Peace Rock, a former base created deep into the rocks of the desert. It was created by zebras and ponies to try to come up with a peace treaty after the camels destroyed their abilities to even fight their war in this land. Since they had no way to contact the outside. They had to follow what the citizens of this desert told them to. They wished for peace in this land and even the hatred between two factions could be stopped for a time. The idea of peace is hard to come by.

Written by Plando.

"The universe is driven by the complex interaction between three ingredients: matter, energy, and enlightened self-interest."
G'Kar, Survivors

The magic eater Scaled wing led me through the desert. The two of us had to hide a few times since the antlions are out in force this late at night from what I have noticed. They dig out of their holes then move to another area of the desert to gather more food. Then I noticed the spiders… Oh, the spiders giant desert spiders. That I could understand and they didn’t wish to harm us. They just wanted to be left alone.

“How long have you lived in this desert?” Scaled didn’t answer me at all; he was too focused on getting us into his home. We stopped again when I heard a storm forming above and what came out of the clouds wasn’t really rain but acid. So we had to hide under a rock for a while.

“First to your question. I have lived here since I was hatched. The queen that hatched me left the island ages ago. My brood lives underground in the Hoof. We stayed by ourselves and when the war came we dug even further down covering the ways into our tunnels.”

I didn’t know what to think I just watched the acid rain focused on this one spot and just this one spot. I watched while many creatures tried to get away and some screamed and melted in puddles of fluids and guts from the acid rain.

“What in the world caused this to happen?”

“A weapon that a group called the Blue hats created. They lost containment at the end of the war. It was some cloud machine that was meant to blanket Wymarnic but it blew up and caused this little patch of clouds to only form here. I don’t know the science behind it so don’t ask me.” He looked at me, his helm still covering his face and eyes. He had the same helm I had but I had one more question.

“Are you seeing anyone?” Suddenly I was like why the hell would I even ask that? I barely know this male and I ask that question? What type of question is that? Is that the question of desperation? The question of why we need to breed to expand our eggs? Oh, maybe I am hungry for sex? I don’t know how my body works.

“Okay hold up there Ruby. One I don’t know you and two you’re a failure. Till you break yourself free from Wheel treads hold on you. I don’t see myself lowering to a pathetic female like you that allowed yourself to become a mind-controlled threat. No offense of course.” He chuckles.

Did he really just say no offense? Well, how he acted of course I am offended but the truth he is right. It’s not that I am a threat more like I allowed myself to be controlled. Because the universe didn’t care. Like the minotaur said. ‘Silence. As silent as to when the princess died because the universe doesn't care. Unless you die then it will cheer.’ I don’t understand why the universe has it out for me. Scaled removed his helm.

“I know who broke you. Some say he is not of this world. Some say he comes from the stars themselves as the punishment for their pleasure. Maybe the universe really hates this world. But take our bodies and hands.” He lifted his buggy hands and took a glove off of one of them. He went silent on how he would present this.

“Ah take the hand veins bones well the type of bones we have. Blood dust. We are of the universe ourselves. We are of the dust that forms us from the sand of time. For the universe is one with us and we are one with the universe. If the universe wants to be our judge and jury then the universe shall. The many faces of the universe that judge our souls. They tell us that we failed. The stars sing for our deaths because our shadows bind us to our judgment. Zeb removes the judgment and feeds the monster.”

I just stare at him like he was either insane or well no insane. If the universe really has it out for this world. Then why was this world created? Maybe the universe has a bad sense of humor? But what did he mean by Zeb being a judge? That zebra that holds that strange bag is a judge of the universe? His master, the strange cloud beast, is the eater of the judged? I don’t get this logic I wish I did and I am allowing this to come full circle.

“I know what Wheel tread wants Ruby and you don’t want that world. You thought the prison island was bad. But what he wants is a whole different act altogether. I know what is going to happen to you. Because we all know you will be made an example of. To show this world the right has come. The heroes are dead. Their sense of morality has ended and I would say.. About time. Heroes know nothing about pain.”

“How can you say that?! The magic of friendship.” I tried to counter and he turned to look at me. His rage full in his eyes I said it. I said what I felt and he just removed my helm. The anger filling his eyes and the hate for a hero like me.

“The magic of friendship forsake us years ago Ruby. The war killed it Pip said she brought it back. What friendship did Scootaloo bring back? NOTHING!! Just more empty promises war death on both sides. The fact that Celestia one was used on children. CHILDREN!!” He screamed at me, grabbing me tightly staring in his eyes. “Do you get it?! Break that empty sense of justice and blind morality and see the real world!!”

“Blind mortality I am trying to help to save this desert. What do you mean by that?!” I have never seen someone so enraged at the idea of heroes. Maybe there is something I am not sure about. What made this guy so upset about heroes? Did a hero sleep with his mother or something or did a hero kill his girlfriend?

“What do you have such an issue with heroes?!”

“RED STAR!!” He screamed at me and I looked at him in horror. “A Long time ago there was a roc that came here dressed in an NCR suit. She had a red star on her helm. She didn’t help this place she only came for sex booze and caps. She could have cared less about the average pony.”

“NCR?” I had no idea who that was and had never heard of them before. What do they represent? I have never understood these issues or even knew what he was trying to tell me. All it is anger this and anger that. I can’t have a normal conversation with him.

“Listen. This conversation is going nowhere you have a big chip on your shoulder when it comes to heroes and the universe. Did the universe and the hero red star sleep with your mother or something?” The look on his face oh that was the last straw with him. He put on his own helm and charged into me and we rolled in the acid rain.

The rain bounced on our armors. I didn’t have my helm one when the rain hit my face. I screamed as it burned through my exoskeleton and the magic would heal me to try to stop the burning. But hit me so much we even rolled in puddles of the rain and he punched me as hard as a warrior bug of my kind could. I lifted up my two cybernetic arms and slapped him off me. I stood up as my armor burned and melted and my armor tried to repair itself.

“What did I ever do to you?! I have a conversation with you and you treat me like this.” Tears streamed down my face and I sobbed sitting in the acid rain. Everything that happened over the past few days finally came out. “I had no choice in being mind-controlled. I didn’t have a choice in those I killed. I heard that little ones died because of me.” it finally all came out some even from the island itself. So much guilt is this my fall or is my fall harder than this?

The other bug just sat there watching me. I couldn’t tell if he was in glee or smiling because he had his helmet on. All I did was sob blubbering about what I did and how stupid I was. It wasn’t easy for me to stop. No matter how much the rain hurt. It just kept coming down burns forming on my face and head. All I could do is think of when I hurt Cranberry and the fact I angered the spirit of Spitfire who refuses to guide me again. Is this my time to fall? Is this my Arbu? Maybe my Arbu is later in my journey. I see that I can no longer lie to myself.

“Oh, Ruby I am sorry for losing my temper on you. Heroes have come and gone here or so-called heroes. It’s really started to prove to many of this desert that they don’t care. Did Scoots ever know we are here? No, but she did fight for what was right. Even if I did agree with what the hardliners wanted. If I was to battle in that war. I would have joined them along with my brood.”

I finally placed my helm on my head. Still the tears stream from my eyes. Maybe there is truth to this many fought for Majesty without the control. Many fight to stop the hero because their sense of life is happy. When others are not it’s a sense that there are always two sides to a war. Am I going to start a war that will have the same value? Maybe the universe is right thinking it has a right to judge us. Maybe I will see all its faces and then be told my life is forfeit because the universe wills it so.

“When the judges finally come for you Ruby you will know. You have seen them the minions of Wheel Tread. All those that stand with him are the universes at least to this sense the universe judges and jury. For they are in the right to the mind of the universe in this desert. Outside they could care less. This land has been broken since Luna's rebellion and it’s now time for the citizens, the heroes of this land to face judgment. That is soon and you’re the first.”

“Then why are you helping me? When you could just send me to face my judges?”

“Because the one that will do the sentences of your sins needs to wake. You need to fulfill your destiny to bring him back. Then and only then you will be judged and then your punishment will come.”

I sighed finally my crying let up and I felt the control broken? My helm wasn’t on and I looked down seeing one of the chips melting in the acid. Looking up to him and now I know what I need to do. I was never fully under his control. Deep down I wanted to do this. Deep down I needed to do this to myself.

“My judgment has been coming since the island I think right?” He nodded and we got out of the rain and back under the rock. I felt maybe I needed it. The fight the fact that he proved to me I was under control but I could easily break it.

“You see the fact you helped the Queen. No one is fully under anyone's control. They may brainwash you, they may break you to follow their path. But you never fully know who will be there. The magic of friendship may still try to surface from time to time but it never will.”

I took off my helm and grabbed some bandages from my bags to wrap on the burns on my head to try to at least heal them. I had a lot of thinking to do with these villains that Wheel Tread brought back Project Stormwatch. Are they meant to get this world to play ball and fully come together in one unit when Grogar returns? Maybe we are never meant to have a sense of will that allows us to have freedom.

“Why would Wheel tread hide behind these old villains of the past? What did they offer him that would allow him to control this land? Did they offer him judgment for what is to come?”

“Wheel Tread has been around for two hundred or so years Ruby. Watching the world fall and die around you does much to one's thoughts and sanity. Watching one's home fall apart because war happens. Of course, ponies never fully knew war. Some felt the Lunar rebellion back then was pretty much a war. It wasn't just led by a princess with power that was kind of a crybaby.”

I looked outside and watched the rain. I think of my friends and I have no idea what to think of what is happening. I hope they’re okay. I don’t want them hurt anymore then they have to be. I know that my real judgment would be if I ever rise and the ponies I save put me on trial.

“If you survive this coming judgment, Ruby. You and I both know that the ponies will turn on you after you beat the coming battle and put you on trial for what you did. I don’t blame them for doing that to you for you deserve it. But I can help you with your mission ahead. It’s going to take maybe a month or so for the brain to get to this land. Silver Gunner and his friends are being kept in an area where they can’t get to the desert for a while. Because more and more minions of the king come to them.”

“So what do you wish to do then?” I wanted to know what he had in store for me. It was hard to know what he would have in store for me but I wished I could learn what that would be.

“I am going to train you. I am going to make you understand how our kind can fight. Then I am going to make sure you understand perfectly what you fight for. Because what you have to do in Kludgtown will be harder then what you did in Narik. You will have to fight a war to get to the leaders.”

“So mainly what you’re telling me I have to break each leader for whoever Is taking over and that means to end the lives of more creatures. You going to tell me what I can expect and what I should do to get them to follow?”

He nodded. The acid rain still came down very hard. I started to wonder if it would stop at all. This land has odd cycles from what I saw. Sometimes the sun would never go down to the sun always going down. Then the madness coming in full force. It’s what I never understood and I’m starting to see why so many hate those that try to fix this. This is all they ever knew and some can never remove themselves from it.

“Each faction fights differently in that city. They have been fighting for control of it for so long they don’t even remember why they’re fighting anymore. All they need is each leader to be removed and Wheel treads chosen to be set in. That means ten times more blood. Ten times more gore and the fact you will have to kill the innocent. For there is no innocent in war no matter how many lie to themselves.”

Maybe that is the truth everyone lies to get what they wish to see. Maybe I have been lying to myself that I was a hero to bring joy to the desert. I am starting to think he is right. I am no hero I am just a means to an end for some monster. Maybe that is the great thing I am going to learn that I will learn the hard way. When my judgment is to come. I am starting to think that maybe all judgment is all I ever deserved.

“I think I get it now” He looked to me and then I looked out to the rain that started to let up. “The monster the villains are the heroes. The heroes are the villains twist that around and maybe Cozy Glow is right Red eye was in the right. Lighthooves was in the right. Majesty was in the right.” I close my eyes tears falling from them to show the pain of speaking like this. Maybe I am never cut out to be a hero. Maybe I bite way too much and then think I have the right to care.

The rain finally stopped and we both flew into the air. “Come along after this rain is done worse things start showing up.” I nodded and followed him through the land looking back when I heard screaming and roars. I didn’t look back because I didn’t wish to. All I know from what he told me it comes out to feed on the juices the acid leaves behind.

“What do you mean by it?”

“A zebra creation one of their spells went wild. It eats those that melt from the acid. Some have tried to tame it but no luck. Not one bit of luck at all. Don’t even look back if you look at it. It will try to hunt you down. Because it’s spell forged eyes will go for your blood. But I won’t be training you there will be one that breaks you down to get you ready for the universe to force their judgment on you.”

I took a deep breath I wasn’t looking forward to this training if he really means that I will have to get ready to be ready to die. Maybe I could make a good show of it and try to fight them before they kill me. But I highly doubt it. When we got closer to the base that he lives in turrets turn on and aim at me. They don’t even attack me I have a feeling they’re just studying me. I look at the sign I fly by. ‘The best hope for peace.’ i didn’t know what it meant by that more and more turrets came out of the ground aiming at me. Broken down robots walked around and some fell apart when they turned to look at me.

“What happened here?”

“The war happened this was meant to be a hope for peace but both sides fought each other. No one even went inside to even have the talks all they did was fight and the robots were created to serve them and to protect this area. Of course, as you can tell a lot of them are falling apart and the turrets may look deadly but a lot of them have rotted through. I don’t live in this place alone.”

He didn’t live here alone? Maybe there is more of our kind here maybe I will have more friends that are willing to join me in this battle. I am not sure what he means by not alone though. But it took a while to get to the large rock itself. This place was meant to be heavily protected I guess many of the leaders of both sides of the battle

“I am sorry I am not being much help Ruby just I can’t tell you everything. The one that runs this place will tell you everything. There is something in this bunker that has been watching. But he can’t do anything. Even after he won’t be able to do anything.”

I didn’t know what to think I thought I would be able to get help. But I have to accept the fact my judgment shall come and my judgment will be harsh and even maybe say my death is coming. We finally get to the door and the door has many locks some of them rusted but they still work and I look over to a pad that holds a run down the airship. It’s so rusted and I saw the name of it. It’s called Highflyer. From what I saw it had turbines on top of it and it was enclosed.

“What is that thing?” Scaled wing turned to look at the airship. Some of the metal is badly rusted it was eaten through.

“That a creation made to fly through this desert. The issue is it was made more as an ego to the pegasus thinking that they could make something that doesn’t run on clouds. But they tried to fly it without the clouds to much weight. At least that’s what I read in the testing of it. I wouldn’t fully understand it.”

“You brought her I see. Is this creature meant to be the salvation of this land or the doom of this land?” A one-eyed cam comes out of a hole in the wall to get a good look at me. “Hmm, many dents in her body. Some bruising on her organs won’t be too hard to fix. Let’s see oh cybernetics. A very small brain oh wait that’s every species to an AI.” The Ai gave a light chuckle and oh I wanted to break every computer of this AI.

“Who the fuck are you?!” The cam eye looks somewhat taken aback it blinks cams can blink? It backs up like I just insulted a big mind willing to help me. Like how dare you insult your better poppycock and all that. Yesh I am sure acting silly around these new folks.

“Who am I. Well not many would know or care. But I an Ai created to be a leader! I am known as the Eden Project. I was created just in case the princess fell apart I could take over I could have been a leader. I could...well I only was placed here.” The voice went from happy to sad. “So much from my grand leadership.” He mocked cried. “OH Boo hoo hoo.. Anyway!! We need to get you ready for your journey ahead.”

“Why would anyone want to rely on what did you call yourself?”

“I am called an AI Artificial intelligence. I was made that I could do better than a flesh bag. I could take over the world I could do more than anyone. I could overthrow the ponies and bring in termination. But no that would be boring when the ponies already kind of did that to themselves. Now allow me to open the door and forgive me it will take a while. Your friend here goes in and out the back way. I guess he feels the back way is too well tough for you.”

I sighed this is going to take longer then I wanted. I look to the door hearing the locks creak and crack since some of them refuse to work and it’s like this door never opened this way. Maybe while I wait I can try to understand what this place is used for now.

“What is this whatever it was meant to be used for now?” I shift a bit taking my helm off. Then take off my armor fully to let the sun charge it up. I remove my cybernetics from the sockets and pull out the wires from my holes that house the cybernetics and place them near the armor so all could charge.

“It’s being used to house exiles. There is freshwater deep under here. The only places that freshwater. Like the radio house, you took DJ mixer to has the same amount of pure water. They’re heavily defended for if all the water is stolen then the world will be fully controlled by the monster who controls it all.”

“So like Wheel Tread told me. He who controls the water controls the world. Does he know about this place then or does he even know about the radio tower that Yanari is in?” Scaled wing took off his armor and helm. I finally got a good look at him he much larger then I am a strong warrior type of my species. His blue eyes shined in the light. For some reason, my cheeks burned by just looking at him.

He smirked knowing that I seem to be attracted to him. I hope he doesn’t use that to well get me to follow him into death.

“No, thankfully Wheel Tread may think he is all-seeing and all-knowing. But he is just a simple former leader of a school. He may be smart but he doesn’t know that his judgment will be even worse than yours. But when he gets the future he wants here you know what will happen to him. When or how that happens I can’t tell you. I doubt even Eden can tell you.”

“I can say what will happen is well let me see. Hmm, carry the three the four… Burning in hot oil.” I just looked at the cam. I am starting to think the reason he was never put into other computers or whatever. That he is not that smart or smarter than other AIs of course I have never met any other AIs

“Is there a reason I can’t hear DJ mixer out this way?”

“Yes, there is a reason for that a lot of the towers that normally allow it to work. The only area that it works is near Hard Rock Hardshell so many cities with Hard. Narik and then the others like salt flat and Kludgetown and the cities I can’t remember out that way and here is because the towers fell years ago.”

“I do have a way to fix those.” Eden brought up. “But it would take getting what is needed over there. But the fact I am to slow and It would take placing node points to get me able to get over there well yeah. I don’t see anyone doing that and maybe they will sometime. Also, forgive me I know I would sound like a normal robot talking in numbers and such. But my brain was downloaded from a smart scientist known as Hen Rey. Odd name for a pony but these are odd times.”

“I do have one more question. This strange music will sometimes randomly play and then ponies or I will start singing. Do you know what causes this?”

Eden Ai took some time to answer like it wasn’t sure. “Well, it is said that the universe. Look at me an AI talking about the universe. The universe has a sense of humor that likes to put us at its expense for little jokes. Meaning it likes to watch those sing and make fools of themselves while you sing. At least that’s all I can think of.”

I look back at the door that is taking so much time to open I hear another lock finally opening and cracking. I am starting to wonder if anyone ever came here what would happen if the Ai couldn’t even open the doors.

“Well, that is a problem. Some of these locks are going to take longer they added some fail safes just in case I got smarter than they so excuse me while I focus on this.” I groaned and wanted to scream to the heavens and demand the goddess or princess to end me now. Just end me now I am tired of this waiting to get into a bunker that is run by a slow-minded robot or whatever it is. I looked at my helmet.

“So ponies made these places to last but a simple few locks can’t last? Okay, that is strange is there a way we can lock pick that door?”

“How would you learn the best virtue of all patients if every pony could simply lock pick my locks then what the point of locks? Sometimes you have to a sense of waiting to get to the best part of your journey. Unless you’re one of those that is so good at something that you forgo the journey and become the best at lockpicking. Of course, I am not bitter I am just an Ai that is trying to unlock a door for you. Unless you don’t need me anymore.” Was this Ai being conceding to me? I just asked a question yeesh ask a question get pissed off the mind on a computer. What a wonderful idea to make one with emotions.

“Forgive Eden he is not good at understanding emotions. He is also not good at simple tasks since they gave him smaller memory chips. That is why he needs those nodes. So he could stupidity take over the world.” Scaled wings laugh at what he said and Eden just went silent and the door locks just kept creaking and breaking. Finally, after a little time, the door finally opens and it creaks with a nasty screeching sound.

“OW!!!” I cover my ears Scaled picks up my armor and my cybernetics.

“We can charge them inside there is a greenhouse here that gets sunlight. Now I warn you there is a community down in here. You follow what the community leader saids and if you don’t they might try to destroy you got it?”

“Uh, what is the community leader like?” Scaled just ignored my question and we went inside. I look back at the door closing and relocking or at least trying to relock. Lights turn on seeing stairs lead down to the underground and more turrets come out of the walls aiming at me.

“Come.” I nod ignoring my fear and follow him.

<00000000000>
Underground community

Deep inside the bunker or the last hope for peacebuilding. I have no idea when we got fully below I noticed what look like a set of huts created from scrap and metal around the area. I was lead to an office where a giant robot stood in the office looking out a window at the makeshift city below. I looked down at the city seeing some airships and old wooden ships being used as homes. How they got down there made no sense.

“Beautiful ain’t it?” I look at the large robot. I have read of robots like her sentry robots. This one seems to have mind emotions and turning her head to look right at me. Then back to the window looking at the camels, ponies, and zebras. I watched while they brought in old boats that looked so waterlogged that fish even splashed out of them.

“If you call a place that looks diseased and full of sickness beautiful. But the question of why bring in these old airships and boats?”

“To some minds, it makes no sense. But to ones that try to survive it’s the best way to gather food. Think of it this way Ruby. If you would do anything to live and make a home for yourself. Even if it means taking wet wood and it stinks what would you do? Just lay on the ground full of sickness or try to do what you can just to survive even if it means this.” I look down at the city below. All I see is ponies and zebras living no smiles well some smile and play together. Seeing that Camels are the workers of this town.

“All I see is them surviving I don’t see pleasure or happiness just plain survival.” The sentry back looks at me again and then back below.

“That is the way of life these days. Just survive ignore the pleasures that come with it. Always best to allow them to survive to live. If they focused too much on the pleasures of the past. They will become complacent fat hateful and not understand the sense of community.”

“I don’t understand. I came from an island that had a hero that helped them survive.” The robot robotically sighed.

“That’s the thing, miss Ruby, there is no hero here and if you ask around they don’t want a hero. So again the sense of wanting to survive is all you can have. Not everyone wants to be saved. You will see that this community heard stories of what happens to those that have heroes show up. In fact, some of these that live here are from other parts of Equestria were heroes have walked. I heard stories of your island and how it was peaceful before your hero showed up. It turned into the crazy land it was after she showed up. She ruined the natural order of things that kept the island going.”

I sighed great another bashing heroes maybe these that feel threatened by the heroes are right. Maybe there really is no such thing as a hero. Maybe they do overstay their welcomes and then become a threat no matter how much they try to save the land. I looked back to Scaled wings who nodded to me I look back to the community.

“How do I know then? If a hero has overstayed and caused more problems then good?” The music plays over speakers oh not again I groaned. The sentry robot was going on sing what the hell is going on here?

“To know when a hero has overstayed their welcome. Look at what you see. Look at the pain they have caused.” I am lead to the city below. “Look at the wounded.” I see ponies missing Limbs I even see some former enclave just worst for wear.

“As you can see all have a story to tell. But some will never speak for their pain is all you have to see. Look at the ones drinking look at those sobbing. The problem with war and heroes as they always come hand and hand. If a hero could stop a second and see the pain that they bring. They might understand they should just move along and become one with the land.”

I tried to counter with singing along.

“Then what about those that did good and brought peace to the lands? Like Scootaloo or Silver gunner and many other heroes. What would happen without them? What would the Enclave have done if there was no hero? Would they have won?”

When I said Scootaloo I got so many looks of anger and hatred in their eyes and a large group of ponies started singing together.

“She.. helped create the experiments of the stables. She lied cheated and used the hopes of ponykind for her end game.” The group sang. “She deserved all death that came her way. She deserved every problem she got. For the pain she caused us.” The camels and zebras just stood and watched.

“Maybe you ponies don’t understand the needs of the many.” I look overseeing an elderly zebra singing. “Shall always be what stands in the way. Scootaloo did what she felt was right. The pain the heroes caused allowed us to put aside our difference and we become a community a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood.”

I gave up and let these ponies and zebras have their hate for heroes. Maybe they’re fully in the right. The song ended after I showed the signs that I gave up. Maybe if the hero gives up the idea of the community will always be there. I wonder what is going to happen when my judgment is clear and whatever happens to my friends if the world still feels like this. If the world will cry for the heroes that they miss.

“The truth is though Ruby. Come with me so you can learn.” I follow the sentry bot she hasn’t told me her name yet maybe she will soon. “Even though they dislike heroes sometimes they scream for a hero to save them after they have bashed and banished them from being there. Maybe that’s what this land needs. The villains have full reign for several years and then they feel their rights removed.”

“I doubt that will be wise to force on freedom-loving creatures. “ I added

“Yes, it wouldn’t be wise. But sometimes to wake those souls up that just hate. They just wish to be full of hate they need someone using their hate to gain in power. I am sure Scaled wing explained to you the judges of the universe? Well, you shall see them since there is history on them going back years.”

<00000>
Eden core

I am lead to a room of a large computer looking up to the name of the room the Eden core. The sentry bot lead me up to the computer and the bot inserted a strange device into the computer and it began typing and trying to boot up the computer. It booted up and it said ‘Welcome MRS Slice’

“MRS Slice?!” I yelled. “Are you Dr. Slice’s wife?” The sentry bot turned it’s head to stare at me. I wish I could see if it had emotions.

“Yes, I am his divorced wife. I have been told he’s alive and well and of course, I had the same sickness he did and I put my soul and mind within this robot. I do miss him I do hope to see him again sometime.”

“Now how can I help you today MRS Slice?” We all turned to look at Eden and finally, I got to see what he was made of well a giant screen.”

“I need you to bring up those so-called judges. The many faces of the judges of the universe or what they call themselves. This lie they have been holding close to them for years. But it makes sense who else will judge the heroes and this land and the rest of Equestria when the bring it to heel? That is the thing this land is their test. Stop them here destroy them they will never do it again. But you can’t since you got too complacent and allowed yourself to become mind-controlled when you didn’t answer the right questions.”

I just shook my head then what is the right answer? I looked around looking for Scaled but he did say something about a greenhouse and putting my armor and limbs there. I turned back to the computer when it finally came up with the first judge.

“Crunch the Rock Dog the judge that test the friendship of those around. Crunch is willing to spread his hate for everything and everyone just to turn them to stone. When he has a will he will do anything to destroy them and make them willing to end the real story of it. His last victims were the heroes of the past and the true reason they became problems was because of their faults friendship.”

Wonderful a stone dog that hates anything including friendship. Maybe it’s deserved maybe this Dog never had a friendship and maybe he did I would never know till I faced him if I faced him. Maybe when I battle them I will just fail.

“Next Beezen. A creature is known as a troll? From what I have learned over the years they used to wander this world. But Beezen is the last of his kind. Now Beezen from what most have learned about him. He uses his magic to create magic paint and those that use it all their greed to control them. They use it on their guns their homes or whatever else the owner owns and then suddenly they come alive and try to destroy you. So their judgment is death by your own greed.”

Judgment from your own greed? I have never heard of this issue before. Maybe it’s because my kind doesn’t always have a need for ownership of items. We just live in our brood nest and then that is our ownership of the former egg and our nest. Maybe if I learned more of this land I will understand the idea of Greed.

“Next Laven the judge of hubris. He fell because of his own hubris. He allowed his ego to get the best of him because he thought that he had the right and power to do what ponies couldn’t. He turned himself crystal and then was shattered. He reformed himself after the lava demons and ice wyms came together to bring him back. Since the ponies started using them for slaves in some parts of the war. They were all wiped out when they refused to help the ponies.” MRS Slice sighed.

So hubris is a problem then.

“There is a few more Ruby. We won’t be able to show you them all. Alot of them have had a history of them lost. All we know about Zeb and his master they’re the stealer of Shadows. We don’t know much about them. Other than that Zeb is very good at getting into places his master can’t. Then there is Tirek just a simple magic eater that has a giant ego when he gains magic. How the Flores lost info on them and the rest are missing. The only other judge is a squid.”
I remember the squid. I sighed looking towards Scaled wing who finally came back. He looked at me fully and he just stared at me and then Mrs. Slice looked at me and then him and then back to him he was getting very red in the face.

“Should I leave you two alone because you two seem to need a good screwing from the looks you’re giving each other.”

“I am sorry I didn’t mean to stare Ruby just first time looking at you. I see well beauty even if I see the failure of beauty and you’re a failure but you have beauty even if you failed and you’re a failure. What was I saying?”

I hide my face in my face groaning. “Please I don’t need to think of having sex right now. I want to train and get out of here and way from this place. Don’t get me wrong you’re all wonderful and kind to me. But I don’t think I have a right to become a Queen.”

“I think Majesty lied to you on how females of our species become Queens. It’s the choice of the female or the choice of the warden. Sometimes the warden will force the issue. You could breed all you want Ruby and well get eggs and lay them and they hatch just you won’t get to choose their skills and color.”

“Ugh…Scaled no offense you’re kind and all but I have too much to focus on. I want to be happy I do just. I don’t think I will be able to be happy if I have to think of what is going to happen to me. I…. FINE!! I am attracted to you is that so bad?! I don’t care if the fucking world knows I am attracted to you!!” I groan in a huff finally losing it.

“I got an idea how about you two go on a date and just relax then see if you two will become mated later.” We both turn to look at the robot and I sighed greatly now I am being told by a robot to go on a date with one of my species.

“What about my training?”

“Your training will have to wait a bit t miss Ruby. It will take a while for Wheel Treads minions to get the brain place. It takes a while for the Rainfall Project to make it back out to the water anyway. So they need to fly up there and make sure it stays right in that area.”

“I… I don’t want to date him I barely know him. Is this to keep my mind off what is to come?” Scaled just sighed grabbing me taking me with him to the city below. I just went with him and he took me to an inn and sat me down.

“I know you don’t feel like dating. You’re right it’s to keep your mind off what is to come. So just in case, you return because secretly well all know this land is going to want heroes after however long you’re gone. I feel he could have just asked you to go back to the island instead of killing you.”

“Well thank you for caring. The fact you care at all makes me so happy.” I didn’t even smile I was well being mean to him. He could tell I wasn’t happy with the fact I have to train to get ready to get my ass kicked and get judged for things I never did but be a hero.

“Heh, you really don’t like me, do you?”

“Listen scaled you’re handsome any female of our kind would love to have you. But I feel like I am forced on a date with you then again I barely know you. I am sure in this world this is normal for ponies and other creatures to suddenly look at another oh my you’re hot let’s go to bed together and fuck our brains out.”

“Oh come on it’s not that bad really. It may happen sometimes but Ruby I think you’re allowing your anger to get the best of you. Why not relax and just enjoy a good long date. Just sit here have a meal with me then we will get on with your training.”

I leaned back into the chair not sure what to do anymore. I allowed Scaled to order my meal for me and the drinks. I just looked around at the fact that this inn is created from old rusted steel. I guess you have to do what you can to survive. I just leaned back more in the chair hearing gentle music in the background of the inn. It was soft gentle music that made most fall asleep. I watched as Many ponies and zebras walking in and out of the inn laughing and enjoyed many meals together.

“As you can see Ruby there is no hero here. Granted some may get sick easy here. But that is normal. Sometimes sickness spreads very easily in places like this. But later they become stronger for it. Some will die yes but that is normal in lands like this.”

“I notice there is some Enclave here are they from the ones in Kludgetown?” Scaled nods.

“Remove the war to remove the battle. Remove the home and they become normal. Look at them Enclave, Ponies, and zebras the very ones that fight for that town are here enjoying each other’s company. Some stay here gets married to have children with each other than they never go back. It’s the fact that old hatreds never go away with some. The fact that some feel they’re above others is another problem. But all of them are the same even if one has stripes and another has homes in the clouds.”

I felt a tap from a little foal on my side looking down seeing a filly. I smile at the little one. I could see the pure eyes the innocents of the little one. I look up to see her mother is looking for her. I don’t know why this little one is here.

“MIss hero? You’re a hero right?” I nodded. “Are you going to save us?”

“If you want me to I could.” The foal looks to her mother who is not happy with her but doesn’t come to stop her. Maybe this is a test to see how I handle talking to this little one. Maybe I have been tested too much lately it’s starting to get on my nerves.

“If you do please don’t kill my family, my friends. They don’t trust you they don’t agree with you being a hero. They feel you’re a monster only here to steal from us and ruin their homes because of some sense of fake justice and mortality you have.” I just stare at the little one. My heart breaks and I sigh. A little one thinking if I save them I am going to murder their family to get what I want. Then I remember stories of the families that died during the island. What about the other heroes what families were torn away?

“What if I did it another way little one? What if I tried to use the hearts and minds by showing it by deeds? Maybe take a leadership role and be a hero that way? Maybe use the leadership to bring change reform and then use that to be a hero?”

The little one’s ears pinned to the back of her head. I could see that it didn’t make her happy. “That is why my parents are here. Because of Winter Breeze, she was a hero to her people. But to us, she was a threat that threatened to bring an old-world back that we didn’t want.”

“Then how would you wish me to save you?” The filly looks to her mother and then back to me.

“By just become part of the community and adding your skills and your abilities to conform to being part of the society we don’t need a strong sense of.” I cut her off a moment by placing my hand on her lips.

“How are you so smart little one?”

“My daddy and mother helped me learn the truth? They say that the best way to save a community is by doing nothing but helping with your skills and conforming to the land.”

I just looked at the little zebra. I loved the fact she was so smart. Looking at her mother and I smile. I didn’t get a smile from her. All I got was the fact she wasn’t happy I am here. I could tell a larger group of zebras and ponies forming a group looking at me.

“Uh oh.” Scaled softly says while looking at the forming group. The leader of the group a large stallion stared at me I just felt nervous, not sure what to do. I just waited to get attacked but the stallion smiled.

“I may not trust that you’re a hero. But if Eden and Mrs. Slice is alright with you being here then you’re welcomed. Just keep your sense of fake justice to yourself, please. A lot of us are here because of heroes thinking they’re above us.”

“I doubt heroes think they’re above you, sir. Just maybe some made mistakes and then it caused more problems than good? You see I am from a prison island that a Queen had a tight grip on. After the hero that saved us showed up. She was then jailed and destroyed mentally and physically to break her. I guess the enclave almost kill her when she was eight.”

The stallion nodded. “I am former Enclave Id rather not go into what got me to live here. But I know you’re trying your best to be a hero little bug. At least you’re doing a good job with it. Even though we know your judgment is coming. The judges will not come here hopefully hopefully we will be saved from the judgment of the universe.”

I didn’t know what to think about the judgment of the universe. Why did the universe think it had a right to judge me? I had to ask what is the judgment of the universe I looked at the zebras they normally told me the stars are evil.

“Excuse me to any zebras why does the universe feel it has a right to judge?” I just got looks of horror from the zebras. Did I just make a big no-no? Are the stars that bad to talk about? Are the stars alive are the stars willing to dance and sing for me too. Then I noticed a blind mare who stared at me.

“The villains coming are the judgment of the stars they’re are tired of losing. They’re tired of their grand designs falling. The stars wish to have them be the judges and you’re their first victim. Then next will be the one who brought the judges together. Wheel Tread he will be the next to suffer their wrath. For the stars just don’t care they want blood.”

“What did we do to the stars that cause them to be so hateful of this land? I don’t get it I am sorry I do have a friend that is a zebra but she refuses to talk about it.”

The mare smiles. “That is the thing we don’t remember all we know is there is just a great hatred of the stars for us. It’s gone on for so long that the meaning of it has been long gone for a lot of us. I am sure there are some out there that know. But most of the history was told has been gone from my memory for years.”

“We are sorry for how some will treat you down here. We understand that you are trying to save this land. But you have to understand when you give hope. There will be ones wanting to take it away. All of us know about Wheel Tread. He is not some hidden pony he did many things over the 200 years. Of course, most of it was hiding.” The stallion snickers.

“Just how can one stallion do all this?”

“Oh it’s not just one there are many ponies just like him who have done many things. He is just one of many. There are some who got farther than others. He is one of those willing to pull the line because he feels he can. But others have done sooo much. One pony can’t do all he’s done. He has had help over the years. How he does what he does is he as for favors. How do I know this? Well, he did the same with my family. He did it with my great grandfather and I was expected to take up the deal. So I left and came here.”

I just listened then the food finally came and so did the drinks. I looked at the food and then at the drinks. It was real meat from one of these sand sharks. I am guessing they hunt the wildlife here. I took the fork the gave me and ate the meat. I felt the magic from the meat it finally relaxed me my reserves finally allowed the dents in my body to try to fix itself.

“Now again not everypony here is here because of Wheel Tread some are here just to live. Some are here just to vanish. Some are former murders criminals that gave up their life of crime. Some even former raiders who just gave up on that life. You see Ruby this is the life survive than die.”

“Well I understand perfectly now it’s just strange to me that so many are so bent on hating heroes.”

“It’s not the fact that they hate heroes Ruby. It’s the fact that they don’t want their lives rooted because someone wishes to save them. I am sure there that things changed when heroes did their jobs. Like Little pip, she brought us back the sky. But that is the problem she did so and destroyed many lives above. Again it’s a matter of perspective.”

The zebra’s nod I looked to them why did they follow what the ponies felt like? Maybe I could try getting an idea of what zebras really thought.

“Excuse me is there a zebra willing to speak for them rather no offense to you sir.” I smile at the stallion.

“Wrecker.” He nodded.

A zebra step forward she looked much different than those I saw on the island. She had scars all over her body even her face. She had been through hell and back. Of course, she had the most gentle eyes I have ever seen.

“My husband speaks the truth.” She had such a calm exotic voice. “We try to do what we can. Even without a hero dear bug. We made do me and my husband. We set aside the old hatreds of the past and made a life. He is not above me I am not above him. He listens to my concerns I listen to his.”

Wrecker nods. “When you marry what the past saids is the enemy you learn so much that you never knew. They’re amazing at sex they’re very open-minded and they don’t judge unless you look down on their culture.”

The mare laughs. “Yes, I’m known as Lotus. I was a former assassin sent to kill him. Because he did things that my people frowned on. Then I learned his point of view and then we grew to understand.”

“That is why she is here if she was ever found by those that hired her they would kill her.” I nod looking at the two and then notice how this community is just happy without a hero like me to get int the middle of it. I eat the rest of the food and Scaled wing pays the bill with a strange type of coin. He told me it’s called bits. They don’t use caps because those are hard to come by here. The bits though they’re very easy to find. The others when on their way after the conversation and he took me outside of the underground building and I finally saw the name ‘Peace Rock.’ He leads me to a spot that he enjoyed sleeping. A place under the stars.

I look at the moon and he wraps around me. I don’t know why the large warrior wrapping himself and lowering himself to just a simple worker of my kind? My cheeks burn brightly even though I am no longer pink thanks to the color change. I hope I get my natural color back soon. But all I can do is just allow him to embrace me but why he called me a failure. He called me beautiful as well. But why soo suddenly that he needs me. I look at him and he looks at me. Why do I feel a sudden attraction is this a chemical imbalance my head?

“Scaled….do you have a real name?”

“Yes, it’s” He stares at me. “Sky Blue. A color of..your beauty.” I just stare at him what is going on with us? We just met and he just stares at me like I am the only female on Equis and our faces get closer to together and we share a kiss. My cheeks turned bright red as the kiss lasted so long. It didn’t feel right to break it.

When we finally broke the kiss I just leaned into him. “Um...c..an we train tomorrow I want to make it back to you so we can do this right. I don’t want to rush to sex with you.”

“Heh, sometimes Ruby we don’t have control of what the body wants. The body wants to allow it’s mind to control the ability to have sex. But I will do my best to try.” I leaned into him tightly and I closed my eyes and the night took us into a beautiful sleep.

<00000000000>
The universe.

“Ruby..” I stood in a dark room with many faces I haven’t seen before many masks that stare at me. The stars behind they dance they sing for my death. But the judges of the universe I am standing right in front of. “You have been found guilty. You have been found guilty of the fact you try to change the world. When the world doesn’t even want your kind.”

“You don’t have the right to remove our blood!!” The stars scream. “BLOOD BLOOD BLOOD. Bring us yours bring it.” A judge lifts a dark hand to silence the stars. I tried to get away from them and many eyes stare at me in the darkness. The judges speak to each other in words I never heard of.

“nimis mali.” one of the judges said staring right at me.

“pro delicto” Another head responded and the stars laughed.

“YES!!!” The stars dance and sing. “DEATH DEATH DEATH!!”

“Ut in atrium!!!” Another judge screams to silence the stars. I am stuck in the middle with chains forming all over my body of the stars. They bite into me they chew on me. The blood runs cold within the floor. The dancing bears see the idea of my guilt is normal. Bears that walk bears that run. The silence of ending night.

“DEATH GIVE IT!!”

The judges raise their hands again. “Her death is not now. It will be soon.” The stars scream angrily at this. They feel they’re owed maybe the blood shall bring the blackholes of their eyes. Maybe their eyes sing of the bugs that go in my neck that throttle my throat. OH!! The pain of my mind it’s full of empty thoughts.

“What about the stars that don’t want my death?!” I tried to argue for my case.” I am sure there are stars there that don’t think as they do.”

“Those stars are dead we killed them!!” One large star screamed. “BRING US OUR BLOOD!!”

“Those stars Ruby.” One of the judges offered. “Have given up on the world. Because the world never learns from their mistakes they always expect something to be the blame. You’re I am sorry lost till the stars that agree with hope return. But for now, that won’t happen.”

The stars scream again. “Bugs, stones, and Blackholes death is in the liking of our will. We sing for thee for thy heart is shall fall in our mouths. It’s of the will of us that we see the holes open our eyes. Your soul shall feed us. FEED!! Bring forth the night bring forth our death. Sing the truth of the icy icy heart. It shall sing to thee. Oh, we know within we know without it’s but a gesture of our coming. For we have come we are your judges!!”

They finally show themselves. Beezen, Zeb, Erebus, Lavan, The Flories, Prochina is missing. I see Tirek. I see some that haven’t shown themselves yet. Then the judges smash down their gavels.

“Court shall come back when the time comes.” I am forced back into my body from the sky above I feel myself falling right back into my body.

<00000000>
The night

I scream when I finally hit my body and I cry sobbing Sky Blue wakes up and holds me. All I could do was break down. It felt so real maybe it was real. I look up to the stars as they blink and wait for me to become what they wish.

It was all I could do to handle it and he held me tightly stroking my head. He would be the one to train me but right now. He would hold the one that is dear to him. Maybe I don’t deserve this happiness.

“Shh, it’s okay Ruby.” He held me the rest of the night and the next day we would be training for a month. For now, it’s time to enjoy what makes me happy.

Level up

New perk.

The judgment of the universe: The universe and the stars have passed their judgment the fall has now happened. The universe now wants its blood it will do whatever it can to get it from you. Even if it means the innocents around you must fall for them to get your blood.

Next Chapter: Chapter Sixteen: Memories Estimated time remaining: 39 Hours, 14 Minutes