Alright. Bass's journal.

"Entry 1.

I completed my task to infiltrate the spider's lair... and look at that! I'm still talking like Shadow! I need to really go on a vacation that doesn't involve me being a mmmbitch on the moon. Twilight told me her next plan. She needs these crystals. What were they called again? Blood's payment? Yeah how lovely. She said that these are the strongest crystals around. Problem is... their... in... well..."

I folded up the journal finishing off the entry. "The desert." I said standing up looking around the dune wasteland.

You know... just a few hours ago I was sleeping with the love of my life. Oh Rarity made me a bunch of vest and undershirts! It's like she knows I'm going to be busy getting dirty.

[That came out... just wrong!]
<Don't tell me your a whore!>
{Guys! You don't understand me!}
[Yes we do! Your grounded young lady until you can control you sexual activities.]
{I hate you dad! Ugh!}
<Now sweetie. Don't tell me your being like that in public.>
{Okay. I'm not.} I said that time in my usual male voice.

"Bass." I heard in my ear. I pushed the button on the earpiece to hear Celestia's voice. "You need to be careful. This land hasn't been fully explored yet. Just stay in the dunes your in. They should be around there."

"Uh... You can see me?"

"We have a portal set up at the castle. It's linking you to every television set in Canterlot and all the surrounding towns!"

"What?! Where are the others!"

"Here with me. Eating popcorn and watching you."

"Not cool."

I continued walking forward. I regret wearing a black undershirt today. In fact... I regret even wearing clothes. Rarity's going to kill me when she see's the sand stains.

"I'm going to kill you!" said Rarity in my ear!

"Agh!" It scared the life out of me. "Jesus!"

"Listen Bass." said David. "There have been reports of creatures in that area. Do you understand me? We don't know what's after the Blood's payment." I remained quiet and looked at the dune behind me. I think it's moving. "Bass?"

David's POV

"Why isn't he responding?" I asked turning to watch the portal.

"AAAGGGGHHH!!!" screamed Dustin running slowly as a giant worm began to chase him. "No no no no no! Back off!" he yelled when it almost took a bite out of his coat.

"Poor guy." Hey. Tried to warn him.

'That you did love.' said Celestia in my head.

'Hope he's having fun at least. I know he likes excitement.'

'I know he will.'

The portal showed the warm coming back into view and with Dustin riding it. He had his guitar turned into a large spear and planted deep into the worm's brain.

"You like that? I think it's funny! You dig in the ground and I dig in your brain! Take me to the bloody crystal!" he continued to yell and the worm turned right and rammed into a mountain splashing it's brains everywhere.

Dustin's POV

"Oh! Yuck! I got orange worm blood all over me! Why does it feel so cold?"

"Bass." said Twilight in my ear. "I read a book that the worms have cold blood. That's how they can live so long in the desert without being harmed by temperature."

"So you basically want me to bath in this stuff? Already been done." I pulled out the spear and changed it to it's default bass appearance. The mountain the worm just head butted looked open.

"Jackpot! Torch mode!" I said turning the guitar into a torch. Yeah. I put a copy of that torch from the spider cave in my guitar. U jelly?

"Be careful." said both Vinyl and David. Well... at least I have two people that want me to come back in one piece.

[Was that a dune worm?!]
<God! When was the last time we read a Dune book?>
{We stopped after the second series of it came since Brian Herbert slaughtered the story.}
[But the original was so good! If we do go back to Earth we should read it again!]
{Yeah! Or since I'm a unicorn I'll just work on a spell to transport things here.}
<Does the crystal we're after glow red?>
[{Yeah why?}]
<No reason. Just the giant crystal ahead of us is glowing a blood red.>

I turned my attention to the ominously glowing rock.

"Hmm..." I began to scan my environment. I need to double check my surroundings.

"What are you doing?" asked Twilight.

"This is obviously a trap."

"Can't you just grab it and run?" asked Celestia. I felt a cold barrel touch the back of my head.

"Turn around slowly." said a gruff voice. I turned slowly to see Big Red.

"Hello Big Red. Honestly can you not come up with a better pony name?"

"Just use Niko."

"Ah... human name. What do you expect to gain from this Niko?"

"Not much. I just like to mess with you."

"So you followed me into a desert with human technology and all because you want to mess with me?"

"Yes."

"What did I do to you?"

"You hurt my friend."

"How could your friend be someone like Blueblood?"

"I'll tell you later. First step away from the crystal." He put the gun in my face. I turned the white half of the torch into a gun and put it against his. "Mine's bigger."

"Mine's loaded." I cocked the hammer back. "Drop it." He put the pistol down. "Now get out of here before I set off the trap in this room."

"What?" I turned and ran to the crystal. When I grabbed it I was face to face with the queen of the worms.

"Why do you want this sacred crystal brave soul?"

"To protect my friends from the Nightmare."

"Ah... the Nightmare. This crystal is the only thing keeping her away from us."

"So if I take this crystal... I kill an entire species."
[We can't do genocide can we?]
<Never. We will never do that.>

"We could help you soul." said the worm. Her face was older than the other worm we killed and her teeth weren't showing. Why do worms have so many teeth? Oh well. She did have these beautiful sky blue eyes that showed how she only wanted the best for her children. "We can help your army fight. As long as this crystal remains here though. It is connect to our spirits by this cave."

"I... uh... I can't kill an entire civilization. Alright. Looks like we got some new soldiers!"

"Thank you soul for your kindness."

I turned to see Niko still scared shit less.

"Oh your still here! Niko meet..."

"Queen Wyeth." said the worm.

"Wyeth. Isn't she grand?" He could barely move. "Oh come on. Were you not chased by a large worm on your way here as well?"

"No. I wasn't. I was actually lost."

"Ah... well. Stick with me and I'll get you home." He nodded and I put my hoof on the earpiece. "Celestia. Beam me up."

"What?" she replied.

"Bring me home."

"OH. Alright. Please wait." I turned to the queen.

"Bye Wyeth. Take care!"

"You as well traveler with no home. You are always welcome here. You and your friends. All ponies."

I gave her a smile and waved as Niko and I were sent back to the castle.

"Thanks guys." I told them. I got a hug from Vinyl. Shes always so... worried.

"I'm getting out of here!" said Niko turning around.

"Wait! Don't you want to stay and meet everyone?" I asked him while meeting him at the door. It was hard getting out of Vinyl's hug.

"Why would I do that? I hate this world anyways!"

"Your here because you died a bad death and God thinks everyone deserves a second chance. I hope you know that."

"No... I didn't know... I'm sorry." He said. "I've just been angry and... hateful and Blueblood helped me out when I needed it."

"And that's why you fought for his honor. And for that I respect you." I offered him a bro-hoof. Do you know what he did? He accepted it. Niko of all people. He calmed down and his appearance changed. He was as tall as me and had a maroon coat and bright red hair and brown eyes.

"Thanks... Bass."

"It's Dustin. But in public let's stick with the pony names okay Red?"

"Alright. See you around." He left the castle and I turned to talk with the others.

"So now we got an army or a stronger little group at least. The spiders wouldn't help us. That's for sure." I told Celestia.

"Let's ask Hindsight." said Twilight. "Sight do you see anything?"

"No." said David. "I haven't had a vision in a while now."

"Is that a bad thing?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"It's a good thing. I didn't want to tell anyone but my visions were of us all being killed. But now I don't see that. Meaning we're making progress on preventing the inevitable."

"But we're not done yet." I told him. "We need more than spider strings and giant worms to fight Nightmare and her armies."

"If what I remember is true she's going after the griffons first." said David.

"Than we bet her to it." I took a seat. "But first a shower and some tea."

"We have 7 and a half weeks left." said Luna walking in. "We need to keep moral up. I don't want you overworking yourself Bass Strings."

"Yes ma'am." I held my arms out for a hug from Vinyl and she accepted.

"So I can talk now?" she asked.

"Yes." I told her. "You could always talk."

"We haven't had some... time in a while now. Your always so busy and it's... depressing."

"I'm sorry! I don't mean to hurt you! Tomaro we go out. Okay?"

"Yeah!" She gave me a large kiss on the lips.

[Well... *sniff* love is in the air tonight.]
<Beta... I expect Dustin to be crying but not you.>
{There's nothing wrong with crying. *sniffles.*}
[I can't help it. Vinyl is just so sweet.]
<Oh no. Don't go there.>
[We've never had a love like her before.]
<If you don't stop I'll cry...>
{Alpha. It's not your fault.}
<Don't do this to me man!>
[It's not your fault.]
<WHY!> he cried in his arms.<Why is she so kind and beautiful!> Beta walked over and gave him a bro hug.
[Shh it's okay.]
{You guys are like two seals fighting over a grape.}

"Sight." I asked David. "Don't.... think to hard on the future. I'm here now and Nightmare won't destroy this world again."

"Thanks Bass. Thanks for being a good friend."

"Anytime buddy." Celestia and Luna walked over to comfort David. Both of them? Why? Oh no... the images in my head! AW NO!
[You are so immature.]
<Act your age.>
{I had most of my age locked away in a coma!}
[Then keep acting like a kid then!]
<Teenage riot!>

"So Vinyl. Where are we going?"

"We are going to... uh... I don't know. How about shopping?" Let's see. I've been paid a bit by Celestia. I don't know how much she put in my bank account though. Do I have a bank account even?

"Sure. We need to stop by the bank first and I need a shower."

"Oh of course. I need to talk to Octavia anyways."

"Alright. Meet you at the gate in ten minutes."
[Hurry up and wash off this orange shit!]
<It taste bad.>
{...}
[...You tasted it?]
<Uh... no?>