"A gathering for our... time is but a journey for the time to see."

Day 32: The Desert in front of the lab.

I had left the lab and looked to crow. "Crow...do me this favour... It will take a few days to get back to where I need to go. Go to the Buffalo then go to Misty apartments and gather those you can and bring them to the reaper Feilds... I need an army... The Enclave force might have some of their troops leave to deal with the rest of Equestria... But what they did to me, my friends... I want them to feel pain..." The Changeling nodded and looked towards the way. "I shall do this for you, my friend... A battle to save your friends..." Nods as I watched him transform into a Raven and then flew off towards the Buffalo. Looking back to the door of the Lab and took my claws writing deep into the door. {The sin's of the past ended with death.} Then I wandered off towards the reaper fields out of the dessert. Looking at my pip-buck remembering where I went and how I got there. Walking through the dessert was an interesting matter but..I wished I had someone to talk to. It was getting dull always being on my own... But of course, I sent Crow to find folks to join me. Then after the battle going to pass out for... day... I feel like I could just get some much-needed sleep. I refused to allow sleep to get to me so I can get to where I need to go. Looking around seeing how calm everything is... Because I figured there would be Enclave flying everywhere.

I noticed a smoking armour and rushed to it... It was Enclave and looked around seeing many. Then saw a tent and rushed to it and went in. Seeing Sand. Sand looked up from a pegasus leg he was eating. "Ah, the Tiria found me again. I see you come from the way of the lab." I blinked looking to him. "You knew?" He shrugged. "Easy to tell." Chuckled softly and I sighed. "Anyway did you do this?" He shook his head. "No, I came up in a battle and basically they left their dead behind. I just got to say they taste good."

Sand smirks. I felt a strange throbbing in my heart...was I falling in love with this guy or was I just angry at the fact... I see him again. "I need to get going... I... could use some meat..Instead of what the buffalo gave me." Sand laughs and smiles. "Well then find a body, rip a limp off and eat. Their legs are amazingly good. Sighing again I went to one of the dead and ripped off a limb and went to the fire to put the leg on it to cook it. "I will come with you Tiria to help save your friends. But I do warn you there is no way they're still alive... If they are then you're very lucky." Stayed silent and took a bite out of the leg and looked up to him. "Sand I will do anything to get to them... Even if I have to fight alone." Keeps eating the meat and sighs. "I need to get to Reaper fields and blow a horn that was created to start a meeting." Sand looks to me and cocks his sniper rifle. "Let's do it then. I don't know about you but I have had enough of the Enclave taking out ones that shall pay me caps." I nodded and finished my leg and My tiredness and pain did stop me a bit.. But I needed to move.

Sand stood up not worrying about the camp using the fire to burn it all down. "Lets go before Enclave sends more to find who killed their friends." I nodded and walked along. It started to rain as it grew darker from the rain clouds. Looking to Sand. "What is going on that caused this Enclave to come?" Sand looks to me and chuckles. "They wish to help the world now... But killing those they foresee as threats." Nods and the two of us walked through the desert as we did I kept to myself closing my eyes remembering Kip... If those fools hurt her... I would be very angry. Looking around hearing nothing as it rained. It was starting to get to me. "Relax...I have been out of the pack for years..." I gave Sand a look and smiled. "Why did you leave then?" Sand looked at me and smirked. "I got tired of being told that being a hunter... I am just worthless trash and not worth to breed with a female. Also got tired of the fact... The elders used fear to control us. Saying all ponies are evil outside our cave... So I went hunting and never returned." I sighed. "I was sent out to find the howling dance...I had it in my hands. Then I left it back there... I was told to get it and take it back home... Then if I left and took it home with me... The Enclave would have found us sooner or later. No one is going to be hiding. I am amazed they haven't found us yet."

Sand nodded to me the rain started coming down harder while we both got very wet and purely wet. Looking around calmly I just stared at the vast empty desert and sighed softly. This walk was going to be a long one. Two more days... two more days... I need to get to them. Closing my eyes tightly and I fell to my knees? Sand looked at me and chuckled. "You're pushing yourself too much... Sooo..." He lifts me over his back and starts to carry me. Finding a strange set of rocks that seem to be a way to block the rain and set me down. "Listen, rest... you need to rest before we get there."

Looking down to my legs and growled, sighing laying back closing my eyes a bit. "Do you think... I am worrying too much about ponies?" Sand looked to me and kept silent for a moment then spoke with a soft growl. "No... our kind are too xenophobic as well... It's time to break the past and save those that need us. Even if us being guardians was a lie... It's time to help other heroes in this land..." Sitting up for a time but I started to feel how tired I was.

"I'm sorry for asking you to help me.."

Sand blinked looking towards me and gave me a shrug. "Eh it's fine come rest... and sleep. I know it's not something you want to do really. But do you really want to get there... and fall asleep during the fight?" Giving a nod I closed my eyes and breathed softly. Thinking of my friends... Worried so much about them. It's almost been close to two weeks. I need to get to them but.. My body needs to rest. Slowly fell asleep while Sand watched for anyone to come to harm us both.

Day 33: The long trek.

I was wide awake after that sleep. The two of us walked in the wet sand and dust. Walking towards the reaper fields. It felt like it was going to take forever. But we had to do this... Even if most of the creatures would try to stop us... But I wasn't going to allow it to happen. Nothing was going to stop me to getting to my friends. I still had some pain in my body. My body never fully healed from that gas that went through my system back at the camp. So I had a nasty cough now and then. I still had some of that venom coursing through my veins. But I needed to get to them before it was too late.

"You do... know you need to Rest Tiria. You can't keep forcing yourself to go on like this. It's not healthy. I know what you learned... But you need to stop yourself before you kill yourself." Sand said growling softly and sounding worried... As worried as one of our species could be of course. Our kind rarely worried about each other. Normally it was just stepping on the other to get fame or the right mate... To breed with. Being wolf-like beings wasn't always the best thing... I am considered fodder to my species. I am not sure what sand was. I am sure he will tell me sometime.

I turned on my pip-buck and what came out of it... was just the Enclave so I turned it back off and sighed. Looking towards Sand... I needed to get back to them my heart was in pain... Because I know Softpaw was dead... What about Silver gunner? What about Kip? What.... about Shadow and Little Hoof? Was I fight to try to save them and not move on from them and just let them pass away? Then I thought to myself... No they risked everything for me. "Sand... look you don't need to keep following me... If you have something better to do... Then you can go."

Sand blinked and looked at me with his yellow eyes. His brown fur blending in with the sand and dirt. "Yeah... no Tiria... We need to prove that our species... Can be more than just xenophobic assholes." He gave me a soft smile and a kind growl.

It had been a few hours walk... We stopped once to eat some food that we hunted down... But we haven't seen any ponies or other creatures at all lately. I haven't even heard or seen of watcher. It was starting to worry me. I looked at my weapons... I left many of them behind. I lost my Zebra pistol, my old sword... I even left the flame sword behind... I will find them again hopefully. My thoughts focused more on my failures and not my friends. I looked to Sand who seemed to just walk alongside me like nothing was wrong at all.

"How... do you do it, Sand?" Sand Looked at me and blinked. "How do I do what?" He asked looking at me with a weird look. "How do you just ignore the fact that... we are in hell and that hell wants to kill us... Well really I mean how do you handle... Being away from our kind?"

Sand chuckled and shook his head. "I just forget it... The ponies of this land... Are very friendly folks if you meet the right ones... Our species could learn a lot from them. But the issue is. Most of our species don't want to help non-creatures like us. They don't even want to help each other. The Light-bringer Security and so forth are helping... Even if they didn't want to at the start. It's best to help this world... This world needs it... More than feeling sorry for yourself in a basement somewhere." he said with a chuckle.

I gave him a weak smile... Sighing then looking back to the path we walked... Looking at my Pip-buck seeing that we are another day away. From the Reaper fields. it was becoming bothersome that I may never see my friends again. I was hoping I would but... I am not sure. I was going to ask many to risk their lives for something that may not be wise. Then I heard many gunshots ahead of us and I we both dropped down going up a hill to see a caravan under attack by raider's It seems they had their waggons down and it was a pretty big standoff.

Looking to Sand and gave him a nod. As he grabbed his sniper and I sneaked through the area. To try to get behind the raider's and I could hear them yelling and screaming what they will do to the mares and children. Then a shot rang out one of the heads of the raider's blasted into bits and when I finally got to them... Since they had no idea what is going on. Raider ponies seemed very stupid. I came up behind one of them and pulled him away from his friends... I covered his mouth and snapped his neck. Then they found me aiming their guns at me. I smiled putting my hands over my head.

The raiders that didn't seem to care about me kept firing at the caravan. Their guns cocked as they aimed at me getting ready to fire. Then about three shots rang out and they dropped the other raiders looking towards me and looking down at the dead bodies. I shrugged, grabbing my machine gun. I fired at what I could... But I only got one and ran behind some cover. Looked who shot the three bullets it was three Steel Rangers. But they seemed different. I tried to change my ammo but more shots rang out and the raider's dropped. As the three aimed at me.

"You again?"

I looked up seeing the three speak to me. One of them took their helm off it was that Red mare. Along with her friend that..wanted to help them get the Applejack ranger. I stood fully up and blinked looking to them. "What about the ponies that we're protecting?" The other took off her helm and smiled. "Their fine... We are now going together to defend this land." I sighed softly and stood up looking at the three mares. "Well, I need to get going." I lifted up my hand and Sand came down to me. "Come, Sand, let's get going."

As I was starting to leave a young filly came up to me and Sand looking down to them. " Miss... You saved us." I looked at the filly and then to the three mares. Then to Sand. Sand spoke with a smirk. "OH, yes, the wolf saved you with help from those three mares." I looked up, my ears perking up I gave Sand a nasty look and he gave a snicker. "Oh, I am sorry Miss wolf..." He winks I growled sighing turning to the filly.

"I was happy to help little one." I gave her a pat on her head. "Stay stay!!! MOMMY!!!" She ran off to her family. I looked to the three mares. "What now?" The three mares look at each other the Red furred mare smiled. "We wish to go with you till... we get new orders." Blinking looking to them. "Why? I am heading to pretty much my death along with Sand... I am trying to rescue friends of mine." I smiled at the three mares. They looked at each other and moved back whispering to each other. I would give them time as the mother of the filly came up to me and Sand and I smiled. "I am happy to help." Sand nods.

I looked towards the way to our destination it was a day away... The mare spoke up with a smile. "Hello I am River I'm the leader of this Caravan... Will you please stay with us and enjoy a meal and then you can be on your way... But it's if you wish. My daughter would love it if you stayed with us." Looking to Sand he gave me a smirk and winked. If I didn't have fur they would have seen my blush and then... I just sighed growling gently. "I will stay..." The three mares came back. "We will be going with her...So yes we shall stay as well."

Looking towards the mares and smiled.

A meal was layed out for us. The caravan ponies did so much for us... They gave us so much food that they had gathered and they chuckled. As the three mares seemed to be talking to each other as they ate what they were given. They were still in their armour without the helms. They seemed to have become good friends after all that. It wasn't that long really... But It felt like months for me. I had others willing to follow me. I held the food I was eating and went out of the small party they were haveing. I stood by myself as... I heard the cheers and happiness. Looking towards the way to my friends. Sand standing beside me and soft spoke.

"A path that you fully seek.. Tiria... you need to relax... You will get yourself worked up trying to save your friends." Looking towards Sand eating my food. Gagging a bit, it was not meat. But I had to eat it. "Ah.. bleh... I need to get to them... I need to get to Reaper Fields." River trotted up to the two of us and softly spoke. "We can drop you off there... We are heading to Manehatten after that. But we can bypass our travel to help you. Since you helped us."

Blinking looking down the unicorn mare who was painted with white on her mouth and hooves. and a bit blue. "I... thank you for that..." I smiled felt my heart sink... Why were so many helping me in this world of death? I watched her as she walked off and I sighed looking to Sand. "I feel if they went with us... will die."

Sand looked towards me and patted my back. "Rest in the Caravan we will be there in the morning I think." I looked at the three mares in the armour eat and they nodded to me. As I layed in one of the Caravan's and fell right to sleep.

______________________

Dreams.

I opened my eye's blinking and looking around. Was I dreaming? I looked around Equestria was green full of life. I was in a town full of ponies? I looked down blinking seeing I had hooves. I was walking near a mare. She has a Misty moon Cutie mark. Suddenly as if fate the dream paused a moment. The ghoul spoke calmly. "I felt... that you have had too much pain in your life... I wish to show you what the world was like before... the entire war happened. You deserve to see what many are trying to bring back."

Looking towards him like I was removed from the body Looking towards him and sighed. "Is this before everything got extremely out of control?" The ghoul nodded and sighed looking towards the old world that he remembers. "You may have killed me... But It seems fate is making me stay in your mind. I think it's till you die and join me in the great beyond." I blinked looking towards the ghoul and gave a gentle smile. "I guess I will allow this... I need to rest anyway... Before I destroy myself."

The ghoul nodded and he vanished as the dream started again. Like it was me there. This must have been a memory of his. Looking around at the bright lovely town. Seeing all the ponies... when was this? How long ago was this? I saw an orange mare with apples on her rump and her sister. She seemed to be almost close to an adult. Looking towards the other ponies. Seeing the ones known as Twilight and Fluttershy. It seems they were very, very young still.

The ghoul spoke calmly. "This is many years before that war... When our world was full of peace. I am sorry to show you... this... But I am trying to prove to you... That ponies aren't evil... But they do make mistakes and greed will always get in the way. But please... Tiria don't hate the ponies of the past for what they... did... for what we all did..." He looked at me with very sad eyes...

"None of us knew how bad the war would get. None of us knew." Looking towards the Ghoul I sighed calmly nodding and then looked back to the pony who's body I was in. Like I was stuck in it. The dream started up again and followed the memory itself. The stallion I was in was walking beside his wife. They seemed to be just a normal everyday group that lived in this town of ponies. Seeing so many ponies and such happiness... I wish I could have seen this... I wish I could have. Looking up to see Rainbow Dash and many other ponies in the sky... Working on the weather.

I am guessing this is the past... The future needs to be of peace... A hope of the dream fills my heart... But seeing this I know its too far away to even happen. My host I could say jumped out of the way of a little dragon that was rushing to Twilight with a letter. But the vision started to vanish. Everything was going black. I had no idea why.

"What... what's happening?!" Looked around in the darkness but then I just had a normal everyday dream... I no longer had the cognitive thoughts.

_________________

Day 33 Reaper Fields

Looking around seeing that everything seemed alright here. Like the Enclave just ignored the area because of how it looked. Looking towards the caravan and looked to the three Applejack rangers. "Thank you for bringing us here." River nodded with a smile the Caravan heading towards the way to Manehatten. Looking to Sand and to the three mares. Walked into the Reaper fields and went to the table. It seems a lot was very silent. Grabbing the horn that was made to call everypony. "Okay stay on guard... This might call ghouls too."

I put my mouth to the horn and blew. It made a loud sound calling them all to the table. Then setting it down and looking to the mares. "Stand guard they will be here maybe in an hour or so. Sand please wait with me." I sat in the chair and waited. The three mare's stood guard waiting while Sand sat in the other chair. All I could think of was my friends. I swear I could hear Kip crying sobbing. I needed to get to them. I felt it breaking my heart. Closing my eyes to rest my eyes a moment and I heard the mare's weapons arm.

I looked up seeing The Rat Creepers. "Whoa whoa lower your weapons." Stood up and gave Cannon Ball a hug.

The King chuckles. "I see you have returned... What happened? We all saw these flying ponies going to attack the camp." I sighed looking towards the way there and looked down. Not sure what to say and pointed to the chair. "Sit Cannon Ball, I will explain when the rest get here." He nodded and gave a nod to his guards who stood by him. Looking over to see Dumbell and two of his guards. Then seeing The Junk reapers without their leader. But they seemed to have someone representing them and they nodded. "Alright... I need to tell you something before they try to destroy all of you."

I sat in the chair and sighed looking to the three mares and gave them a nod as they went to patrol. Looked to Sand and he nodded. Cannon ball looked to me and blinked. "What do you mean? You left two weeks ago and then~" I cut him off.

"SoftPaw is dead." The guards dropped their weapons as Dumbbell's guards even gave a gasp. "The Enclave came in... and killed who they could. My friends are still there trapped. I need to get to them... I need to save them. Even If I did I need to get to them. Look I don't know if you will agree to help me. I am begging to you three. I need your hooves, your claws. I need you... to help save them. Don't allow them to come for you guys next... or the ghouls in the~"

I was cut off as Fleur showed up with a few of her crew. She walked to the table and with her magic set down a recording. "Listen." Then turns on the recording.

"I'm KipKipe... we need help... We are dying..." There are screams in the recording. "The Enclave... is hurting the young ones I don't think... that we can last much longer..." She is sobbing. "If anyone... could hear this... please send help..." Then suddenly it went silent. I looked at Fleur and blinked.

Fleur nodded to me with a gentle smile. "Listen, my crew and I are going to go try to save them... I know you will come Tiria... What about the rest of you. I doubt they can last very long." The three factions looked at each other. Cannon Ball stood up and looked at the two groups of ponies.

"I don't know about you... But ponies like the Enclave are the reason most of my species were thrown out of our homes. I think we need to take everything and most of my troops and take down the Enclave." He looked at the ponies and Dumbbell stood up on his hooves.

"Count us in as well." The two look to Junk Reapers looking towards each other and they nodded. As one of them removed the helm. "Our leaders are working on a lot of stuff right now... But we will go gather the rest and meet back here... It may take a day, though." They all nodded and head back to their normal spots as the ghoul crew went to do something that Fleur asked them to.

"I shall be back Tiria... I need to get back to the ship..Get the rest of my crew. Even the prisoner's that we jailed wrongly. I shall return in a day." I nodded watching her trot off and looked to Sand and he gave me a smirk. "Well, then Tiria it seems like were going to war. I guess I will go hunt for some food." I nodded to him and he smiled as I watched him walk away to go hunt. I thought a moment and looked at the scattered bodies since... The cleaning hasn't fully started yet. I went to grab an old helm and a few armour parts.

____________

Rat Creeper forge day 33

In the forge, I made a helm that had a tube in it that would fit my head. Carved with my claws in it saying Honor took off my armour and took out the attached the parts of the armour scraps to the armour and worked very hard at even upgrading my hammer as well. Adding some harder parts to it and making it bigger. Then to my Machine gun. Looking towards the Rat Creeper's gathering their armour and weapons to get ready for battle. I grabbed the hammer and smashed in the armour to reinforce it and same with the weapons.

Putting on my armour and looking towards the Rat Creepers and their home. A home that they seem to have children running around playing. It's like Equestria back in the day... But underground. Looking down the features on my face if anyone saw me... I felt sorry for this world. I may be part of this world now... My world was full of xenophobic wolf like beings. Heading out and leaving the Creepers to get their weapons together. Heading back out and stopping turning to head to the king's chambers and looking at the Painting of the two princesses. Luna and Celestia... I have never been a holy creature... But I kneeled down and put my paws together. Thinking to myself. {I can't believe I am doing this.}

"Goddess... I doubt you can hear me... I am a lost soul in Equestria. I heard of you beautiful Princess... I know I will never meet either of you... Like the ponies before. But I need someone to lead my heart... I can't take it anymore. I need to fight... I want to use honour to fight. But I need someone to help me through this. Kip already had this before I met her... Oh... Kip, Silver Gunner." Looking down and sighed starting my prayer again. "Please Luna on your Moon give me help for I need it." A soft hand paw was placed on my shoulder looking up seeing Sand.

"I may not be much... but I can be the one to help you Tiria..." A smile formed on my face standing up hugging him tightly feeling my heart fill with so much pride and happiness as I held him tighter in the hug. Then removed the hug and coughed. "Ahem anyway... I am going to get some rest. Wake me up when they are all ready alright." Sand gave me a nod.

Headed out of the room and went to the inn they had... A small in. That seemed to have bed's made from old chairs. I paid some caps and layed in the bed and fell asleep.

_________________

Midnight day 34 Rat Creeper Inn

I opened my eye's feeling something was very wrong. Stood up looking around and noticed how calm and silent everything was. I head outside but before... I did I grabbed my hammer heading outside and looked around. I didn't see a patrol's but then I looked to see raider's laughing and messing the table. But they were just eating on it. They had Rat Creepers laughing and cheering with them along with Junk Reapers. Blinking and stood up. Walking to them and the King smile.

"Ah Tiria come, come... we are feasting before we head to battle." Then Crow landed on my shoulder and looked over to him and smiled.

"I got all those that are willing to come... The buffalo are sending a few warrior's to the back way in. Crossfire is coming with a few ponies from the apartment. They will be here... Later but I told him what's at stake and well... You never told me... You're friends with his wife. Sooo, he's angry and bringing a lot of fire power... They will be here during the middle of the battle. I tried talking to Watcher... But he told me something is going down."

Looked over to Crow nodding and sitting at the table and grabbed whatever food is there. "So a final meal then death hmm? Because I for one... have no idea how strong the Enclave is." I gave a sigh and slowly ate and watched some mare's and female Rat Creeper's dance to some music... That the Dumbbell raider's were playing. It seem's that we are getting ready for our final battle. I laid back in the chair and noticed Sand coming up to me and offered his hand.

"How about a dance... before we go to our deaths." I blinked and smiled and stood up grabbing his hand and danced to the slow dance music. The Rat Creeper's seemed to be playing an old violin. As well as using an old exhaust from a tank or whatever to make music out of it. We are ready for the final battle of our lives. Here I am dancing with a male of my species. I held his paws tightly with my own. It seems the two of us have gotten closer... Since we gotten to know each other. But with how this wasteland is... One could be dead so soon.

The music played through the night. As the two of us kept dancing the cheering the happiness of a final battle that would lead to our deaths. We needed to have something to make us happy. Even if we wouldn't ever see each other again. Looked around to see many of our allies eating dancing. Seeing the three Applejack ranger mare's watching and keeping an eye on the area.

Looking around as the night cloudy sky was amazingly calm for it being this land. For once we know peace. I forgot my friends for the time being. I want to save them... I need to save them... But I can't rush in there on my own. Looking towards Sand for once... again seeing a male of my species... A male that treats me with respect and kindness. Looking towards everyone else... All was ignored even the pain of what it took to get back here.

No longer that I felt my lungs burning. No longer that I had that cough that affected me... After that run in with the gas. I felt most of my body healed... But still, tender from everything. But looking at the happiness of those around me... Even if this was before our death's. It seems what I have been told before forced to leave my home was true. {Battle and the taste of fear... Can bring forth the light of one's heart. Before the force of death and the fate of ending. The heart shall be a drum... to bring forth a happy future or the sword and the bullet... Shall bring forth the death of all. Seek both seek neither for death... Is but the next journey.}

Sand and I stopped dancing and we looked to the others who just seemed to enjoy their either last night on Equestria or their future as heroes of the one's trapped in that camp.

"Walk with me please Tiria." Sand said calmly.

Looking to him I nodded and we walked far away from the others into the middle of the fields near a gutted tank. Both of us leaning on the metal he looked towards me and smiled.

"Tiria we may not know each other so well. But with our species... That is oddly normal. But I think we need to ease our tension and stress. We may never have a chance again... To enjoy the company of another. So lets easy what the ponies call the pleasures of the flesh. Since to our species, that's a normal thing..." He shrugged laughing.

Blinking looking towards him with a gentle smile. "I am happy to think of doing so with you. But know this. I am going to fight to live. You do the same Sand..." I looked away from him still hearing the music. But he did something I didn't expect. Grabbed me and gave me a deep kiss. The music... all I could hear from this. To our kind... this is normal to a pony... This is something as a date maybe? Who knows... I don't know pony kind that well...

But if I wasn't going to come back alive... or he wasn't either... It's time to do something I never thought I would. The night was a beautiful night. No matter what happen I am sure we will win or die. For we have many to save. It was time to fight for peace. Peace... comes with a price... That means the death of friends... Lovers and even family.

Family, what a ring to it... nevermore will pain and death win It is now... time for battle... but for the moment... a time of peace.