"The march into hell... Is but a fleeting glance of death itself. Remember to smile."

It was early morning and we started walking into the bog to get to the camp. It was pretty foggy this morning. A large group of Rat Creepers with Junk Reapers in Junk power armor. Along with Dumbbell raider's walked side by side. The leaders of the three armies stayed ahead. All of them knew what was going to happen. Walking along side me and Sand was Fleur and her crew. Along the way, it seemed the ghouls wished to stay clear of a group this big and none of those strange monsters coming up from the ground. The fog kept us from being seen for the moment. But we had to march through hell. We were asked not to wear a mask... We wished to see the past and live it... So we know what we are fighting for. Looking towards the Rat Creepers some of them seem to be diggers. A plan was to let them through and get a small force in. To open the gates. Then when Crossfire's troops come in along with the Buffalo we try our best to do this quick and clean. If any Enclave live we keep them alive.

"War is but a story to many. A battle that is not to be said... A battle that can never be ended. But sometimes battle is but a way... to keep peace. To most sadly it's a way to show their ego their might. A story of this battle has always come to being. Most don't understand war... But most will never see. For when the Mega spells hit our lands..." Journal entry Silver Gunner.

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Introduction of the leaders.

"Sewers of Manehatten is where I was born. I was known as Whiskers at the time. I was young and it was 150 years after the war. I heard many stories from older rat creeper's that had their lives extended from the magic Radiation. But when ponies started searching the ruins they saw that we have been living there... At first... they were respectful to us. Then slowly a few months later they started killing us... Then going after our young... Being pretty young myself. I had to gather a group and lead them out of the city. During this, I lost my leg. Then forced a stick in the former hole of the leg. Not caring about the pain. But this journey is what called me Cannon Ball King of the Rat Creepers of Reaper Fields."

"Ah yes, my old man... A stupid stallion. A racist stallion. Who founded the Junk Reapers. But I am the one who helped him with much. He is too old to keep going. So again I founded the base and the guards to protect our interest. I broke off ties with the slavers and Raiders that he wished to work with. Montyhoof was not always my name... But he named me that as an insult. He was never a kind stallion not even to my mother. But if any change happens around him... he started to lose it and think... He had two fake heart attacks to gain support. He wasn't happy about this... But I told him what is at stake and told him... Lives are going to be murdered by the Enclave... Then he went silent. Telling me to go and take as many troops as I need. I am going to prove to him that we need to fight this world to bring peace."

"Ah yes... Raiders Slavers so on... I guess for how some look at me. I am well just that. But I had enough of this pointless Wasteland that seemed to be. Being the second in command of this raider troop. Killing the former leader... That forced us to join with Wheel Tread... Hmm, Wheel tread he needs to be killed and hanged. But we will see when we get there. My mother was a bitch she named me Dumbbell because.... well just because... Since my father never was there and just fucked her... To give her a child and then left for Manehatten never to be seen again. So I was basically just a worthless piece of shit to her. But eh I still loved her and she loved me... But she showed it in the oddest ways."

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Day 34 Morning weather Fog. Location Time bog

The Fog was deep and thick. But we could still make out the past... In the bog. We gave it a name... The Bog of time. A bog that shows the past... To those that don't wish to follow it. All the ponies cheering laughing and then fighting in the name of hope war... Blood death and then resets to peace all over again. No matter what we do... No one had a mask... Because we needed to keep them just in case..They used gas on us. But even though a lot of us were heading to a battle. Twenty Rat Creepers Ten Junk Reapers and 10 Dumbbell raiders. Not sure the count on Crossfire's troops and the Buffalo. But besides us was the three leader's walking along with me and Crow in his Raven form on my shoulder. Sand walking beside me... Fleur and her crew alongside us.

The mindless ghouls stayed away from us... Because of the large crowd still. But Fleur looked at them and used her magic to coax them to join us. Suddenly we watched an entire force of the ghouls coming from the bog water..Some standing right by us looking towards us growling... But they followed Fleur like she was a leader. Looking towards all those that were with us. I wasn't sure who was going to live... But we needed to get some Rat Creeper force in. To start the battle and open the door. But this would be a day and a half walk to get to where we must go. I can't allow us to be stopped.

The fog let up a bit above. Starting to see some Enclave flying into the POW camp and then the fog going back in. They seem to stay... Meaning we need to get there before... To many take it over. Looking to the leaders. "I feel we need to do this swiftly. Let the ghouls rush in first... I will go with the diggers. While the rest of you fight out here."

Cannon nods, Fleur nods and looks to her crew nodding. Saying softly. "For Equestria." The other crew say the same thing. As we get closer. We start to run while the ponies Trot. The Rat Creeper's get on all four. As we no longer wish to wait to do this battle. From a day and a half walk. It would now take a half of a day. We would get in at the night But then after an hour cutting a day off the march. We went back to just a normal calm walk. Looking to the others it seems they came ready to camp for the night. Looking towards the bog it was getting thicker. The time was getting more and more intense. We were now seeing time like it was years ago even before the war. But no voices... If we could only hear them.

But I saw something... I saw the Princess... I followed them leaving the line of the marching Cannon blinked and looked to Pot head and nodded to her as he left the march as well. He followed me as I followed the two mares. The fog enveloped the two of us but the march kept going. We would have to catch up but something was calling me.

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Location: Time bog lair of the Bog weevil.

I kept following the two Princess I wanted to see them... Its like I was being called to follow them... Maybe I could talk to them. I followed them closer and closer. I watched them as it seemed so amazing but I didn't see what was about to happen to me. A large bug that seemed to be living here since the war was using the ghost... To get prey. But I didn't see it. As it rose up all I saw was the princess. As it blew the strange gas from the bog into my face. Making the figment more real. I saw them solid and they spoke in soft words. Like I was there in the past. My heart my want to see this world. I could just touch it.

Cannon saw what was about to happen to me. The giant creature blowing the mist on me and then slowly easing up to get ready to eat me. Nature taking its course as many would say. Cannon lifted up his machine gun leg and fired at the creature. It rearing up angrily but not enough to kill it. As he took this chance to slap me awake with a good slap in the face. Shaking my head looking at him and then seeing the creature.

"I would say, my dear, it's best to run of course."

I stared at the princess again. Bowing to them like they were real and then rushing off as the creature started chasing us. It seems we ended up in some cave. The cave was filled with the bones of his victims and the blood seeping everywhere causing it to look very interesting. More started to show up and we got trapped for the moment. As they looked at each other growling and hissing. It seems they didn't care much for each other. These creatures then I looked at my Pip-buck... we were in magic radiation the fog wasn't just fog... It was radiation and the bog was full of it. It was ticking up slowly. But we couldn't stop that we had..to get out. Looking around as the fog slowly lifted since... These creatures weren't causing it anymore. These creatures, they made the fog. There are more than two of these creatures in the bog.

"Cannon we need to get out of here... This fog is created by them and it's causing my Pip-buck to go nuts." Cannon nodded but these creatures got very angry on their sides were strange sacs that release the fog. More and more of it started relaxing from the sacs. As they got closer to us. Their hissing dripping strange fluid that boiled and burned into the ground. These things didn't only cause fog they had acid venom? Looking towards Cannon lifting my paws up to the side and rushed to the other side... As the creatures smashed into the each other now fighting. As we tried to find a way out of the cave. Seeing more and more dead and ripped apart. Looking to Cannon and he nodded as we kept running and we found the way out finally. But before we could go out a large creature stopped in front of us. It was another one of these creatures. I roared and hissed. Letting out more of the fog and then BAM!!

The creature fell in pain as the three Mare's in the Ranger armour called to us. "COME ON!! Hurry!" I nodded and Cannon did as well. As we rushed to get out with the three Applejack rangers they backed off firing at the creature and then the five of us ran away from the cave as we made our way back to the army. But I have a feeling we will see those creature's again sooner or later. They have our scent now and we angered them so now they will be on us sooner or later.

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Same day: Time Bog.

Looking to the three mares and smiled. "Thank you for saving us... and sorry Cannon about that." Cannon laughed and nodded. "No worries Tiria... I would feel the same way if I could meet those two Princess..." Looking to the Mares they never gave us their names. But they wished to stay in their suits most of the time. Looking back to Cannon. "We need to get back they will be worried."

Then as we said that the fog got thicker and growling and hissing from the cave. "Shit lets go!!" They nodded and we started rushing towards the way we needed to. Hearing the creature's behind us but hoping they would give up. Looked to Cannon and he nodded to me. "Mares run ahead of us." I looked at my pip-buck as we ran and found a few apples and removed the pins and tossed them behind us. As the creatures screamed and hissed more fog filling the air. Then we kept running the army was an hour or so ahead of us. We had to keep running panting softly closing my eyes and grabbed my hammer smashing into a ghoul that was in the way. Looking to Cannon and the mares. Hearing the growling and roaring from the creatures. "Keep going no matter how much pain you have in your body."

The three mare's nod as they keep rushing even with how heavy the armour is. The creatures roar and stop chasing after us... But I am sure we would see them again. The fog started to clear somewhat and then we find the army and stayed by the others as I panted and they stopped a moment. "Camp...... for now...."

The army looked at each other and nodded.

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Same Day: 8 at night.

The army made a large camp and we all sat around a camp fire. The ghouls were being used to patrol the camp. I sighed softly and rested near the fire. As we watched the fog but at the moment it was slowly vanishing... But I felt I needed to ask. "Cannon? Why is there so much fog? What is going on?" Looking towards Cannon and he chuckles. "Well let me think... Oh yes in the bog here... There are some creatures that can create fog. This is a time when some of them are breeding or hunting for food. There is not just those large creatures in caves like that. There is also other creatures that roam here at night. It's why we have those around the camp." Points to the torches around the camp. "It's something that Kip taught me. She said to have these fires around. It will keep the creature's at bay."

I nodded and ate the meat sighing a bit. As the fog kept floating through the air. Howling was heard as beyond the torches we saw wolf-like beings causing the fog that made the ghost show up more. But this time it was different at night. We saw instead of battle the Zebra's and Ponies Celebrating something called Hearthswarming basically they may be different and have pain in their hearts... But the Zebra's weren't the monsters that the ponies made them out to be it seems. During this night we saw them showing their families.

But sadly every war will start again. But it seems to be a calm night despite the fog. Looking towards the others as I ate and Cannon laughs.

"So you want a story... I can tell you one... If you wish to listen to me." I smiled and nodded. "I would love to listen to Cannon. I would love to know about you and how you become a king."

Cannon smiled and looked towards the three mares in the ranger suits. "Listen, ladies, it's peaceful you can take off your helms." The three looked at the group. One of them spoke. "We will only do it when this battle is over." Cannon nods and looks to the fire and takes a bite from the meat and looks to the others.

"Well it started Fifty years ago. I was a young Rat Creeper named Whisker's living in the sewers of Manehatten. A lovely sewer full of interesting lovely creatures. If was dangers but also lovely. When I was young. We traded with the ponies up above. It was a time when it was peaceful even for the end of the world. But gangs and nasty creature's started to move in. Then bounty hunters started to come after us. All I remember was watching my family get murdered and ran into many different species of Rat Creeper's that came together. We had no leader..but we all worked as one to get out of the city. It seems some pony above didn't like the fact... That we lived below. I went with Pot head here and the others. But the few that came with me didn't live through the battle to get here. Just to leave Manehatten was a pain. But I can tell you this... I used to hate ponies because of that...Then I went to hide in a hotel. Then I found that painting of the two Princesses... I looked at them... Read up on them... Then I realised... without them the ponies are lost."

He ate more of the meat looking towards me... "We left the building and my leg got blown off by a mine. I was kept alive through the potions we found. But they attached a splint to my leg. But they still didn't have a leader. They needed one but it's interesting to say that at first, I refused to step up. On our way out of Manehatten, we got attack by raiders. Most of them stayed hidden. But I knew we needed to do something. I grabbed a gun and yelled 'FOR EQUESTRIA!' and charged in with many warriors and we took out many of the raiders. But most of us lost our lives. All that we had left was twenty of our kind. We called ourselves the pack rats. I am sure there are more communities of Rat Creepers. But we were very sure we would never find them..."

Cannon pat his machine gun leg and chuckled. "But it wasn't over yet. That made the others start considering me their leader. I found it interesting that just going into a battle did that... But of course most Creeper's sound like this... 'Yes yes yes find find...' Most never really had a fully mutated brain. Pot head over there kind of destroyed herself through the magic rads of this world. But she is still helpful. But yes..we left Manehatten but we had another issue. Ponies seemed to attack us on sight outside the city. Some would try and trade with us. But we started to become very xenophobic around ponies. We wished to go south from Manehatten. Going through the paths through many of the creatures of this land. Wounded and hungry... We found Reaper Fields. Looking at the dead fields we cleaned up what we could. But it took awhile to make our city."

He sighs nodding. "At first the Reaper Fields were full of ghouls mines and even some raiders. But it took a few months to clear them out. Then we found out the soil underground we could grow food. But it was food that would affect us a bit... With magic Rads. But it seems we got mutated by the rads and it didn't affect us like it affected ponies. But the thing is...we wanted to bring peace to this land. But It wasn't going to be easy. Some loved the fact you could just kill for a mate or for food money. So we dug our home underground and ignored the world around us. I met Wheel tread and he kept his ponies from attacking us. Letting us be right here. We never had an issue but some of the time's we just had to deal with ghouls. But other than that it's pretty much dull."

I looked to Cannon while he told his story and finished I am sure it was a dull story pretty much. Looking to Montyhoof.

He blinks and chuckles "I guess you want my story then hmm?" He shrugs seeming to relax and her four hooves resting on the ground. "Well, I will say this my father wasn't always a fool. When I was young my father was a trader of junk and many different items. I was just a colt then... My mother a beautiful earth pony mare. I just don't remember how she looked just remember her voice. A soft voice she was very sick and died before I could see her... I grew up in many different camps and cities and towns. Going from place to place. Then he founded the junk collector's, but later we turned into the Junk reapers. Because we reaped junk from the garbage lands... We heard of a place full of junk and old pre-war junk. But the thing was it would take us a long time to get there. Our path was through blood. Because during this time going through Manehatten to get to it... Was the time a lot of nasty creatures started showing up."

He ate his food thinking a moment on his story sighing. "It drove my father mad to find this place. We had guides to lead us there but he just... was a biggot calling them stupid and dummies and making fun of how they looked. This world just drove him nuts. Making every pony that helped us more and more angry."

He looked to the ground and sighed a bit and looking towards the rest of us. "We finally found our way to the Reaper Fields and we set up in the old base that was there. It wasn't pleasant seeing all the dead and broken down weapons and gear. So we built onto the base making it the compound you see. It wasn't easy I can say that much. The ghouls took awhile to even let us build. The Rat Creepers weren't very respectful at the time either. But of course, I doubt we can blame them for what happen to them. Now the interesting thing really was the fact that we finally got everything built and then... Became a trading post. But Wheel tread had another idea for us. He hired some of our guards to take him to a lab... He found some strange crystal that when... One of our ponies touched it. Every part of him melted and then turned half wolf... half pony and died. This crystal has a strange power to it... That causes creatures to gain power... but it comes with a price of killing them."

He sighs again. "We made a case for him to hold the magic at bay. It's a magic container that can never be opened... So the stone could never be used again. That crystal needs to stay in this box or whoever grabs it... Will either be strong or die. He told us that creatures that look like Tiria here will come for it and try to claim it as their creator." Looks to Tiria and smiles.

"It was... our creator." Sand said softly growling. "It is what made us from ponies to these. But the pony gene is so far out of us now. I learned this a long time ago and I never wished to return to our own species. My species are extremely xenophobic and think they are created by the Goddes to be the protectors of Equestria. But we aren't we are a former pony who was turned into this."

Montyhoof blinks and nodded, sighing. "I see what you mean. We then formed that compound and then... My father became more of a nut... Using heart attacks to get what he wants. Well, that's all I can say... Most of it is very protected secrets."

I nodded as I stabbed my meat back into the fire to get it a little more cooked. Looking to Dumbbell.

He blinks and his ponies laugh. "My story, you really want my fucking story?" He blinks looking to his ponies and they stop laughing. "Alright fine... Ahem. My father, a worthless stallion that slept with every mare in a raider camp. Of course, I was born a raider. He slept with a slave who was my mother. I was born because of that. He refused to even see me as his son... But as another slave. He named me Dumbbell. Basically thinking it was funny to call me that. I refused to be a slave...So when he was asleep... I murdered him in cold blood. Showed his head to the leader and demanded that I become a raider... To save my mother. My mother was free of course... She joined me and we enjoyed the time so much. But of course, she died from stupidity. The leader joined up with Wheel tread and I disliked him... he allowed everything under the clouds in his home. Murder, rape so forth..."

He chuckles. "There is no honour in rape. I was told the real prize is peace. By some of the merchants that came into the city. So I killed the leader and took over finding the Zebra camp and trying to build it up. Thanks to you Tiria... You're the one that told all three of us... Without peace... we would be dead or still in the Reaper Fields not trusting each other... So we have a lot to thank you for Tiria..."

They all looked up to me blinking. I was not used to all the eyes on me. Knowing I have deep fur so they couldn't see me blush I just chuckled. "Well eh, thanks to this journey... I met my mate... I met many friends... I met a Changeling named Crow." The Raven looks up cawing questionably and he changed into the changeling form. Now that I fully able to see him. He had an oddly green body with some holes in his legs but his wings... very normal. Long sharp teeth and he sat beside us. "Well, I am happy to be a friend of yours. My species aren't used to the idea of friends... or even used to ponies running away from us... But there are more deadly creatures out there than us." Crow then turned back into the Raven and then flew up into the air.

Looking around and they all looked at me still. "I take it.... its story time for me?" I sighed and closed my eyes thinking a bit and opened my eyes.

"I was born... from a Moon warrior and the warrior trainer. A moon warrior having a pup is a threat to the pack. They would normally kill the pup. But the elder had a use for me. So the elders took me from my mother. Made me into their bodyguard moulded me into the honour bound warrior. I didn't even have what you would call a pup hood. I grew up fighting others in the pack to make my place. I was always bullied smashed into the ground... Always given less food. I was told I am worthless not important." Looks over to the others as they seem to have sadness in their eyes. "I grew up just a joke to the others in the pack. A month or so ago... I was treated like a threat... Since my mother went off to find the Crystals howling dance... But she went to join Wheel Tread...." Blinks looking to everyone else.

"Wheel tread..... wheel tread had a hoof in all of this... He was even alive during the war... I was told by Shadow that Wheel tread is over 200 years old." The others looked at each other. "That makes a whole lot of sense now. The fact he knows so much about the pre-war tech. The fact he even was able to get that Prisoner of war camp. He... used us." I said with a growl.

Cannon blinks thinking a moment. "Huh, that makes so much sense." Cannon seemed to be thinking. "He is the one that told me about Reaper Fields." He blinks again looking to the others. "He had a hand in all our lives... Not in the lives of all the ponies in the Wasteland just some of them."

Fleur blinked and looked to them. "I don't know this Wheel tread. I doubt I would since... I stayed away from the war. I was given a large sum of money from some ponies and other races to become caption of the cruise ship. To remove us from the battle. It's something I wasn't happy about... But Pinkie Pie tried hard to accuse me of working with the Zebra's." The lankey ghoul mare said. She looked to the other ghouls of her crew who smiled to her and she smiled back at them. "They're now my family. I tend to live with them on that ship... till our bodies fully die... Then I can be with My Fancy."

I smiled to Fleur and I yawned it was late and the running here made me tired. I knew we might need to run again. Stood up after I ate the meat and went to my tent. Getting grabbed by Sand and he smiled. "Too tired?" He asked sweetly I rolled my eyes. "Alright after tomorrow if we are alive... I am all yours now... goodnight." I gave him a wink and went into my tent and layed on the ground falling asleep.

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Day 35 Bog early morning

The camp was packed up. The fog was getting thicker. Something was up whatever was stirring was because of what me and Cannon did... We walked the path through the bog to get to the camp. It would take many hours to get there. But I head deep thoughts of my friends. Kip oh please be alive... Silver Gunner please be repairable but also Shadow.... I would never forgive myself if he was dead. Little hoof I have no idea or even sure. What would happen to him.

Then my mind went to Soft paw... I barely knew her and she risked her life for everything. If only I was better if only I did the right thing. I needed to make sure I did the right thing... But I never knew the right thing was the right thing. It always bothered me either way. I felt I failed them all. Maybe it's time to let go of my pain... Of the woe is me shit. I thought deeper into my mind closing my eyes and thinking of everything. A path that always seemed very normal to me. Opening my eyes again to see the path we are walking. But I was much to myself.

Every word every step hoof beat just went silent I heard nothing but my own heart and thoughts. Was I right to be this hero this wolf? I never thought I would see this again. But the path is what I need to see to neither the path of it. But with the ending, it shall always be that... But sometimes I will never see the ending music. My heart beat slowly and it always made me happier to see the path.

My eyes focused on the ground but then... I looked up quickly seeing the ground is but something to entire the pain. I felt my heart race. I knew I was getting closer and closer to the place we would battle for our lives. But something else bothered me. I looked at my Pip-buck the rad numbers pretty high.

After a few hours, we got close enough. That the ghouls rushed in and gunfire started going off. As they were trying to fight off the ghouls. I smiled and Fleur with the other army waited for the Fog to subside before they fired. I went with a small group of Rat Creeper's to start digging a hole to get the gate open. Suddenly if it was magic the fog subsided and the Enclave saw the army. They started firing and the army started firing back.

It was going to be a hell of a battle as the army of Rat Creepers had some fall but Fluer and her crew got a few of the Enclave down. Not enough to kill them of course but enough to break a little of their defense but not enough. Dumbbell's raider ponies kept tossing their metal apples into them to try to keep them at bay. The Rat Creepers were the one losing many of their lines. Cannon ball stood his ground. Along with Pot head the female Rat Creeper who seemed to fight with a determination.

Montyhoof and the Junk Reaper's fired their junk at the Enclave but it didn't dent them. It wasn't pretty but the three Apple Jack ranger mare's fired at the Enclave taking out a few of the defender's. It seemed that even though they didn't have many guarding the place. They were pretty strong.

Sand got behind a rock and put his sniper rifle on the rock and started firing at the flying Enclave soldiers. The Creeper's finally made it through the digging. I went first with the others and we started firing at the troops that were trying to block the way to the gate. But we pushed them back into the cavern that lead to the city. I felt the rush. As I helped the Rat Creeper's open the gate. We let the others in and I started to speak.

"Take those who are alive as prisoner don't let any of them escape." I went to the burnt body... But I still was able to see her face. Soft paw... But I ignored it and watched everyone went to what they needed to do. Crow landed on my shoulder. "The Buffalo should be there now. They will be smashing through the rocks to get through. But that will take time. Crossfire should be here soon. But I was trying to get inside to look but... I couldn't find anything. It's dead silent in there. I think they're waiting for us. But..." He went silent at a sound of robotics. We all picked up our weapons and aimed at the cave opening. As we saw a large Robotic pony walk out.

"Silver?!" Silver looked at us his eyes glowing and then the weapons opened up and we looked at us other. As Silver Gunner started firing at us... We all tried to hide as the large robotic pony was attacking us. I felt my heart shatter they reprogramed him... They did it... They really did it. The most peaceful robotic creature I have ever met. They updated his body a bit giving him heavier armour as it was rusted new looking mouth that looks like a Grill as he stared around him looking for a target. His voice spoke...

"Come... out little soldiers for the Enclave... for the real saviour's of this wasteland."

I stood up and he aimed at me...

"Silver... gunner please... it's me. I need you to listen."

The large robotic creature just stared his weapon firing up and robotic chuckle. "Silver Gunner? Who is Silver Gunner... I am what my Creator wanted me to be. I am Metal Rocket yes bad name... But that's what he wanted to call me. Now die..." He aimed and fired.

The entire world froze as I felt that this would be my end. For my best friend fired at me. Was this the place of my death? I don't really know. I closed my eyes and my world went black