Kludgetown a home away from home. My kind of place. A place to that you could simply get lost in. A place a couple of ponies found me in. Oh, I remember it like it was yesterday a place of pleasure a place of peace. Well not really peace more like a place of scum that wanted to get the next score. The war destroyed the poor place and most of us are now homeless and have nowhere to go. We search for the so-called peace rock to find a home. But many of us are losing hope. I...I am one of them I am down to my last bit of water and food and here I am just going to wait out my death.

Written by Capper 200 years ago writing found by his bones.

"An old friend of mine once quoted me an ancient Egyptian blessing: 'God be between you and harm in all the empty places where you must walk.'"
Sheridan to Zeta Squadron, A Distant Star

A month later.

I have had a hard and rough time training. I am now getting ready to leave to head to Kludgetown. I have been told the brain is now found All that is needed is to get into the project and then to stop it from moving now that means to follow my way to the town. Blue Sky and I kept our relationship on the level we kissed dated courted and he trained me. I look back on some of the training.

“The Enclave fights like they’re in the clouds. I don’t know if we can touch or do anything to clouds. But when they fight they will give you no mercy. These enclaves have no idea what changed with the enclave of now. If you even try to tell them they won’t listen so remember that. The children have no idea what the past was like. The mares fight just like the stallions but it might be best not to hurt them. The stallions are very protective of them.”

I stood there nodding. “Is there anything else?”

“Yes, the leader. He is called Metal wing.” Eden brings up a photo of him. He is a large red stallion with metal wings. “Years ago he lost them in a battle. He was the lucky one the others that were with him didn’t get so lucky. He is very paranoid and his co-leader the one you will be meeting is known as Skysong.”

He brings up SkySong a mare just as large as metal wings. Her entire body is in armor and the biggest thing about her I see. She won’t even show her face to anyone. She is always in her armor and even showers in it. She refuses to take it off just in case somepony tries to harm her. I have never heard of a mare so paranoid about the world around her. But I can understand with always being at war.

“Now I have no idea why Wheel tread picked her. All I can say she will never trust you so don’t expect her to.”

“Ruby?” I finally come back from the flashback looking to Sky Blue.

“Yes?” He gave me my armor and cybernetics the painted armor it’s now golden colored. He updated the hud and updated many of the repair systems. He also removed some of the paddings in the armor. I look at my cybernetics he didn’t do much to them but he made sure to make it so it’s not so painful when I reattach them.

“I wanted to give you everything before you left so you don’t forget.” I just sigh I know he doesn’t want me to go. He also knows I care very deeply for my friends and I don’t do this deed Wheel Tread will harm my friends.

“Sky Blue you still upset with me?” He gave me a nod and It hurt me that I upset him. I could tell he didn’t even want to look at me. I reach for him and touch his bug hand and he looks at me buzzing softly as we just stare at each other.

“Please wait for me when the time comes. Please make me your queen when all this is said and done.” He stares at me and helps me get my cybernetics into my sockets and connects them and he kissed my cheek.

“I will always wait for my pink beauty. Just promise me when you do fall don’t take those friends of yours with you.” A gentle blush formed on my buggy face. It was getting heated I wanted to stay with him. But I am sure if I stayed Wheel tread will be searching for me and try very hard to hurt the others here.

“Thank you Sky Blue.” He nodded and left the room I was given by the others. I became part of this community after I promised not to become a hero. I have removed the name hero from myself. I am just now. Looking at my helm its the flamer still and of course the flame throwers are there.

My memory goes again to my time here over the month. I help many of the citizens of this community I give them hope just by helping them build and helping them sell their goods. I even went hunting with them. Looking back on it. It was an amazing fun hunt.

“Now Ruby we are hunting Chiamras this time. That would mean we need to go to the salt flats you up for it?” I turned to a mare I made friends with another zebra who is very buff and has teeth and bones as her armor.

“Well if I don’t have to place Urine all over myself Miss Hunter then yes.” She called herself the hunter she was named that because she was the leader of the hunters for the food. She had an old name but it’s been so long she doesn’t even remember it anymore. Another that went with is a griffin. It’s been a while since I have seen a Griffin and from what I learned he is the only griffin living here right now.

His reason for being here. Is mostly because he is hunted by many of the groups out there. It’s just the three of us because only a few know how to hunt these creatures and not many wish to become hunters.

“Heh, I would never do that travesty of hunting Ruby.” She gives me a strange device it looks like a folded piece of metal with a small trigger on it.” Click the trigger you will see in time what I just gave you.” I click the trigger and magic starts to form a weapon it magically forms into a crossbow. I look at the crossbow of how it works. It has a scope and seems ready to be armed and used.

“So what’s the point of giving me this?”

“You will be hunting targets. You will be doing unsavory things, Ruby. You need to stay silent meaning walk in and out like a knife in the darkness. Use the bow to prove you can’t be seen. For you’re going to be a hunter and you hunt ponies zebras and whatever else.”

“Does it bother you I am going to be killing your kind?” Hunter lifted her skull helm to look at me. I could tell it didn’t bother her that I asked that question. Her eyes just stare at me a warrior made through death and battle.

“No, for they’re blind. Thinking the war is still going. If they’re that blind thinking the world is still owing them. Then they must be brought to the stars and the stars demand their blood. When you hunt you will get to name it. You keep it and use it.” A zebra not caring about her kind? I understand maybe it’s an issue that she has over time. Maybe it’s something that she will explain someday.

“Like with my kind we are always at each other’s throats.” I turn to the griffin he is sharpening his claws. “It’s a matter of how some handle it. If a zebra feels their kind needs to die then do so. It’s a matter of how the world notices it. If the world even cares what you do. Oh if you care my name is Golden feather.” Golden feather and he is a blue feathered griffin how lovely is their names. I chuckle to myself.

“You wish to be part of this community Ruby. You will hunt you will die you will bleed your blood for us.” I stare at Hunter. “Your blood shall become part of this sand. Like the rest that come before you. The blood must feed the sand and you will become part of the community of Peace Rock.”

My mind finally came out of the memory again. “Ruby are you ready to go?” I turn to look to Hunter she is helping me get there it’s going to take a while to get there. I have to go through a sandstorm valley from what I have been told.

“Yeah just thinking. I don’t want to do this Hunter.” She smiles and comes over to me sitting in front of me.

“Sometimes my little friend we don’t have a choice in protecting a world. This world is dying even though Pip saved it so long ago. This world dying is the will of the stars.” The zebra smiles showing her blood-stained teeth. A meat-eater will eat any meat and did much to try to help me speak like her people.

“Ngiyabonga” I softly said to her with a gentle smile and she chuckled.

“No need to thank me little bug. I couldn’t teach you everything. But it could get you into areas that my kind won’t allow others in. Just if you kill them to make sure to drop every ounce of their blood the stars call for it. Can’t let the stars go hungry right?” I laugh softly.

“No the stars deserve their due.” I sigh a month ago I was scared to death of the stars now I am embracing their will. They have made me their hero and the stars that want my death have been silent for now because of blood.

“Good now come others want to see you off.” I nod finally making sure I got all my ammo my arrows. Looking at the tips they’re sharp like always. Everything I have is with me and I head out of my room I have been given. I look at a long line of ponies zebras and others that I got to know and they accept me into their community. So many that hated me at the start come to welcome me. They even gave Eden a robotic body to see me off.

I turn to Lotus and Wrecker who are the ones who welcomed me and helped me the most in living here. Lotus trained me into the way of how some zebras fight. She didn’t go into full detail because she didn’t have the time. But I am now able to see some things that could be a gesture for an attack.

I look back on the memory of how kind they were to me and how they helped me. Lotus had been training me the past two days and showing me gestures of how to read when a zebra might try to go for a killing blow.

“You see Ruby, not every gesture a zebra will make is a killing blow. Some are to confuse you. Now if they’re a trained killer like me. They might have a knife attached to their hoof or they might have a knife hidden their mouth somewhere. Now what I am showing you id rather not hit you. Because any hit by me could be painful or break something can’t have that.” She smirked

“Heh, my love we can’t hurt Ruby. She needs to be dented free for her mate to be of course.” Wrecker and Lotus laugh. Sky Blue and I have been getting closer and they all joke around it makes me not only blush but smile a lot of the times.

“Heh if he can wait for me that is. Anyway, Hunter wants to take me out on my first hunt. What should I expect?”

“Blood guts bile and well blood.” Wrecker nodded.

“Yes, that girl rocks the world of stallions and then uses that lust of hers for blood after sex.” She giggles. Lotus always a sweet mare I thought but always very open about what she felt about the others. It did get her into some trouble but nothing she couldn’t handle.

“Yes I remember when she pulled you and me into a big game of fun” Wrecker laughs. I just stared at the two as they talk about their lives together they have been married for almost 30 years. They met when in Wrecker’s words when the Enclave tried to destroy the ponies of the land.

“Two last things Ruby don’t trust a zebra. Only trust those that are willing to be open to you. If they’re very closed they’re either one with the lie of the stars or one that is expecting to backstab. If one does this you kill them quickly.” I just stared at Lotus every zebra in this community has issues with their kind. Hunter keeps telling me to trust the stars even if they lie. Lotus tells me only to trust the stars that accept the blood of innocents. I may never fully understand but I am starting to accept the stars will.

This community is so opened I was even offered to join most of the couples in on their fun. I told them I am saving myself for Sky Blue and they all laughed hoping to join them when Sky Blue in their words breaks through my innocents. I doubt I am no longer innocent. But after being in this community just for a month I don’t want to leave. I leave the memory and just hug Lotus and Wrecker.

“I promise I will return.”

“You better.” Wrecker smirks.

“Yes, you better if you don’t I will give the stars enough blood to bring you back. I will not let my friend be taken by them forever. The stars will get their due when they take you from us.” I nod and move along to a mare standing by herself. I got to know her as the missile. But her true name Boost. Her training for me was something I would never forget. The fact that she was called the Boost. Her wing had been removed from a disease that claimed her wings. But that never stopped her I remember the memory when I met her. I stare at the yellow mare as my memory allows me to remember.

I had been in this community for close to almost a week. I was sent to help the missile I had no idea why they called her that. Till I got to her workshop and she built a machine years ago to help her replace her wings. On her back what looked like a golden jet pack attached to her back. I look at an old golden mask and red it’s covered in dust like it hasn’t been used in years. The stories she told me of her great great grandfather. He was called The Rocket and he used this jetpack.

“I am from a long line of heroes Ruby. They all used this suit and helm. But for me, I used the rocketpack to gain back my flight. I doubt I would ever have the right to be a hero like them. I fused it to my back and now I can fly again. I think the reason they sent you to me. Is to show you no matter what never give up hope.” She strokes her hoof on the helm. “For we all will have our calling. I am sure the time will come when I can do it. Now please Ruby help me get this off.”

I helped her get the rocket pack off her back it looks like she removed a lot of her skin and bone on her back and gave herself a cybernetic spine, of course, I am sure she had help with that. She doesn’t go into what happened to her. I think she doesn’t wish to tell me what she went through. Each time she goes into it all she does is fall into blubbering and crying about family and having to live up to amazing legends.

I just told her I am a creature judged by the stars to be put to death by their judges. For all I can do is seek them now. Even in innocents get in my way. The kind mare puts her hoof on my back and strokes my back.

“Oh, Ruby all of us that live here learned to trust the judgment of the stars. We may not care for the judgment but we know you will come back. Then come back and make us heroes. Make us the heroes we should be. We all know that we want to keep heroes away from our peaceful lives. But we know full well our way of life is no longer going to be enough. This world this land. It needs heroes. Never forget that we need heroes we need Villians to force change even if it means death. My family knew this.” She stroked her hoof on the rocketpack. “For we all have a dream.”

These words always make me feel a deep sense of hope and understanding for those that have such a hope for the world it’s never going to be easy to fulfill that hope but many will try and that is all most can do.

“Don’t wait for a reason to put on that suit. Use it to become something you wish to become. But if you wish to wait until the world. Become a hero become someone that wants to protect this very land. But wait and be ready for the time to come.”

The yellow mare smiled looking at the helm and she placed on the helmet and the coat and we went outside of peace rock and she stared up into the sky. The golden helm shinned in the sun. She stood on her back legs as her grandfather did and the rocketpack fires off and off she goes flying like the hero her grandfather and father were. Maybe this will trigger a response to the stars letting me having more time. But the stars want their blood.

The memory ended after she landed and there are staring at her. Who just has the smile of a hero willing to lose her life for the world.
“Take care Ruby remember you’re always welcomed here.” I smiled nodding to her.

“When I make my brood when I get my brood they will come here. I am sure my brood will be welcomed all over this world. I thank you for opening my eyes, my friend. You showed me that even one that covers themselves with a name can be a hero.” The yellow mare gave me a salute and I remember the story she told me why her family got kicked out of the clouds. The memory comes to me.

I have been here for close to two weeks and I have been helping her find the right fuel for the rocketpack. It’s not hard for her to find it but it’s not a simple fuel but what got her family banned from the clouds is what the rocketpack did and the issues it caused.

“The story of why my family got kicked is because the Rockatpack was going to be used during the war. But the creator refused to allow it to be used in the war. So he hid it in my family’s old backyard and they did everything to find it and killed the creator. My family found it and my grandfather used it to save the lost. They called him the Rocket and he saved zebra and ponies alike we may be at war. But we aren’t barbarians. But that wasn’t good enough for them so they exiled my family. Before they did the Dashite shit.”

“I don’t see why they would exile your family just because of protecting both sides. Why is that such a problem?”

“I think the problem is because back then the hatred got to be so much that many things happen. Random attacks on citizens just war changed so many. Ruby never allow that to change you please.” She smiles down at me. “Promise me you don’t become a monster.”

“I promise Booster I won’t become a monster.” She smiled and the memory ended.

“ I will keep my promise.” I go along seeing many that did so much for me. But I will see them again. But I stop to look at a camel and her child. Looking up to her the calf is a newborn and can’t even speak yet.

“Please don’t lose yourself like we do Ruby.”

“I promise Stream. I wish I could understand the issues of your species. The fact that all your kind joined Luna in her rebellion and then stopped the war from being able to be fought here. I am sorry that you lost your mate before he got to see your little one be born” Stream smiled and strokes my head.

“She has her god-mother now.” My cheeks glowed brightly I didn’t think I deserved that after I saved her life and her husband dying. The memory is painful but I look back on it. Her husband a wonderful male named Red. I was helping him build a new inn since the other had to be taken down it was making those that went inside very sick. It had something to do with the metal. But I set something up wrong and Stream was caught in the middle and it started to fall and it crushed her and Rock. With Rock though it was the only thing keeping him together. We were able to get Stream out and I held her stroking her face.

“I am so sorry please forgive me!” Tears streamed down my face.

“It wasn’t your fault Ruby. It’s fate.” She looks over to her husband. “We will meet again my love.”

Rock smiled nodding. “Yes.. my love we will. When the grand desert takes you as it takes me.” The others of the community lifted the slab and he died right in front of us and a day or so later he was buried outside. Then the little one was born soon after. I was there to help and they called her Glide after me. I was honored. I remove myself from the memory and stroke the little calves head.

“Don’t give your mother trouble little Glide. I shall return to watch you grow.” The little one smiled and I had a few more to see before Hunter and I left. I followed the path to MRS slice and Eden. They trained me as well but looking back on it. It was the same as the others did. The only thing of note that I remember we build Eden a body that he could use to go and back into the computer.

But he couldn’t leave Peace Rock without the nodes being placed around the desert. I wish I could help with that but I have a task to do and getting to Kludgtown is the task. I sighed and smiled at them and went along to the final one. I stared at Sky Blue who didn’t even look at me. He looked away but wanted to say goodbye to me.

“Sky, please… No need to be upset at me for needing to do this task.” He looks to me and my heart beats so hard as I stare at the one who wants to claim me as his queen and in the words wife. I just smile stroking his cheek with one of my buggy hands.

“Promise me please you will wait for me?” I had to know if he would wait for me. He stares into my eyes and I look back at the memory of when he grew very upset with me and broke my heart.

<0000000>
The memory of a love song.

It started like any other day I was training with Hunter on archery and speaking like her speeches. She was trying to teach me the words to talk to those that refuse to speak Equestrian she told me those hide nothing. They express themselves by either their gestures or their eyes.

“How do we say hello Ruby?”

I tried to say the word it wasn’t easy. “S S..”
“It’s okay don’t force it just let it calm naturally.” She smiled not pushing me into understanding it.

“S S Sawubona,” I said very badly. It wasn’t very easy to learn an entirely new way to talk over a month. But I had to learn since she wanted me to hunt her kind. Because to her, she felt allowing the blood of her kind to run in the sand will bring my judgment to be easier on me. I looked at my crossbow seeing the name I gave it. But before I could read it to myself. Sky Blue came in.

“You’re still teaching her?! She is leaving and we shouldn’t waste the time that she is going to go die.” I just stare at Sky Blue. They cared deeply for me here and I learned you don’t piss off Hunter if you do she cusses and you never understand her.

“Imbongolo” Hunter showed her sharp shark teeth. “You don’t dare treat your mate to be like that Sky Blue. The stars need their blood you know this and you told her this. You need to accept that she has a task in the name of the stars”

“Fuck her task. She is going to allow herself to be killed and for what? Because some crazed pony wants to control this desert just to make an example of her?!”

I didn’t say a word I just watched Sky Blue lose it and Hunter grabbed Sky BLue and tossed him right beside me.

“You two are going to talk this out and if you leave this room. I will make sure the others keep you in this room.” Hunter left looking back at me with a smirk winking. Then she closed the door. I just stare at Sky Blue who sat beside me.

“You had no issue with this before now you do?” I click the trigger to allow the crossbow to magically fold back into the little wallet like device. I placed it on my armor beside me and I looked at him.

“Look I already promised I will give my self to you when you return. Is that not good enough?” Sky Blue got off the bed he sighs and he looked over to me and then back to the door. Tears stream down his face? He never cried he always is strong towards me. I am starting to wonder if what is going to happen that he can’t handle it.

“Sky please, I need to do this I need to face my time. I need to face my fate. I can’t stop that fate. You know this.” I got off the bed to hold him. “Please I need you. You can’t fall apart on me now. It’s getting closer to the time and I keep wanting to stay and you make me your queen now.”

“I wish you could do that just end your journey now become my Queen forget those friends of yours become mine and mine only. But I am selfish and I don’t want you to go through the death the stars want you to go through. But I know I have no say. You have a task and a mission.”

“Oh, Sky I wish I could do that. But you and I both know Wheel Tread would send his minions to find me. I still have some of the chips he placed in my head. I have one more mission. He wanted me to do more but things are going fast. He needs to have the right time and it would take many months for Rainfall to return from the sea.”

“I know...Rainfall only comes to land twice each year. This is his only chance to stop it and then have the king block off this land from the others. I just wish it wasn’t you. The one I want to share my life with. I want to share my life with you and with how long we live. It will be years to the point we watch those around us die.”

I knew deep down I would watch everyone I now die and I would see new souls coming to the world. The idea of immorality at least to our kind is but eternal. I remember deep down what Majesty told me. ‘My kind grew old and died the rest just went away. To the land, many can never find. To what some call the golden shores of the west and the east. The universe has a way to tell all of us that the stars wish to hear us sing.’ I asked her back then why do we care what the stars think. All I remember her saying. ‘The stars keep us from destroying ourselves. It’s best to understand when the universe wishes it. We must follow for I am doing that now. The stars want the blood of Star Shooter. So I must give them her blood.’ I asked her what happen the generations of her kind after.

She turned to look at me and then looked away. ‘We were born naturally immortal. We were kept in line by birth rate a few of us were born each year. Then. I think the universe wanted most of us to care about life. It said those who come after us must die. The others went beyond between land in the emptiness of the world. I would be thought to be the last. When the hero or I fight one of us will die. She will kill the last of the true Alicorns and if the universe wills it. Then so be it.’

It’s all I could remember after that. But It’s deep thoughts maybe this will happen to us. Maybe we will become like them live an amount of time and then the universe tells us it’s time to move on. Time for us to see the world in a whole new light. Then go the land between lands to find those that came before us.

“Sky I know I am not looking forward to watching all we met die as we grow older. How would we handle it when the universe wishes up to be the same as the others?”

“First Ruby we need to clean up the land. No one has been to the salt flats that got hit by the mega spell we are lucky only one hit us. But thanks to the spell that Luna place on this land. It’s not surprising we never got attacked like the others. Since this land has been cursed so long ago.”

After that, we just sat beside each other not saying a word. I could tell he still was upset that I had this task to do. But I knew Hunter if we came out now without taking care of anything. Then we must be ready for her to kick our asses. My helm turned on and that strange music plays. I felt the want to sing.
“I love youuuu I don’t wish to lose you Ruby my love. I hold you in my arms I just hear your heartbeat. I see in my heart that you’re my love to be. All I want is you. I look back on when I met you. I look back and see how I treated you.”

“Oh don’t worry my love. My task won’t take me from you forever. I shall return someday. When the universe calls for me to return to avenge the stars.” We softly sing together.

“We shall never allow our love to fade. For we are the ones that control our love not the will of the universe. Not the will of the stars. Not even the will of the drums that wish us to break apart. We hold each other close and stare into the eyes of each other. Oh, we dance in the sky watching those below us smile at our love.” The others outside joined in.

“Don’t allow the stars to control your Hunt. Don’t allow the bones to sing for you. Let the will of the blood of the stars to become how you follow your life. Uthando shall guide your way, my dear friends.” Hunter sang outside the door.

“The shadows sing of what love is. Sometimes love to a zebra is a way to kill those in the middle and in the way of us. Oh, we can’t allow ourselves to lose the love that comes to our hearts.” Lotus softly sang

“We can’t allow love to be lost in the world. Love is all we have left. Love is most of all we have left. It’s the only way we can keep ourselves from falling apart.” Wrecker sang the entire community started to sing along with us. Even the ones that I never got to know. I am hoping someday I get to know them all.

“Love is but a dream to the stars. We need to allow ourselves to be lost in each other’s eyes and the souls of the past. We can’t allow the forsaken past to become we can’t allow our love to lead us to a war that would destroy the world again.” I started to just sing.

“I am lost in your eyes. I can’t leave you now but I must complete my task. I shall return when my task is done. Even if it means my life, my dear love. I shall always make sure you remember me. I shall never allow myself to be lost again.” Our song stopped and I just stared at my mate to be.

“Are you still angry with me Sky?”

“ I will be for a while. But I don’t want you to feel you have to stay here. Because you’re right. With that weapons cache, you found not very far from here during your hunt. Maybe you shouldn’t stay because they might come and search for you here and find Peace Rock. I am sure if they do. They will mess with us.”

“Yes, when I come back I am going to bring my friends here. Even my adopted mother. Of course, I think Hawk will feel more at home here. She will be happy to be near others and not being used as a creature of burden. I think that is why she got upset at me when I asked her to help me protect this land.”

He nodded and right after the memory ended and when I came out of the memory I had been kissing Sky Blue deeply for I don’t know how long. But I didn’t care it’s the only comfort I have right now. Because for me I love him.

“Uh..how long do you think they can kiss like that?” I hear Wrecker ask.

“Maybe as long as you wait for climax during our times of love?” Lotus giggled.

“Heh, I doubt she can hold it that long.”

“Ruby we need to get going..” Hunter butted in. “If we don’t we will be there later then you want. Since it takes maybe like two days to get there.” I break the kiss staring at Sky Blue. I just can’t move away from him.

Hunter sighed and pull me away from Sky Blue with her hooves and then I placed my helm on I looked back at the others. I felt I was losing my family again. I didn’t want to leave so deep down I felt like I had to stay to defend them.

“Ruby we will be here when you’re able to return.” I look to Eden. “Thanks to you we got it into our hearts to fix up our defenses outside. You gave us a purpose again. We now wish to help you when the time comes. I wish to help you like my job was meant to happen.”

“I thought you were meant to take over if the princess failed at their jobs?”

“That is true but I have a new purpose now to protect this land. If the others are up for it we are going to put my nodes in Hard Rock. I feel that city will the base of the resistance if there ever is a need for one.”

“I agree with Eden and I normally don’t,” Lotus added. “I don’t trust robots that many bots I have grown to trust Eden and MRS Slice so I am willing to do what it takes to drain the blood of the unworthy minions of the stars,” Lotus smirks

“I am willing to hunt those unworthy and have their meat.” Hunter shows her sharp teeth. “We shall have a meal of meat when the battle comes. We kill our kind ponies and then those unworthy of the stars. We shall draw the blood of the unworthy on the sands. The stars will sing!”

“Here here!!” We all scream

“Izinkanyezi kufanele hlabelela!” Hunter yelled and all the zebras of the community yelled the same thing.

“Izinkanyezi kufanele hlabelela!” They all kept yelling The stars shall sing when we left. I could feel the stars smiling on me. Even if they wish to judge for I am now part of their game after I understood their song. Maybe that is the hit in my head I needed. I needed to accept the will of the stars as well as accept their judgment.

<00000>
The desert

We finally left Peace rock. It lived up to its name. I was show peace it may not be the peace many felt was deserved. But the name of it lived up for what it was meant to be. It’s unwise to question peace now. Even if the land wishes to have no heroes. I had my crossbow in my buggy hands. It was easier to carry and have with at all times. Just a simple arming device and then fire. Looking at the name of it I now remember the hunter I had. I had many hunts with Hunter and her griffin husband golden feather.

We all drained our blood in the name of survival now I am heading to go to the final stretches of my judgment Kludgetown a home of the unworthy many of my zebra friends has told me. Even those that Wheel tread wants to take over. The unworthy of the stars of good. I was told there are two groups. I am working with the stars of good. The stars that want me dead are the stars that wanted the universe to side with war.

Deep down though I am very unsure of how to handle all this. I may feel stronger since I met and lived with my friends for a time. Now the memory of how I got the name for my crossbow I look at it but we stop for a moment because the valley of the storm is too much to pass right now.

“It seems we are a bit late so we have to wait a bit for the storm to let up.” Hunter removed her pack from her bag setting up a tent and campfire. She already had a large set of meat with her. It’s from another hunt we did. But not as insane as my first hunt.

“Ruby while we wait how do we say take me to your leader?” I am trying hard to remember how to say those words. I rummage in my memory of trying to say it. It’s not going to be easy since I will be nervous when this happens.

“Th..Th..Th..” It’s very hard for me to say these words but I have to try. “Thatha.” I was able to say thinking again. “Mmm mm, mina” I added with a very awful accent. “Y Y yakho” Coughing it’s so hard to say these words. I grunted this one as two words. “ HH” Coughing I finally was able to say it. “umholi wezombangazwe”

“Good good you may need to work on your accent but I am sure you will get the hang of it. But I am sorry I wasn’t able to teach you more in a month. For of my kind of they stay silent and they use gestures don’t push it.”

“What does that mean if they don’t wish to talk?”

“That means some just don’t care for outsiders or some might not be able to speak. Some zebras never learned how to speak. It’s a matter of teaching but some just were too proud to speak the tongue of their people. It’s just something a lot of us got used to.” I understand those that don’t care about outsiders I met them back on the island. A lot of the zebras after the war got very closed off it was a bit sad. But I guess that happens when freedom happens. Those that just want to be left alone are left alone.

“The island known as devils due was formed to house a nasty creature. A squid I don’t know much about him. Just the fact the alicorns of old fought him. They fought him with the one known as Grogar. I don’t understand what Grogar has with the universe and the stars.”

“Hmm if that is true Grogar’s prison has started to weaken. Most have forgotten about the father of monsters. Zebras haven’t some try to forget about him. I know my tribe forced us to remember him. I left my tribe years ago I don’t know how they teach now.”

I sighed I hated the fact we have to wait for the sand storm whatever it’s called to slow down before we go through. It’s odd with the fact that this. I reached in my bags and brought out a pot to cook some of the meat. I also learned how to cook… Uh...if you call what I do cooking. I kept an eye on how Hunter cooked when I brought out my pan.

“Now as I cook Ruby how do we say. Where can I find the bathroom?”

She told me this is very important because if you can’t find a bathroom and wet yourself then you’re a joke to the other zebras around you. For me I never had this issue of course I don’t really know how my bladder system works. Never even heard of any of my kind being taken apart for science. I hope it’s not me someday maybe hopefully it won’t be me. I tried to say the word

“K K..K..” Some of these words are hard to say.” kuphi K Kk” Coughing ugh these words mess up my throat.” kuyinto” Coughing again. “le “ I think on how to say the word. “indlu yokugezela” I say it wrong a few times in my head but I finally was able to say it very badly of course.

“Ugh, these words are hard to learn Hunter. They destroy my throat pretty badly is that normal?”

“Well, it a way yes. Trying to learn another tongue really can screw with your throat. Like it took me years to learn Equestrian. Some words of Equestrian are easy like some of mine. But you only had a month. If you had longer it would go easier for you.”

“Hunter, how did you and Goldfeather meet?” Hunter looked up from cooking and I just saw an evil grin of a smile on her shark bloodstain teeth. I am wondering if there is a lot to this story she will love telling me.

“How the two of us met is kind of funny. You see Peace Rock has a red light district well a small one. It’s mostly used for couples to meet and well enjoy each other. How I met him I just got back from a hunt and I wanted to go there to enjoy a good screw. I met him we hit it off then we had sex. Not much to tell that we started to get even more serious. I fell in love with him after getting to know him more. He didn’t really fall for me till I learned that Griffins show their love another way.”

“How do griffins show love?”

“Being ass holes and calling you every name in the book during sex.” She laughs softly. “It’s fun when he and I are in bed together and all those amazing insults he can do. Of course, we can’t have children together. So we are thinking of adopting from the many areas that have familyless foals in this desert.”

“Well, I am happy to know that the way that the hero met her wife is the same way you two met.” I laughed remembering the story that Blaze told me. I loved the fact that she just claimed Star Shooter as hers and didn’t care what she said.

“Ruby I am not happy with the fact that you’re going to allow this judgment to happen. You could have just stayed with us and Wheel Tread would have started this all on his own. But I am sure you have a good reason to do so.”

I sighed I knew the others didn’t like this. I know full well they didn’t. I didn’t only make friends in that community I made a family. I guess my family cares deeply for me even though they didn’t like the fact I consider myself a hero. But would I still be one even though they wish me to do evil in the name of the stars?

“ I wish I could tell you otherwise Hunter. But I have friends that might get hurt. I have to do this or Wheel Tread will go after them to get to me. So I know what is going to happen to me. I may not like the fact it will happen to me. I am now willing to accept the judgment of the stars of me after getting to know you all.”

Hunter looked to me I could tell she didn’t care for the idea of me getting judged by the evil stars. The stars to her fro what she told me are normally guides. The stars always guide her tribe. Even if she was exiled for being a meat-eater.

“I still don’t have to like it, Ruby. I don’t care about that fact. I hate the fact you’re going to be used as an example.”
I nodded I knew how she felt about that. I didn’t like that idea either but it has to be done. Maybe it needs to be done to show this land. It needs heroes and then the heroes will be welcomed. Even if it means some blood is spilled on the desert itself.

“Yes, I know it bothers me too. I think it’s a good idea to have it happen.” Shrugs. “At least that’s how I feel.”

The food is finally all cooked and she and I started to eat. We kept to ourselves since Hunter and I show our respect for each other by being silent. Sometimes silence is the only words some know. Hunter normally shows how she feels about others is the gestures she does. Right now though. Looking down at my crossbow and the name. The memory of the name is all I can think of now.

<000000>
The first hunt

It was back a month ago the day after I got there. Sky Blue wanted to test how I could handle a hunt. Of course, I had no idea what he meant by that. I thought he meant just a normal hunt. But I learned that the creatures of this land aren’t easy to hunt. Some of them mutated from Luna’s spell and natural radiation of the land. From what I was told even though the salt flats got hit by one Megaspell it caused the curse that Luna to place on the land. To add to the natural radiation of the sun. It seems to mix a curse a mega spell and the sun really cased a lot of problems here.

From what I learned what it does to ponies and zebras their coats get sunbleached and most die but radiation cancer or a spell mutates them into something really unfriendly monsters. But of course, they only stay in caves. If you meet them they can talk like normal ponies. Just they have a raging hunger.

“Alright, Ruby Hunter gave you your crossbow now let’s get to the salt flats. Unless you’re scared.” Goldfeather smirks.

“If I was I wouldn’t be here.” Before I could move hunter took all my other weapons from me and placed them in her bag. “Wait I need those.”

“No, you don’t little one. If you focused way to much on those weapons you will never learn the real ways of the hunt. To hunt creatures like this you need to wait. Need to as well be very calm. To find the best meat is not hard either. Just sometimes the one you kill you need to make sure they’re not sick.”

Goldfeather nodded. “Sickness and meat don’t get along together. You can cook the sickness out of the meat. But even so, the taste of the meat will be lost. If you do this the good stuff in the meat is removed. Overcooking is the worse thing. I know this from first claw after my times hunting with my wife.”
Hunter smirked. “Yes, he also knows what it’s like not to listen to a female smarter than him.”

“Bitch,” Goldfeather muttered

“Ass,” Hunter said while ignoring him.

“Fuck you.”

“Oh please do my love.” She shows her sharp shark teeth.

“Hmm, I could do it here now.” I just watched these two I have never seen two so open in my life. They just stared at each other with the lust of a thousand suns. My cheeks burn bright red at the lust I see between them.

“Um...excuse me I am here.”

:” So you could join us.” Hunter laughed. “Heh, I doubt my dear love wouldn’t mind screwing a bug.”

“I...um I am flattered.” My cheeks burned even more at the fact this community is much more opened then I expected. The fact this entire community is crazy at times. I have only been here about a few days and some already want me in their beds. They told me it’s more because mostly it’s a past time. Sex to them is a normal everyday past time.

“I think Ruby is not enjoying that we are hitting on her love.” Hunter laughs at that fact. I guess they both are used to getting what they want.

“I um...I just wanted to get to know you two through hunting. I am saving myself for that. Even if I don’t know how my kind mates.”

“Wait.you don’t even know how your own kind has sex? That is odd my tribe showed me when I was of age. It’s normal for my tribe to show it.”

“Griffins learn the hard way.” Goldfeather nods. “Hunter is not my first mate. But Griffins are always at each other’s throats. So even my mate wanted to kill me. It’s kind of a strange way to live. I wish I could go into more about how my kind is. But it would be more to kill each other mate kill each other. Have children that either hate you or love you. Then we kill each other. Eh, it’s a life.”

Hunter chuckled. “Alright, Ruby before we fully go on the hunt. I need to teach you to make bolts.” I glanced over to Hunter who had me follow her to her bags. She brought out everything I need to make them.

“Now a lot of this is easy to come to by. If you have to you need to make it yourself as well. Now take the wood or plastic.” I watched her doing it myself. “Then take the tape you would normally use. Then the sharp heads used on the bolts. Connect it all together like so.” I followed each direction she had me do. My bolts weren’t the best at first but I did my best.

“Alright, Ruby now place them in your bags, and remember you can retrieve them if you can find them. But it’s a matter of finding them.” I nodded arming the crossbow and attaching the others to the crossbow.

“Next thing we do Ruby.” I turned to Goldfeather.” We do this.” He rubbed urine and a strange musk all over my body.

“Um did you really have to?!” I groaned at the smell and the musk made me feel sick. I don’t know what the fuck it smelled like but it made me woozy.

“Eh don’t worry it’s just a stallions musk. It will attract a female to you. The females have the most meat on them and we want that.”

“Uh shouldn’t it be the musk of their species or am I missing something?”

“Uh using the male musk of their species is not wise to do. Because if you do they will jump you and try to hump you. I know this from experience. It wasn’t the most pleasant hunt I ever went through.” He laughs.

“Oh yes, that was amazing to watch you sqrim under her. As I was getting ready to kill her. I felt aww my poor husband is getting lucky. Then I noticed it wasn’t getting lucky at all. He was getting smashed and almost killed by her.”

“You zebra bitch.”

“Hmm keep insulting me handsome see what you get.”

“FOCUS!!” I screamed at them.” Please I don’t need to hear you two going crazy with sex when you’re teaching me how to hunt.”

“Heh heh, you get used to the fact that we are like this Ruby. Hunter and I don’t like to hide our love from others. We used to be that way in the past but it’s now fun anymore not to express how you feel.”

“We used to hide our love. Then Lotus and Wrecker really changed us after a little fun we had. Of course, you’re too innocent to learn that little bug.” I am starting to learn why this community is so friendly to each other.

“Now the hunt?”

“Yes, we will be the bait you go high up and use the scope to take out the chimera and remember aim right for the eye. Now it may take some time for us to get attacked by one. So be ready for a wait.”

Hunter pointed her hoof at a giant rock not too far from us. “Go up there and wait. Goldfeather and I will use our skills to trap and then try to keep her there. Be prepared though a chimera has very strong eyelids and if they close the eye it will be very hard to get through it.”

Strapping my bags back on my armor and did what she said and pierced myself on the edge of the rock waiting for them to bring the creature to them. Looking up in the sky I see many of them circling around waiting for a meal from the salt flats. I noticed that some of these rocks near me had eggs. They didn’t say anything about going for the eggs but I have a feeling that going for them is a bad idea.

Watching my two new friends walk on the salt flats Hunter used her bone armor to hide on the white of the salt flats and Goldfeather used another type of armor that looks like bone as well. I just sat there watching and looking around seeing the heat of the desert rise up. It was getting pretty hot and I was worried about desert madness.

I felt the heat starting to affect my mind. I just kept seeing things that aren’t there making my mind think that I am back at the island for a time. The heat even in this suit is bad it adds to the heat and it’s causing it to get worse. I just lay on my back looking up into the sun.

I just see it glowing and feeling my brain melt from the heat at least it felt like it was melting. I just laughed and giggled to myself.

“Didly deee ddeee ooo don’t mind if I do princess. I would love to have some tea.” I giggled to myself. I haven’t been out here that long I am starting to wonder if the desert and I will never get along and it will always give me this madness.

“RUBY!!” I heard and I didn’t do anything. I just looked around.

“Yes, mother?” I looked around more not seeing anything.

“RUBY!! We need you!!” I shook my head I heard heavy roars and growls and I got off my back I didn’t know what time it was but I saw my friends they trapped a female chimera and they used some strange magic chains to keep her down.

“FIRE!! Now while we got her held down.” I look through the scope and aimed right for the eye it wasn’t easy. My breathing was keeping me from being able to make the shot. I took a deep breath holding my breath and fired. The first bolt missed the eye and hit her head and she roared pissed off.

I quickly grabbed one of the arrows nervously while I fired again and it hit right in the mouth this time. I was too nervous to fire right and it broke from the chains and my friends got tossed away from her and she turned to look at me.

“Oh… Shit..” I softly spouted. I quickly tried to arm the crossbow I was shaking and I dropped all the bolts. They rolled down to the sand below. SHIT!! I thought to myself I had to get the bolts and it wasn’t going to be easy since the sand buried them. The Chimera was coming so I quickly skittered down the rocks to the sand below. I looked through the sand and the shadow of the chimera was coming down on me and I almost could have died but my two friends stopped that from happening.

Hunter has some strange hoof weapons and she smashed them right into the chimeras face when she jumped off a rock and Goldfeather used a sword to cut into the hard hide of the creature.

“Find your bolts quickly!!” The zebra yelled at me as she danced around as most of her kind do and Goldfeather and her fought like one. He lifted her up and dropped her to smack the creature and she always was one step ahead of the slow beast. I finally found and bolt and flew up into the air and while the creature attacked my friends they made sure to have it so I can get into the eye.

I was able to finally get a good shot and I fired the bolt and I had no idea what happen the bolt went right for the eye and it went through the jelly of the eye and it popped as the creature screamed and roared in pain. I could see the arrow hit the other end of the eye socket. The poor creature was in such pain and tried to pry out the bolt.

“Fire again!! In the same socket!!.” Hunter yelled I nodded grabbing one more bolt and Hunter is carried up and dropped on the head of the Chimara and it screams and roars in anger as it’s dazed and trying to regain itself. Goldfeather uses his claws to hold the eyelid open that covers the bloody eye socket and I am right into the hole and fire and I know I hit the brain and the poor creature tossed us everwhere.

While blood and gore spray out of the socket along with some of its brains and it started dying whimpering like a pathetic creature. Hunter tossed me my knife that has the gem on the end of it. Picking up the knife with one of my cybernetic hands.

“It’s your hunt you’re the one to make the killing blow.” I stare at the knife and look at the creature I am about to kill and I look at one of the nests of eggs. What if one of these nests are her eggs. Then I look back at her.

“Listen Ruby some of those eggs never make it to hatching. Sometimes the other females crush them. So it’s best to do this to help keep the population from destroying themselves.” Hunter nodded at Goldfeathers words.

“We do this for the community but to also keep the population low. If we didn’t they would over hunt and then kill each other. So don’t get soft on us hero.” Hunter added with a bit of venom in her words. I took the knife and went right for the neck and with one move sliced deep into the flesh allowing the blood to flow down to the gem. I watch while the Chimara’s life went away and her breathing slowed and all that was left was a husk and corpse.

“Good now you’re one with our community little bug,” Hunter smirks. All three of us skinned the creature. The smell was awful but we did what we had to. We cut up the leather in little chunks and rolled it up.

“Now we only take the meat. Leave the heart and organs for the little ones that are born or another one close to laying eggs.” I nodded and we cut up the meat from the body. After we were done I was covered in gore. We even drained her water putting it in vials to boil the water to drink it later.

“GoldFeather can you please take the stuff home my dear. Ruby and I got to wait for the night.” Goldfeather nodded taking what he can home.

<000000>
The night after the hunt.

We spent the rest of the day outside eating the meat. It was becoming night and I got to know Hunter very well. I got to know that she used to be a hunter for her tribe. But they kicked her out because she refused to breed with the chief’s son. So she left and came here. When night fully came out we took the Chimara blood and covered the crossbow.

“Now Ruby take the bow and then lift it up to the stars. Then ask the stars of wisdom, not the stars of hate and the starters of wars to name your bow.” I didn’t know what to think about this. I was told not to do anything with the stars. But I was told that some of the stars are good some of them are evil.

So I lifted it up to the sky and closed my eyes thinking of what to say. “Oh, stars of wisdom stars that don’t wish for my death. Please honor me with a name for my weapon. I will use it to bring wisdom and your wrath when you wish it. So please give me the name of your will!!”

I could swear I saw a glow coming from the sky as the stars shined brightly with the moon. I swear I could smell smoke on the crossbow as the blood seeped into the crossbow and then became the name on the side of the crossbow. I didn’t feel any burning it just started to feel weird to me. After the bright glow subsided I look at my bow.
<00000000>
The valley of the sandstorm

I left the memory looking at the name on my Crossbow Inkanyezi ukufutheka. From what I was told from Hunter it meant Stars rage. I don’t get what is meant by that. I guess the stars have a boner for rage. It’s impressive to me all this just for a simple bow to use in their name. But why would the stars care what I do?

Looking over the valley that leads to Kludgetown the sandstorm slowed down to a crawl and almost gone. It would take almost half a day to get through there and from what I was told. There are a lot of old mines and traps from the war stuck in there. So we need to be careful I clicked the trigger to have the crossbow fold back up. I attached it to my armor and we packed up our gear.

“Alright, Ruby are you sure you wish to go? This is your last chance before we get there you do know this right?”

I nodded at her. “Yes, I understand this is my last chance to turn back. I am sure since this is the only way other than flying to get there. I was also told there is an old way but that is even deadlier than this?”

Hunter nodded. “The old road is surrounded by traps raider groups and anything ready to attack you in the sand. The safer way is through here. “ Lifted up into the air and I followed Hunter through the valley to head to Kludgtown. With how long it would take us I am not fully sure about that.

I followed the path that Hunter set since I am able to fly but some parts of the sand storm made it harder to get through. So I had to stay low. It wasn’t easy to keep up with my friend. Luckily for me, I could see through this at times. When we finally got through the worst of it. I saw old tanks half-buried in the sand and weapons and bodies poking out.

It wasn’t as bad as I thought but from what Hunter told me it’s because of all the sand over the years buried a lot of the problems. So for me, it was easy to get through at some points of the year it’s a lot worse so we went through at a very good time.

When we finally got through it still took half a day and from the distance, I could see Kludgtown and Hunter turned around.

“ I won’t come with you for the rest of the way Ruby. I am very sorry I am not welcomed there none of the community is. Head to the poacher’s village it’s not hard to miss.” I nodded and flew off looking back watching Hunter leave. She lifted up a hoof to wave bye to me and I waved to her. I know I am going to miss her and the others. But here is my task.

<00000>
Poacher village.

The sun went down and it was sunset and I looked around it was a pretty badly made village. Looks more made from mud and sand. When I got into the middle of the town I saw nothing but old decaying bodies hanging in the middle of the town.

Still, I found no one it’s odd that this village I was told by my friends it’s full of something called the poachers. I heard sounds in the darkness. Lights turn on around me and what I saw were lizard creatures. They are large and have clawed hands and bent back with long tails. They surrounded me.

I saw no females at all they all moved to allow their leader to come through larger of the rest. They all looked the same but I finally noticed something about this one. This one is female her color is pink and I could tell from the eggs hanging on her body that she recently laid.

“Speak invader before we kill you.” She hissed.

“I am here in the name of Wheel Tread. I am here to do his bidding and to take Kludgetown for him.”

“No little bug you may work for him but you do what we want. We want our home back that has been our home for generations. What we want you to do is find the co-leaders willing to take over from the other leaders. That will allow us to take our home back.”

“Then what will you do to them?”

“We will make them our servants for we are the strong. They’re the weak we have every right to control them. So know this you fail to follow our deal here. You will not like what happens. Wheel Tread has no power over us as he thinks.” Her followers cheer and laugh and she singles them to head back to their homes.

“Sorry about that display little bug. But you have to do what you can to keep up appearance for the mindless drones. But truthfully we do want our home back but not to make the other servants. Just we had enough of war. Wheel Tread promised he would give us. Peace finally and even if that means innocents must die.”

I nod. “ I understand that perfectly just when do I meet the other leaders that wish to take over?”

“You will meet them tomorrow but now come feast enjoy your night then be ready for the first of your task.” I look towards Kludgtown then towards the leader or whatever she called herself.

“Look I want to get to my task but if you feel it’s wise for me to get some rest just first… What do you call yourself?

“I am Crecca. Welcome to the outskirts of Kludgtown.” She leaves to head to one of the huts and I look back to the town not far from us. I see smoke coming from an area of the town I hear gunshots knowing that this place is under constant war.

I head to one of the huts to rest as I wait for the final task then my judgement of the stars. For I ain't sure how this will go and I have fear in my heart. I know when my fall happnes it will be at the mercy of the judges of the universe.

Level up.

Perk added

Crossbow Novice: You learned how to use a crossbow. Your aim with the crossbow is better than normal weapons. If you focus on using this weapon you will be able to aim without having to hold your breath.

Next Chapter: Chapter Seventeen: The order is given Estimated time remaining: 38 Hours, 27 Minutes