Beezen and the MInotaur looked through both books and the minotaur realized where they are. He stands up sighing.

“Does this mean you will start your task now?”

The minotaur nods

“Only after what I write to the NCR. It will get to the point I feel the call that I need to do.”

Beezen chuckles

“I am starting to wonder if you even will follow through. The NCR is not all evil my friend only some of them are very power-hungry. This commander who is causing all these problems is the one who needs your task.”

The minotaur nods.

“Beezen if you could go back to the start would you still hope it ended as it did for her?”

Beeze frowns

“I wish I could say yes to that. No matter what my friend we always knew no one would accept the fact she was corrupted. The fact she is the creation of Majesty and many of her species considered her an outcast.”

The minotaur nods.

“It’s gotten to the point I am unsure what to think. I follow the stars and the universe.”

He goes to the box holding the cane and places it on his suit to get ready for his task. He looks back to Beezen

“As the one who shall do it not Little Hoof.”

He looks back at Beezen sitting down and setting down the cane.

“Now let's get our task done Beezen then you can return to the others if you wish to.”

Beezen nods.

“Yes, let's get your task finished and then we all can move on and allow this land to heal without the NCR causing a problem.”

The minotaur opens the book writing into the book and he listens to Beezen as Beezen tells him the best way to talk about what is ahead.

___________

Time moves on

There is a saying of the glass that we see our souls in a mirror. Most never know the truth that the mirror is in the right. It has a right to judge you. It has a right to sing to you. It’s an idea that most never seek. Just make a story by looking in the mirror. The glass shall sing for you. It sang for me. When my heart was evil. I thank Gusty and her friends. For saving my soul. I was a former minion of Wheeltread. But freed me from him leaving his so-called project. When I learned what he wanted to do. I couldn’t stand it any longer. I see the dying children and then it happens. After I turned Pinda to glass. I sought my redemption; I shall redeem my heart. For I am Porcina, a former princess of glass. Here I leave my shattered mirror removing the blight of my soul. Freeing the souls of glass.

Porchina formly princess of glass.

A desert full of death a desert so calm so smooth of shiny sand. Rumors have started to surface around every town. That the storm king is returning. Some don’t take it seriously, the ones causing their small little war in Kludgetown just don’t care. The Kirin town known as Nirik is going through the transition of an election. Tensions are high in the entire desert. Some believe the rumors. Some just don’t wish to see the truth. In the town of Hardshell, both of the leaders are building defenses because of these rumors. Thrake the grandchild of Tirek requested this since he heard his great grandfather is alive. All the factions that live in the desert itself. Every bug race. The naga and the water hunters they’re all joining together to help any hero in need.

The camels are offering their skills as slaves or help just for the knowledge they give their souls to a master for knowledge so the one after them knows. Lifetimes could be earned. They find it an honor to work with one. That can give them knowledge beyond any other. What they don’t know is that things have been set in place. A little one in power there another in power there. A leader there.

Wheel tread hasn't missed a beat. But he lost control of the situation in Hard Rock. His minion Porcina the pig. Did something unthinkable. She listened to her heart.

Deep within a dungeon under the main hall of the city. In the hall is one cell of a glass camel. She holds the mirror and saids the words. “Sala Nino.” Pinda slowly has the glass removed from his body taking a deep breath of air for the first time in ages. The princess opens the cell walking inside.

“I am sorry for what I have done to you Pinda. My head was full of want of power. But when I went to go see my new subjects. I saw the dying children and then all I could think about now I understand. I am no longer part of Project Storm watch.” Pinda stares at the pig; he had no hatred in his eyes. He knew her and he knew her so long ago. He sets his paw on her shoulder staring down at her and looking into her eyes.

“Then to fully remove yourself. Destroy the window.”

Porcina looks in her mirror seeing her beauty. She looks at the window of her soul. So many emotions went through her. She was so unsure it was hard to remove her window. Her obsessive nature of staring at herself.

“That is the question then Pinda. Am I brave enough to remove the vanity in my soul? Am I brave enough to go forward rather than backward? Do I shatter this?!”

She lifts it and gets ready to smash it to the floor then stops.

“Or do I keep staring at it to see my beauty and my vein heart?”

“That is a question to you and you alone Porcina, But you and I both know that Wheel tread has been pulling strings for years. We can protect this town together. You just got to remove the window he gave you. He used that to control you.” Pinda sits down watching the pig be very conflicted.

Finally after a few seconds of staring at herself. She starts to see her past as what she used to be. On so much that she did the evil in the name of her beauty. Swings the mirror with a quick swing and smashes the entire mirror into the wall glass flying everywhere while a spell she used to turn others into the glass is broken. Her fake soul floating and dispatching as it hits the rock of the ceiling letting out a scream of death.

“Then it is done. Come with me Porcina let's lead this town together and get ready for what is to come.”

A simple dessert just 1000 miles from the big 52. Every town is getting ready for war. A war they have no idea how it’s going to start to even wish to start for only the future knows and the future never speaks.

____________

Wheel Treads base

I woke up in a small broom closet. I don’t know how long I have been here but I have been here long enough to feel trapped. I look around trying to find ways to escape. I ain’t going to allow things like this to get me to stop fighting. I must fight and I must do what I can to move along. I look at my body and shell noticing I got many scars and cracks on my shell. I wonder what happened to me while I was out?

A door opens up and I see Wheel Tread he puts his hooves together looking at me with a smirk. I could tell he had awful plans for me. I got to stay strong and not allow him to get to me. I take a deep hard breath close my eyes and breaths out. He claps his hooves and two young mares come in to clean me up and feed me.

One even kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear.

“Please forgive the master. He doesn't mean to hurt you. He is just too far set on his goals.”

I glanced at the mare. A slave mare being so kind. I could tell she was treated well the same as the others. I worry these two mares are going to be treated awful and they will be hurt. I take a deep breath noticing the food.

“Why won’t you eat Ruby? You have a long road ahead brainwashing being molded into something that will do my bidding.”

His bidding I looked at the mare, the one that kissed me a hot pink mare with a cutie mark of a bubble. The other is a sea blue mare with a clamshell. They look to be very protective of me. Could it be because I am female as well? Maybe it’s because of the fact I am going to be forced to become something out of my control.

I look up at Wheel Tread.

“You just told me you’re going to mold me into your minion, removing my choice of will. Why can’t you just let me go?”

I did what I could to show my spirit. It was hard to be brave when you have no idea if one like me would live through this. The eyes are Wheel Tread have tried to change but they won’t he seems calm and collected like most of those I have met who work for him.

My eyes open wide open. I am so flustered at the fact these mares are my toys from what he said to me. My friends, my family. I look at the two mares who seemed to be getting more protective of me. They didn’t know me but I have a feeling he has done worse to them. The two mares didn’t even seem to want to please me either. But from the look of the blush forming on their faces, they had no choice in the matter.

“I will not take advantage of these mares. I will no..”

Magic formed around my neck lifting me in the air. Wheel Tread smirked pulling me to his face and staring into my eyes. I could tell he wasn’t going to let me have free will.

“You’re a hero and heroes are nothing but sluts and worthless sacks of oversexed beasts. A destiny for a hero is to be whoring and destroying the land for what they call the greater good. You have no choice in this matter of destiny!!”

I couldn’t breathe and the two mares tried to pry his magic off me to help me.

“Master she can’t breathe.” Neighsay’s face softens his madness, leaves his eyes, he releases his magic on me. I fall to the ground breathing deeply trying to get every bit of air that I can I cough hard. Both mares use their magic to stroke my back trying to get me to breathe. The hot pink mare stands fully on her hooves.

“Master if you wish her to be your minion please..”

Before she could finish Wheel Tread stares at her and she cowers and backs away. He just stared at her like she was his abused foal. I looked at the mare and the mare stroking my back. I have to save them. I have to get them out of here if I can.

“I have never played this game.”

Wheel tread smirks at me I could tell he didn’t care he wanted to test his minion to be as it were. The game we played went on for hours. I have never played chess before but he did a better job than I. But I could tell he was making it easy on me. Most of my rooks and pawns have been taken and I only took two of his. Then after he won Cozy glow came up behind me grabbing me with her claw. Music started to play around us. Again where the heck is this music coming from?

“You think you know. That you’re going to win. You’re just going to be a pawn of the master.”

Cozy glow sang pretty well as a robot as she tossed me to Tirek. Who laughed and smashed me into the wall. I groaned and stare at Tirek I try to break free from him again but tried to bite his hand and he drops me. Then he grabs me with his other hand and keeps me into the wall

“Oh, little bug you think you’re going to escape? Oh, you’re going to become the masters Minion.”

Then he dropped me and fell on the floor and groaned deeply. I shift back up onto my buggy legs groaning deeply. My pink body was bruised and bleeding. With the music still going and the others dancing. I found it odd they were dancing.

"The heroes always win, they always fight, they never give in. Heroes fight for the freedom of the world. But now that is going to change. Heroes never understand what becomes of them. The idea is that they do what they feel is right for the world. Look at the heroes that destroyed this world. Look at the zebras who felt their heroes did the right thing. Oh, little Ruby you think you're doing the right thing in the end. All you're doing is adding to the failure of the future."

Wheel Tread sang with his army I watch them I am very confused about it. I look around trying to ignore everything going on but I know full well I won’t be able to ignore any of this.

"All Heroes are the same. There is the Lightbringer that brought us back to glory even though she didn't do it for the ponies. Then there is Security, a failure of a mare. That became more of a burden for all those around her even Scootaloo. There are so many failures in the world. Do you wish to join them, my little friend?"

He sang those words and horror came over me. I would have to find a way to fight back. I would have to. The music got into my soul and my very heart. I had to find a way to fight him through a song. Thinking of the words.

"All heroes did the right thing even if you didn't feel it was for you or other ponies." I sang. "They did what they felt was right, they did what they had to. You can't tell me otherwise that the ponies that did their jobs to fight and protect Equestria from threats like you!!" I yelled at him in song. The music ended before he could get the last say. But the last words he said. Haunted me forever.

"Tiria and all those heroes failed, even Star Shooter failed to come out unscathed where she is now little buggy? Oh, wait I remember in bed brain dead."

Horror filled my eyes, my stomach clenched tightly, and my anger filled my very core. I felt magic building into my system. I flap my wings and charge right at him. I took him by surprise pouncing on him and getting him out of the wheelchair and he gasped. He looked like he was dying away from the chair. But I didn’t care at all. My want to kill him is all I could think of I bite right into his neck starting to absorb the magic in his body.

I knew it was too good to last though. Tirek ripped me off his master's neck having a large hole in it and the others got him back in the chair and he tried to breathe. They use a potion to heal him and I buzz like an angry bee trying to sting Tirek.

“Chain her to the wall. She will hang there without magic or food. No one is allowed to come in here. Her first test is to see if she can survive.

” The mares ran to me trying to save me but he didn’t allow them. He stares at them and they cower, backing off and they have to leave. My wings are pinned to the wall. I groan deeply in pain and they pin my legs into the wall as well as add chains. I tried to move but the pins cut into my body and destroyed my wings.

“Now my dear Ruby, hang here you will learn to become my minion you will scream for it. We will keep you here a month since you just fed. You will be able to last a month.” He laughs and the others leave but Neighsay stares at me.

“Please… let me go. I need to get back to my friends.” I tried to appeal to his soul. I coughed from the pain. I felt that even though I was already fed, the pain in my wings made it harder to breathe. He sighed softly putting his hoof under my chin and he smiled.

“Ruby if I met you in the past. I wouldn’t be doing this to you. I would be helping you learn friendship. The war changed me for the worst. I watched our heroes of the past and our elements. Just turn into what they were fighting. They had no right to do what they did. I read how Twilight died from her creation. I frankly feel her hubris deserved that death. Because of them, heroes to me aren’t the answer villains are. So I am sorry I will have those two mares come in and talk to you. So you aren’t too lonely.”

He leaves as I scream for him to come back.

“Please come back. Let me get back to my friends please!!!!” He closes the door and the room is locked. I heard talking out in the hall of using someone called the inquisitor on me.

“Go get him. I shall stay by the door and listen to her cries.” I was just a tool now. I look around the room trying to find a way to get out of here. I try to pry myself off. I scream in pain. I am impaled into the wall by the pins. All I can do is hang here closing my eyes trying to let sleep take me.

__________

Two days later

I woke up to the two mares cleaning my broken body. I had been hanging here for so long. I started to stink. I was wallowing in my filth. Urine from my body had dripped to the ground below. My droppings piling under me. I grunt in pain. I feel the two mares care about me. When I make it out of here I will save them. I will free them. But I heard large hooves stomping along the floor stopping at the door.

“She is in there. I want you to break her.”

I could tell through the door it was Wheel tread. I could sense the sadness in his voice. Is he still able to give mercy? I for one feel he is a pony at heart. Unless the truth is that ponies don’t care.

“I shall do what I can to break her. How far shall I go to break her so she can be brainwashed?” The voice sounded deep in glee that it wants to break me the fact this creature feels they have a right to break my body. To break my very soul maybe this is a test from the goddess above. Should I pray for them? Should I pray for my rescue unless my soul is good enough for them?

“Yes but if those two mares think you’re going too far use them to break her.”

The two mares cowered in fear. I still didn’t know their names. I could tell they had fear for whoever this is the cowering into the darkness. The door opens and a ghoul minotaur walks into the room. I have heard of this Minotaur. The Minotaur clicks his fingers and the two mares are removed.

“No one to stop me from talking to you. Now you’re named Ruby Glide correct?”

I nod

“Yes.”

He nods and lets me down and looks down at me as he sets me down and he paces around me his staff clicking I watch his staff and I feel a bit unease with him. He looks at me with his cold collected eyes.

“You know what I am going to do to you?”

I gulp

“Break me?”

He chuckles

“No little bug I am going to scare the universe into you. You see I am a minon of the stars and the stars have plans for you. Wheel Tread is their pawn right now and I am just their speaker you could say. Now for now all I am going to do is ask you questions nothing is going to happen okay?”

I nod

“What is your name Minotaur?”

The minotaur smiles.

“I am known as Sebastian. Of course, I watched your hero growing up. I was placed in Fleur's ship to show the star's grand design The master knows the master sees. They saw the doom but no one cared. That is the glee of war. Everyone thinks they will win. But the darkness shall show in the end.”

He had a top hat and a coat hiding his decaying body. He held staff and then smirked. He walks around me more clicking the bottom of his staff on my body and I feel charges of slight pain going through I shiver in pain. When he clicks on me again magic chains form turning into pure metal holding me there.

“Now it's time for our little task. I moved your two mares out of here so they don’t see what I do to you. They’re innocent in this task they don’t need to see what a monster will do. Now my first question.”

I watch him wondering what he is going to say.

“What do you know about Destiny?”

I stare at him I am very unsure what I should say to him. I look at him and his staff it looks like a knife and if it stabbed me it would give me a great amount of pain. I take a deep breath trying to think of what to say.

“Destiny is what we make ourselves. We can’t always control our Destiny I know it’s not easy to know what is it but we try.”

Sebastian stops on his hooves staring down at me. His eyes were full of collected mercy or evil. He grabs the middle of his staff with his hand and he looks like he is about to do something and then he swings hitting me right in the face. I feel so much pain it hurts.

“Again the same question if you can answer. Tell me the truth or you will get another.”

He stabs me with the tip of the cane and screams tears falling down my eyes I feel so much pain going through my body and my core. I feel the magic in my core charing and then diming I look away not sure what he wants I sob softly. He frowns and comes to me looking down at me his eyes full of pure rage

“Why are you here?

“Here?”

I have no idea what he means what does he mean by me being here? I have no idea it’s strange to me.

“Yes here in this life in this place?”

I was flabbergasted at his words.

“I am here because I am trying to heal this broken land. I am trying to be a guardian this land is wounded the young souls of children are wounded there is no one else that seems to care about them.”

I could tell my words touched him but not enough he holds the staff tightly but doesn't hit me yet and he smirks

“What gives you the right to be a guardian to heal this broken land? Do you think it has a right to be healed hmm?! Let's see does the universe care?”

He stabs the ground and I scream loud enough the pain going through my body and he just looks around.

“Let’s see if the universe responds.”

He went to the middle of the room and put his arms out. Nothing but silence and the odd sounds of machines.

“A silence as profound as the death of the princess. For no one cared not even the universe. You’re just but a speck I could kill you right now and the universe would cheer.”

“I..”

I try to speak through the pain.

“Oh, you what?”

I groan staring into the eyes of the Minotaur

“Someone has to try or what is the point of being someone to protect? What is the point of common sense if no one can do a thing?”

The minotaur chuckles

“You’re just an empty soul. I shall break it. But you seem to not understand the question. I shall ask you again. Again why are you here?”

I am getting angry I am so pissed why these questions?!

“I don’t know…”

“You don’t know who brought you here?”

“No..”

“Then all you are is a pretender. You’re no guardian or protector. You’re just an empty path that shall never come. I shall keep breaking you till you understand what you are. You’re nothing but a pawn to a fake sense of justice. You have no idea what justice or being a guardian or a protector is.”

I don’t answer then he clicks his fingers and the blue mare is tossed in who he asked to be removed a while ago. He paces around her as she looks at me she looks like she has been beaten just a bit. She has a bruised cheek I doubt Wheel Tread did that to her though.

“If you don’t answer. She dies.”

I try to break from my bonds it took a while but I break through them and try to get to her to save her and he blocks me with a shield and he looks down at me with a weak smile and kneels to me looking at me closely.

“Ah, you have a heart.”

He clicks his fingers again a guard comes in quickly pulling the mare out she is trying to fight to get to me and I want to help her and he looks down at me he chuckles.

“This is your hell, your breaking point. Tell me the words and you will be free.” Then he lifts me in his hand holding my neck tightly. “

TELL ME!!”

I am barely awake and my heart is weakened. I just looked so close to the end of life. He notices and then drops me to the ground he stares at me.

“Then you will be the minion of a madman. That is the sad truth little bug you’re no longer a guardian you’re just a minon of power above you. I will return when the time is right Now to let you what to expect.”

The cane is removed from my body with magic. I fall to the ground and feel the wound vanish since it wasn’t a wound but just a simple burn. I look at my stomach weakly and I have been branded. I can’t tell what the brand is I see it slowly vanish but the mark will always be there in my head I am sure. I feel my body shut down and I pass out

___________

Four weeks later

I finally woke up after what happened to me. I had no idea how long I was out but thanks to how my body works. If I needed to go into a hibernation-like state my body would. It was a sign that we can molt and change into what we choose. All my wounds have sealed up and turned into scars. I looked at the mark on my body. I was pretty strong thanks to the magic in my system. But I could feel that I used a lot of my reserves.

The door opens up and the Minotaur looks down at me. I could tell he wasn’t happy that I was fine. I stood up on my many legs and flapped into the air. I stare at him with a smirk. He just stands there and I look at the mark as it glows brightly.

I screamed in pain and used the cane to lift me into his face. He just smiled at me with a large dark grin.

“You’re ready to be broken. Remember these words little bug for you will hear them forever. Whatever this madman wishes you to do. You will be held to an accord. I will be there to punish you. If it’s jail or if it's death. I shall give what those souls want. Now welcome to your hell.”

I floated in front of him staring at me and I stare into his eyes. I don’t see anything I don’t see hate I don’t see pity. I see a creature doing his job and then the idea of pain in my mind hurts so much and I know what is coming

“What about the goddess.”

Swing.

“What about blood?”

Swing

“What about pain?!”

Swing

“What about sin what about hell what about your god?!”

I just screamed and he finally did it. He broke me. I screamed loud enough that every soul of the dead could hear me. I doubt they would cry for me if they could. Then he forced me down on the floor and kept smacking me.

“You’re being shown the truth and you will learn that you’re just a minion. Only a minion now you’re toys will return to you.” Then with one quick swing, he shattered my body. He broke through the hard shell and I just screamed again. Then he left and my body finally felt I was broken. I knew it.

“ I never wanted to do this to you. I wanted to save you from this life. But you’re not fighting for your life. I can tell you don’t fully understand the questions and that to me means you’re seeking to be an empty shell.” Then he closed the door and I just lay there not able to move as blood pooled under me.

The mares Trotted in with an iv bag and food to heal me up if they can. They hang the iv back and they both force magic inside it to get magic into my body. Neighsay comes in to watch. I could tell from his face he didn’t like what he saw.

“Oh, Ruby.” He had tears streaming down his face. “I am sorry I never wanted to do this to you. But I can’t let this moment go. This is the only time for the world to be at peace. Even if ones like you have to die to bring it.”

“If you…” Groans.” Care so much you would..let me go. Let me go back to my friends. Let me go back to the island please.” Wheel Tread just looks down at me. I could tell he wanted to do so but Cozy Glow floated in.

“Don’t listen to her master, we need to fulfill the grand design. The storm king needs to return to this land and needs to be put to heel. It needs to happen, you can’t back away now. Think of what he will give you when he returns. The glory he will give you power.” Now I see who the real master is. It’s Cozy and the others he has no power over them. They just let him think he does. I am sure when all things are said and done. They will end him along with me.

The hate fills Wheel Tread features again looking down on me. “Then let it be so. Girls get her ready for the brainwashing. She shall be broken to the point that she shall be my minion of the end.”

“But master.”

Pink Rose tries to reason with him. Cozy glow smacks Pink Rose in the face hard enough she falls to the ground her face bright red and bleeding.

“Shut up slave. The master has his grand design. Wheel Tread stares at Cozy Glow and he nods and the robot leaves and looks back to the slaves. He smiled weakly and knew that he would be going to hell for this.

“Get her ready for brainwashing.” He left the room and the two mares placed me in a chair and cuffed me to it and kept me from moving.

“We are sorry.

” Flow softly reassured me.

“We promise you he won’t kill you. You just need to follow and maybe someday you can come back and save us.”

“I will try.”

I just stare at them feeling needles being placed into my body and then attaching my head going into the chips into my head. I scream at the pain and shiver feeling the pain force me into a deep sleep till my brain is ready for the brainwashing.

___________

Dreams

How do dreams work for creatures that never could dream before? Dreams are sometimes the window of the soul. Even if the dream never really takes full effect. For one that can never dream? How does the world see those that never can dream? How would the idea of it affect those that dream and see one created from a set of bugs made just to eat magic? No one knows or would ever know.

I was in a dream? I was watching my birth. One thing about my species we remember how we are born. That is sadly the only thing we remember and then we are changed into creatures that only the Queen could control and give us memories. We have none of our own. I was given memories of friends that I could find and I remember them well. But they never existed.

Are these friends I have now figments of my dreams? I don't know what would work. Suddenly though I am taken to a world of bodies that I have killed. But I haven't even killed anything I had no idea I would even see this happen. I have tried to keep my killings low but then I heard it.

"Failure.." Voices yelled in unison. "Failure" I turned seeing the robots I faced early in my journey. Large robot I still had no idea how he looked. He just stood there in all his storm king Rises glory. All over his body in blood is the Storm King rises. He rises, he comes, and will bring endless peace to those that follow in his wake. The robot laughed. I never got his name.

"Some say that most know failure bug. But it has shown you and danced with you. Am I here in your mind bug or did your failure hit you so hard that you brought me up again? I left you alive so you know who beat you. You haven't been given my permission to die just yet. Wheel Tread has plans for you and they will bring you pain. That's the thing about being part of a movement that refuses to see that the Wasteland is won by those who said they won. Littlepip, BlackJack, The ghost, Tiria, Scootaloo, and your hero Star Shooter. Of all the heroes of the waste have failed to see the true horror."

"What is true horror?!" I yelled back in an angry buzz.

Cozy glow laughs "That is a journey in itself. The so-called ones that fought their villains and felt what they did was wrong. No, they were the villains the heroes are the ones that stand up to them and try to stop them. If all those heroes would have been stopped more good would have happened for the ones that don't even see themselves."

I didn't know how to counter back. But I had to try. "They have done so much good for all of us. They brought back hope to this dead world. Is that hard for you to see is that hard for you all to see?"

A laugh sounded from the robot she sounded like he had emotions but how. Am I dreaming? Is she here with me in my dreams? "Oh Poor fool. The hardliners had the right idea. Take over with Rockhoofs thunder the fact that many felt that it was a poor choice of a weapon. It was needed to protect the lands from the real foes."

Tears fell from my bug eyes. "How could you say that?"

The robot laughed and more villains formed beside him. "All good wins when evil wins," Tirek said with a smirk laughing.

"Oh, poor child thinking that she is good." The Rose flower laughed.

Lavan the lava demon comes out of the darkness staring at me. I could tell he is the least broken from the minions of course this is a dream I could be wrong about this. He touched me with his lava hand and I burned. I could feel my body crying for relief from his touch and then he walked back into the darkness.

"Yes." I turned, seeing red pure eyes. black horns and a beltless collar. I stared at the horror of this creature. He just watched me he just laughed. "We all know who is coming we all know." He finally came into the light and I saw him.

I said the name I finally said the name that I have been hearing this whole time. "Grogar."

The ram laughed. "Wheel Tread is getting ready for me. and yes I am in your dreams. Luna stole that from me so long ago. I gave the world the nightmares they needed. I am the real lord of the night."

They all started laughing. I knew it. I knew it. I...I turned to finally see the real threat and the one that the robot has been praising.

"oooooh ho hooo. Now for real, the storm shall come." I stared right at the Storm King. He then frowned, staring at me. Shooting me with a great deal of lighting and I screamed as my world went white.

0000

The Bunker.

I woke up in the chair that I had been placed in and the mares stayed with me through the entire night or days it could have been I am not sure. I felt that I was going to stay broken and I felt my body slowly burning in pain. Neighsay wheels in and looks at the mares. I knew he didn’t want to hurt them and I could tell from what they told me before I fully fell asleep. They had their ability to breed removed.

Wheel tread looked at me and then to the two mares he smiles weakly.

“I did that to them to save them from the monsters in this army. I protect them from them and I am going to protect them from you. Now girls bring her into the room it will take a moment to do so.”

"Master this is not right if you wish to help you. You need to feed this poor little creature and treat her with respect." Wheel tread looks at them nodding

"Oh, my dears I understand where you're coming from. But I need these things done before the brain is found. Everything needs to be ready for his return and nothing will stop that. I know where the brain is as well but my minions need to find the piece that is in tunnel town. Thanks to that little ghost it's easy to get in and out again." He smirked. "I will leave it to some of the heroes to do some things that they need to do to get what I want to be done."

The mares look at him in great fear. They were very scared of him and I never thought I would see it. This stallion scared mares and everything that he came across. I knew they didn’t want to fear him. All they did was stay close to me and they didn’t defy him and they lifted the chair up to carry me to the room that he wished

“I have been around for a long time Ruby. I have seen things many haven’t seen since the war ended. I have seen Twilight and her glory. I was there for most of it. It’s not always easy to keep the idea right. I see Twilight and what she did with her school no one listened to me or the one known as Neighsay he vanished soon after Twilight closed the school of friendship when the zebras wanted war. Me I made deals to make sure they would last.”

I stare at him

“What gives you the right to make any deals at all? Wouldn’t you just be a simple citizen? I mean it is Equestria wouldn’t you follow the words of the princess and if they wanted to control half of what you do?”

After what I said his face softened

“You’re correct I would just be another cog in the grand scheme of them. The princess had power and they showed it every time. Even they couldn’t be everywhere at once. It’s not going to be that simple in it’s never going to be that easy. It’s going to be coming to the point I will never be able to recover the past.”

“Listen I won’t get in your way. I have no choice here, I can’t even move. Just let me find my friends and we will head back to the island.”

Wheel Tread lifts a radio and turns it on.

“Greetings DJ Mixer here and I have been asked why we should care about the hero that vanished from our site for the moment? Think of it this way she has given this land hope. Some heroes give hope, some just fight for their glory or fight to give us peace. But no one has seen her since the bunker. It's almost been a month so it might even be past the month. Her friends have separated for a time. Cranberry is focusing on the sick. Roll Roll and Hawk are helping find water. Pinda has been found it seems Porcina turned him to glass.”

I could tell this angered Neighsay he had been betrayed by one of his minions. It pissed him off but he allowed the DJ to speak.

“Both leaders had words to say about the hero and her friends.”

“Yes I am back and I have returned. But that’s not the problem with the threats of the storm king's return. Porcina and I both took up the mantle of leadership. We called the hero's friends to come back and they’re now gathering resources to get this town and hard shell ready for the battle ahead.”

Porcina chimed in soon after

“The hero gave me the wisdom and the will to break away from my former master. I learned from her blight. So I broke the mirror, the window of the soul that allowed me to be held by him. But the two of us have much to do. We need to get the enclave to get ready for everything.” Yanari comes back a few seconds after

“That was recorded later today. In other news, there are rumors that Silver Gunner and his friends are on the way. Something has brought them this way. I sent one of my drones to talk to him” Yanaris's voice turns off again to bring up the interview.

“We are coming because of our failure. I wish I could go into it more. But we feel we must do so. I won’t ask Scootaloo to join us. She finally has peace. Just allow her to have it after she fought to save us all. She is a hero in my eyes and a hero that deserves rest.”

He went silent for a moment and there were almost no words. “STORM KING RISES!!” A large group of warriors yells in the distance of the recording and a battle breaks out and the drone gets hit causing the interview to end.

“That was just a few hours ago. I am getting another drone out there to see who has won the battle. But the last bit of news. The enclave is working on some ships for the hero and her friends. Now I am sorry to all my friends. It’s getting bad out there and I found some new music. It’s sung by the new ponies that I brought here. So please let them sing for you.”

Her voice went away and music gently started to play. Gentle piano music with gentle humming. I couldn’t tell who was going to sing but it was so gentle.

“The empty sky stares at us from the sky. I see that my heart is no longer beating.” A french horn starts in. “But I give my soul to those who listen!! Oh, Goddess don’t forsake us again. I call to you in this darkest hour. Please free our hearts please free our souls. I sing to you!! I cry to you. I can’t allow this to go on.” The mare goes into humming then a deeper voice of stallion chimes in.

“The sun is empty, the light has faded. I no longer feel the sun's warmth. Oh Goddess have you forsaken us in this time of need? I reach my hoof out I get nothing but silence. The brokenness of our souls calls to you. Please answer us please give us a sign. We see around us the world is ending. The world is failing. Equestria is falling into a pit of pain. It screams for us to heal it.” The stallion goes into the humming like a mare and then a softer voice sings in a younger voice. A filly a very young filly.

“Oh we have been forsaken, a war was allowed and we just see the empty world. I follow the path of a zebra. Since my kind banished me so long ago. I stand here singing with ponies the enemies of the past. If the generations of now could see us. If they could understand our blight. Would what have happened?” The zebra filly went into humming and all three of them started to sing.

“Oh, the goddess you have forsaken us. You allowed the war to continue while you could have called for peace. You allowed the creations of what destroyed a friendship. Friendship is healing in this world. The past has broken so many, the past has ended so many.” The Zebra filly is the only one singing again.

“Please my people listen to our song. Remove the hatred of the past. For we are all in this together. The stars have no power over us any longer. If I can sing with ponies and they sing with me. We are truly in harmony. Oh, Goddess speaks to us. Celestia hears our call from your prison. We wish to honor you with our calls to duty.” Then the filly goes back to humming what the stallion sings.

“But that is the past. We can longer see the future. All we have is hope that we wake up the next day so that we can see the next path in our hearts. Oh, Goddess please hold us in your embrace. Please give us a sign.” The stallion stops singing and it's just the mare now

“Again nothing but silence. For we are forsaken and our hope is all that remains.”

The song ends and the radio goes to complete silence then Wheel Tread turns it off and the mares stop after he stops. He just stared at the floor. I could tell he was emotionless. Maybe he had hate building inside him.

“That is why you’re a threat to my plans, Ruby. You gave them hope. While everyone else has forsaken them. I can’t have that so I must crush their hope. I must do this, I must make you a threat to their hope. Crush their dreams and end them so my grand design can come. If I was another pony I would let their hope stay and free you. But I have sold my soul to the devil. I can no longer free it.” He stayed silent for a moment and then looked up into the air.

“We are just specs on what is to come. We need to fight!! Even if it means those around us must die.” He turned to face me. He was bent on this. The emotions of being too far into this. He needed this. He needed this path. If he could he would turn back. It all would be for nothing. He has done so much to me that all I have for him now is fear. But I had to keep my spirit up even if it was hard for my pink body to do. My body is broken but for now, my will is not.

“I will never be the one to bring death to those you wish. I will fight you till my death. If it comes to that I will die before I become your minion I will not let it happen. Even if I am just a spec in this universe called life. Then so be it. I shall take it with hope in my heart and never yield.” Deep down I didn’t even believe what I was spouting. I just felt that I had to say something.

“I am sorry Ruby but you’re all ready for me to break you. It’s not going to be that hard to do either. You have everything attached to your brain. That is all I needed and your friends care deeply for you I see.”

The mares stayed close to me no matter how he stared at them. He saw the hope in their eyes and it angered them. I could tell he wanted to break their hope. But if he did that he knew I would never play battle.

“You can’t hurt us, master.” Flow spouted.

“You wouldn’t dare.” Pink Rose added. But little did they realize behind them came Tirek he crossed his arms staring down at them as they gulped cowering again. I could see they still had hope in their eyes.

“Now I don't want to hurt you two ponies. But do what he saids before I break you both.” They nod and he goes back into the darkness. His minions are watching from the darkness. I am sure others are there waiting to strike.

_____

Brainwash room

I was brought into a room that has a screen and I set in front of it as the mares pried my eyelids open to make sure I kept my eyes open and then put picks between them to keep them open fully. I watched while Wheel Tread worked to get everything set up he connected me to a spark battery and I looked to see strange needles that would go inside me to get me to fall deeper into a stupor

One of the mares had tears welling in her eyes while they grabbed one of the vials of fluid with a needle at the end and Wheel tread had everything set up and they injected me with two versions of it. I know fully they didn’t want to.

Wheel tread turned on the projector. He showed me the town of Nirak. He went through each slide to make sure it was working and the mares kept reassuring me it would be over soon. He tested the charge and I felt a nasty charge going through my body. It took a while for the fluid they injected into my body to work. But when it did I felt dizzy.

“Now Ruby this is your task and your first task. I want you to go to Nirak and meet up with my minion Flame and her husband Sprocket.” He turned the projector to show me the Firey red and orange Kirins.”I want you to help them steal the election. I want you to do what you can. Flame will give you more details now what do I wish you to do?”

He looks at his clock

“Sadly you can’t do everything I want you to do the only thing you can do is Nirkk and Kludgetown so this is my task to you”

He shows me what he wants in Kludgtown

“Good now there is Kludgetown there are four factions there. My minions are part of each faction. One of the factions is the old Enclave that left so long ago. But if you can change the leadership and get them to fight their brothers that would be wonderful. Then the zebras I need you to go in there and find my minion. She is surrounded by many of them. I want you to make sure all of them take control to be ready to face whatever resistance they will find in their various factions.”

______________

Former Cell

I was set in the room this all started. The mares came with me while a Stormking minion brought me in. He lay me down and stroked my head. The mares stayed and cleaned me up. I felt that my heart was beating and deep inside that my will was gone my thoughts are still myself but every deed I did wasn’t my own.

"Oh, little one."

I knew that voice but how could he be here. Oh, he's not. I turned to see the new Warden Glendo. He stared at me and I could feel that he was in my head and he had a frown.

"Hello Warden," I said weakly. The mares didn’t care that I was speaking to what it seemed myself they cared too deeply for me just to leave me here alone.

He shook his head. "I knew something was wrong. I lost contact with you for almost two days and when I finally get back my readings say that your brain is a bit scrambled, what happened to you?"

I wanted to be truthful but the crafty things they did to my brain didn't allow me to. I would be amazed if I get my free will back at all someday. Maybe I will but I slowly smiled weakly and I tried to say what I could.

"Oh I'm fine I just had a run-in with someone named Neighsay I don't remember much else. I just.. don't" I lied and I got away with it since Glendo did look worried when I said Neighsay but that is all I could think of to say. I wish I could say more but I have no way I can. My mind is blocked by what I feel I wish I could go deeper into him.

"Well, I see." He looks around seeing that I am locked up in an area. "I see you're locked up”

“Oh thank you for bringing everything out. Now I feel so happy that you see me locked up with two nice mares cleaning.”

“Ruby, who are you talking to?” I look at Pink Rose.

“I am talking to the warden of my land. He can talk to me if my brain is clear. I would think right now my brain is clear.” Well, that is a lie my brain is more jumbled than anything. I didn’t know what to do but I had to wait to heal. Glendo vanished since my brain blocked him and now he couldn’t talk to me again.

But I wasn’t given the chance. NeighSay same in with my armor and it was all cleaned. It was even painted a dark place and the buzzer name was removed. I noticed he upgraded it even. My weapons have been cleaned and looking at he put night vision on the visor itself so when I need to I can fight in the darkness.

“Now I will let you rest for a day Ruby. I want you to be ready for training and that will do a lot for you. It will break you, it will mold you and I know I am sorry I did this to you. But it was easier since Majesty left me the ability to do it. I have been having my minions injecting parts of your former mind-control crown into your head. I just had to turn it on and then do the mind control. You’re not only brainwashed but under control too.”

I had a feeling that knew he would find that and use that on me to keep me under his power and he left soon after I stood and grabbed my armor and the mares stroked my body gently. I could tell they wanted to keep their hope and I looked at them.

“If.,” I grunt trying to fight the control. I am sure they knew what I meant they both kissed me. I was happy they cared for me. I wish he didn’t want me to use them as he told me to. But that wasn’t going to happen.

“We know Ruby, you will try to come back and save us, we will wait for you. We promise you that we will wait for you.” I nod and I fell asleep in their hooves and they slept with me. As the day just went through the motions. My brain worked while it was trying to work through the entire control.

I woke up the next day and I was picked up by the two mares and they carried me to the training room. I didn’t want to do it but I had no choice. I wish I could fight this control but I can’t any longer. The sleep made me fully under control and the mares knew this. My pink body is covered in bruises and dents in my exoskeleton. They set me down by the room and I placed my armor and helm on. Seeing that a lot of it has been updated I was even given my weapons and bags back. The door opens and I went inside.

00000

Training room

I was brought into a large training room. This room looks like it was added to the bunker not too long ago. In the room were many obstacles but what stood in front of me were five pregnant mares. They were chained to the wall and looked about to burst. I knew something was wrong but I felt I had a right to kill these creatures so the master would tell me that I have to.

"Now to see if you're Loyal to me." I looked to Neighsay who went behind the mares and slapped every one of them. "These mares broke my laws and allowed themselves to become pregnant with ponies I didn't select for them to give them the best DNA. Now they need to be treated as such. I want you to find the leader of them who also wanted to break you out." He had a Chessboard beside him and on the board were the mares as pawns. I was his knight. I didn't know what to think. But I looked at the mares.

"Master is it wise to kill breeding stock? Why not just kill the foal or maybe keep the foal to find the father and kill them?" Wheel Tread looked at me with anger. I knew that he would get angry but I just stood there looking at the mares and smiled. "I mean no disrespect my master but killing breeding stock seems unneeded."

"You will do what I say I can ponynap mares if needed. Since no pony around this land will miss them. It's saving them from the hate of this land."

I had to try to break through this programing so I tried to and just seek his better nature. I walked up to the mares and took off my helm smiling at them and looking at my new master. Maybe this could work. If my brain allowed me to.

“Master these mares are strong when they give birth and make them warriors in your grand battle. If they’re able to counter your wisdom and your laws they should be made warriors for what they did. Killing them is never wise; it breaks morale with the ponies of this community I am sure. That is not wise to do these mares seem to be powerful they could be persuaded to be powerful minions”

I was hoping that it worked and Wheel tread seemed to nod and looked at the mares. He called his guards to take them away. I could tell they had a great deal of hate for him. But I didn’t want to stop this. I was able to do it but when they were gone he looked at me.

“I hope you don’t do that too much. Maybe the control is not fully over you. But that might be a good thing. Because if you kill children little one you’re dead to me so this keeps you from doing that.”

I just stood there listening like a good little minion. I had no idea what to think anymore. My mind was full-on protecting the world like my master wished me to. I remember what I promised Yanari, maybe she will listen to my point of view and follow the idea that I had.

"The innocent are off-limits that means children. But their parents are fair game at least to my mind." Wheel Tread softly added and I just stood there nodding making sure I place that in my mind for later.

"Now the first of your training. I want you to fight with one of my strongest soldiers with your sword there." I nodded pulling Spitfire from my holster and getting ready to battle. I held it in my legs and held it like I was ready for this battle. I didn't know how it would go but I had to do something.

A large unicorn stallion walked into the training room. He held a large sword with his magic. I held the blade because I knew I would face Dune Walker since she will consider me a threat if she learns what I am about to do. The unicorn looked to Wheel Tread and he bowed.

"To the death Master?" The stallion simply asked.

"Yes, we need to make sure she can handle ones like you. Her training is going to be hard, you're expendable and then I will make sure your offspring is strong enough to take over your leadership. So please fight hard enough at least make sure she almost falls." He grins and the stallion nods. The two of us got ready to battle. I didn't know what to think but I felt maybe this battle will be what we can do.

"I don't wish to kill you, sir. You seem to be a great warrior for the master. But if he wishes me to take you down. Then I will do it."

The stallion laughs. "I do what he asks Bug if he asks me to fight to the death with you then I will fight to the death. I will feel bad, about not being able to take advantage of Pink Rose and Flow. " I heard their names and wanted to take him down. It was powerful. He wanted to hurt the only two friends I had here.

"Now before you two fight. I want you to clean your weapons and then make sure you go into the arena." I felt it odd he wanted me to go into the arena the place where I came before. Maybe that is fully he gave us both a couple of clothes. I did something I never thought I would do. He didn't say I couldn't do this. I took off my helm and put my venom from my mouth all over the cloth and slowly stroked the blade with the cloth covering the very blade with the venom. I am happy my venom didn't have a smell that would show others. I put the helm back on to check how poisoned it is. If it touches any veins they would feel so much pain. So yes I am happy that this will be wonderful. So I put the blade back into the holster and it felt wonderful that this would happen.

I stood on the other side holding the sword and the unicorn stallion held in his magic. I could hear ponies cheering. I think they were watching but All we did was stare at each other. This is the first time I ever trained like this. We got ready. I held tightly to the grip of the sword. I had no idea what to think of what would happen. I wasn't ready for something like this. I wasn't even ready for the first battle I had here.

Over the PA system, A voice is heard.

"Ah, my friends my new Minion Ruby Glide is waiting to spill blood for us." There are nasty boos the only two cheering for me were Pink Rose and Flow. "Yes I know she is one of those heroes that wishes to stop us. But she will no longer be able to. She is now under my sway and my minion till the battle is sounded. When the war starts she will be the first to go. She knows this and when the project is turned on and we finally have our victory it's going to be glory after this battle to keep her friends off her trail."

The stallion chuckles. "He thinks you're going to win.." The stallion stared at me. I didn't know what to think after he said that. He wanted to win and keep himself alive.

"Get ready you two and fight with your heart." There was a count down and we lifted our weapons and I floated into the air with my wings. I held the blade and closed my eyes hoping the spirit of Spitfire would be with me. They all yelled fight and we charged at each other, our blades smashing into each other and causing sparks. I felt the vibration of the blades hitting and I was hit back by the attack.

"Ooo The little bug is too weak to keep up I think the master didn't think this through." The stallion lifted his large sword and I knew I could get him since I am a bit faster so I released all my weapons from my armor to make me faster. I flew quickly away from the attack and he was stuck on the ground. He tried to pull it out and I finally cut into his armor getting to his fur. The venom touched the fur and it caused it to fall but I didn't get into the veins. I felt magic grabbing me and holding me in place. I had to move and before he hit me he hit my helm causing it to fly off I hissed venom dripping from my head and I grabbed my helm placing it back on.

I turned back fast enough to get a hoof smacked into my body causing me to fly into the wall. I dropped my blade and lodged it into the wall again and the crowd cheered for the stallion and he lifted his weapon and yelled at me. I didn't know what to think but if I didn't move I would be dead but I had an idea. They put a hole where my stinger would come out and it came out and I lifted and aimed with my helm firing a magic beam of pure magic hitting the blade out of his magic and I shot again hitting his horn causing his magic to backfire and he fell to the ground screaming in pain. I broke off the wall and took off my helm. I was hungry for magic.

I looked up to the crowd and venom dripped from my fangs and I yelled. "I am not going to be stopped for what I will do for my master. I will not fail him. I will make sure that the world is ready for what he has planned. But first, this area of our world needs to be tamed. If it means I must do what he says then I will do it. I will not allow anyone to get in my way, not even your champion here. To Pink Rose and Flow I am sorry for what I must do. But it’s to protect you two.” I smiled at them, they didn’t care, they cheered.

I stabbed my fangs into his neck and I started to eat his very magic. He screamed in deep pain. Blood and magic-filled me. My body started to glow as it's how my kind cleanses the world. My stinger leaked blood and magic since I was overfeeding and it went into the ground or the very floor to mix with the air. The poor stallion started to slowly die. I could hear his heart beating ever so slowly as I drained every ounce of his magic and all that was left was a deflated body. I pulled off removing the blood from my mouth and put my helmet back on and picked up all my weapons and bowed to them.

"What an upset. Ruby has won and now we must clean up the Arena." Wheel Tread led me to a way out and he patted my head. A door opened up and he chuckled.

"This tunnel leads to Niriak and maybe we can finally name it something worth it. The election is getting close to the end. So I need you to find a way to find all the dirt you can or make something up on the foe of my minion. When you get there she will tell you what is needed and if you need to destroy the guards, the army, or cause citizens to die and blame it on those running and use my minion to say that she is the only way that can help. Then do so."

I nodded it came up in the hud of my first mission and it was to destroy and do what I can and I was looking forward to it. I went into the tunnel heading to my first mission and not looking back at the door closed.

Footnote: Level up.

The Minion of death: You have been brainwashed and controlled by a great threat. Your fall as a hero has started. Whatever you do now you will lose faction points to those who respected you. Yanari will praise you or tell others to be wary of you. It could get bad enough that she tells all those around to stop you. You can't allow that to come to pass so you need to make sure you do good in the public eye even though you do evil.

Next Chapter: Chapter Twelve: Heroless town Estimated time remaining: 42 Hours, 19 Minutes