"Freedom a fight for it is never going to be easy. But the path to rebuilding is the hardest part."

Day: 38 Location POW Camp

It had been a day or so after the battle. Were wounded and the dead were being moved and cared for. Some of the dead turned out to be Dumbbell raiders and some rat creepers. But the enclave bodies were forced out of their armour and the bodies burned. The enclave armour was kept to be used for something later. It's not going to be easy rebuilding. The city inside the mountain is in ruins. Only a few of its buildings still standing. It would probably take days or even months to rebuild fully. But just starting now will be a good thing Silver Gunner went through and destroyed some of the old buildings outside of the mountain. He put the wood that can be used over on the side along with the rest.

The Rat Creepers rushed through the bog and brought some of the metal from the reaper fields that wouldn't be used to help rebuild. Montyhoof and the Junk Reaper's stayed to help rebuild. Cannon Ball was making sure that he would help by helping Silver and Sand build some buildings. The first one that was being built was some places to stay in. Ponies would have to stay in the same building for a while...before we started to clean up and rebuild inside the cave. They had me rest and just forced to watch them. I wasn't allowed to move at all. Since I have been on the move for too long. Kip was laying in a cot near me as I watched her rest. Shadow was already up and going...helping with the rebuilding. Sand was wrapped in bandages and started to work as well. RA Proto that robot poor robot... Was reprogramed again by Tiny and helped rebuild.

Bulwark was in a lot of bandages and giving orders about what goes were. I have been hearing whispers of making me the leader of the town... But I had a different idea. I calmly drank some water it did have some rads in it. My Pip-buck ticking up a bit. Looking at some of the buffalo that stayed to help remove some of the building materials from the city inside the mountain. The leader of the buffalo went home but some and Little Strong hoof stayed with us. Fleur was sitting beside me and watched while her crew left to head back to the ship. Little hoof stayed and worked along the others.

"I doubt...the world will ever fully heal. The Lightbringer is trying so much... But I still doubt the world will ever fully heal. Equestria someday may heal... But what about the outside?" Fleur calmly asked with a nicker and a snort.

I looked over to Fleur and smiled. "I bet in your day...there was too much peace and never expected this war to get as bad as it did." Fleur looked to me and gave me a soft smile nodding.

"Yes... we seemed to care too much about peace. We never knew how bad this war would have gotten. But I am happy I got away before... I was asked to stay in Cantorlot."

I gave a nod and sighed I wanted to get up... So I tried and I groaned and fell to my knees. As I felt the pain and muzzles in my body giving up on me. "I guess... I do need to rest..." Fleur got on her hooves and helped me back into the strange chair.

"You need to rest Tiria... You can't keep moving or your body would just give out." She said with a soft nicker and purr. I smiled at her and calmly sat there my body was in pain... From everything I did. I knew sooner or later... I would feel all this. I looked at my arm... I knew I would have to take this off to see my bare furless arm. Looking to Crossfire nuzzling Kip who is fast asleep. She has kings on her back from the stab. But she will be out a little longer. I looked back to the graves... Seeing Softpaw and raiders. I sighed softly and looked to Fleur.

"Eveyrthing you knew is gone...have you learned how to deal with it?" Fleur looked at me with a frown and a sigh.

"No... Tiria... I haven't... I didn't even live the 200 years... I had something controlling me... We haven't seen it since you removed it from us. But I have a feeling that some evils have lived through the war..." Fleur looked down, her eyes full of sadness. I wrapped around her calmly and gave her a hug.

"Listen... Fleur... Maybe someday you can tell me. About the past. Before the war happen." Fleur looked to me with a gentle smile nodding.

"I would love to... The past...was full of green hills so much peace... It was amazing... The princess just to see them...it was so full of happiness and the world was so much peaceful for it. Even if we had some of our own issues... Like Nightmare Moon and Discord." She said was some sadness in her voice.

"Back then all we had to worry about is what we would eat next or what the royals were wearing. I think we focused too much on peace and never expected what would be coming."

I nodded calmly. "I feel that I would have loved the world before this one. But sadly it seems that we are forced to be part of this world. But all we can do is make it peaceful and remove the threats that wish to harm us."

I closed my eyes and opened and then opened them again seeing the former slaves walking up to me and they're still chained.

"You do know you're free.." I said calmly.

"We know...but we wish to help you..."

I smiled. "Then go ahead... I can't walk right now or I would be helping."

The hellhound rushes out of the cave and pants calmly. "The Enclave, their attacking Manehatten."

I blinked and sighed.

"It's not like we can do anything about it... We have to focus here... Before we leave it and allow them to try to take this area back. I would say build up defences after some of the buildings are done."

Bulwark smirks. "I can find some troops miss Tiria..." She said with a soft purr. I looked at the blue mare and smiled.

"Please do."

She nodded and trotted off to find some that wish to help protect the camp.

I sighed watching the former slaves walk off and help rebuild. This was going to take time. Looking to Fleur who seems to have been made my bodyguard. I noticed I haven't seen Crow lately. I blinked seeing a Raven fly and he landed on my shoulder whispering to me.

"I brought a friend... Only one. Since the rest...wish to stay out of the world."

I nodded and large crow landed and transform into a diffrent looking bug-like pony. He had green eyes, green shell and no holes in his legs. He bowed in a respectful bow.

"Greetings... I'm Deep thought... I know most of us are known to have bug names... But I consider myself a thinker. How can I help?"

Looks over to the young that seem to lost some of their parents and looks to Deep thought.

"How are you with children?"

Deep Thoughts eyes go wide and smiles, showing his sharp teeth. Simply walking over to them and they don't seem to fear him as he calmly said.

"How would you all like to hear a story little ones?"

They all nod and he leads them away from the rest so they don't get in the way. I sighed closing my eyes. Then I heard some commotion near the gate. Hearing voices speak.

"Why do you think you can walk in here?!" Bulwark aims her gun at a species like mine... My eyes go wide knowing who that is.

"Fleur....help me over there."

She nodded and helped me stand up and I leaned on her as I walked over to the elder.

"What do you want?!" I said angrily, staring at the elder who kicked me out of my home. He stared at me. I bet he never expected such anger from me.

"Tiria... I see that you...are alive..." I grew very angry and still leaned on Fleur

"No thanks to you...elder..." I was growing enraged and Fleur gave me a gentle nuzzle on my arm and smiled at me.

"Relax... Tiria please." I sighed and the elder looked down

"I heard...that you know the truth...now... I also heard you found the howling dance... I have come to take that from you. To take it back to our species." Bulwark stared at the elder and her eyes grew angry. She said to the elder in a very angry voice.

"That doesn't belong to you... It belongs to Tiria here...the one who risked her life...to save us... From the Enclave... I don't know who you are... But you have no right to come here and just start demanding." RA Proto stops and turns his weapons priming to start spinning to get ready to fire on the elder.

The elder looks at everypony and the robot ready to take him down.

"You want to see why I don't want you to have that crystal elder?!" I ripped off the bandage and they all gasped seeing my arm. It looked grossly misshaped and blistered no fur on it as I stared at him with anger.

"That crystal...can be used as a weapon to kill and destroy. The ponies that found it harnessed that power in the crystal to create us. They almost used it as a weapon for their little war. How bad do you think the war would have gotten if they used it? It probably would cause more issues but mixing that with a megaspell along with the taint... How do you think the world would be with all that?"

I sighed and lowered my arm and leaned on Fleur since... My kind can walk on her back hind legs but the bend in our backs always get in pain if we stand for too long.

"Now...you send me to find it... So I get killed like my mother.. Now go back to the pack...let them know I am alive... But if I see any of you even come here... I will kill you myself or my mate will." I stared at the elder who sighed and shook his head.

"Someday you will come back to us Tiria... But that day we will expect you to kneel and beg for forgiveness..." Then suddenly Sand comes up behind the elder and stared at him.

"Hello...elder... I see that a worthless pig like you still lives." He growled as the elder looked up and stared at him gulping.

"Go....now....before I ask Bulwark here to kill you."

He nodded and calmly walked back out heading back through the bog as we close the door back up and I sighed. Fleur calmly helped me back to my seat and I sat back down. While one of the nurses came back and wrapped my arm again in magic bandages and I smiled.

"Thank you." Giving my ghoul friend a hug... Not caring about the smell or how she felt. She was very kind for a ghoul... Fleur chuckles softly and nods. Sitting back down acting like my bodyguard. I sighed softly. I wanted to help but my body was just full of pain and not even able to move.

I heard movement on the cot beside me and smirked seeing Kip slowly sitting up and opening her eyes. Yawning softly. She looks to me her eyes go wide. "Am... I...dreaming?" She stares at me and then looks at Crossfire and jumped up hugging him. "I am not dreaming!!!" She nuzzled her husband and then gave me a nuzzle. Then she was pushed back onto the Cot.

"Now now...love rest..." Cross smiled and pats her shoulder. " We can talk later..."

She looks around sighing feeling better. " Where is... Shadow?" She sees him helping Silver Gunner with one of the buildings and he seems busy to bother as she layed back down to rest and just watch. I sighed I tried to move my bandaged arm and groaned deeply. Never felt so much pain my life.

Silver walked over to me and gave me my bag and I smiled. Opening it and grabbing my journal. Opening it up and I found another blank page sighing softly. Grabbing a pencil that was in my bag and started to write.

____________

Journal entry:

Well, it's been awhile since I wrote in here... But yes... First. Fate forced me in a battle I never asked to get in. I joined Wheel tread just for barely a day and then after that suddenly a battle started to happen. I never faced a group like Enclave before. I had to escape to try to take KipKipe with me. But I couldn't but I am a little ahead of myself. I went through the bog, the bog that is called the bog of time. That seems to have fragments of the past that play endlessly. I found with my friends a cruise ship full of different species of ghouls. They were mind controlled by something. Then I fought their leader after they captured my friends. It seems I became close to the captain her name is Fleur Dee lees.

A ghoul that used to be part of the world 200 years ago. I am sure I could learn a lot from her... But she told me the world used to be full of happiness green hills and little ones played together. Something I hope to see myself. But I highly doubt... I ever will I have a feeling since I grabbed the orb it poisoned my body. I don't know if I will live through to see the end of this wasteland. But I am sure I won't be around to see it. But after that, we went back to the Reaper Fields. To then get an alliance going with three small groups. The Rat Creepers. Some strange mutated rat's that seem to walk on their hind legs like me... But only if they carry something. Their leader Cannon Ball.

He seems interesting I know little about him. But he has a painting that he found that is of Princess Celestia and Luna. Apparently, his race was forcibly removed from the sewers of Manehatten. It's interesting how he speaks about it. But the doesn't go too deep into it. Mostly about how he sees the world and what happen to it. But as he told me... His kind aren't from experementations or anything of the sort. It seems, of course, the one known as Pot Head was with him the entire time. She was apparently his bodyguard and his closest friend. Hopefully, he will move on from that.

But we were asked to take care of the ghoul problem then go meet with Dumbbell and his raider's. To see if he really kidnapped the king's daughter. When we got there we saw that the raiders were using the old camp as their home and we noticed that the Princess was not kidnapped but she was teaching the raiders how to heal themselves and heal their wounds. But the issue is with that, some creepers stayed with them. What's odd as I kept walking from place to place to fix all this. I found that many of the soldiers were forced to fight there with the Zebras. Both sides lost badly there.

I don't understand what coal is or what the point of it is. But I stayed at the bar they had for awhile and drank. Then Kip stayed there to help since... She is a healing soul at heart. I walked through the field to see more broken shards watching my friends remove mines to let the~ I looked up from the journal hearing a whistling sound.

____________

Same day

The whistling sound was getting closer something landed but it didn't blow up and it was a brick? Fleur picked it up and there was something written on it. "Traders seem to want to come in and trade with us... But they see the smoke and heard the Enclave was here." Fleur looks over to Bulwark.

"Bulwark dear, do you mind allowing them to come in?" Bulwark looked to Fleur and nodded with a smile. She called out with her magic.

"You can come in the Enclave is no longer here and we would love to trade with anything." The gate keeper's start opening the door and a trader with as strange bear walks in and he looks around whistling.

"Damn, you weren't kidding that you removed them. I noticed that the ghouls seem to stay clear a bit and a lot less of them." He said with a smile.

"I heard from Djpone3 that the wolf was sighted coming this way through much pain." He looked to me and I nodded. He walked over to me and I blinked, staring at him.

"You must be the leader of this community do you wish to trade?"

I looked up blinking at him and Fleur got in front of me calmly with her long legs and slim decaying body.

"Allow me to do it, sir... She is resting and I don't think she wishes to be the leader of this community."

I smiled as Fleur talked to the trader and I sighed happily listening to the world around me. The trader softly spoke.

"Really? Many say otherwise... A group of traders said she came and saved them... I would say she either needs to be the leader...or she should work together with others." Fleur blinks and nods.

"But for now... I shall speak to you about trading."

The trader nodded and Fleur lead him away and they spoke.

I went back to my journal and sighed.

_________________

Journal

I don't understand why the ponies and Zebra's fought over coal... Did they even think of what would happen if they left this world to the future? Did they even care for the future? I may not like many ponies... But feeling if I should judge the past... But the ponies are this way because...of the past. Friendship and Harmony still alive in this world? I can buy that friendship is... Since of all the friends I made.

"Excuse me."

___________

Camp

I blinked looking up from my journal seeing the three mares in the Steel Ranger's suits. "Oh, it's you three how can I help you?"

The middle mare took off her helm and smiled. "We wish to go get more orders from our leader's. We will let them know that you are all here now. But we may come back to help you. But right now we need to report in."

I nodded, giving them a smile... I forgot that they came with us... But I know they stayed outside...to protect the wounded that came pouring out. I calmly sat up a bit more and smiled.

"Thank you... I hope to see you three again." Bulwark even though she was wrapped in bandage was at the gate keeping it open for the time. As I watched the three mares walk over and Bulwark trotted over to me and sat on her haunches staring at me for awhile.

"Yes?" I calmly asked.

"I think you need to be the leader of this place... I know it's probably not something you want." Looking up to her and looks to Kip Shadow and Silver Gunner...

"I got a better idea. Hey, Silver... Shadow... Kip." Kip looked up from her cot and sat up groaning. Shadow walked over and so did Silver.

"How about the four of us become leaders of this little town? We work together and we make sure it runs smoothly." They looked at me and they smiled well Silver didn't hard to tell with him.

"I shall do it dear..." Kip smiled sweetly looking to Bulwark who gave Kip a smile. Silver nodded.

"It sounds full of sound logic."

Shadow shrugs.

"Eh, I got nothing better to do than follow your ass."

I sighed and they went back to work but Bulwark layed down near Kip watching the gate as the two spoke silently. Looking over to Fleur who was using her feminine ghoul wilds to speak to the trader. Even for a Cruise ship captain. She always acted like a calm kind gentle creature.

I went back to my journal to relax.

____________

Journal

I can say friendship is alive from the friends I made... But I wonder maybe I should ask Fleur more on the subject of how it was way before the war even happen. It's something I did wish to learn. But from what I learned through my journey many projects were worked on during the war. Like the one that created my kind. It's something I wasn't really expecting you could say. But yes it's to the point that I wish to know...what is going on with most of them. Maybe someday I will be able to find books on them... But I highly doubt it.

Now the rest of my journey to get back. Getting through the bog and then making it to the camp. When we got in I saw an old tank...guns and how some ponies and other creatures were used as slaves... I got angry pissed off at this... But I was told if I get too angry... I would become one of their slaves. Apparently, Wheel tread wanted to test me to be his bodyguard... So I was asked to go into the arena to fight for justice. So I went in there and fought a group of strange minions of raiders. I took them out but...of course my ego... Got the best of me... I was trained to fight for honour not to please my ego.

I got to the point that I was beaten by a giant robot and then placed in care. But of course, I only had a day to heal. Then he wanted me to do an exchange with The Enclave... He wanted to give up the Howling dance... But it seems they didn't care for it... They shot Wheel tread and I grabbed this pony and ripped off his wings... I haven't seen him since...then... But that's when I screwed up and caused a small war... The Enclave came here... Wait.

___________

Camp

"Kip." Kip looked up to me with a large smile

"Yes?" She said with a gentle purr.

"Did the Enclave say what they wanted from here?"

Bulwark spoke up.

"They wanted what was ever in the stable. But nopony has ever been able to open it. From what Wheel tread told me... There are magic seals on it. You would have to find the keys that have been hidden. Wheel Tread knew were one of them was... But he never told anypony else."

I blinked looking to Bulwark and she tilted her head.

"Would it bother you if ponies started having children in this little camp?"

Bulwarks eyes go wide and looks down with a smile.

"I oddly would welcome it... I can't have any of my own... Since I wasn't born with the ability to. But if any were born... I would think of them as my own and guard them with my life."

I smiled softly

"But I do have a question did he say what is in that stable?" Bulwark looked up at me and shrugged.

"From what I know the camp put it's most dangerous prisoners in there. But that's not the biggest reason he wanted to go in there. He said some of them may have turned into ghouls and aren't as crazy anymore."

I rolled my eyes and stood up they stared at me Bulwark stood up Fleur watched me from the trader but kept speaking to him. She didn't seem happy. I went to Wheel Tread's grave and used my claws. {Here Lies Wheel Tread I am happy he's dead. Tiria.} I sat back down and Bulwark looked at it and gave me a unamused look.

"You have...no idea the shit he told me..when I was laying in that bed after RA proto almost killed me. He was going to give them the Howling Dance to use it as a weapon. I saw what that orb did to the commander... It turned her to dust... I was lucky... I started destroying my arm and it still hurts."

Bulwark calmly smiled and nodded.

"Look I understand..." Suddenly Patch came over she was forced into a position by Shadow and he basically forced her to sit down and put a gun to her head.

"What do you want me to do with this trash of Wheel treads? She was the one torturing me.."

Patch spoke up...

"It was my job...bird... I was asked...to do it... Now you want to kill me? You kept saying your friend would be back... Here she is... Now I deserve to die?"

Bulwark looked to me worried. She was worried about what I was going to do.

I sighed and thought a bit and spoke up.

"Patch... I forgive you for what you did..."

Shadow blinks, looking up to me.

"Look Shadow there is enough pain and hate in this world... We need to follow the Lightbringers example and put a stop to it... I know that's not going to be easy. But if we can do that...it will be a first step into making Equestria the world it used to be. A world of friendship and Harmony...I know that is so much to ask... But don't you think it's a good idea?"

Patch looks at the others who listened to me and Kip smiled, nodding. Silver Gunner softly said

"She gets it."

"So... Patch why not become a guard with Bulwark here and help defend." Looking To Bulwark who has a soft smile now.

Shadow removes the gun from Patches head and seems a bit upset but... Understands and Patch looks to Bulwark and she nods. Then goes to help with the rebuilding. Fleur walked over and gave me a gentle slap with her hoof.

"If I see you standing again... I will make sure you listen Tiria." I gulped. I never thought I would get slapped.

"Anyway I got him to trade some food... Some water... Also, he is going to get us some building materials. He said he will spread that we are looking for more traders around here. So everything should be fine... But he said...right now... It's best to stay out of Manehatten. It's gotten pretty bad there."

Fleur sat beside me and I smiled I never thought I would have a good friend like Fleur. Bulwark went back to chatting with Kip and she chuckled and they kept speaking. I sighed and closed my eyes to get some rest. I kept hearing all the voices and I finally went soundly asleep.

_____________

Middle of the day. Same day camp

I woke up with Fleur still near me and Kip help guarding the gate with Bulwark. I calmly sat up and groaned looking to see the first building slowly coming along. I looked down to Fleur who was using her magic to clean her gun. I tried to stand and Fleur calmly said.

"What did I say?"

I sighed and sat back down.

"Yes, mother..." Fleur looks up with a smile and chuckles.

"Oh, if I was your mother Tiria... You wouldn't even done half the stuff you have done... In fact, I would have made sure you had no scars and listen like a real lady."

I gave Fleur a look I never expected that from her...

"Fleur... you said you were in Cantorlot a lot... what were ponies like there?"

Fleur frowned and sighed.

"Very...snobby and stuck up... They didn't understand the war... Why I got very tired of my coltfriend... Fancy... I got to the point that... I was attacked left and right, verbally and... Then I gathered my crew of many different races and bought that cruise ship. Then Twilight and Pinkie Pie tried to force their way on... To get the Zebras. Like I said... They would make this war end in blood... And they did."

I sighed and stroked along Fleur's neck. I didn't care if she felt like a gross creature, I have grown very close to her.

"I bet you wish you could go back and try to fix it right?"

Fleur looks up with a gentle smile.

"Yes... I do...but sadly what's done is done."

I gave a gentle nod. Leaning back in the chair that was made for me. I watched the building going on and looked to the Raven come and he whispered.

"Watcher is telling me what is going on... The Enclave is causing some nasty issues, they just finished attacking Friendship city. But he didn't tell me what else is going on. But he said to stay here as long as we can... So they don't come and try to find us and cleanse us from this part of Equestria."

I nodded and Crow flew off as he went to check on Kip and Bulwark and he started talking to them. I noticed back to Deep Thought who seems to be teaching some of the young ones that did live here. But of course, a lot of them were slaves. I watched the rest of my friends work. I was getting board but...again... I needed to heal.

I grabbed my journal again. I started to write in it.

____________

Journal

It seems the Enclave wanted the stable that is in the cave of the camp. I guess they hold something nasty to the others of this land... But I'm sure I don't want to try to get it open. The fact that we can even get that open... Maybe a bad thing. I don't know a lot about these stables... But I have been told by some folks... Stay out of them... Maybe it's best to do the same with this one and never open it up. I felt it was odd that the Enclave is trying so hard to destroy what the ponies worked on... They are up in their clouds like thrones looking down on us like we are their cattle.

I had to escape from the camp... I felt very annoyed at the fact... Kip was going to go with me... But to the point, she got captured... She almost died because of me. I don't know what's up but of course. I went through the cave to get to the other side and I saw a green explosion and saw the sun. I finally saw the sun. I was hoping I would see the moon. But never thought the sun was so beautiful. It's something I was hoping to see. But yes I found a settlement of Buffalo and they fed me and gave me some weapons. As well as some food... They also asked me to check on a stream of water for them.

I followed the stream to a cave. Then I met... Sand... At first, I hated him and then somehow he found his way into my heart... Find that interesting. But yes we found a hellhound who is now the new Dj of the town.

Hopefully, he likes the idea of doing it. But yes he was then a guard of the buffalo and I was made part of their tribe. It was something I never thought I would see. Then I went on my way. The next thing... I found are three mares that are part of the Steel rangers... I don't fully understand their issues... But I got them to work together.

It got to the point I just listened to them and thought they were stupid and foolish. Took care of that and then found a camp when bodies of Enclave and normal ponies and found sand eating one of the legs of the ponies... I joined him, doing the same... I don't wish to tell my friends... That pony oddly tastes amazing. But then I wanted to go and my legs gave out and Sand forced me to rest. He said if I didn't rest my body would never move again for a while. Like right now. He even started to carry me and then we found a spot to rest.

I slept for probably an entire day... Then I was able to move and found a caravan under attack. I met Rain and her mother, River. I think her daughter's name was Rain... I don't remember... I do hope to see them again. It was an amazing time after I saved them with the three steel ranger mares.

___________

Camp

I looked up from the Journal and watched all the ponies and griffins working together to build the town up. But it's something I hope I would keep seeing I closed up my journal and Kip brought me some food she had a bowl of meat hovering in her magic. Along with some water and she went back to talk to Bulwark but first she gave me a nuzzle.

"Keep an eye on her please Fleur... I don't want to see her hurt anymore." Fleur smiled.

"I agree."

I chuckled and calmly started to eat and drink my food. As I watched and hoped that down the line there would be more peace in this camp. I finished eating the meat and drank the rest of the water and I started feeling very tired...I yawned and Fleur smiled and sat on her haunches now holding her gun out... Acting like my bodyguard to keep me protected or to stop folks from bothering me as I sleep.

I calmly closed my eyes and started to fall asleep. I felt the smooth air brush through my fur as... I finally went into the deep sleep. Feeling my pain leave me as my body and mind fell into the sleep it needed. Oh, what a day it was... I hope more peace is to come...

For all of us...

For...everypony...