(Note: In this chapter we go through a few questlines from Far Harbor DLC. Including The Great Hunt, where the hero gains rep by defeating a legendary creature on the shore. Pay attention to what Blitz finds, it'll come in handy later. We're also going to learn a very important secret about Capper.)

Chapter 8 The Great Treasure Hunt

"Listen up y'all!" yelled a certain somepony who'd caused us problems once before. Allen. "Aviary wants to keep us behind her Hull, and we're sitting ducks. Well I've had it. Tonight, I'm gathering a team and I'm putting those Children of Arcana out of business. Who's with me?" there were a few hurrahs but nothing substantial. Allen climbed down from his position on the bar counter.

Capper and I sat at our own little booth, where we enjoyed some scotch and hard cider. You know who had which. "Hey," I poked him, "you know we're being watched?"

"By who?" Capper looked around, a little bit buzzed.

"That old stallion in the corner."

"Why don't you go talk to him?" Capper's head bobbed back and he took another drink.

I shoved my chair back and walked over to the rascal who was spying on us. "Regular old Han Solo over here." I gritted my teeth.

"I don't know about much of that, but I hear talk of ponies wantin' to run you out of town," said the old seabag.

"So? Not many ponies welcoming back where I come from either," I told him.

"Right, but this here is different. They run you out of here, you either A: don't get your girl and fail your quest or B: you're stuck on the opposite side of the gate with no way off even if you did find her. Either way you're walking the plank." he chuckled and patted his belly.

"How do you know all that?" I narrowed my eyes, half a mind to shoot him right here and now.

"Doesn't matter, but word does get around fast." he explained. "But I've got a way you can gain everypony's respect. Even meet the feller that'll bring you straight to where you need to go."

"How do I do that?" I sat down, listening.

"There's a legend around here," he lifted a hoof and waved it around to indicate the bar and the town, "'Bout a creature lurking the shores. He knocks ships coming in down, sinking 'em."

"Okay, and why's that matter?" I was getting sick of this. My trigger hoof was just itching to pull it.

"Kuz, I heard you're a treasure hunter, and he's got treasure to spare. You kill him and bring back the booty, you're homefree." the old stallion sat forward and laughed his head off, and I could see he was missing some teeth. One was gold.

"Alright. Where do I find him?"

"I'll mark your map, if you'll let me." he said, reaching out. I nodded.

None of this was on Stable-Tech's maps, but they probably hadn't considered there'd be survivors here. At least, not that I know of. Time to take this new information back to my cat friend, but when I found him, he was passed out. "Alright, I'm sure they have an inn around here somewhere," I said, huffing when I lifted my friend and put him on my back, carrying him out the door. I could still hear the old stallion's chuckles as we left.

Capper was stumbling and wobbling to and fro that morning, hungover off his ass and wearing a pair of sunglasses he had yet again managed to pull out of his tailhole. I decided to brew a cup of coffee, and pouring it in a mug I gave it to Capper. He frowned at me but then took the warm drink and sipped it gingerly.

Capper removed his glasses, "Alright, ready for another adventure amigo?"

We were off. Down by the docks we found a stone staircase leading to the beach. I took them two at a time, and even though Capper only took it one at a time and at a slink, he still managed to get there ahead of me.

Fog shrouded everything, blanketing us in darkness. I could barely make out where we were but there was no going back now. We apparently had to impress this Longfellow guy. I just hoped he wasn't old. Dealing with too much of that right about now. But here we were, and I could see the silhouettes of ships on the shoreline. That's when we noticed it. A strange red beacon in the mist. There were two of them, like eyes watching us from afar.

"I think we found it Capper." I told him quietly…

My little pony, My little pony~!

Do horses get songs stuck in their heads? I would say, yeah, all the time, and the only place any of us could think that it came from was Faust herself. Well oh my god, Tina, go to bed. I didn't much believe in Faust myself. If she had done all this, the Fallout, to all of us, then how could she be good let alone real?

The monster screamed, and came running for us. It had lured us into its garden and now it was ready to kill. We were due to be its next victim, but I wasn't about to go down without a fight. I drew my shotgun, it reminding me of something, but I couldn't think quite what. I shot it a few times, then pumped it. "Time to eat lead," I told it.

It fell back, circling around to strike again. I knew I had it right where I wanted it. I think Capper was still drunk, because he blew it. He ran straight for it, kitty claws bared and ready to scratch. The creature ran out and slashed at him, and he went flying. I think he was down to his eighth life now. I ran past him, ready to defend and the Red Death punched me with one of its poker little arms. I cried out in pain and fell on my back.

"Ok, you asked for it." I pulled out a small laser pistol, one for which I barely had any ammo for. I shot the monster and it screamed. I kept shooting until there was nothing left and the charge fell to zero. The monster was on the ground, squirming but I think that was its post death wiggle. It was brain signals, trying to reanimate the corpse, but there was nothing left so it subsided and I had won.

There was a stomping of hooves then, and I turn around with my unloaded weapon aimed and pointed it at the guy stepping from the fog. "Well done," he said in a cracking old stallion voice. Oh, great! "I didn't think anypony could do it! Kill the beast that's been haunting these shores for generation. But you win the ticket." he smiled at me from within his dark trenchcoat and black beanie. I saw his mane was white so he must be credible but I didn't believe that for a second. I shook his hoof.

"I'm Blitz, you must be this Longfellow I keep hearing about."

"My, word does get around fast." he chuckled, then pulled out a flask and took a swig of it.

"You carry around a flask?" I asked him.

"You don't?" he exploded in a barrel of laughter. "It's seaside brandy. I like to add it to my Pep."

"Your pep? Like in your step?" I squinted at him, trying to understand. He wasn't making much sense.

"No, no, no!" he shook, "I mean Pep, the Pony's Energizing Potion. It's a soda, it's an energy drink! Pep in your step, Vim and Vigor in your day!" he sounded like a comercial, but then the disclaimer started. "Due to be bought out by Sparkle-Cola but the war started before that could happen."

"So you put alcohol in your soda?" I rose a brow.

"Yes! It keeps the radiation away! You do realize Pep heals 50% more than Sparkle-Cola? It was originally a health tonic."

"Great, so I'm dealing with a crazy."

"I'm not crazy, and it looks like you two need my help." he leaned to the side to look around me, seeing the still drunk cat trying to land on his feet. He still hadn't picked himself off the ground, and he was acting like he thought the Red Death was still alive. Well it wasn't.

Longfellow took us back to his cabin, where my Pip-Buck assured me it was a location. Wow. Ponies must really love talking about this guy.

"You two wanna get to Arcadia hmm?" he put his lips together in thought as he poured something for Capper. It was a Pep, without the alcohol. "This'll get ya back on yer feet." he reassured Capper.

"Thank ya, I didn't know what I was gonna do."

"You always know what to do," I bumped him with my elbow.

"No, not about my feet, cats always land on their feet. I meant the alcohol. I feel a hell of a lot better." he lifted his glass in a toast.

"I'll stick with good ol' Sparkle-Cola," I lifted my own glass and tapped it against his.

"Good for you," said Longfellow with such enthusiasm. "Now, don't you go forgettin' yer treasure." he told us.

"Right, the treasure," I nodded.

I went digging in the guts of the Red Death. There it was. It was a necklace of unknown and unnatural design. It was blue, like the brightest diamond. There were gold coils twisting around, and protecting it in the center. It was breathtaking and so beautiful. It reminded me of the Elements of Harmony, but there was no way. My Pip-Buck labelled it the Moon Stone. Wow…

"You fancy yer'self a treasure." Longfellow was on his hind legs just to put his forehooves on his hips. He was cracking a smile like a wip.

It was time to go and I slammed my drink down to show how serious I was. If I didn't know any better, I'd say Capper was getting chummy with the creep. I dragged him by the ear where he commenced to say ow over and over again.

"So the road to Arcadia goes through a creepy forest covered in fog?" I asked Longfellow.

"Pretty much. But you have to keep an eye out and an ear peeled. There could be any number of monsters lurking in the mist." he winked at me.

I knew how to keep my pistol at the ready. Capper had a hand on my back as we carefully made our way over a felled tree. We were on a broken down back road, the asphalt cracked. The sky was pitch black, no stars in sight. I don't think I'd ever seen such an endless night. Like Luna herself had arisen from the dead and locked us in eternal slumber.

A twig cracked, but it hadn't been any of us. We snapped to, and looked about to see where it had come from. There was the shape of a pony across the way, hiding in the bushes, but I didn't think he even realized we were here. I was the best at Stealth Mode, but I suppose crawling through the trees would hinder anypony.

"What's that?" I whispered to the old stallion.

"Trapper. They're like the raiders where you come from but weathered and battle hardened against the tough facade of this island." he explained.

"We should keep it down," Capper had a finger on his lips.

"Who's there?" asked the Trapper. In a few seconds a gust of wind kicked up, "Huh, must've been the wind." how cliche.

We moved forward, trying to put the Trapper behind us, but then my horseshoe caught on something and my EFS read [CAUTION]. "Shit," I cursed as it switched to danger. I was about to get up when somepony pounced on me. He was pressing against me, his arms around my neck and his crotch against my hole. I grunted and I felt his breath on my neck. I was getting excited! "Hey get off me shitface!" I snapped and punched him in the throat. He choked and fell off me. When I turned around he was dead.

"I call rape," said Capper and we moved on.

Acadia was a factory like building. It was multilayered and there was a big metal staircase leading up to it. I think I saw that it led downstairs to subterranean levels. I would say there wasn't a Stable right here but we had found one in DDC. But there was no way they would hide 2. There was only one secret Stable. Or were there?

"This is where I'm gonna have ta leave you fella's." said Longfellow. He turned and left.

I opened the door. Inside it was brightly lit from overhead lights. They buzzed yellow. A mare turned around and shot us a look. "What in Equestria are you doing here?" she snapped. "There are no islanders allowed in here."

"Now Chaser, there's no need for that," came a face that looked very familiar. "Leave the sexual harassment to me, thanks."

Capper put a paw on his face, "Oh man, here we go again."

The cat I assumed to be Achilles now that I'd seen him narrowed his eyes at Capper, "I have seen the world, but it keeps washing right back up on my feet."

"Here comes the "I have seen the world" speech." Capper slid his paw down his face to make it look like he was frowning.

Still with eyes narrowed, Achilles' smile was like the moon, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Achilles, I told you not to start a second Institute!" Capper had thrown his hands up.

"Second Institute? Second Institute! You're crazy with a capital C, my friend." Achilles looked pissed now.

"What is going on here?" I interrupted. "Capper who is this and why does he look like you with purple hair and green eyes?"

"We look nothing alike my friend," Achilles said in that smug sarcastic tone.

"Yeh, I can kinda see it," Capper agreed.

"Want me to get rid of them?" asked Chaser.

"No, why don't we play this one out, see if the little kitten won't screw this one up again." Achilles snickered and turned around.

"Mess it up?" Capper pointed, "You're the one who likes to eat smoked cats you get from a taco truck!"

"That's not real buddy," he kept walking away. "That's a simulation, all in your head. I turned you away because you thought I was crazy for making us immortal."

"I'm really starting to get the feeling we should throw them out the door," said Chaser in that monotone voice of hers.

"What do you mean immortal?" I asked, looking between the two of them. "Capper, mind telling me what the heck is going on?" my voice came out in a harsh whisper.

"Why don't we come take a look at the Sanitorium." said Achilles. "It's not as clean as it sounds."

"Don't I know it, baby," Capper snapped his fingers.

"Don't back me up," said Achilles.

That's when we entered a rather large computer room. Computers spanned the length of the walls, and it was circular, like an observatory. I noticed the telescope right away. "Okay, what is this place?"

"This my friend is an Observatory. And yes I speak Ponish," he pointed at Capper who was a little Latino.

"What's it for?" I asked.

Achilles turned to me, "It's my simulator. I keep Arcadia safe and I monitor our frenemies, the Children of Arcana."

"Frenemies?" I lifted a brow in skepticism.

"Well, we do have a sort of agreement not to detonate our defoggers." Achilles held up his index finger.

"Defoggers?" I questioned, looking to the side in concern, my pupils contracting.

"They are what keep this Island safe from the radiation." Achilles told us, using a paw to elaborate. "Pow right in the kisser, because those babies are a one way ticket to pound town. You heard me right, if they go off, the whole island will be filled with deadly arcana, and everypony's going down. Except the synths, unless they have some sort of EMP."

"What about everypony down at the docks? Or the Children?" I asked in shock.

"That's who we're trying to protect, they'll all die. The Children? Well they'll just think they're going to some sort of magical heaven or something, where Celestia and Luna and the Elements of Harmony are still abound. Which they're not, they're dead and buried in their underground Stables."

"You're a bit crazy, as usual old bat," said Capper who slapped his brother on the back.

"I get it," said Achilles sarcastically, "You're from Double Diamond City, the baseball arena."

I facehoofed, "Okay so what do we do about it?"

"Well first, why don't we start with what you're doing here? You have trespassed you know."

"Me? Trespass?" Capper put a paw on his heart, "No, no baby, you misunderstand. I hustle, I swindle, but I don't trespass."

"No one is buying it so cut the crap!" Achilles snapped, almost nearly sounding super high pitched.

"We're here looking for Mist Haze." I said.

"Our little Ice Queen?" asked Achilles, "Once Upon a Time, she was letting her old life go. The cold never bothered her anyway."

"What?" I gasped, dragging a hoof down my face.

"Can we talk to her?"

"Sure, she's downstairs with her new friend, Swan Savior." he winked.

Chaser stepped up to bat, "Alright, let me show you to the stairs." she still had that monotone voice.

We were in our room and my Pip-Buck was reading 9:00PM so it was night. Capper was removing his trenchcoat and he only had on pants underneath, until he removed those as well. In just boxers, he was a sexy kitty. It was starting to turn me on until I remembered the conversation with Achilles from earlier. "So what did that conversation with your brother really mean? Is he a synth?"

From out of his nether regions yet again, Capper was putting on a silk bathrobe. He looked up at me with a pained look on his face and he put a finger in his mouth, "Well yes. We um…both are."

I took a step back, my eyes widening in shock, "What?! Why didn't you tell me?"

Capper looked down at the floor, "Because I thought you'd react like this. Do you…hate me?"

I sat down on my haunches to take this in. "No…" I finally said. "Can you just explain this to me? How did you get like this?"

"Pre-War…"

Capper Dapperpaws

Pre-War: 29 Years Before The Megaspells

We were on an airship heading toward Zebricka. Achilles and I were Colonels in the Royal Guard. On the front lines, we were in the battle to keep the zebras out of Equestria. They just kept coming! We took our places, prepared to jump. We were wearing parachutes. Jumping, we sailed through the air, just like on old diving trips off of Neighagra Falls. Now we were here.

I pulled the cord, unleashing my sail. I felt the soft burst then I was floating peacefully, a leaf in the breeze. Don't worry though, because cats land on their feet. My tail as my guide, I kept it pointed straight up. We were the best foot soldiers for this job because of our accuracy. We landed in a small forest of strange jungle trees I'd never seen before. It was worse than the Everfree forest. Did ponies not keep their nature in check here?

That's when we got in a sticky situation. Back to back with my brother, there were zebras coming out of the trees. There were so many of them, I didn't know what was tree and what was zebra. I didn't know what to do. That is, not until my brother darted off, calling, "Follow me!" So I did. There was an opening in the flanks that only he could've seen from his perspective. We just kept going. Then we found it!

It was glorious. Standing tall and proud between two desert sand dunes was a huge temple. There was a sun spiralling around the top spire, carved into the stone. It was like it was made of sand, coming straight from its depths, but made of a different type of stone, something slightly darker. "Should we…should we go inside?" I asked Achilles.

"I think that might be a good idea, don't you?" Achilles smart cracked me. Just his way of agreeing and checking, how we always did.

We opened the doors. There was no way anypony would be able to find this place. It was well hidden and quite a coincidence to run into. It looked ancient from what we saw inside. It had skylights in here, bathing the room in soft sunlight and lit shadows. The floor was tilted, like it was buried at a weird angle or something.

"Look at that," said Achilles. He ran over to a smallish pedestal, and it seemed to have a pressure plate on top. He pushed it with a sly look, like activating a time machine or something.

There it was, the whole wall coming off in a steam of hydraulics. It had been built by ponykind, but what would they be doing all the way out here? There were zebra gliffs all over the place, like we'd ever been friends or something. There was an elevator inside the wall.

I pressed the button to take us down, Achilles smiling the whole time like he had something to prove. The doors came open and a voice said, "Welcome to the Atrium."

"Holy shit." I breathed. "What is that?" I pointed to a pod like device, something with a control board attached by wires.

Achilles went over to it and pressed it. A screen lit up explaining that it was a synthesizer. It created an artificial body for its occupant and transferred its mind to the device. From there it could live in longevity. "Oh boy!" we glanced at each other. "We have to tell Princess Twilight!"

OOO

Taking a sky cruiser, we returned to Canterlot. We landed in port and ran the stairs to make it to the throne room. We entered the antechamber and the doors closed shut behind us with a loud bang. Celestia stood with her head bowed at us, "Colonels." she looked at us over her tall muzzle, and we felt like shrimps in her sight.

"Majesty," I bowed with a flourish. Winking I pulled out a handy glass of chardene. "For you." she giggled.

"You'll never believe what we found, whoop-de-doo." said Achilles, waving a flag in tiny circles.

"And what would that be young Colonel," said Luna. As though cats didn't live forever. We practically had 9 lives!

"We found a secret temple with ancient technology meant to synthesize ponies into beings with immortality." I did finger guns.

Celestia and Luna glanced at each other. "Sister, could it be?"

"No, it's been buried for so long!"

"What. What are we talkin' about here?" I glanced between them, my cute sharp teeth over my lips in confusion.

"Looks like we will have to tell them," said Luna with worry to her sister.

"Dear children," she said to my brother and I. "Long ago there was a war much like this one. My sister and I, well we were forced to open what was called the Institute. We used arcane magicks like beyond anything anypony had ever seen at that time."

"We weren't always alicorns," said Luna. "But with the help of a great friend, Starswirl the Bearded himself, we created what was known as the first synth."

"A prototype if you might imagine it." Celestia laughed. "But we had one goal. To deliver a message and become the protectors of Equestria."

"We were meant to create a land of kindness, friendship and harmony." Luna sounded sad.

"But the only way to do that was become synths ourselves." said Celestia.

"Wait." I pointed between the two of them for effect, "You mean to tell me you swindled Equestria?"

"Well when you put it like that it doesn't sound so good," Luna sounded scared and guilty.

"No, my dear." Celestia frowned, "We saved it. But now we find ourselves here. Again."

"We repeated the mistakes of the past," sighed Luna. "We let everypony down."

"But there is a way to fix it."

"Sister we couldn't."

"We did it for Twilight."

"Wait," Achilles held up his paws. "What are you saying? You're saying Twilight is a synth too? A bucking Biotic?"

"Yes, in a way," Celestia narrowed her eyes. "We want you to use the machine, and become synths too."

"So this is how you made her into an Alicorn?" I asked, "You just magicked her and poof?"

"Yes," Luna nodded for the seemingly umpteenth time.

"I suppose that makes sense, but we aren't ponies." I said.

Achilles grabbed me, "Private bro talk," he hissed. "Capper, are you crazy? You want us to become Biotics?"

"Yes, why not? We helped the ponies, the friends. Now we have to help future ponies."

"Fine. Fine!" Achilles threw up his hands. Turning back to the princesses he said, "We'll do it!"

"Wonderful," said Celestia the way she always did.

OOO

Messengers for Equestria. What a strange way to become immortal. "But what will this do to us?" I asked Celestia.

"You mean the alicorn part?" she asked with a knowing smile, putting another electrode on my head. "Don't worry about it. You may gain powers, you may not. You'll be your same old self."

"That's crazy."

"Yes, it is a little bit." said Luna with her own dark smile, like Nightmare Moon returned. She did not know how to smile.

We let them strap us in and when Celestia turned on the machine on the big green button, it was like hitting a TTD. The doors closed and I felt a powerful burst of magic hit my brain like electricity. Celestia laughed a little outside, like an evil scientist, but she was a good alicorn right? I passed out from the pain.

When I next awakened I saw Achilles outside my pod. He had his arms crossed and he was smiling. "Looks like I win."

"What did you win?" I asked, rubbing my temples.

"I woke up first bro."

"Jeez." I rolled my eyes. "Where are we? Where are the sisters?"

"I'm not sure, it's only been a few minutes." Achilles walked in a pace.

"Oh, a few minutes, like when we were born!" I threw up my hands. "Well come on, we have to find out what's going on. This place doesn't look like an old buried temple. It actually looks refined and technological."

We went upstairs then, lights were flickering and broken, tables flipped over, papers everywhere. Nothing worked and I even saw a few scorch marks in places. No this definitely wasn't Zebricka. There was a room labelled Overseer's office. It sounded like a Stable-Tech thing to say. But it wasn't. I saw Ministry posters everywhere as soon as we entered the room. There was a terminal.

On the screen it read Note From Luna and a play button. "She recorded a message." Achilles stated the obvious.

I played it.

"By now, if you are listening to this, I am long dead or I would be here in person to say it myself. Capper Dapperpaws, Achilles Heel. You are hearing this because there was a problem with the synthesizers. We had to move you for your safety. The procedure worked, but on what scale we do not know. You are now synths. I have left for you repair kits to keep yourselves in working order. I will leave you with Ministry instructions based on Stable-Tech flyers. Princess Twilight and Spike the Dragon will now read to you."

"Are you in Harmony?" Came Twilight's voice.

"H: Helpful. Work together to keep each other safe.

A: Artful. In the bad bad wasteland you must be resourceful and stockpile plenty of useful items."

Spike's voice, "R: Ready? Are you ready for anything? I came up with that, heh." he laughed.

"M: Magic. Magic is your friend. Your veins now run on it. Arcana is like your stempack. I have prepared a few for you.

O: Organized. Finding a team will keep you alive."

Spike came on, "N: Naughty. Hehe, it is time to repopulate E…no? O-okay, I'll get off now."

"Y: Yikes! Incoming," a few alarms began going off in the recording, "We don't have much time left. Just remember duck and cover. But not really!"

"And this is Pinky Pie! Remember, I'm always watching. I'LL NEVER DIE! I have a sixth sense and I know you have magic. Use it! BYEEE!"

The recording ended in screaming. We had magic? "That's crazy talk soldier!" Achilles yelled and slapped my shoulder. "Ow." I rubbed it.

The date on the terminal read 10/27/2177. It was 100 years after the megaspells according to the timestamp on the recording. 10/27/2077. We had been in stasis for a hundred years! Everypony we knew were dead! Faust. "What do we do now?" I asked…

After that we were together for awhile, but we drove each other crazy. So we parted ways. Achilles for a strange little island off of Broncston's south coast, and me for well. Double Diamond City. There was some intrigue there. I heard there was a stockpile of Harmony kits. The ones Twilight Sparkle concocted. I didn't know what was there, but I knew one day I would have to find it. That was the day I met Perkins and became a detective. That case had been buried in my unsolved mysteries for a long time.

Ravager Blitzfire

Present Time: 207 Years After the Incident of Stable 14

It was quite the story, one I hadn't expected. I don't know, seemed a bit sad for this hustler. Might be just as sad as mine. Seems like we'd both lost something. I'd lost Nexus and he'd lost Achilles. But perhaps we could both stand to gain something from this escapade. I had been awake all night thinking about it. We had to talk to Mist Haze as soon as possible. I got up early, letting Capper sleep.

Heading downstairs, I made my way quietly so nopony would hear me, not even Chaser. Colt was she a downer. I got through undetected into a work area. Ponies were busy working on fixing up walls or painting or at workbenches. Meanwhile, I found my mare in a back corner, cleaning up a pile of rubble.

"Gotta keep repairs going or Arcadia comes tumbling down," she was muttering to herself.

"'Scuse me, got a minute?" I asked her.

She looked up at me from under a pair of glasses. Adjusting them she said, "Sure, what's up?"

"What do you know about Achilles?" jump straight to the point, sure Blitzy.

She backed up a couple of hoof steps, groaning and looking like she had stage fright, "Ummm, mmrphh…Did anypony um f-follow you here?" she questioned me.

"No." I said surely.

"Good. Then I guess it's safe to tell you, outsider." she looked around suspiciously. "I was called here by a radio broadcast. But not just any old radio broadcast. I wound up at the Children of Arcana's bunker the moment I got here."

"That's weird, Achilles told me they hate synths, and pretty much anypony else for that matter."

"Yeah, funny thing about it aint it? Well here's my theory. After they ran me out and I got here, I met Achilles. His voice is exactly the same as the one that called me here. Now why would he tell me to go there? Something's not right. Either Arcana has a mole or Achilles has something else going on."

"Sounds like it." I was stroking my muzzle.

"Would you be willing…to um help me find out what?" asked Mist.

"Sure but what do I need to do?"

She glanced over my shoulder. "Chaser's coming! You need to talk to Achilles about them."

"Talk to him about what?" asked the monotone as ever Chaser.

"Nothing much, not that it would concern you." I shot as I moved my way past her to the stairs.

Later, with Capper, we approached his brother. "Achilles, I have a few questions I need to ask you."

"Get on with it then, I don't have all day," Achilles rolled his luminous purple eyes.

"Do you know anything about the Children of Arcana you're not letting on, or why you sent Mist Haze down there?"

Achilles put a hand on his chin, "Not that I know of. Interesting, now why would I do that?" he turned around and sat at a computer. Capper and I crowded behind him.

"Whatcha workin' with?" Capper cracked his knuckles.

"State of the art synth tech. I've stored my memories on this database."

"Why the hell would you do that?" Capper roared.

"So perves like you wouldn't go pokin' around." Achilles rolled his eyes. "Ah, here we are. Interesting…" he tapped a few keys but the computer only gave him error after error. File not found. Oh colt.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Some of the data seems to be corrupt. I can't access it."

"Synth amnesia," Capper rolled his eyes, "Now ya see why you don't go uploading jiz."

Achilles mocked him, "Now ya seh why yah don' go uplooding shih. Get a grip on yourself. You're acting like Wolf. I'm gonna see if I can't track this bad boy. Seems to be some sort of virus or encryption."

Achilles tip tappity away but nothing came of it. I shoved him aside on his spinny rolly chair, "Let me at it, I'm good with a computer." I set my hooves on the smallish keys, meant for paws and not these. Whatever. "Work with me bad boy. I know you can." I sweet talked it, "I'm not familiar, I get it. But we can work together."

"What's he getting at?" Achilles shot to his brother.

"I don't know, I've never seen him work on a computer before."

The code da-dinged and I was in. "The source is coming from the Children of Arcana bunker, an old Royal Navy ship."

"Oh boy." said Achilles.

"What oh boy?" I looked at him. He was rubbing his head.

"That's their main base of operations, their main HQ. It's gonna take a genius plan to get into there."

"Luckily for you I've got one!" came a voice over the intercom.

"Joosh, not now please." Achilles put a hand on his forehead.

"Yes now please. I'm your head scientist."

"You really thought that job was real?"

"Well it looked like you needed help setting this place up now didn't you?"

"Why did I ever think it was a good idea to download your software?" asked Achilles into the air, "Fine! We'll do your stupid plan."

"That's more like it," smiled the white pony behind the glass wall in a small lab I'd just noticed. "Now, the only way in is if you complete one of their island trials. I have just discovered the location of their Mother of Magic idol. It's in a heavily irradiated location and the only way to find it is to enter the Forbidden Forest."

"Forbidden Forest?!" Achilles jumped up. "But that's crazy, it'll kill him!"

"Not if he swindles some Arcana gear first," said Capper with a finger raised and a mission to boot.

"How do you know what that is?" asked his brother.

"I've dealt with some Arcana kids myself in the day. Over in Megaton, yeah. They have some gear meant to keep you alive during exposure, but it'll bring you down a vision quest."

"Vision quest?" I rose a brow. "You want me to get high off of radiation?"

"Sounds like a great plan, want some Psycho to go with it?" asked Joosh from the booth.

"I'm not a big fan of chems." I said, shivering as I remembered the Sight I'd ridden with Mama Madmare. But hey, it hadn't been so bad, maybe just one more time. "I suppose it'll be ok."

"You're crazy, but I guess it looks like I'm mission control for yet another crazy Capper mission." said Achilles, taking his place on a large chair with a headset.

"What's that?" asked the cat.

"I'll log into my servers while you're out scouting. I can chat with you from here, just get the headsets from Chaser." I noticed Chaser had joined Joosh in the booth.

"So now you're plugging your head into computers."

"I've done a hell of a lot worse than that."

"You were a different tomcat when we last parted ways."

"So were you."

The path was cold, foggy and blue colored. The further in we got, the thicker the fog got and the groggier I was. We needed to find that Arcana gear and fast, my Geiger Counter was exploding and I was losing my mind. I heard hoof steps in the underbrush, and my EFS picked up our targets. They were labelled as neutral. I approached with Capper on my tail.

I guess I could try to take the passive way out and persuade them to help us. Capper could sweet talk a kettle. So I tried. "Hello friends, I'm here to inquire about entrance to your Sanctuary."

There were murmurings from the hooded figures and I got weird vibes from them, including flashbacks to the Circle of Ash and his ashlings. "Come forward initiate. I presume you'd be liking some robes?"

"That'd be great!" I felt and sounded like a foal in a candy store.

"Sorry pal, but we don't sell to strangers." said one mare.

"Yeah, who are you to think we are mere stragglers in the Fog? Mother has given us salvation and I can already see you've chosen your path nightcrawler."

"I hope that's not another type of Cumberland special." I groaned.

Shots rang out, laser pistol ammo, and Capper came in shooting like madman. The Children of Arcana went down like bowling pins, but one fled the group and began to run. "Capper, get him! If he runs, he might tell somepony we're coming!"

"Don't give away the plan," hissed Capper as he fired after the Child of Arcana, but he was gone into the gloom.

"At least we've got these." I started picking at the robes of a corpse, stripping him and putting it on. My Pip-Buck informed me of a new effect: Radiation Friendly: +35 Rad Intake and Arcana Filter. That's when I went from groggy to cheery. "Whoa, Capper, this is weird, put it on!"

"No thanks amigo, you look creepy as hell."

"I think I'm gonna go into the Fog now." I giggled and stumbled off.

"Wait!" Capper called but his shadow had disappeared behind me. That sexy boi.

The woods were crackly and I could've sworn I literally could see static like on an old TV. Buzz buzz went the Fog and my ears were pricked and tuned in. I had never felt like this, one moment floating on air the next gliding over rocks and waste. Mer…I had to go to the bathroom, but I think I should hold it for a long time. I was sleepy, but fully energized at the same time. Was I dying?

No…

Came the voice of the most heavenly mare I'd ever heard. She was beautiful, even if I couldn't see her. I'm so fucking baked. "What was that? Oh, Faust."

What? My sister? Oh, she is not here right now my Child. Oh how you've been rejected so. That faithless Goddess has left you high and dry.

"Faust wouldn't do that silly, and who are you and how are you talking to me?"

I am Arcana, Mother of Magic. I am here to guide you to salvation, and your Sanctuary. Her voice was a harp.

"I'll take 3 please," I told her.

I've never heard that one before, but you may. Now follow my voice, don't let me fade away or you will be destined to fall out here. I see great potential in you my Trojan Horse, you mustn't fail.

"I won't!" I got up and shot off in a quick gallop. Everything became all shaky and wobbly and the world became a bunch of different hues of blue and green and yellow and misty. I do not think I should've gotten up that fast but I was feeling it, feeling good, and I had to keep going, there was no turning back now. I ran like my life depended on it and maybe it did.

I was beginning to hear things, strange things. Big things chasing after me in the night, the stars up above dancing my funeral march. I was frightened, I was moving, my heart was pounding. That's all I was, a blur and a shadow.

I came to a clearing and time seemed to slow down. I was frozen but moving at the same time. In the center of this clearing was a pool, crystal clear black liquid drizzling inside. I stepped toward it and touched it gingerly. It was soft and cool, and it felt warm and healing. I needed to be in it. I looked up and saw a figure, a black shape. It had arms and legs and it was bathing in the pool.

He was naked, I could see his dong hanging out. I stepped toward him, licking my lips. I wanted him, I felt myself springing up to greet him.

That's it. Join me. Join with me! I will show you the light. Glorious light…

Disclaimer: Mature content.

I found myself pressed against this figure in the mud, it was in every pore and it pressed us closer together. He smiled and ran his tongue along his pointed teeth. I shivered in ecstasy, feeling sharp buzzing running through my veins. I didn't pay attention to the Geiger Counter now, I only let this being strip me. It was heavenly, feeling his hands run along my body. He caressed me in a way nopony had ever done before. I felt lifted and cared about. My spirits were raised when he drew me to his mouth. We kissed and my dong rubbed against his thigh. I felt him mutter against me, shivering.

His hand moved downward and suddenly his was on mine. He was stroking us off together. I moaned in pure bliss, begging for more but my voice was quieted. He laid me down in the pool, and I felt submissive. I never felt this way but he enticed me to it. I lay myself bare for him, everything but dignity removed. He centered his dick on my tailhole and I moaned loud when he pressed it in.

"Fuck, yes!" I gasped and he smiled, letting himself enter me. I felt good, so good and tripping. Was this even real? I couldn't be sure but I didn't want it to end. I lifted my pony legs up, holding them at the joints and careful not to hit him in the head.

"Do you like it my Child?" he asked me in a sly voice. It was somehow familiar but my head was beating to the time of his pound.

"Yesss…gah!" I spat in godly protest. He shoved it all the way in, balls deep if you can picture it the way I could. Colors flashed, all around me my eyes were floating in a sea of wonderland and orgasm and happiness. I saw myself throbbing, my rod, and out came the white stuff. "Mmmmerrr," I purred for him, heart racing in every which direction. I had been filled with adrenaline but now I knew I was screwed, figuratively and literally. I wasn't high anymore. What had happened? What had I done?

The cat popped out.

"Holy fucking shit Ravager Blitzfire!" gasped Capper as he came out of the woods. He was buckling his pants and adjusting his trenchcoat.

I had just finished wiping cum and mud off my vest and stuff. "We did that right?" I blushed at him.

He leaned down and touched my cheeks, "Yes we did. I guess this means you still love me?"

"Yeah, I never stopped." I smiled.

"Good, kuz I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." he purred. "Guess what I found?"

"What's that?"

"I think all the horseplay paid off, because somepony got himself a treasure," Capper waggled a statuette in my face. The Mother of Magic idol!

"By Faust, look at that!" I snatched it from his paws. "She spoke to me you know, but I never thought she'd be so ugly."

"Now that's just offensive," said Capper. "No, just kidding. She's like that because radiation turned her into a ghoul."

"So these buggers worship literal arcana burst?" I rose a brow. "I thought they were crazy enough to worship unusable magical residue, but not actual fucking radiation. Don't they know that could kill them?"

"You'd think so, but a bomb the size of Fat Pony went off in Megaton 50 years ago. Killed all of them and the townsfolk, and nopony batted an eye. The Children of Arcana are obviously still at large."

"Well fuck me."

"Already did." Capper winked and gave me a peck.

"Shove it."

We bantered and walked like that for a few hours.

Imagine the biggest boat you can think of and amplify that times ten. This was the U.S.S. Chrysalis Cruiser, Celestia's First Class Navy Battleship. It was the size of two cities. Make that three and five seasons. We walked to the entrance, old sanitizing stands run down and useless like busted streetlamps at intervals on the driveway. It was in a little well tended grove, Zen Garden I assume. There were ponies at the gates, a tall fellow with a golden robe on and two short ones with the standard black.

"Why hello there traveller." spoke the tall one. "My name is Priest Sundance. Welcome to Sanctuary. What is your business here?" he rose his eyebrows. That kinda guy hm?

I moved forward, reaching into my vest and prepared to withdraw the idol, when about 10 unseen guns focused directly on me. "Steady now," said Sundance.

I snickered nervously, shoulders shaking, "Wouldn't dream of any funny business," my voice cracked. That's when I felt warm liquid drizzle down my crotch and onto my back legs. "Well buck."

"Hey, shortstop," Capper nudged me with an amused chortle, "you peed yourself."

"I've had to go since Arcadia," I said through gritted teeth angrily until I finally stopped pissing on the lawn like a dog. "And I got scared."

"I think it's cute." Capper shrugged.

"Into it?" I blushed and shot the smile back.

"What is that you have there," Sundance's eyes widened. "We have been searching for that for ages! Come Child, come! You must be welcomed into our inner sanctum at once!"

I guess seeing somepony piss themselves was something they saw every day with so much radiation worship.

(So, Capper's a synth! So's Twi and Celestia and-oh you get it. Pretty clever way to create the baseline for the Fallout 4 plot, huh? No wonder they're all immortal beings! Anyway, just want to say his flashback scene is one of my favorite things ever written. Especially the recording at the end. I love Spike XD and "Y: Yikes!" Gets me every time. Are you in Harmony?

Brohoof /)