The minotaur closes his book and strokes his head and wants to do what he can. With a knock on his door, he turns to the door.

“It's open.”

The commander of the NCR who runs the platoon has been trying to force the views of the NCR in this town and then trying to do the same all over. He looks like he has been attacked and the minotaur just smirks.

“I need you to write to get more troops here. They need to understand we are here for peace and the only way they will survive is with us helping them.”

He rolls his eyes

“Sir you and I both know this desert land will not accept NCR help. You can’t just come here and force this on them because they asked for one of your judges. The judge even promised them it was just going to be one month and then we would leave.

“Things change. We have seen what this land is like. I even told the other leaders that maybe we can try to push for leadership here and make them see under us it’s going to be a more peaceful life.”

The minotaur sighs.

“Sir, have you even talked to the souls who live here? Have they told you how they felt?”

The commander nods.

“I have and I feel they’re lying. I have even tried talking to the guardians or heroes' former friends. They refuse to give me the time of day. We helped them with their task to put their friendship to the gun as they asked us to.”

The minotaur strokes his head. He is getting tired of how some NCR are so full of themselves trying to force their views all over the place because they got the power, the money, and the know-how to do so.

“Sir for now I would say don’t even try. Let this town and the others in this land rebuild. Till they’re done rebuilding then maybe we try? We can’t allow our fear of them becoming a threat to the NCR. I know some in the NCR fear this area will become a threat to their power.”

The commander laughs.

“Those are the politicians I am looking through the mind of a military idea.”

He grunts.

“Sir if the NCR did this during when Scootloo did what she did the Hardliners would have won and you wouldn’t even be able to be here because ones like you would be dead you know this right?”

The commander stands up he snorts at the Minotaur

“You’re here because you have been asked by our leaders to show the truth here. The truth is what I say the truth is here. If you write what I am saying to write then we will have more troops soon.”

The minotaur tries very hard to ignore his old nature. The stars are telling him to do what is right. It’s time for it? He thinks no it’s not he looks towards the window.

“Look I need to finish what I am doing and then maybe when I get done with writing what happens here during the early years we know what happens after you know what happened we need to make sure everything is ready to be sent.”

The commander snorts.

“Fine I will let you finish your job and when you do. You will do what I command and we get more troops here and make sure we have a hoof hold here. We can't trust these camels, these peonies. These zebras.”

The Minotaur snorts.

“Fine, is this all? Are you going to keep this up?”

The commander stands up looking right into the eyes of the Minotaur.

“I will be going if you keep delaying after your task is over then we will have words. Now I will go do what a commander of the proud NCR should do. I am sure the leadership will be happy that I brought another land under the power of the NCR.”

The stallion leaves closing the door and the minotaur sighs deeply growling softly.

“He has no idea what is causing it if he even tries. This land will never fall into line for them. This land will never do it. They are too prideful here.”

Pigeon opens the door and chuckles.

“Commander pissed you off again?”

The Minotaur nods.

“Did you get anything back from the NCR?”

She nods

“Some of them agree with you, the more outspoken don’t. So it’s up to you what happens since they all rely on you.”

The minotaur nods.

“When my task is done I will send them what I think. Then I will have a personal talk with the commander.”

Pigeon nods leaving, closing the door and he looks back at the box holding his cane.

“Soon my friend will know my wrath.”

_________________

The bunkers

Fear is something that everyone has to deal with. Fear of darkness, fear of themselves. Fear that something that their family did to another. My fear? I don’t know anymore. I have many fears in my heart. I feel that I might lose myself and turn into something I never wanted to become. Looking down at my new gun. The idea of fear created these as well as swords. Fear does so much to the world. It’s what causes the pain and sadness.

My biggest fear? Becoming a minion of a cruel pony again. Being used to murder harm and use the divided hearts of emotions and senses of judgment to get into the soul and minds. To force change in some hearts or how some put it. Force change by breaking something close to them. To change a soul from what I did. Take something they love and destroy something they care about. Stomp on stomp down so hard on them. That all they can do is cower you into what you hate. Then you’re the monster, you're the problem.

“Ruby?”

I didn’t answer. I was too focused on thinking. Is my mind so full of these thoughts that it is healthy? Would I finally be facing the goddess for my sins? Will I be sent to the land of the dead for the cursed and the forgotten? Will I be forgotten or should I forget the tongue-shrilling music as it calls to me.

“Give the little bug some time Tick Tock. I think her brain is so scrambled right now with so much going on she can’t handle the fact that she smells like she is about to give birth.”

I came out of my thoughts after Dunewalker said the word birth. I suddenly realized I was being talked about again. What in the world. I am not pregnant. I don’t have any eggs waiting to be laid in my stomach. Oh…she wanted me to get upset so she knew I was listening.

“Funny Duneawlker, funny.”

Dunewalker smirks

“Is there something you want to talk about though?”

“Are you sure this is a good time?”

I wasn’t sure if it was a good time to stop looking for our friends. Turning my eyes back to Dune.

“Ruby we can’t have you losing it in the middle of a battle. Tick Tock and I are worried about you. I know I act like a hardass.”

“You’re a hardass.”

I hit back at her with a smirk.

“Eh fuck you.”

She smirks.

“But we can’t have you falling apart during a fight. We need to sit and talk about this. Your friends will be fine if we wait just a bit.”

The three of us sit on a bench with very old bench bones all around us. So what a lovely place to sit and talk. Dunewalker glances at the old bones and shakes one of their hooves.

“Anyone else sitting here? Oh, no one is?!”

She kicks all the bones off the bench, tossing them all over the place. I think she is trying to get a laugh out of me and I just laugh loudly and I feel better. It's not going to be easy to move forward since I am so worried about what is ahead.

“I am a bit better and I was thinking of many things like guardians and heroes are the same but they both seem to have an idea of stupidity and idea that they’re above others at times I have noticed this and heard it. I am just worried I would be looked upon as a tyrant.”

Dunewalker nods

“That’s just it buggy. You don’t know this. Even a villain is someone's hero. Redeye to some was a hero. What he wanted to do was in the same way as Pip wanted to do. He wasn’t evil, he wanted to bring the world back his way. If some had to die in his eyes so be it. Take both sides of the enclave. The hardliners were never evil nor their leader; they were heroes in their own right. It’s a matter of how some see it. Some see it as a threat to their way of life. Some others see it the other way. If we all agreed on it. Then the world would be at peace. But that will never happen.”

Tick Tock nods.

“Yes, even Sombra even though he did some things that would be questionable to some. But to others, he was not a threat. He was their hero, their king. I don’t buy that he enslaved all the ponies there. I am sure some gave themselves to him willingly. The life of ponies is harder than you think. Friendship blinded so many of us that all we ever saw.”

Dunewalker nodded looking back at me.

“Take the Storm king. A crazy insane king? No, never every hero and villain is doing something in their interest. There is never really a fully good hero. There is never a fully evil villain. It’s a matter of how some can handle it. Granted some go too far. But ponies were so blinded by friendship. They never saw this war coming. It’s what ended them and zebra their hate ended them. In a way Light hooves were right. Same with Redeye. Hell, even Nightmare Moon was right. Heroes are the threat. They’re to the blind at times.”

Dune took a deep breath and she had more to say.

“Scootaloo was the first hero I saw that knew what she was. To some, she was a villain because of what she did with the stables. Some feel she deserves to die for her crimes. No, she suffered enough for her crimes. Her biggest crime of all? She lived while everyone else around her died. The biggest crime of all living.”

Tick Tock nodded.

“ That is the same for me. That is my biggest punishment. She lived. My punishment for a living. Becoming a clockwork pony. Losing my body to robotics. Scoots punishment never seeing everypony she loved ever again. Mine being a coward with the others and just becoming a shell.”

“Ruby you need to understand you haven’t even committed any crimes yet you’re just trying your darndest to be a guardian, a protector, even a hero. The thing is sometimes you need to go farther dark in your heart to do what is right. I have had to do this many times and I am just a camel. A Dunewalker always does a crime to get what they feel is done. It’s why some of my species can’t stand us.”

“Then what is the point of all this just seems too many rules to protect a single area of land. It's like I say to someone no you can’t be a hero here. You have to sign this many notes and get through all this red tape just to be one. It’s like even though there is so much hate, some just want it to be harder.”

I look away from them, not sure what to think.

“That is the biggest flaw. Too much hate too many to be full of themselves not able to get over themselves. It sometimes takes a villain or a hero to break into the norm and then force change through battle death and even taking the matter in their hooves. It’s not what everyone wants. A way to do it is to be the one known as Winter or do what my kind did. We were suppressed by Zebras and ponies. What we did was we raised them up and then turned their hubris on them. Did what no one dared to do, Winter never would have the guts to grab Scoots by her flank and scream in their face.”

Dune smirks.

“My kind don’t mess around. If you screw one of us over we screw you over. All camel races are one. I am off the Sandwalkers. Many camels have a secret way of contacting others. Winter had more guts than anyone. But guts didn’t make her win. What held her back. She had a heart if she didn’t listen to her heart. Then she would have won.”

I stare at Dune at what she said. Is it bad to have a heart then?

Tick tock sighed.

“There it is the truth Redeye could have done it if one thing. He could have gone farther but he had a heart as well. He had something to fight for. Light hooves are something to fight for. A villain that has nothing to fight for. But wants to force their view on the world. Because they know full well they have the right to. They use a chessboard to move each key. They have nothing to lose. So they use every assistance in every life. To get what they want. They use the pain of others. They use outrage, they use those that scream for change. They step over them to get it. If it means they have to break the entire world”

Tick Tock took a deep breath, a robot taking a deep breath. I have a feeling this was hard for her to talk about. She closed her eyes thinking of what to say to us and then the words came to her and it showed fear in those eyes of hers.

“Using everything to get it gives nothing and then tells those you’re just a simple brain to handle the truth. You’re an object, a slave to bring the world to its knees. Bring it to the path and allow the world to break. If they can do it because they’re them they can do it and not care about life. As long as they get it then it’s their path. That means they just wish to watch the world burn for change.”

I looked away, putting the helm back on. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I needed to move and it was what the others needed to do. We got up and the idea of Villains and Heroes is in my mind no matter what heroes are the villains. Villains are the heroes but both are evil. It’s those that have nothing to lose and nothing to gain. But all the power just to hold lives in their iron hooves.

______________

The bunker

On my hud, there are many red dots all of us are ready for whatever is coming. But Dune walked around here like she knew what she was doing. I forgot of course she has been here well the ones before of her family line have been here.

“Dunewalker, you know more about these bunkers than we do. Do you think you can find us a safer way?”

Dunewalker looks over me from her shoulder. She stares at me with a cybernetic eye. It glows brightly. I would love to know how she got those cybernetics. Maybe I can ask her before we get done with this.

“I can try. I can't promise anything. I will have to dig through my old memories to find out what is the best course of action.”

While Dunewalker is looking I fly up to her and I feel I should ask the question.

“Dunewalker, how did all this happen to you?”

She turns to look at me looking at her cybernetics.

“Do you want the truth or a lie?”

I buzz angrily.

“The truth.”

Dunewalker smirks

“The truth is I was in Detrot and I met four creatures who were dealt a bad hoof. If you ever see them you will know them. Out of respect for them and for their friend I will not go any further about them.”

Dunewalker looks around to make sure we are already there just in case we get attacked. She looks at Tick Tock and Tick Tock’s weapons come out of her hooves. The two look at each other and then at me.

“You ready Ruby?”

I nod

“In all logic, we should be ready just in case some old creations are still here.”

"Let’s go, this basement is pretty big."

DuneWalker grabbed her large sword from its holster and she led the two of us through the basement. So many treasures in this basement. So many old boxes and containers holding who knows what. Dust all over most of them. I could make out the words of some of them. food first aid many different things. But after a while Dune stayed near one of the older cases looking at it and stroking her foot on it.

Staring at the words 'The Dune Walker.' I stared at DuneWalker. She spoke to me and Tick softly so as not to bring anyone to us.

"DuneWalker is the name of a camel that disgraced the family name. The first Dune Walker in my family was my great-great-grandfather. I will not go further into it, I will say one final thing. The one who started the name Dunewalker was during a time most wanted to forget and now it is time to move on.”

"We better get going.."

DuneWalker looked at me and then turned to look at the creatures getting ready to attack us. These creatures look like the bears we fought outside. The three of us got our weapons ready and we slowly backed up to try to get to the door. To get to the other Bunker.

Then a voice sounded out with a strange fog affecting me and Dune Walker. A gentle female voice sounded out.

"You feel you have failed. You feel that you can't go on."

But more red dots form in my hud. I didn't know what to think when I felt sick even when I had the helm on me. "We have failed..." Dune Walker voiced out in a sad voice.

"Yes, we have failed.."

A sad buzz came from me. Tick Tock stared at the two of us. This was odd to her then she turned to see the creature that was affecting us like this. A snake is a cobra large enough to be like a vine. It let off a strange smoke that it breathed in the face of the clockwork mare.

"You feel bad. you wish to give up like your friends."

The strange creature tried to place inside the mind of the mare but she just chuckled softly.

"Interesting, a snake creature trying to infuse emotion inside a robotic mare. Now if I still was living like these two I would be affected."

The snake looked scared like it was about to die; it gave out a squeak of a voice.

"Please don't kill me, I got eggs. I have children.."

"No I won't kill you just please help me and my friends. These creatures don't wish to be around you. Are you a threat to them?"

The snake lifted her head looking at the projects of the past. She gave a quick nod.

"Yes, I was created to attack zebras. But I could help you and your friends if you don't kill me. I just wish to get out of this Bunker. I have been locked in here for the past two hundred years and it's getting on my nerves being here with these other creatures that do have manners." The snake added with a snort of anger.

"Good and if you wish. Are there any spots in the wall of the bunker that could through the dirt? I'm sure that they made you able to move through the sand and soil."

The snake stared at Tick Tock.

"Why do you ask?"

The snake stares at my friend. Even though she didn't release any more of that fog I still felt pretty awful. I couldn't do anything about it. I felt scared and frozen. Dune Walker just sat on her butt staring at the ground, tears forming in one eye.

"Well, one reason is my friends are affected by whatever you release. But we also have a place where we live in Hard Rock City. Do you two think you could take your eggs there? Just tell your friends with the buzzer or just say my name Ruby that she told you that you could stay in the research building that was given to her to relax in."

I felt happy deep down though that Tick Tock was offering our home to a creature created to kill zebras so it looks like some of the creations were made to be smart and not just killing machines. I turned on the breather on the helm and the breather cleaned out the fog.

"Geez, I got to remember to use that feature." I turned to look at the snake creature. "It sounds like my friend wishes to offer you our home. So please take your eggs and find a peaceful place. What do you normally eat?"

The female snake had the look of thought stroking her chin with her tail. "I eat anything, even those blood worms that grow in the bellies of ponies." I turned to look at Tick tock.

"Wait those worms, what do you know about them?" I asked in a buzz.

The snake looked around for a moment thinking. "Oh well since I can read thanks to what they did to us. The ponies created the worms. They wanted to do whatever they could to win that silly war of theirs. So they did what they had to in their minds. But It's what they felt was right. Now I think we better get going before those other creatures get brave and try to attack me."

DuneWalker didn't move but I grabbed her paw with my leg to pull her along. It wasn't easy but she did follow. The snake led us through the basement to get to the next bunker. I found it interesting that both bunkers have the same basement but it might be made this way so it's easy to get from bunker to bunker. The snake leads us to a door that opens up and inside the room are many old computers and terminals. Above it said a decontamination room. A door closed behind us and in this room were many eggs.

A smaller male snake that is not as long as the female.

"Subara?" The male asked.

"Relax Slither, They just wished me to help them to get to the next bunker."

"You have so many eggs. Will you be able to get them all to Hard Rock city?"

The female snake is now known as Subara nods or how a snake can nod.

"Yes, we can eat the eggs and then spit them back up. It's how we move them. Slither we have a new home that has food all over the sand." I could tell in the eyes of Slither he wasn't fully sure it was wise to move. But he didn't argue. Then Subara opened the decontamination room that is beside us. How she knew to open it was amazing to me but I'm sure she watched the ponies of the past do this many times.

"When we leave did my mate tell you that the creatures will no longer be scared and might try to attack you?"

I looked over to Slither after he asked the question. I wasn't sure but I'm sure they wanted a more peaceful land to live in than here. Where the creatures could suddenly get brave and attack them and the eggs.

Tick Tock slowly pushed DuneWalker into the room turning it on she watched while the room slowly sprayed fluid on Dune Walker then robotic hands came out placing a strange cream all over her fur. It even removed her gear, placing it outside of the room and cleaning it along with her weapons. But I finally got a good look at her. The rest of her body was brown fur. But most of the fur was gone with many scars and old wounds that didn't fully heal. But the fluid that is being rubbed into her fur looks to be working on healing those wounds.

"Yes, I understand they will get brave and attack us. But a city could use you. Now please get going. I don't know how long we will be protected in this room when you leave."

The two snakes look at each other and then eat their eggs going through a hole in the wall and digging to the surface.

Tick tock quickly found a lock to keep this room protected from the creatures that wish to break in here.

"Ruby the next Bunker is right out of this room. So please pull her out of there quickly."

I looked into the decontamination room. I didn't know if she was done. "But Tick, how do we know to remove her from this while whatever it's doing won't harm her?"

Tick tock stared at me pushing me into the chair to watch the cameras.

"Then you keep an eye on those. I will make sure this gets done."

I sighed, buzzing in anger. I didn't know what to do but just watched these strange screens. I sat in the old chair that still worked but I saw that a terminal worked. I clicked the keyboard of the terminal. It needed a password. I didn't know much about the pony that sat here. But I saw their name tag sitting on the counter. 'Rumble' is The name said on it. I didn't have to worry about a password that was already unlocked and focused on recording a message that was never sent.

I clicked on it and the recording went through my helm. The voice sounded young adult

"Hello Thundrelane, I...I don't even know if you're still alive." He sniffed sobbing just a bit. "Everypony left me down here while they dealt with the zebras upstairs. I'm a scared brother. I can't believe our wonderful land is dead. I heard we got hit here too. But only once but it's already mixed with the curse that Luna placed on this land."

Sounds of Gunfire in the background. "Brother it's just not the zebras we have to deal with down here. We have been doing things down here I can't tell you about. WheelTread has so much to answer for. He left us to go to Equestria. He acted like he knew this would happen.

Angry roars in the background of the recording.

"We have been doing projects down here that were used to fight zebras. But instead, these creatures didn't just go after them, they went after us. All because Wheeltread focused on the project he is doing. Project Coming storm. These creatures were for a project known as the Iron wolf project and many others I can't name off the top of my head. Thunderlane, please don't forget about me."

The sound of the door being smashed into. The roars outside grow. "I wish I could see you again brother. But I feel like I'm going to die." The door breaks out in the recording and there is the sound of gunfire and the recording ends.

I blinked another pony and died down here because of the past. But I started hearing growls and the sound of the door being smashed again. Looked at the door and saw many dents in it. Then I quickly got off the chair. Rushing over to Tick Tock who stared at me with an angry look on her face. She may be a clockwork mare but she was able to show her anger.

"Alright, Ruby next time you're just there and listen to something. You ask us first. Now help me open this door to get her out."

Tick Tock stared at me in anger then went to gather up Dune Walker's gear and weapons. I felt awful the fact that I did it again and well now I got to open this damn door. Since we have been spotted already by these creatures. I grabbed my new pistol.

Looking to make sure it was already loaded I found it impressive. I aimed at the lock-fired watch and an alarm went off causing a voice over the PA to speak.

"Security is active. Sending out robots to deal with the zebra threat. Warning no robots left destruct active. Warning: no self-destruct found. Releasing nerve gas. An hour's worth of Nerve gas only for the basement. All of it has been used upstairs. Warning the entire building can't be saved. It's best to get to the next bunker."

Then the PA voice grows very angry. "I can't work like this!!" The PA blew itself up into a stress rage and I stared at Tick Tock.

"Uh.... okay that happened."

I laughed weakly groaning. I forgot that DuneWalker doesn't have the type of helm like I do. But when the door opened up she stared at me.

"Good job buggy you saved us." Did I save them? I had no idea how I saved them so I turned to look at Dunewalker.

"How did I save you?" I had no idea how I saved us but then the gas. The roaring died down.

"Nerve gas won't kill all of them but it will protect our new friends in the bunker. But now we need to be going quickly. The gas-like I said won't last forever." She stared at the name tag. A tear went down her face. She lifted the name tag looking down in sadness.

"I um...."

Looked to Tick-Tock who was opening the door with her clockwork body to get to the next Bunker. "You knew that pony, didn't you DuneWalker?"

Dune Walker placed the name tag in her bag.

"No, my great-great-grandmother did. She was close friends with him and loved him as a brother. He got her out of this place before the entire bunker killed him. Come on. Let's go.."

The door finally opened and we went up to the next Bunker.

___________

Bunker Beta basement

The bunker is pretty much the same. But what's odd about this one is all the power is on and everything is working. Little robots skitter around working on various parts of the wiring and the lights. I noticed something though I read a sign 'Welcome to Bunker Beta.'

"This Bunker had the rich in it. Yes, most of the desert was full of rich ponies. That's why these robots are here. They were built to protect and save the bunker. I'm sure these robots gained powerful minds after a while."

A robot walked down the stairs. The robot was the shape of a pony.

"Ah please come with me." The robot led us to another room that had no cameras or anything inside it.

"DuneWalker... Why are you here?"

Dune took a deep breath sighing.

"I'm here helping Ruby here find her friends.."

The robot looked back at me and then back at DuneWalker.

"The fact you're here with that criminal."

That hit me harder than others though. I a criminal?

Dune Walker turned looking at me then back to the robot. "Why is she a criminal? She is new to this land and only has done things that would help it. What did she do?"

The robot looked at me then back at DuneWalker.

"She tried to stop our leader from spreading the word that the storm king is rising. I would think you would be happy about that DuneWalker since your ancestors helped him in the past."

I looked at DuneWalker, then she looked back at me and Tick Tock.

"That was the past. She is trying to save this land now. From some crazy creature that is using chess as a way to make her look dumb."

The robot looked away and sighed.

"Ah, the one that promised that he would bring the storm king back. Look DuneWalker you won't have any trouble in this bunker. But the ones that wish to kill the hero or so-called hero and her friends will be waiting for them. If they attack you may kill them. As for me, I will follow on with what your mother told me to do. Till DuneWalker is removed from your name."

DuneWalker looked away.

"I'm not the Dune Walker you know. I wasn't here during the war."

The robot turned back to look at Dune Walker. "You're a Dune Walker Camel. No matter what you will be thinking of the first Dune Walker. I was programmed that way by the ponies to remember this. Now take your criminal friend and do what you can. But I agree she will fall and then fall deeper into a hole."

The robot turned to look at me after it said those words. It made me scared and unsure of what I should do. Tick tock of course.

"Listen, Robot Ruby is not a criminal. She has done nothing on this land."

The robot turned to look at Tick tock.

"Oh really so she is still not a minion of Majesty?" Tick Tock stared at the robot with a surprised look on her clockwork features.

"Yes, I know who created her."

I sighed. It's about time for me to say something. I took my helm off staring at the robot.

"I'm no longer under the control of Majesty. She was defeated years ago. I wanted to go see the hero that saved us from her. But I ended up here with my friends and made new friends."

The robot stared at me. " I see but she still created you so you did do criminal acts."

Tick Tock grew very upset. I could tell that she is upset. Her eyes glowed brightly.

"Yes, she was created to do criminal acts. But she was forced to do many of those criminal acts. But before the war that Star Shooter brought to our land. Now blaming Ruby for what she did under Majesty. Then that is not right. Yes, she can be easily controlled by someone like the Queen again."

The Robot turned to look at me and it sighed.

"Fine, you two will have no issues with me or the other robots. But above us are the speakers of his word. if you get in their way they will attack you. Like the leader of them did. Now Dune Walker I will go. If you harm any of the worshipers of the preacher then the entire bunker will hunt you down."

The robot finally left. I didn't know what to think at all.

"DuneWalker, why did that Robot act as if it knew you?"

Tick Tock questioned

DuneWalker looked away. She stayed silent for a long time. Then she looks back to me and Tick Tock.

"There is more to my family than just being happy. The ponies treated my kind like second-rate since we have been here way before they even showed up in this land. But they felt that we had to accept their leadership as our leadership. This was before the war even started or even the rebellion."

DuneWalker looked away again.

"So history that was never written then?" Tick Tock asked again.

Dune Walker snorted in anger. "They never needed to write history on how they treated my kind. But some ponies came down here after the tribes came together. We didn't fully get their ire till they tried to force this land under Equestria back before Luna became Nightmare Moon.:

DuneWalker grew more upset.

"Then to cause us problems they forced all my kind to know what the past did. How they fell in love. How they loved each other. Secrets of the past. They did this to us so they could force us under them and the princess. But then we helped Luna start the Rebellion."

Tick Tock gave a nod.

"It sounds like many things that caused the war to happen were already set in motion in the past. But it seems more that they don't wish you to forget the fact you're DuneWalker."

As I listened I was told while I was here I spent most of the time thinking to myself. But the biggest problem when it comes down to it is how I see most things. But when It came to learning about Dune Walker and the past. I would never understand. While we are stuck in these bunkers until we open the main one. But how would we get back to our friends? Would we just find a way to get them here or have they already been captured?

"So much happened to my kind during this war Tick Tock. But more happened in the past. The beast, the monsters. The fact that more threats showed up way before the war. The fact we might even be fighting them again."

She turned her eyes to look at me.

I turned my head to look at her. I felt bad for DuneWalker. She is cursed.

“Dunewalker I am here as your friend and will always be here to help you through this curse if you allow me to. Please?”

Dunewalker smiles

“I will hold you to that if you can, my little bug friend. Tick Tock, can you go ahead? I need to speak to Ruby about something.”

Tick Tock nods and trots ahead to scout to see if she can find anything. Dunewalker comes over to me, reaching into her bags, bringing out a book, and opening it up.

“This is our history and you will see many names including Grogar. It’s how most of the time we will never be able to fight him on our own. It’s something we need to learn and will always learn. Now we need to get going okay?”

I stay there and Dunewalker turns to look at me.

“Is there any way to help you with the curse?”

Dunewalker frowns

"I can't allow you to help me with that Ruby. For my kind, it's my own choice to remove the curse. I could have removed it years ago. But removing the curse would be bad for my family. Someday I will learn how to remove the curse and get my name back. It will be something I will have to do myself. I will learn how when the sand gives me a dream.”

I tilt my head.

“Sand dreams what?”

Dunealker laughs.

“Camel thing.”

I sigh rolling my eyes

“Alright come on Ruby we can’t just stand there talking about what I want or you want. It’s time to get this done.”

I laugh nodding

“Let's go then”

The two of us rush off to join Tick Tock as we follow the path our friends were taken down. I hope we find them soon and then we will fight for them till one of us is either dead or they’re saved.

_______________

Upstairs

Well and here I thought it would be easy. When we made it upstairs the robots that attacked and her in the sewers let us by. But the issue of this is some of them had their weapons ready to fire on us. I didn't know what to expect but the halls of the bunker were very narrow so we had to do much to bypass all the robots. Even though they stared at me.

"You won't stop him."

One kept saying behind us.

Tick Tock was already pretty far ahead of us and we moved into the mess hall. In the mess hall, there were bones and dried blood all over the place. The robot that was following us stood in front of the door waiting to attack us. Since I saw in its little one eye that it was glowing and recording us.

"Ruby."

Dune Whispered and I followed her Tick Tock just stared at the robot.

"There is a room that would shut down the robots. But It will only shut down the ones that are connected to this bunker. Now you need to remove your armor and weapons. Since it won't be easy for you to go through here."

She moved the vent cover off and. I just stared at her. Why must I be small enough to go through here? But anyway I took off my armor and set it down and looked up to DuneWalker.

"What way do I need to go?"

"Go left and then follow the green paint. It will lead you to the core that holds the ability to control the robots. Oh and be careful that the room can get way too hot. Also, take this with you.”

Dunewalker tosses me a small communication device. I put it on my head and head into the vent to go through to do the task I have been asked to do. I take a deep breath feeling a bit worried about this. I worry about a fire burning me again.

___________

Vent System

"Alright, Ruby, can you hear me?"

I was trapped in a vent. I felt that the world was closing around me. But this wasn't the time to have this crisis in my mind. I felt the walks trying to close in. But she spoke again to break me out of this.

"Ruby, I can see you with my eye through the wall. I need you to go left. Remember to follow the paint."

I sighed, finally calming down.

"Alright Dune."

My wings flapped many miles an hour lifting me off the vent floor. I slowly flew through the old rust bunker vent. But, strangely, these are very clean. It may be rusted in some spots. But I noticed some spots also have been recently cleaned. I wonder if there is a robot in here that repairs the vents. But I didn't have time to think. But I made sure to keep following the way through the vent following the green paint.

"Alright, Ruby I can't see you anymore. Since you're too deep into the system. Now you will know when you get to the core that controls these robots. Your device will short out. Now It will be a while. If you feel too much heat then you're getting too close to the heater of both bunkers. I warn you don't block them."

I didn't know what to think anymore. All I could do was follow the green paint. But I found old bones of zebras trying to go through here to kill the ponies. But I also saw the bones of rats. I'm starting to wonder if there is something nasty in here. Then as if it was clockwork. I got attacked by something. The creature, whatever it was, screeched in anger. It coiled around me, forcing me down as I stared at it.

But it stared at me looking deep into my eyes. It started to speak.

"M...M..magic eater..."

I blinked and the snake-like creature uncoiled from me. I stared at the creature and then it looked at me.

"Creation of Majesty..."

I didn't know what to think this creature knew. It looked in pain as it stared at me.

"What are you?" I buzzed asking the question.

The snake creature had venom dripping from its fangs. But Just looked at me. But then spoke.

"Creation of ponies. Ponies that had secret ties with Majesty. I have the DNA of your species in me. Magic eater..."

Wait My eye just stared at the creature. The DNA of my species? The fact that majesty had ties with the outside world during the war?

"But how is this so? There was always a spell keeping us trapped on the island.."

The creature sighed softly.

"She could break the spell. She could have left. The spell was used to keep the creature. All ponies could have left."

That hit me. We could have allowed the hero to leave all that time. The spell was never meant to keep the ponies and zebras in or even keep them out. Then why did the spell make a storm to stop others from coming in and out?

"Then do you know why the spell made a storm?"

The creature just stared at me shaking its head.

"No, the fact that Majesty brought some of your species DNA to this land. This is why some of your race was made here. But mostly died out because the magic is not pure enough. I survived all these years because of the creatures that normally tried to break through here. But I'm alone.."

I sighed, closing my eyes, not sure what to think. She lied to all of us. She even lied to the real hero that came to the land. So many lies and the fact the spell didn't even keep the ponies from leaving. I looked back at the hero and she wanted to go home. She could have the entire time.

" Majesty has been defeated. The hero could have left the entire time. But she was told by Majesty that the spell would stop her. She almost lost her life to save us from the Queen."

I felt so awful looking back on how she was treated and how I just attacked her while I was controlled. Someday I might be controlled again. Maybe that will be because I am easily mind-controlled. My species was created by a Queen that used us to fulfill her battle and her way of thinking.

"I used to have a name. But I don't.." I look at the creature I couldn't tell what sex the creature was. But They're unlike the two snakes I saw. I am thinking of allowing it to join us in the town. I don't wish them to be here alone.

"Are you willing to help protect a pony town known as Hard Rock?" The creature lifted its head staring at me with its dark eyes. I couldn't tell if it was smiling or not. Maybe this creature needed to move on from this place. It needed time to move on.

"I can do what I can to protect the town. But It might be best if I stay away from the eyes of the town. Is there a place for me that I could stay in?"

I thought for a moment a buzz came from my body while I was thinking. But then I thought of the research station that they gave us to live in. A place for ones like me and the others to rest and feel welcomed. Maybe this creature could also live there with the other snakes I am hoping at least

"What do you normally eat?"

The creature sighed a bit.

"I was created to eat zebras, a weapon to be used during the war. But the thing is a creature like me being used to killing zebras? That's not a wise idea for me. I never ate another soul I refused to. They almost destroyed me and then the zebras attacked before they could kill me. So I could do much to protect what you wish me to."

A creature was created to kill zebras then they wished to kill it. I understand ponies less and less now. A race of peaceful creatures. Of soft hearts, I don't understand this at all. They create, they destroy their love, and they break. I'm starting to see why the war happened. The ponies did so much to themselves. Both sides fought for a reason I will never understand. I may have been created by a queen that wanted to send me to war. But I never thought I would never understand war.

"There is an old research building that was given to us. You wouldn't be alone though. There are two other creations of two snakes that went there too. They won't be a threat to you or will you be a threat to them and their children?"

The creature gave me a weak smile.

" No I wouldn't, I would defend them with my life. I will do what I can to defend this new home of your magic eater. Maybe someday you will learn more about yourself. Maybe you will become the warrior instead of the worker. Maybe someday a change will happen to you."

A smile formed on my buggy face. Well of what I could do with a smile. It looked odd to many. But Maybe this is a good thing finding creatures to protect Hard Rock City. When I am not there. I watched the creature leave but it turned its head to me. The snake creature then finally spoke.

"I'm Hiss. I used to have another name. But it's gone. I shall see you again."

The creature slowly left. I am sure I will see them again. When I returned to Hard Rock City. But for now, I need to make sure I get to the core. But why did it start getting so warm in here after the creature left?

Looking down the vent I saw why. The creature's body was keeping the heat from getting into this vent. The heat it was burning was so hot. It felt like fire. But I was able to move along and keep myself from burning. I just kept flapping my wings to keep my body cool. I didn't allow the heat to take me or hurt me. But while I went through I saw more bones. I even found a few notes written in blood.

'There is no escape. Fuck Celestia and Luna. The war has killed us.' Many more I saw but when I kept going I saw more bodies of the dead. Why did so many try to come through here to escape? Looking at all the bodies made me feel bad. But the bones blocked the way to the core. I wonder why so many tried to get to the core. So I had to break through the bones. It hurt but with my strong exoskeleton, it was ten times easier than I thought it was. But when I got further through. I noticed most of these bodies were forced in here by something. I hope whatever it was, I don't see it. I don't want to deal with something huge and evil.

But I kept following the green pain that led to the core. I could feel the heat again from the core. But I don't know why it was so hot. But then I realized I looked at the words. 'Exhaust' I am in the core's exhaust vents. No wonder why it's so hot in here and why many of the bones looked burned. I felt the heat getting worse. But I needed to go through here like DuneWalker said to get to the core. I didn't know to turn off the core but maybe I will find out when I get there.

Finally, I got to the home stretch and the way into the core was getting hotter. The metal of the vents was burning hot even. I tried hard to keep flying but I never was made to be in heat like this. But I tried to stay in the middle as I flew. Part of my body slowly cooks. It didn't feel wonderful, it felt very awful. To the point that I felt it burning in my insides. I wanted to get to the way there but during this, I saw figments staring at me.

"You're going to fail.. little bug." A figment of Dune Walker said in a dark voice. I just stared at the figments and more of them showed up. The fact that the heat was doing this to me pained me hard. I didn't wish to know what else would happen. But I turned to see CranBerry staring at me. I felt my heart or well I think I have more than one heart but I am not sure. But I felt my heartbreak when I saw her. The one I care deeply about looked sad like she was crying.

"Oh... My little daughter... You're alive. Please come back to me. I miss you."

She said with sobs. I reached for her but my little feet passed through her touching the metal and I quickly backed away while steam lifted from the burnt leg. It was painful but I had to move. The heat was starting to affect my very wings. They felt weak and brittle but I had to get through. I didn't want to have to grow them back again. I finally found the vent cover leading to the core. I looked in to see the core that kept the robots online.

I backed up to try to smash through the vent. It wasn't going to be that easy. I know this well. But I almost touched the other side of the wall. Then I quickly, with a buzz of determination smashed into the vent cover. It didn't do anything but shake it. I felt the pain but I needed to keep going and not stop myself from doing this. I backed up again, groaning in pain. My body is smoking just a bit.

Then I flew into the cover again, lucky for me this time it broke and fell. I bring speak into the communication device again

“Well Dunewalker I saw someone trying to pretend to you they failed, they were too much of a joke, not a jackass like you are.”

I hear my two friends fighting the robots

“Can we insult each other later Ruby come on getting into the core and turning these ass holes off? OW, that’s my ass you fucking robot.”

____________

The core

I went inside the core room of the core. It was a pretty big room. Many computers are strewn all over the place talking about numbers. With robots working on them. They didn't notice me yet. But I felt that maybe this was built to keep the bunker going just in case the war happened. I went to the main control room. The door thankfully was unlocked but there was the robot that beat me. I didn't know what he was doing but he was talking to someone.

"We found more pieces of him, sir. They're being sent to you soon. Also, there is no sign of the bug and her friends. I doubt she would wish to rush in like a hero after our first meeting."

I looked in trying my best to hide watching the robot talk to a dark figure. The figure spoke back with a soft laugh.

" Don't underestimate heroes. If a calling is big they will come. If a calling is what breaks them they will break. I know it's not that simple to most. But most will never know what would happen to them. All that is known is the history that is written for them. Now she just needs to move her pawns."

The robot chuckles.

" What about the two you have been speaking to, are they willing to help you now?"

The two he has been speaking to? Maybe it's my friends. I hope it's them. I need to make sure I can get to them and help them. Maybe they will forgive me and help me along the way.

"Oh, it's taking a while. But I am sure down the line they will agree to help me. Now I need you to go to another place. Go to tunnel town in the big 52 you will find another part of him in storage but don't harm any pony. We don't need them getting ready to attack us too soon."

The robot nodded. He was odd; he floated like a Dr. Slice but he had large wheels and was larger than normal. I didn't know what to do or think. Cozy glow turned off the screens and looked at the rest of her followers.

"Followers of the Storm King. We will be heading to the big 52 to find more of him. We need to place him back together but know this He will rise and join us in the final battle. To retake project Rainfall." The robots cheer and they move out leaving the other robots defenseless as I watched them leave. I watched the one that attacked me turn and look at me.

She just stared at me with her robotic eye. She knew I was there but she didn't even do anything. But I heard her words in my mind again.

"You will know who beat you and it will haunt you. Every time you see me. You will remember your failure." she left and I felt myself dreading seeing him again. The dread would have filled me if I didn't hear the static of Dune Walker.

"OI Buggy did you make it?!"

I broke out of my funk speaking into the burnt Com.

"Yes I am here... he was here as well. I think he saw me, should I worry about that?"

Dune Walker didn't speak for a while. But I hear her voice.

"Shit Tick Tock seals the door." I didn't hear any shooting but I heard them sealing the door and then Dune Walker spoke again. " We saw them. I think they saw us as well. But I doubt they saw us as a threat. Now, what do you see in there? There should be a book there to teach you how to turn it off."

I blinked at a book to teach me how to work this machine? I looked on the desk and saw Photos of the ponies that worked here. All of them were smiling and looked like friends. I saw CloudChaser and her sister Flitter. I didn't know what to think anymore. These ponies looked so peaceful and happy. They wished to enjoy their lives and wished to bring hope. Maybe someday I will learn about the true peace of the ponies.

But here I am just thinking to myself and not looking for the book. I looked through the rest of the desk. Since I don't have my bags with me I can't take any of the ammo. The ammo would have been used into my pistol but I need to find this damn instruction book on how to work this. I looked around the desk some more to find the book finally. I read the title

'Instructions on how to work the robot core.'

I sighed. I didn't think this would be so hard but that's more than I thought. But I read through it. 'You wish to learn how to use a robot computer core. Now, this core is experimental so turning it off the wrong way will cause something bad to happen. Are you willing to keep going? If so, turn the page.'

I turned the page and read that what I need to do is turn each steam vent to release steam to cool off the core. Keeping the book open I fly around looking for the valves to release the pressure from the core to cool it down. When I twisted a valve the steam hit me but it made me feel cool. I didn't want to be inside it. But I slowly looked for the steam gathering around and twisting each one I found. Landing back into the control room coughing, laying my head on the desk.

"Ruby, are you there?" Dune Walker asked. I could hear her and Tick Tock fighting off some of the robots that tried to break through the room.

"Yes..." I weakly buzzed the room and it was hot then it was starting to get very cold. "I am getting cold...I can't move."

"Ruby, we need you to turn off the.." An explosion sounds and Tick Tock yells the sound of a large table being tossed on many robots. "Please hurry, we won't last long if you don't turn it off."

I tried to move off the freezing desk. Looking at the page. It said when the core is cooled down. Put in the code to shut it down. I slowly went along the frozen desk groaning in pain. Slowly clicking the code I read. The screen came up with warnings saying 'Do you wish to shut this down?' I typed yes and the system started to shut down slowly. But the robots connected to it started to short out and explode. I tried to hide under the desk but I was slow and sluggish.

I'm starting to wonder if the robots have been on for too long and they gathered so much energy in their cores. Parts of the robots flew into the control room. As one tried to crawl toward me lifting a gun to fire. But it shorted out and I didn't know what to think. But it was so cold I could even flap my wings. Slowly got out from under the desk and looked around, seeing the core is not bright red like it was when I first saw it.

Looking around the room I found a door that leads back upstairs. But I started to shake and freeze, feeling my body shutting down from the cold.

"You did it buggy... Ruby?" Then I heard Tick Tock gasp.

"Does the core freeze if you turn it off?"

"Yes.."

"Damn it quickly we need to get to her." Then I heard them reading but the com dying from the cold. I slowly moved or tried to but I heard soft laughter. I looked up seeing Mix.

"Oh, poor little Ruby." I stared at Mix. Now I am sure he is dead and there is no way he can be here.

"Yes, poor little bug." Then I turned to see Cricket and Mouse behind him. All three of them surrounded me. I didn't know what to think. But I feel them laughing.

"The poor traitor wishing to be a hero." Mouse laughed.

"I saw your future Ruby. Just a worthless creature never to be a hero." Mix whispered in my ear laughing.

"You wish to be like the hero that I broke. That hurt. Do you wish to fall like her? You wish to become nothing?!" Cricket lifted me. Why was he here? He is dead, how can he be here? I started to feel so unsure and felt pain as he punched me into the buggy face.

"Leave her to her fate Cricket." I started sobbing but my vision went from seeing cricket to having Tick Tock staring at me.

" Ruby, relax, it's me. Don't worry you will be fine." She lifted me out of the cold room and Dune Walker wrapped me into a blanket to get me warm and we stayed in the room I went into the vent from. I felt pain and shook because my body is not used to freezing weather.

"I saw...Tick tock...I saw Mix... Cricket and mouse. They laughed at me."

Tick Tock held me close, stroking my head. I hear something in my head clicking and like it’s making wiring sounds. I can’t focus on it because it stopped after the figments left. I am starting to wonder what is going on. I remember Doc gave me some surgery to remove some chips from my head. Hmm, I will have to see if I can find out what's in here.

____________

Dreams

"Ruby!! I need to speak to you quickly. You need to know what is going on." I tried to shake him off me.

"Get off me!!"

"No, I need to warn you he is coming in 20 years. We will all lose. You need to be ready for him. You need to be ready for him to show up."

I stare at Mix

“What in the world are you talking about are you here?”

MIx stares at me. He looks at the clock, it's like forcing him to stay here for the time.

“Oh, goddess, thank you I need to warn you Ruby something bad is going to happen in 20 years.”

I sigh

“Do you know my future? Do I wish to know?”

Mix smirks

“You become kind of a lucky bug.”

I become a very lucky bug? I wonder what he means by that? Hmm I am looking forward to whatever this is

“What do you mean?”

Mix sighs.

“I can’t say too many spoilers for your life. Now get me out of here you stupid clock.”

He hit it hard and vanished. I woke up.

_________

Storage room.

Slowly I woke up hearing gunfire as well as blades slicing into robotic bodies. Everything was so fuzzy but I was left in a little blanket. While I looked around seeing that the room had been blown into and the others were nowhere to be seen. Hearing robots yelling and gunfire. I'm guessing we didn't turn them off more than pissed off the robots. Removed me from the blanket finding my armor sitting right beside me with a note. 'Get your ass in a gear buggy!!'

Got me into the armor and the hud came on showing that my internals is pretty beat up. I felt a needle go into my side. I reached for the pistol since now I feel it's needed to look at the gun and look at the name again. Removed the safety flapping my wings and flew into the halls to try to find my friends. When I got out a laser blast from the robots tried to hit me but I hid. Looking at my EFS to follow the green dots. They were surrounded by red dots. Quickly I got out of the cover and it felt like the world slowed down.

Blasters of heated magic bolts slowly past me. Lifting the gun firing when I did the bullet went deep into the first robot. It fell to the ground. I tried to fire another one but the bullet just hit a limp causing it to fall off one of the bots. Even if it was more than four attacking me now. I had to get to my friends so I took a deep breath and shot through them an arm of one of the robots smacked right into me causing me to fly into the wall groaning sliding to the floor turning weakly to see all four coming towards me.

DuneWalker and Tick Tock come from the left to protect me. Tick Tock had her synesthetic body burnt off. Her blades come out of her hooves coated in oil. She and Dune destroyed the robots in a quick swoop with their weapons. Sparks and parts flying. Dune Walker put away her sword, turning to look at me with a snort. Tick Tock helped me up. I felt back for the poor Clockwork mare whose synthetic body burned off her again.

"You didn't tell DuneWalker that the robots would go crazy!!"

I buzzed in a yell at her.

"Eh it was getting dull anyway now we need to get upstairs."

I grew very angry. I had to speak my mind.

"No, you will listen to me."

Dune looked at me from the corner of her eye.

"First you ask me to go through a vent. Then I meet a creation that is made to kill zebras and ponies. But I allowed them to go."

Dune just walked off.

"Enough wasting time little buggies come along." She just walked away from me. I turned to look at Tick Tock who just shrugged her shoulders. I set my pistol back on my armor and just felt maybe it's best to just follow her. Tick Tock walked close behind me. I heard voices while we followed Dune Walker to get upstairs.

I feel the clicking in my head again. I hold my head a bit to listen. I am trying to understand what the hell this sound is then I hear a voice.

"Oh, the poor little bug. So worthless."

One of the voices I heard was the robot that attacked me and left me be.

"Majesty will take you back into her graces Ruby if you allow her to," Cricket said in the back of my mind. But I swear I saw him.

"You turned on us, Ruby. You didn't ask if we wanted to help this land.." The voices said that sounded like Hawk.

Closing my eyes tightly I had to clear them from my mind.

"Ruby... Ruby. Ruby.." I kept hearing I grew angry and turned to Tick Tock seeing her as Mix.

"No.... y....y..."

"RUBY!!" A felt a hoof smack me in the helmet to wake me up and my vision turned back to normal seeing Tick Tock standing there and she looked very worried. Dune Walker finally grabbed me, pulling me along.

"Come along you little bug we can't allow you to have insane time. So it's time to go."

I feel my depression leaving me again after I was hit in the head. After I heard the clicking I started to notice I was getting upset and I saw things. I don’t know what is going on. It started this way when I saw the robots and then the Panna?

____________

We finally made it upstairs, gunfire kept us from getting into the room we needed to get to. I had my pistol out firing

bam bam bam Click I was out of ammo the cover we had was a large box that Dune Walker kept pushing forward to stop. Tick Tock didn't have guns on her so she couldn't do anything but tell me the best place to fire.

"Above!! the turret housing."

Reloading the pistol I fired on the housing of the turrets and they shut down.

"The eyes of the robots."

Bam I fired into the eyes of the robots and I heard them screaming.

"Alert alert... vision-impaired can't exterminate"

Tick Tock and Dune Walker took out their weapons Tick Tock's sword cut through the metal the robots screamed. Dunes' large sword just cut the robots in half. After a few seconds, all the robots lay there broken. Tick Tock had some burns on her casing from getting shot. Dune had a few wounds with fresh blood dripping from them but it didn't stop her. As for me I kind of had a few holes in my wings.

But the battle was over. Then a large sentinel robot came out of the office. The weapons this thing had were huge. It stood there and then spoke.

"The Storm King calls you three. I was turned on and programmed to help bring him back. Are you going to stop us from our holy Quest? The world belongs to him!! How will you..."

Dune tossed her sword and it bounced off him

Dune shrugged, charging at the robot. It surprised the sentinel that well Dune didn't just stand and allow it to speak. Tick Tock and I just watched as Dune took her cybernetic feet and smashed them across the robot. Picking up her sword and sliced it as the blade just kept bouncing off the robot.

The robot sighed.

"You had to be so rude didn't you?"

Its arm lifted and smacked Dune back to us but she stood back up getting ready to battle. Her body didn't look like it would stop. She had a smile of glee on her face. She let out a deep laugh of pleasure that the pain felt wonderful. To her pain was a pleasure she needed from what I learned about her.

"Oh..."

She shuddered like she was going through a pleasure cruise of pain.

"Maybe you can bring the name of the DuneWalker to an end robot. Don't just stand there, this is battle, this is war... Equestria we aren't those pansies that cursed us. Because of Luna's rebellion. The enclave.. the NCR they don't know the true battle!!"

I didn't understand what she was talking about. I have been on Devil's Due since Star Shooter left. It sounds like Equestria wasn't as peaceful as Star Shooter said it was. It sounds to me that there is more to the story. Tick Tock and I just looked at each other. The Clockwork mare didn't understand what Dune meant. I didn't know whether there was something we missed being on that island.

"Ruby, while the robot is distracted, get behind it with your sword."

Giving her a nod slowly I sneaked fly to try to get behind the large robot. There was enough light that it could see me. But, strangely, it focused on Dunewalker. I didn't understand that until I heard these words.

"Your kind will help us again bring the Storm king back. You helped us, you let us through..." Grabbing my sword Spitfire I lifted the blade on the core in the back slicing through it. But the blade got stuck and the robot exploded causing me to fly into the room and smash into the wall. The sword stabbed right beside me close to my head.

"...I think. I will just...stay here...awhile.."

I said with a nervous laugh. Dune walker walked into the room Tick Tick was not far from her. Dune clicked on the terminal to get the password. I looked at the chair and saw a pony body in it. Then I saw a recording. I allowed the blade to stay in the wall for a while. I grabbed the recording and it was downloaded into the armor. While Tick Tock and Dune Walker looked through the terminal to get the password I listened to the recording.

I heard coughing and sobbing.

"I failed my family and my friends. I promised I would defend Equestria from threats like the Storm king. But I never was ready for a war like this. I poisoned myself before the zebras got here to kill me. But with what I have done, the sins I have caused I deserve this fate. The camels we have treated are so awful. DuneWalkers warned us this would happen and that the world would end. I wish to tell you in the future we are sorry for what we have done. "

The recording went on with the sounds of the poor pony slowly breathing to a death rattle and the recording ended. I felt awful for this pony but I am sure he did many things.

"We found the code, Ruby... But Dune is a bit...upset.."

I watched Dune smashing her feet into the walls. I didn't know what upset her. I looked at the terminal and read the report.

"Thank you for the dead bodies of camels. Their bodies will be useful to us to hide our weapons from Zebras again. You will be given your cut when results are made."

In the end, I saw the name of who sent it to Solaris. Who the hell is Solaris? I wasn't going to ask Dune till we got to where we needed to go.

It was time to go to the next part of our journey, the main Bunker. We made it back downstairs to the basement and we stood in front of the door that led to the Bunker. Tick Tock and Dune Walker were placed in the codes allowing the door to open.

"Should we go back to the others?" Dune Walker shook her head.

"I don't wish the others to get in the middle of this. This is your time Ruby to face this one who"

The PA system came to life.

"Ah, you have found the way in. Come please though come alone. I promise you they won't get hurt on the way back out." I turned to look at the others. Tick Tock nodded and So did Dune.

Slowly I went into the door and it closed behind me. It was time for me to face this one. To face whoever this is.

Footnote: Level up.

Quest perk: You have been given the pistol Truth Seeker. You have your full set of weapons now. You gain 10+ damage for the Quest finished but there is a catch. Ammo for the Truth Seeker cost more than every other weapon you could find. So conserve it.

Next Chapter: Chapter Ten: The king behind the Curtin Estimated time remaining: 43 Hours, 52 Minutes