me. Feathers look at me with a ‘Are you fucking serious right now?’ look as she reloads her 9mm pistol, Psycho decide to enlighten me as she answer to back. “Maybe because these guys have armor and weapons that could give the Rejects an edge into trying to kill you, not to mention a base for them to use and a chance to take out a group all at once.” My head nod as my rifle mag went out and another quickly went in. “Could be Psycho, could be indeed. And speaking of the Brotherhood, where the hell are they? They should be out here, instead of,” My sentence went short as a missile hit us, the barrier glow a moment as it slowly dissolve. “SHIT!” My head turn to Wavy. “Wavy we need to go now! Everyone, head to the bunker and try not to die, Wavy keep the barrier up as we move along, we need to go, now!” I said as the girls went up, Wavy slowly gets up as her horn glow more brightly, the barrier becoming a different color, a more purplish color, both me and Wavy look at each other as we realize what is happening. Higher magic means strange results. Shit. “Everyone, move now!” I shout as we all move as one, the barrier covering our ass’s as missiles hit us left and right. We move toward the bunker as my ears hear another set of missiles being launched, this time from another direction. We stop at the bunker door as my head turn to see Victor shooting at the Rejects, he move toward us as he calls out to us. “Hey there partner, sorry I took my time getting here. I met up with someone very strange along the way.” “YARGH!” roar out a familiar voice. My head turn to see a large being, holding a Vertibird wing piece like a blade as the being swung left and right, charging at the Rejects. “Holy shit, is that Lily?” I ask in surprise as it is indeed the granny supermutant. And she is still kicking ass, just like when she traveled with me back in the day. She is probably one of the greatest grandparent you can ever ask for, one that is nice and can kill a Fiend with their head cut off like it’s nothing. Then my eyes notice Punchy coming toward us, and with her some Brotherhood shooting the Rejects with their lasers. The barrier disappear as Punchy walk by me and looks to Lily who is fighting by the Brotherhood side. “Can you believe it? Lily’s back in the Mojave.” I said, out of the corner of my eye Punchy nod her head. “Yeah, I spotted her running with Victor, I manage to stop them to ask what’s up. And well they told me that the Brotherhood base was under attack.” Behind my helmet a surprise look went on as my head turn to her. “Wait you didn’t know?” She nod her head. “Yeah, don’t know how they manage to block anything but I’m thankful that you came by here Meddler to help us out.” My shoulder shrugs. “Well I couldn’t leave you guys to these bastards, and it’s nice getting some excitement once and a while.” The bunker doors open as both of our heads turn, the first to come out is Paladin Ramos as he aim Gauss rifle left and right before putting it down as he sees the both of us. “Ah Veronica, Meddler, nice to see you both are still alive. How you doing?” He ask as he walks toward us. My shoulder shrug. “Well doing fine except risking my ass and my friends ass from the Rejects.” His facial expression change to one of shame. “Sorry, but I had to obey orders from Head Paladin Hardin to get the others inside, and I quote ‘Wait until we get those bastards inside, so we can kill them all!’ unquote.” “And we have to tend to our wounded as well.” My head moves to see Elder McNamara walking toward me, his left hand outstretched as my right take his as we both shake. “Hello there Elder, nice to see you living and kicking.” He nod his head to me. “Nice to see you as well, thanks for coming to our aid.” “Thanks for agreeing that the people of Freeside can still have the energy.” I reply back. “I still say we should use it as a weapon.” And my mood is now ruin thanks to this asshole. My head turn to see Hardin with a scowl on his face, he move up to me as he went on. “I still say that we should of use HELIOS ONE as a weapon.” “Oh? And where can you find the trigger? Oh wait, that’s right you can’t, because you don’t know.” The Elder move between us. “Calm down, Hardin enough with that nonsense, Meddler here has provide us aid in the past, and allow us to take HELIOS ONE in return for letting Freeside have the energy.” Hardin turn to the girls as they reload on their weapons, and soon notice their Pip-Boys. “You, give us those technology animals.” He said to Wavy, she looks at him as she reply. “Pardon?” she said. He take out his Gauss rifle. “You heard me, you have no idea how to use that do you?” Punchy moves to Hardin as she try to stop this stupidity before I do. “Hardin stop, you do realize they know how to work it and don’t deserve to be insulted as such.” He turn to her. “Veronica, I may put up with your ‘friend’ over here, but those creatures there have technology they don’t deserve to have, especially the horse’s.” Now for anyone who aren’t another species he is saying horse, but the way he said it sound ‘whorse’. Which is very insulting to both Wavy and Psycho as my ears hear Psycho gasp in shock. That’s when I decide to drop any fucks I give, as I hear Punchy muttering and slap her head. “Hardin you just fuck yourself.” Before I even made a move Lily moves over to us a she talks loud. “Who is messing with my little Meddler, and his sweet friends?” My head turn to her as an evil idea form in my mind. “Hello Lily, the man over there,” My left finger points to Hardin. “Is a bad boy, and deserve to be spank. He’s a naughty boy Lily.” She nod her head as she walks closer to Hardin. “Your right sweetie, he needs to be spank. Come here you little troublemaker.” Hardin steps back as I find myself looking for a good rock to sit my ass on to see this show. “Wait, what are you doing? Get back from me!” Wavy and Psycho decide to watch this as well as they both lay down to enjoy the show, Punchy sit down on my right as everyone see this show of wonder, Hardin getting his ass spank by a supermutant grandmother. Punchy laugh as we both get a kick of him squirming on the lap of Granny as she starts to spank that idiot ass. My laughter went out nonstop to see this sight. “Ah man, I will pay big money to see this record right now.” “Actually,” Punchy said as my head turn to her holding a device as she aim it up her head and a small red dot on it blinks. “We found this thing from our scouting, an old man by the name of Traveler who said this thing is from a undiscovered Vault-tec that hasn’t been use in a long time. Said it record things with a press of a button.” “All he ask is that if we see something funny we record it.” Wait? Traveler? “Hey Punchy, was this old man wearing a hat, some clothes, and with a long white beard carrying a big bag?” She nod her head as the sound of Hardin being in pain ring in my ears. “Yeah, why?” A large smile grow underneath my helmet. Old man, I could kiss you right now for this wonderful gift you given us, may you always be remember you son of a glorious bitch you are. Level up!(Wavy, Psycho, Feathers) The desire of a masochist- You have now control of a powerful mare, one who will bend her will to yours, damage raise up to fifteen percent whenever she is around you. Fix tech-Your Pip-Boy is all fix up, including a bonus of music from far away lands, V.A.T.S. is permanently increase by five. (Nightmoon) The energy saver- You learn how to save energy with your magic and energy weapons! Magic will cost less power and energy weapons skills have increase by five! > Chapter 9: The thing that all men fear...Heat. (part 1) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 9: Of what all men fear from mares...Heat. (part 1) (meddler) “Man, that was the greatest thing I witness. Ever. In my life. Of all times.” I said as my head turn to see Loyal by my side as always, to my left Wavy gives a small chuckle as she nod her head in agreement. ”Yes, seeing that man being punished like a foal fill us with enjoyment, what say you Fleur and Gilda?” both of our heads turn to see Feathers and Psycho both looking back at us, Victor trailing behind us as Punchy stay back with the rest of the Brotherhood and Granny heading back to Jacobstown. “Oh yes, I agreed wholehearted, seeing him reduce to a foal after the insults he flung at us is a nice payback, right Gilda?” said Psycho as Feathers nod her head. “Yeah, and what’s better is that we got that device to see it again.” A chuckle escape from me as my head turn back straight with my eyes looking down on my Pimp-Boy checking through the list to see the ‘unique recording device’ in my inventory as I speak. “Well, we couldn’t let such a thing stay with the Brotherhood, if Hardin manage to get his hands on it then we’ll lose such a wonderful piece of entertainment.” A few laughs and giggles came the girls, even something of a chirp from Loyal. “Alright lets head back and get some well deserve rest. We all need it.” *** (meddler) My body lay down on my bed as my eyes look to the Advance Riot Armor on the mannequin and with me wearing nothing but a white shirt and some underwear, my eyes look down to see Loyal with her armor off resting on my left side on my legs. She still has that helmet of hers in case she needs to understand something from me, Slutty sadly is on my bed on my right, unlike Loyal who try not to cross any lines, Slutty is resting her head on my belly. Whether if she is doing this on purpose to get more ‘punishments’ or thinks she higher on the ‘chain’ of mares being close to me I have no fucking idea. What I do know is that whatever Chance did to my Pimp-Boy is fucking amazing. At first I was glad to just have it working again, then when I notice the extra broadcast in the radio department I felt curious. After listening to some tunes I decide that when I see that old man I’m going to ask how he did this so that the next time something like what Slutty did happens, I’ll be prepare. My eyes went to my Pimp-Boy as my right finger press the buttons and dials of going to the station and looking at my broadcast’s. Usually there’s the normal ones, like the Mojave Music Radio, the Radio New Vegas, Sierra Madre Broadcast, don’t know why I still have it. The Mysterious Broadcast that’s been one of my all time favorites, and 743.00Hz ULF radio signal, and honestly I have no idea why that’s still there. Thought it went away after I left that Sierra place long ago. But then there’s the new stations under these. The first is something call Agatha Station, don’t know who Agatha is, but the music seem to be of a violin or something whenever she plays or shit. The second is about GNR, that’s where most of the music I heard when I was a brat back then came from. Still it’s nice to hear nostalgia, even through how the hell he manage to get a signal all the way here to wherever it is remains a mystery to me. Then comes the ‘what the fuck are these?’ stations. These stations apparently don’t work at all and everytime I try to use them all I get is static. And there are about five stations. One is Wanderer Station, Romantic Station, Destructive Station, Nostalgia Station, and...Pony Station? I think whatever the hell Slutty did to my Pimp-boy somehow screw something up while Chance try to fix it up or something. Either way I’m probably not going to figure anything out for now about these things. My head raise up as my ears hear a knock on the door as my mouth open to answer whoever’s at the door. “The door open.” a half of a minute later the door opens to reveal Psycho as she walks in. “Pardon to interrupt, whatever it is you’re doing here Meddler, but I need your help with something.” My upper body went up as Slutty hiss from being move from her comfy spot, which earn her a slap on the flank, Loyal raise her head up as she sees me moving, she went off of my legs as my left hand give her a scratch on the side which earns a chirps from her. My body moves as it leave the bed and walk toward Psycho, leaning by the door with my arms cross. “So what’s up?” I ask, she looks away and then looks up to me. “I was recently checking my ammo supplies with Nightmoon and notice a lack of 25mm grenades and 12 gauge ammo in my Pip-boy, and realize I’m running low. So I was wondering if you can tell me where I can get more ammo.” a sigh escape from me as my head nod. “Yeah there are two places, one is from Gun Runners, but I have feeling it’s going to take a while for them to get their ammo all ready, so the other is a bit trick if you aren’t with me.” She tilt her head. “Who?” “The Boomers. And trust me, you have to take me with you on this one, otherwise they’ll just blow you up with their missiles.” I said as my body turn around and decide to see how my armor look, my knees went down as my hands move on the armor. My eyes begin to notice the damages it taken during all of this, and I realize it’s been a while since I last patch it up. “Fuck.” My head turn to Psycho. “Hey mind getting me your armor? And the other’s as well?” She tilt her head again. “Why?” she ask. “Because it’s been a while since I last check up all of your armors and see if they need to be patch up or not.” She nods her head as she went to the others, while I on the other hand went to the wardrobe to search for armor to take apart for the rest of us to use. “Hmm let see, this goes here, and that goes over here.” I mumble to myself as I already begin to repair my riot armor and helmet, my ears hear the steps of Psycho as she speaks out to me and probably notice me sitting down on my ass working on my armor without caring if I’m at the workbench or not. “Meddler, I thought you’ll be at the workbench to repair your armor,” said Psycho, my head shakes as my hands went on working. “I’ve been fixing my armors ever since I got one. I’ve been fixing my shit for so long I notice other stuff that works well with my own, and since then my fixing been better and better.” After a couples of minutes of working my ears hear Wavy said something of my ability. ”Hmm, it appears you are a master when it comes to repair things Meddler, how is it that you manage to get fifty percent done of repairing while we need more time to repair?” My answer came back as my hands work on the shoulders of the armor. “Because I’ve been doing this shit far longer than you have done Wavy.” With a final look of seeing my work, my head nod as it’s done, it turn to see the girls with their armor in their grasp, well Psycho and Wavy using their horns to lift it, while Feathers just hold it in her claws. And after working on theirs my attention turn to Loyal armor after she got hers out of the wardrobe. And again finish up just in time to eat something. My hand went to the Pimp and gotten a pack of Fancy Lads and some Sunset Sarsaparilla to enjoy for now, which takes about three minutes. My attention went to my armor and start to place it on. “You don’t mind me watching?” My head turn to see Psycho still there, Wavy and Feathers already left after getting their armor fix up from me, Loyal and Slutty went back sleeping on the bed. My shoulders shrug as my pants went on. “Fuck if I care Psycho, I’m already use to you watching me, why the hell should I care if you see me getting my armor on or off?” Her silence is all the answer I need as two minutes later my armor is on with my helmet being attach to my head with my hands. “Well lets get going, the sooner we get your ammo, the faster we can get back living our lives back at the wasteland.” I said, Psycho sighs as she trots by my side to the elevator. “Do you have the weapons you want to bring?” she ask. My eyes roll behind my helmet. “Yes Psycho, I have my AMR, Grenade Rifle, Fire Fist of Doom, some precautions grenades, and a Carabine. Now come on, we got some Boomers to talk to.” *** (meddler) “So Psycho, we haven’t really talk about how you deal with the Wasteland, wanna talk about it?” She move her head slightly to me as we pass by Mole Rat Ranch, she moves with ease on my left side as she sighs. “Why ask now of all times?” she said as my right hand move on my neck and slightly rub the cover as my eyes look away for a moment. “Because it’s get boring of being silent all the way to the Boomers and back. That and we really haven’t talk all that often due to the, stress of the shit we all are going through.” A small giggle came out as she reply. “Stress you say? Hmm, well one can see it that way Meddler. Very well I’ll enlighten you, things have been, hard in the Wastelands, I’ll admit sometime I wake up in the middle of the night, seeing all the people I shoot down, or blow up. And other times it’s hard to remember I’m back home, back in Canterlot.” she said. “Do you ever want to go back?” I ask without hesitation, to me this seem like a perfect chance to figure out if she trust me enough to tell about her life in Canterlot, if not well I can always wait a bit more. And judging by her moving her head to me, she stop as she still looks at me and think for a moment before replying. “Perhaps, maybe...Back when I first arrive here I thought about coming back, at least dealing with the madness back then was something I could deal with, but here in the Wasteland? So many things that can be unpredictable, so chaotic.” she starts. “But?” I said, knowing there is more to say. She starts to move her hooves as we continue walking. “But, now that I am use to the strangeness, the unpredictability, the chaos of the Wasteland, I feel like it’s a part of me now, I know that sounds a bit silly but since traveling with you I can appreciate somewhat of the Wasteland with my close friends,” She gives a small laughter as she slowly shakes her head. “Perhaps that was missing in my life before I came here, friends that I trust with my life, people and ponies I can depend on no matter how bad it seems. And the weather is great compare to the depression state of,” she stop midway as her head went down as she slowly moves her hooves. I pace myself to her speed and speak. “If you still don’t want to talk about it I don’t mind, but know that I’m here for you if you ever want to talk about it.” I said, her head nod as I decide now is the best time to change the subject. “And speaking of friends, how are your interactions with the rest of the girls? Honestly I can’t tell sometimes with the way you talk in that different language with those helmets off.” She give a small giggle as her head raise up a small smile is on her as she knows I deliberately change the conversation. “Well, me and Nightmoon are doing quite well, sometime we discuss about weapons, ammo, how efficient our magic can be with our weapons at times, but most of the time we discuss how long until those bitches from the Legions and the Rejects are finally going to get their balls out and try to kill you.” “Oh?” Her head nod. “Yes, because when that happen we can finally play a game, it’s something we recently came up about two weeks ago. It’s call ‘Who can kill the most Legion?’ Or about anything for that matters. We been doing it with the mutated creatures, and about the raiders as well.” “And who else is playing it?” I ask. “Oh Gilda, Loyal I think, and that’s about it.” “How come I wasn’t in the game as well Psycho?” I ask with a mock hurt tone in my voice. A chuckle came from her as she answer. “Because you would win the most from all the kills you made all your life.” “Oh come on, these guys are somewhat new to me. Well the Rejects are, but still.” She shakes her head. “Nope, because unlike us you have a higher kill count, and everyone want to take a piece of you so it’s hard for us to kill them when they all come straight at you.” “That’s because I’m so awesome, it’s a curse.” I reply back. “Ha, more like they’re too piss off of what you done.” she said, poking her right hoof at my left leg with a smile on her muzzle. “You’re just jealous.” I stated back. She laughs from my response, and soon my mouth open to join in as well as we both laugh for the hell of it. “So Psycho, what about Feathers and Loyal? You haven’t said about anything of them yet.” “Well Gilda is alright, for a griffin I mean. She seem to have troubles of her own and sometime we talk about our experiences in the Wasteland, and sometime we try to help each other with the pain we deal with. Even though we are adults, sometime she remind me of a young filly, trying to survive the harshness and cruelty of the world around us.” My a sigh came from me. “Yeah, which is why I try my best to help her deal with it, but sometime the best way to help them is to leave them alone for a while before they ask for help.” “One of the wisest thing that anyone can do really.” “And Loyal?” She shrug as she answer about Loyal. “Honestly she seem alright, we haven’t talk all that often since she seem more to stick by you than to hang out with us, but I can’t exactly blame her for that.” My head nod in agreement. “Yeah, she loves to cuddle with me and pronounce how she is my loyal slave to the end. It’s kinda cute sometime of seeing her looking up to me.” She gives a mock shock with her left fore hoof over her head with her gasping. “Meddler, the boss of all of New Vegas, the killer of Casear and the asskicker of the NCR claiming that somepony is cute? Oh the horror!” “Oh shut up Psycho, I know where you sleep and what weapons to use to make you wet.” She stick her tongue out to me. “You would love to give me something to dream about, would you?” My right hand slap to my helmet head. “Why do I put up with you?” She skip by me and bump her side to my left leg. “Because I’m one of the cutest thing ever in the Wastelands.” My head went down to look at her. “You know you gotten better at being mellow with me, and if I didn’t know better I say you’re trying to flirt with me Miss Fleur.” she stop with red forming on her cheeks, a grin is hidden under my helmet as she shouts at me as I walk in front of her. “I-I only said that because of the jokes around us!” she stutters. Okay I have to admit, that sound a bit damn cute right now. My head turn as that grin didn’t wipe from my mouth, with me stopping my walking. “You mean of how you girls are part of my little group? Oh Slutty would be so proud of what you said.” That earn a scowl on her muzzle as her blush is gone and she walks past me with a up nose lift expression on her. “Oh, was it something I said?” I bait her, she turn her head to me with a knowing glare under that helmet. “And speaking of interacting, Umbra is the worst pony I have ever met. Always want to prove that she some sort of whorse or something when she’s around us, I swear how can you deal with that mare?” My legs move as I answer her question with my arms crossing each other over my head. “The same way I deal with the rest of you girls, with patience and understanding.” She stop as she look at me with the answer I given her. My head turn to her as she is five feet behind me. “Didn’t expect that answer now did you?” Her silence is the only response she gives. My body turn to face her. “Psycho, since I met you all I had to deal with your problems about clothings, weapons, armor, magic shit, and pretty much making sure you all survive.” “And only way to make sure you all deal with it is try to be patience and understanding to you all. And trust me, that’s hard enough especially dealing with the new shit I’m dealing now.” “Meddler, I never knew,” she starts to say, my hand wave her off. “I know, which is why I’m trying not to make a big fucking deal out of it, I know you all have your own shit to deal with and are trying not to be pussy’s about it, but for my sake at least try not to kill each other okay? I can handle a few fights now and then, but I don’t want to clean up your corpse, got it?” She slowly nods her head as I give her the message of my words. You don’t have to act like you two love each other like sisters, just tolerate one another while we’re dealing with the shitstorm around us. We’ve been silent for the rest of the way while the both of us digest on what we both learn from the conversation. My tolerance to the girls problems and interactions, her handling the Wasteland and showing how much I gain her trust. A couple of minutes later the Boomers home came within our sights, and hopefully they will recognize me and try not to use their missiles to blow both me and Psycho into pieces. My breath went out in relief as no missiles came at us. Which means they know it’s me, and are probably opening the gates the moment we are closer, my head slightly turn to Psycho. “Okay, remember when I said you had to take me with you?” she nod her head. “Well there is a big reason for that, they’re xenophobic and paranoid as hell. If it was anyone else that they don’t know they’ll blow them up, I’m an exception because I manage to dodge their artillery and got on their good side before the Second Battle.” “But what about the airship they have? If I remember correctly from the stories, you help them get their ‘Lady in the Lake’, not to mention help give them scrap metal all the time.” said Psycho. “What are you getting at Psycho?” I ask. “What I am saying Meddler, is why they haven’t blown the ‘savages’ into pieces with their airship?” My head nod in acknowledgement as I understand now what she is trying to say. “Well that’s easy, originally they wanted to blow the savages, but when they realize that I own New Vegas and technically own the Mojave, they decided to not blow all of the savages since they don’t want to make their new friend so sad.” “When you say new friend, you mean you right?” say Psycho. My head nod to her sentence. “Of course, we’re both buddies-buddies to one another, still hopefully the Legion or the Rejects haven’t try getting near here, or worse try to make an ‘alliance’ with them.” “Wouldn’t they just get blown up?” ask Psycho. “Maybe, but if they’re quick and lucky enough they may get to the front gate.” *** (Psycho) “Hello Pearl! How are you doing?” say Meddler as he hug the old woman. Her skin is almost like of Meddler’s, except for the fact that it’s more lighter than his, her gray hair cover her entire head, wrinkles on her face. A fading jacket with symbols on her shoulders and front, her entire body cover in a jumpsuit of blue, on her left arm is a Pip-Boy, my eyes move up to the two, who are still talking. “So Meddler, what brings you here?” ask Pearl, he points his thumb to me as Pearl turn her head. “She needs more ammo, and the best ammo I know is this place, beside I wanted to see how you all are doing.” reply Meddler. Pearl looks at me with her brown eyes, a small smile on her face as she gives a small laugh. “I see the rumors were true, you got someone special for you.” to this my face became warm as I speak out. “H-Hang on! It’s not like that!” I say. She laughs once more as Meddler shake his head. “Pearl, stop it, you're embarrassing her.” he say, within my mind my thoughts speak. I’m never this fluster before, why am I acting like this? “Anyway, so how are things going on here? Any trouble?” he ask as I try to pay attention, Pearl nods her head a bit. “Sadly yes, we gotten some trouble with some strange people, almost look like the army people we once seen back before the Battle.” “What did you call them, the Rejects?” she ask. “Yeah,” Meddler say with a nod of his head. “The guys who think that I should die, and who are lead by the former president of NCR. Anyway did they get far?” she shake her head. “No, we made sure they haven’t gotten close, however we found something that might interest you Meddler.” “Oh what is it Pearl?” he ask, she turns and walk to a drawer and open something, take an item out, and walk to Meddler as she hands him a holodisk. “We found this on the remains of the body, thankfully it isn’t damage, I hope this will be of use Meddler.” say Pearl as Meddler nod his head. “Thank you Pearl, oh and do you know where we can get ammo?” ask Meddler as Pearl nod her head and turn to the door. “Speak with Loyal, I’m sure he can find something to give.” Meddler give a small bow. “Thank you Pearl, I hope you live a long life.” Pearl gives a small giggle. “Flatter you are Meddler, be careful now, don’t want your girls to be jealous of competition now do we?” say Pearl as my expression glare at her without me realizing it, my head turn away with a small blush as she went on laughing. what is going on with me? *** (meddler) “Okay, so it’s got to be here somewhere,” I mutter. Psycho trots up by me as she ask the an obvious question. “So Meddler we are looking for something called the ‘Holy hand grenades’ that are patch together in a sort of time bomb around the Wasteland?” My eyes roll as a sigh escape from me. “Yes Psycho, I know it sound stupid and possibly impossible. But you forget that I have been facing impossible things, so this isn’t out of the question.” “Name one,” starts the mare. “You girls.” I interrupt as she turns her head and pouts. My eyes roll around as I look for the bomb once more, according to the holodisk, we are close to it. Okay so if I was a Reject that wants to get revenge for some asshole who ruined NCR and want to do it in the most biggest way I know of, where would I put the bomb? I ponder as my eyes identify a small opening in the rocks of the hill just a few feet away. “Psycho! Found it!” I call out as my legs begin to move toward the bomb. My knees drop as my mouth whistle. “Damn, five grenades all attach together with some wiring, a hack job on whoever made this.” I say as Psycho came by my side with a worry tone in her voice. “Can you disable it?” A snort answer her question. “Please, I can disable this and get some grenades in the process, just need some quiet though, five minutes, tops.” My hands begin to move into the device as my eyes search for the wires. And just like that it disconnect as I now have some grenades to, huh well that’s new. *BOOM!* “MEDDLER!” cry out Fleur as a groan escape from me. She moves by my side with horn glowing and her weapons on her sides. “What happen? I thought you said you can handle it?” A cough escape from me as my body slowly raise up, my arm goes up as my fingers check on my limbs, and my health. Okay limbs health are low, except for the right leg, that’s a bust. Health is down by a half, but nothing too serious for me to bitch about. “They seem to got the upper hand on me. Ugh give me a moment and, FUCK!” I cry out in pain as my forgets that it’s cripple. “Hey Psycho, mind helping me a bit? I remember there being a pond of water a couple of feet by us, mind helping me get to it?” I ask, she nods her head as she place her weapons away and allow me to grab her back and use her weight and size to help me out. I know she doesn’t mind me using her as a crutch, but I swear she has a blush on her cheeks, for what I have no fucking clue. Still we manage to head to the pool as I soon lay down and give out a sigh as my hands take out off my helmet, brought out a Nuka-Cola from my Pimp, and let the healing begin. A few minutes of silence goes by, until Psycho decides to ask the obvious question. “Meddler, I don’t want to sound rude, but what the fuck are we doing here?” “The reasons are quite simple. I have the power to let radiation heal me.” I reply. “Oh....Meddler I think I have a problem.” “What’s that?” “I think my heat is starting to come on.” > Christmas Special: Mojave edition > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Christmas Special: Mojave edition (Meddler POV) "So wait, you're saying that there's this holiday where you all celebrate how friendship defeated a bunch of ghost, brought three tribes together, and basically founded a entire nation?" I ask with disbelief as Wavy and Psycho nod their heads. They have been explaining to me how their winter holidays go back where they're all from, and the reason we all are talking about winter holidays when Feathers was complaining how hot it is in the Mojave. Or until I explain to her that it's the cold season this time around, and if she want to complain how hot it is here, then she best wait for the summer time to come around. That got the attention of Wavy and Psycho as our discussion change from the weather of the Mojave to how holidays are usually spent during this 'cold' season. And they finish explaining to me of how 'Heartwarming eve' is usually spent, and here is my response to it. "That has to be the dumbest way to make a national holiday I have ever heard, in my life. I mean I can understand how it could make three tribes into a entire nation, and even how they made a nation, but they use a magical heart to defeat a bunch of ghosts? I call bullshit." I say to them. Wavy snort at my response and give her own reply. "They're called Windigo's Meddler. And for the last time we told you it was magic combine with friendship that saved them all." I roll my eyes as I my move my legs as my back lean on the couch in my room. "Well excuse me ex-princess, you forget that I have to be a realist when I hear that a bunch of ponies call upon a magical heart to defeat a bunch of ghosts, I mean seriously if that happen here in the Mojave we would of just build a container, force those suckers in, and dump the container in a bottomless pit that no one will ever go into." my eyes turn to see Loyal coming in the room as she move by my side and lay her head on my legs, and in turn my right hand rub her helmet-less head as she purrs in my lap. Psycho decides that this subject need to be change as she speaks. "Well Meddler, what about the holidays here? How are they usually spent?" she ask, this got the attention of Feathers as she came inside the room, she left earlier since she already knows about Heartwarming eve and went to check her weapons. "Are you guys finish talking about Heartwarming eve? Honestly I can't understand you ponies sometimes, using songs and being friends to another to defeat a bunch of Windigo's." say Feathers as she lay down by the couch. "See, even Feathers agree that is bullshit." I tell Wavy, she sighs as her horn glow and Loyal helmet appear by me as I understand what she is implying. My left hands grab the helmet as I equip Loyal head to it. And while that happen Slutty magically appear by my left side, which cause me to jump a little. "Damn it Slutty! I thought I told you not to teleport by me when I'm relaxing!" I shout at her, however I can bet she's grinning under that helmet of hers. "Am I going to be punish for disobeying an order?" she ask with a sultry tone. I sigh as my head shakes. "You know what? Fuck it, everyone just gather in a circle and I'll explain as much as I know about the holidays around here, okay?" I say as Wavy and Psycho are across from me on the other couch, Feathers lay on the ground looking up to me, Loyal is laying on the couch on my right with her head on my lap, and Slutty is on my left laying her head on my shoulder and rubbing her head on my pre-war shirt. "Okay, so I don't exact remember the details, but back in the day of Pre-war era, there was this holiday name Christmas, and from what I remember from Mom stories of it, it was a holiday where we celebrate either an old fat man in a sleigh of sorts and give presents to kids, or where we celebrate about some guy getting birth on the day, I don't know all the details honestly. Anyway it was a time of giving and receiving, being good nature to everyone, and a day where peace is declare to those who call each other enemies." "So how come we haven't heard of it, better yet we haven't seen anyone getting ready for it?" ask Wavy. My eyes roll as I explain. "Well like I said, it's a Pre-war holiday, and not many people may remember it now since then, hell even back in the NCR there wasn't enough information on the holiday at all, only a few stories, traditions, and basic stuff of it." I say to her. "What were they Meddler?" ask Psycho. I lean back as my mind ponders a bit. "Well the day it started was December 25, there was the setting up of the tree, I think it was a pine tree, and that we decorate it with knickknacks. Then we sing songs about the holidays, have some sort of Christmas dinner and give gifts to other people we care about." I explain to them all. "What about the traditions?" ask Feathers. "Well beside giving gifts, the tree, and the stories of Christmas, there was also the tradition of kissing under a mistletoe, what a it is and the purpose of it I have no idea. All I do know is that it's some sort of traditions where couples abuse it much since they get kisses underneath it, and sometime it was a good prank for other people, hell even putting it under people who may like each other, but deny it. It was an unspoken rule that you had to kiss underneath it." I went on explaining. "What about the stories?" ask Wavy, my nose give a snort to her. "Wavy there isn't much to tell since I can't remember all of them, I was like what, nine when I heard about them? And even if I do remember them what is the point? I mean it's something from the Pre-war era, nothing great about it now." I say to them all, the conversation end there for a time being, or until Psycho speaks up. "Well...Why can't we bring our own version of it here now? I mean we are all close to one another, and it's close to the holiday," I notice she look at her Pip-boy to check the date, then back to us as she nod her head. "So why can't we do it here in the 38? And bring all your friends here to celebrate the holidays?" she suggest to me. My eyebrows raise at her suggestion. "Psycho do you have any idea how silly that sound? I mean honestly, do you think not only you can persuade this to the others, but to think that you can make me think that this would actually work?" I tell her, however she brings her hoof to Wavy, Loyal, and Slutty as they took their helmets off and are in a huddle. They're whispering something, and it's something I probably won't like. And my prediction came true as they turn to me with...No. I can't believe it, they're pouty facing me. NO! I must be strong! There is no way that, I think in my mind, however Wavy bit her lip as she give a whine. Must...Resist...Cuteness! my mind rage as my will is slowly crumbling down. However I fall from them all saying this line in sync in a pleading tone. "Pwease can we have a holiday celebration?" *** 3 hours later (Meddler POV) "So, tell me again how the greatest man in the Mojave Wasteland, you know the same guy that not only kick NCR out of Hoover Dam, but also killed Caser, destroy the Fiends, and also became the de facto ruler of Vegas, was defeated because four mares gave him a pleading look and tone to him?" ask Arcade as we are using the Penthouse to set up the decorations of the first Mojave Christmas in a long time. He's sitting by me as I'm banging my head on the table and giving a groan. "Shut up Arcade, it would of work on you if they were guys." I tell him as my head went up to see the progress going. We have our 'tree', honestly it's something we dig up from around in the Mojave, those desert trees, eh no one is going to notice it, or the pit we made to dig it up in the first place. We don't exactly have the materials to use decorations, so we just use those star caps I use to collect before finding out it's some sham from that Sunset Company place, honestly back then I thought it really did have something useful, like secrets to a Vault or something. Still those caps are useful for decorations. "You have to admit Meddler, they look really happy since this thing got started." tell Arcade as we both see Wavy hanging up Fiends helmets up by the doors, Psycho talking Feathers as they prepare the drinks in a large pot, Slutty hanging up Deathclaw hands as to substitute for the mistletoe's. And Loyal...Wait a minute, where is she? I have my answer as I hear her purring and rubbing up by me. "Anyway do you think the others will make it for this party?" I ask, instead of answering he turn his head as we both hear the elevator door opening, and Yes-man giving me a message. "Hey Boss! Your pals are here! And I brought the final ingredient!" Feathers turn her head to him. "Ah finally! Go ahead and put the mesquite pods in the pot and we can finish this 'eggnog' up." she say as my attention turn from those two, to the gang as they enter inside the large room. "Hey boss, what's all of this stuff here?" ask Raul, thankfully Arcade decides to keep it simple. "We are all participating a holiday from Pre-war era, it's called Christmas and we're here whether we all like it or not." However instead of not knowing what Christmas is, he is rather surprise. "Christmas? It's been ages since I had been a Christmas holiday like this, well you can count me in on this party, say what's Gilda making over there?" I answer for him. "Well it's a mixture of banana yucca fruit, broc flower, crunchy mutfruit, dandy boy apples, and finally honey mesquite pods with tons of water to mix them all up. It's a, and I quote from Feathers 'a Mojave Wasteland eggnog'. But Raul, how do you know what Christmas is?" I ask him with a surprise look on my face. "Remember boss, I'm an old man, and I remember Christmas like it was yesterday. Say you don't mind me telling the Christmas stories do you?" he ask me. "Mind? Go on ahead my man!" I reply as I lean back and see my friends talking to one another, Boone having a conversation with Boozy, Rex being head rub by Wavy as she's talking with Punchy of weapons, Mad Doctor entering a conversation with Feathers and Raul as they take a drink. ED-E just floating by looking at us all, Loyal by me, Slutty just drinking alone on the side, Grandma just entering and having some eggnog, and Yes-man off to do what he does best, being a lackey. And all of a sudden I feel like singing a song for some reason. I'm dreaming of a dusty Christmas just like the Laser Rifle gives Beams Where the neon lights the place and people listen To the Legion painful screams I'm dreaming of a sandy Christmas With every journal entry I write "May our days be crazy and bright And may all our Mojave be all nice I'm dreaming of a bright Christmas Just like the Laser Rifle gives Beams Where the neon lights the place and people listen To the Legion painful screams I'm dreaming of a sandy Christmas With every journal entry I write "May our days be crazy and bright And may all our Mojave be all nice As I finish the song, my eyes notice a Deathclaw hand over my head, and four girls around me. Wavy, Psycho, Loyal, and Slutty. I sigh. "I know what you all want." I say as they giggle and remove their helmets. I turn to each of them one by one and give them a quick kiss, however they don't feel like having a quick smooch as the hand is above me again and each girl, especially Wavy, give me about a minute kiss. I look at them all as they giggle and put their helmets back on. "You all did that on purpose did you?" I say with accusation. "Maybe." they all say at once. I shake my head and lean back as look at my friends laugh at my predicament and over all having a good time. If this is what Christmas is...Then I wouldn't mind having it another year.I think to myself as I'm surround by my closest friends I have in the Mojave Wasteland.