It’s been so long since. Well since we have been in the city of Aris. Aris, Abyonssina, and Ornithia got hit hard by this war. History is the most that all have these days. Sometimes most don’t understand history. The fact that our three races got hit by this war. It’s not a war we are happy about. The ponies and zebras pulled almost every race into the war. The three of us got out as quickly as we could. We pulled everything from them. We even shut down our borders because of it.

I look back at my writing, most of our histories have been destroyed because of time. Also because of our wars. We got to hold up on caring about ourselves. That we caused ourselves to start a war with our kind. After so long of pain and death. We allied with what was left of the others. I am the captain of the guard of the royal family of Aris… What is left of it sadly? We go as we go...protecting our Queen. Till she finds a lover to spread the life of our kin.

Written by Stormsong Captain of the guard.

Early morning

I woke up on a bloody bed. I felt like crap mostly. I felt so much pain in my back. The fuzziness of my vision finally came to normal. Looking around seeing others in the same room. Coughing groaning in pain. I was in a room with others recovering or dying. The smell was awful, many of them are already dead. Slowly moving since I am on my stomach and felt an iv in my leg. Looking at the Iv bag full of magic.

It wasn’t easy to move since I still felt weak after they removed the shrapnel from my back. Finally getting fully up on my buggy ass. Looking at the families sobbing and crying at the dying mothers or fathers. One mare has been working to keep her father alive. She wore a nurse outfit helping her is one of those lizards. After a while, though the stallion died choking on his blood.

“Dad...No. please. Stay..” The golden mare sobs hard holding his hoof. She screamed no each time. The female lizard grabbed her friend pulling her away as she sobbed and a group of guards of three races I met placed the body in a body bag. Looking to the side there are many body bags on the side of the room. I am sure there are more in other rooms as well.

“NO!! We won’t be using those bodies as weapons.”I could hear the doctor that worked on me very pissed off.

“Doctor we have no choice. We need to use them.”

“No this goes against everything we signed up for. We doctors heal the sick not allowing zebras. To..” Her voice got even angrier. “Not allowing zebra necromancer magic to bring them back as weapons.”

“Doctor we have no choice. If we want more of the innocent to get out. We need to do this.” I don’t know who she was arguing with but the voice is female. I look over the bodies in the bags and to the others around me clinging to life or getting better. The families ignored the fact this was being talked about.

“We may be allies Ocean wave. But. I can’t condone what we are about to do to these bodies.”

“I know you can’t. Dr. Jewel but we have no choice. I already talked to the families of those that have died. We also promised that the foal bodies will not be used. Those will be burned and we will make sure every single one of them is burned. Just in case another necromancer thinks they can do it.”

The doctor went silent. I heard her claw smashing into the wall and coming back up to the room I was in and looked towards me. She wasn’t happy I could tell that in her mind she was conflicted and she sat beside me on the bed.

“Doctor.” She didn’t even look at me; she was looking at the body bags. I have never seen a doctor so conflicted but I feel this might be something I can’t understand. Since I have never heard of such desperation to end a war. Maybe someday I will learn but right now I can’t.

“Doctor…” The doctor still didn’t look at me but a nurse came over and hushed me. I could see the sadness deep in the nurse’s eyes. A zebra mare it didn’t seem she even wanted me to talk to him. She leaned in whispering in my buggy ear.

“Let her be. she is unhappy that the leaders are willing to become monsters.” I nodded. She pulled the iv out of my leg and put the rest of the magic fluid in a bowl for me. I leaned down and brought out a straw from my mouth. My kind is very strange at times. We have many ways to drink magic. Some are just drinking it like a normal creature or a bug. I wish I could learn why the queen made us this way.

Finally, the parrot looked at me with a gentle smile forming along her face. She stroked her clawed hand along my back. I tensed up feeling myself enjoying this looking up to her after I drank the magic. I look around seeing only a few next to me are alive. Then I noticed one of the bodies they carried in. It’s General Oku.

“They have no choice, do they? It’s gotten bad out there worse than they thought?” The building shook a bit. From the battle going on outside. I lifted my wings to look outside. I saw an elemental rock monster fighting them and the others. It grabbed one of the raptors and tossed it into many buildings.

“It’s gotten worse. Diamond and her mother didn’t tell us how desperately some of the zebras would fight. Skysong told us some of the families of the enclave have been lied to. Then Galaxy knew her faction would fight to the death. We have to do what the devil would do. We have to use potions and bring back the dead. Even though I don’t have to like it.”
“It seems they know Storm King will bring.”

“Oh, that is another problem... Some of Wheel Treads' minions are here. They’re what caused this war to get worse. Lavan is here helping the Enclave and Catrina is helping Galaxies faction. So from what a zebra told us. This is the will of the stars and then said they will leave when they see you.”

“Alright. I have a feeling it’s just gotten harder to end this battle. How many have died on each side?”

“We lost count of how many died in all four factions. The battle outside is still raging but if you go below. You will see those from each side drinking and laughing together like nothing is going on.” She looked so tired. I wish I could help her and I looked at the dying and the dead in the beds. I even noticed some are alive. But only a few of them are alive.

“Why are the healed and less wounded and sick here? Shouldn’t they be in the other rooms?”

“I wish we could. But all rooms are full. I am sorry Ruby but we can’t have it as easy in here. It’s so much worse than we thought. But I guess the biggest reason for the inn being protected is because of the history.”

I knew that well history is worth protecting. Even if the one that built this so long ago is dead. The land has history and some of it is going to be lost. I wish I could understand but I never will. I looked back out the window and noticed all the smoke and the ponies and whatever else fighting the elemental.

“I do have an idea. I know a way we could get the groups to fight for peace. Now it wouldn’t work on all of them. Since most might be full of pride.” The doctor stares at me like the idea of wanting to make peace. Well making peace with those fighting each other for a town. That looks like it was built on a ship that crashed into the shore.

“Listen Ruby I doubt it will work. We have to do all we can to end this. Even if it means..” She stares at the body bags. “Using the dead to do so. I am not happy with this fact. All sides to me are lives. I’d rather give up this job than allow this to happen. But I can’t do that. I can’t just give up and go home.”

“I understand what you mean by giving up. I have tried so much to be a hero. But I am just a simple bug brought into this land to either be a joke to the stars or to bring their judgment. I am not upset at this fact. I wish I could help more. But I was either mind controlled by Wheel Tread. I no longer call him master thank goddess for that. Unless when he is near me I will again.”

“I wish I could help you, Ruby. I wish I could. But I don’t have what I need to go through your head. All I had was what I was given and allowed to bring here. So I am very sorry about all this.”
I look away sighing again expressing my feelings is hard for my kind. If only I could find a simple way. I guess the look of pure sadness is another way to do so. But right now the feelings are high. The emotions are even higher. I could sense the magic in the air full of pain and trying to fight the area around itself. I heard screaming outside since I left the window open and flew over to it.

I watched while the golem grabbed another old raptor from the sky and tried to keep ahold of it. After a while, it lost its grip and the smoking ship flew away I heard a loud crash behind one of the buildings and saw smoke flowing from behind the building.

“I need to get downstairs to help with the wounded that will start pouring in. I am very sorry Ruby please stay here. Till I come back.” One of the nurses walked in after the doctor left. I still haven’t gotten her name yet. But I am starting to notice that they need help. So I felt maybe I could help. I got off the bed.

“Excuse me, is there anything I can do to help?” The nurse looked down at me. The tiredness of her eyes made me feel that I had to do something. The poor zebra mare just looks at me with a weak smile.

“Do you have any experience in this matter, little one?”

“I don’t but I am willing to do what I can to help.” The mare smiled again and looked to the beds of the dying and the dead. So many dead so many close to it and it will only take some time to keep them from falling away from that.

“The biggest thing we could get help for is grabbing more of the body bags and putting the dead inside them.”I nodded and went to go get some help from one of the other rooms. It took a while but in the room, I stayed in we moved bodies from the beds to body bags. Oh, the smell of it but even though they’re dead the magic inside them still might be good. After an hour the room I stayed in was mostly body bags. I stared at the bags looking back at a few beds with the living on them.

Then after that, I went to help the nurses with trying to rescue some of the souls. I held a mares hoof as the nurses worked on her wounds.

“I’m...going to die aren’t I?” The mare looked into my eyes like she knew she was going to die. She is willing to let herself fall into this endless pit. She called herself Wisdom a unicorn mare a black-furred unicorn mare. I looked at her wound, a deep hole right in her stomach. She had been disemboweled. She had everything still just when she was attacked they did unspeakable to her.

“I...wish I could tell you otherwise…” I smile weakly. “I,” Wisdom has trouble breathing and I tried everything I could to keep her awake. “No Wisdom please stay with me. You have so much more to tell me.”
The mare just smiles tears streaming down her face. She tried to speak but it was getting harder for her to speak. All I could see was the life leaving her eyes. It started to take a toll on me watching this mare lose her life. Then her soulless body is used as a weapon. I held her hoof tightly while her last breath came from her and she passed away.

“Come Ruby we got more to take care of.” The smell on my body and the dirt and grim were getting bad. In each bed, we went to they just died or started to die. I shut off my emotions. I could feel stars cheering so much blood for them. Since these bodies will rise again to be weapons to fight the battle outside. Then we got to one of the beds and a zebra foal was cut up. The little filly made tears fall from my eyes. I held her hoof as she sobbed.

“Momma!!” She kept screaming “Momma.” I held her tightly as the nurse worked on sealing her wounds. “Please give me my momma!!” I held the foal tightly to me. She was lucky. This little filly is very lucky.

“Shhh, your mother may be gone.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her that her mother is. Well in a bodyguard not far from her bed. I look over to the body bags that are now being carried out downstairs since the zebras have to do the spells on them to get them ready for the battle ahead. I hummed and sang to her stroking her wet cheek from her crying.

“Don’t cry. Little one. We are all here for you little one.”I softly sang. “We are here to protect you. A war may be raging outside. Souls may be losing their battles but if we can. Save ones like you little one.. Then we have won. We have won..” I stopped singing, holding the little one tighter to my messy body no longer caring. The little foal cried and cried. I didn’t want to leave her.

“Ruby…” The nurse looked at me and I nodded. To her.

“I will help with the rest but close the door. After you finish her wounds.” The nurse nodded and I had to allow the nurse to get to the wounds on the poor filly's side and even pull bullets from her. She was found over her dead mother firing a gun at those wanting to harm her. It took another zebra to bring her in.

She stayed strong and then it finally hit the little filly that her mother wasn’t coming back. Finally, after a while, the nurse was done and she left the room. The door closed and no more bodies or the living inside this room. All have been either dead or moved out to recover. But we haven’t been that lucky.

I let the little filly go and sat on the bed with her. Her eyes are so puffy and red no longer able to cry. My pink body is all dirty and messy. But I couldn’t clean myself now. This little one needed me. I needed her myself. At times like this, we all needed each other. The battle wasn’t slowing down outside. But for now, thankfully the elemental monster didn’t attack anything. From what I have been told. The elemental heard the crying of little foals and refused to keep fighting for now. I was told it’s rare for these spells to have emotions. But this one was fused with a zebra mother. It seems like the mother refuses to hurt foals or to fight when foals are crying. I opened the window and the elemental was close to the inn because of the foal.

“Um. You aren’t going to try to kill us here are you?” The elemental looks up to me. I could finally look into its eyes. I saw sadness not hate for me but sadness. I could tell this soul was regretting everything it did.

“I…” The creature was loud and it shook the inn when it spoke. But I had to ignore that to speak to it. “I was promised… No foals would get hurt.”

“You should have known this would happen. Do you remember your name?”

The creature shook its head. It forgot its name but it remembered its life as a mother. I could see it upset now that it couldn’t remember its name. It lifted another foal to me. That she was protecting and I held the sleeping foal. It was a little pony colt. I lay the little one in the bed. As the zebra filly just looked down at her covers.

“You should have known they would have had you attack foals too. It seems those forget to tell you that every life should be respected and treated the same. Might be best to leave and take what you can with you.”

The creature looks at me and then back to the town. “But I can’t leave or they will remove the spell killing me.”

“How do you know the ones who did the spell are still alive even? Look around you, look at all the dead. I doubt the ones that did the spell knew what they were in for.” The elemental looked around and nodded.

“Look, the battle is going to get worse. They will be using the bodies of the dead as weapons. It sounds like they have a necromancer here. I am sure you know what that means.”

The horror on the face of the creature made it very apparent. Right now the battle was silent. Some came out to either pick up the dead or what they left behind. It was in the afternoon at the time and most of what happens is calming down for now.

“If you can I would like you to take all the wounded, even the foals that are living in this town. Take them to Peace Rock.” The elemental nodded and she left heading to go look for foals and those that could be helped. It’s odd to me looking out at this town despite the smoke and fire. It’s a lovely town.

Looking towards the sleeping colt and then to the filly. I left the window open to air out the smell. I sat back in the bed of the filly.

“Do you have a name little one?” She looked up at me, her green eyes full of pain. But she was able to finally break out a few words.

“Ithemba.” I knew that word meant Hope in zebra. I stroked her head slowly and I held her tightly to me.

“Listen may I call you Hope?” She nodded. “You need a mother. I will adopt you and you will go to peace rock. There you will find my mate to be who will take you in. You will be raised by other zebras too. Are you willing to let me do this?”

She nodded with a weak smile. “Look I need to get out of here and help with the other rooms. Will you be alright?”

“I am a strong ten-year-old...filly.” The little filly that cried her eyes out before. Now trying to be strong. Maybe this will do her some good. I look over to the pony colt and then back to her. Stroking her head.

“Will you watch him and talk to him if he needs it?”

“But mommy said ponies are the enemies.”

“No, that type of thinking needs to end here and now. I know you have been raised in a town always at war. But look, he is younger than you. He is going to need you to help him. I will bring more of the foals that survive alright? I want you to watch them and be a big girl okay?”

Hope nodded a smile formed on her tired face. I stroked her head and went out of the room.

<0000>
Repairing the tower

The other rooms were wide open and the nurse waited for me while she was eating a sandwich. It was the only peace from what I saw she had right now. But I didn’t see any of the other nurses. I looked below and didn't even see them but soldiers and guards and food coming from the kitchen.

“Are you alone?” The nurse looked at me nodding.

“Yes, the others along with the doctor went out to find more wounded. We heard you talking to the elemental and we thought we could help her. It sounded like she accepted the help and then. Taking them to peace rock. I hope Peace rock is ready for what is coming.”

“I was there for a month. I am sure they will understand if they’re told I sent them there. It would also protect Peace Rock from Wheel tread. I am told he is looking for it and he is having trouble finding it.”

The Nurse finally finished her food. I didn’t get her name but she wasn’t very open about her name. She turned to me and she was a mess and tired. I could tell that she had been crying herself. I feel this war for this town is going to end so much.

“Ready for the next few rooms?” I sighed I didn’t want to do this but the question from the nurse made my stomach lurch a bit.

“Ruby?” I turn my head looking at Ocean waves. “Do you think you could help us with something real quick?”

“I will return as fast as I can nurse. To help you with the rest of the rooms.” I followed the Queen to the sitting room below. The war outside was ten times more silent out here. In the chair were the other two I met before.

“What do you need? I was about to help the nurse.” Rassie and Silverwing looked at them. The tiredness in their eyes. I even finally got a good look at the Queen. They all looked so ragged and needed some sleep.

“The radio tower above the largest tower in the city. Well, this city needs hope so the music of freedom… Will give a sense of hope.” Rassie didn’t seem to like this idea even though he picked up an old toolbox.

“Rassie...I don’t know if I will be.” He covered my mouth with his paw and I stared up at Rassie.

“Don’t tell me you can’t or won’t. You just being here Ruby has given me much hope. All you need to do is go up to the tower. There is a lull in the fight right now. Each side is retreating for now thankfully.”

I stroked my dirty face looking at the dust and grime coming off my face onto my buggy hand. Looking away and then back at the tools. This is true music has been known to help during times like this.

“I will be truthful to you Ruby. This is more of a test if we can trust you.” Silverwing flatly added while she sharpened a cutlass. I knew it was a test to see if I could be trusted. A test I guess the test wasn’t sitting in rooms of dying bodies trying very hard to keep some of the souls alive. It looks like this is the true test.

“Okay.. when I get there what must I do?”

“All you have to do is find the other part and connect it back to the tower. But if that won’t help.” Rassie sets down a strange machine. “Connect this box and it will allow Dj Mixer’s single to come in here.”

“Alright but I am going to help the nurse first. That is more important than this right?” Rassie didn’t even listen; he took the toolbox, placed the machine in the toolbox, and set it by the door. Then Silverwing picked me up and tossed me outside. They tossed the toolbox out beside me and then closed and locked the door.

“Don’t come back in till you do the job, Ruby.”

“What about my armor?!”

“You can do it, you're a strong hero.” I heard Rassie saying sarcastically. I buzzed in anger feeling unsure about this. Lifting the heavy toolbox up and the smell. Oh the smell coming from me was awful. I smelled like a decaying corpse. Flying up into the air and I heard fighting not far from me. Bullets flew and explosions sounded. I highly doubt the tower will survive through this war. The tower was pretty high up and with how thick the air was up higher. I have never been up this high before. I breathed heavily getting onto a rooftop next to it. This was one of the highest towers in the city. It was going to get harder for me to get up there.

“Hey, mac..” I turned to see the cat in a trench coat and he opened his coat. “Can I interest you in some drugs watches porn?” I just stare at the cat in the trench coat. “Oh how about this then?” He opens a box and brings out a claw weapon. It looks like the claw of a giant creature that got turned into a weapon.

“I give you to miss The disemboweled. For 20 caps it will be yours.”

“How about this you give it to me. Then when I can I will pay you back.” The Cat stares at me. “Look if you won’t do that then no deal. We are in the middle of a battleground here. I am not going to just sit here and haggle.”

“Alright fine…” He groaned, stroking his face. “Another deal went south. Oh, and are you heading up there?” He points to the tower.

“Yes, I need to fix the radio tower.”

“A gang is up there. They’re the reason the tower is destroyed. They got tired of the sounds it made. It drove them insane. I should know I used to be part of them. I got away from them because the sound never left. So they might be a little crazy. I hope you can’t hear it yourself.”

A sound coming from the radio tower? I am going to have to find a way to keep it from getting to me as well. Looking back up to the tower there are only two more buildings I can rest at. It’s going to get harder to get up there. Grabbing the bag lifting up into the air with the weight I am carrying. I hear gunshots below me looking down at ponies and others fighting. I panted hard my kind perspire differently than others do. When I landed on one of the roofs of the other buildings.

My stinger comes out and a few drops of venom drip from the tip of the stinger. Feeling myself cooling off and I groan the muscles in my body screaming for relief but I can’t stop now. Grabbing the bag again and lifted it with my wings. My wings screamed for relief as well. The air getting thinner and thinner. I couldn’t breathe so well anymore setting the bag down on the roof. Looking up to the higher building that has the tower.

Looking through the bag hoping to find something to help me. But all I saw are tools and the machine to attach to the tower. Looking up to the tower and then looked at a pony staring at me. He held a sniper on his side. I noticed he had wings on his side. So no wonder how he got up here.

“So.. they’re sending somepony up there to fix that tower?”

“Yes..” Panting harder more venom dripped from my stinger.

“Would you like some help? It’s not safe up there.”

“If you don’t mind.” I chuckle weakly trying to smile. But when I do it’s very weird looking. The pegasus looks into the bag and then to the tower. He flapped his wings and went up there first. When he went up there I heard gunshots and screaming. Grabbing the bag again and I flew up it wasn’t easy. I groaned deeply as I felt the bag getting heavy from the gravity or the fact my kind isn’t meant to be this high. The battle above went silent when I finally got up there. I saw a makeshift set of homes that have been made up here. Looking around I saw a few bodies that have already decayed.

Lifting the bag again and carrying it to the bag. When I got closer I heard the sound it started affecting me. Then radio waves hit right into my antennas. I groaned screaming in pain. Looking around while I heard stations on the radio.

“Those that know the heart of evil. The Shadow mare knows. She is always there to show the evil that they can’t win. Today on the Shadow mare. She is facing her greatest villain the mechopony. We last left our hero while she was chained and a robot laser trying to kill her.”

I screamed as I hold my head feeling it racking in my skull. Even though my vision is fuzzy I saw a power breaker connected to the tower. I did my best to get to the tower I groaned and I then saw unicorns screaming yelling it to stop. The pegasus had been knocked out. I doubt he could hear this since. He doesn’t have a horn or antennas. More stations broke through my mind as I stopped screaming.

“I love those dear hearts and gentle ponies.”

The song is so gentle but the pain of hearing it is inside my head. Didn’t help at all I looked at the unicorns smashing their horns with weapons to try to break them off. But they had no luck with a foal just dances going along with it. Unless that’s how it looked in my vision. The pegasus looked around all of us; he didn’t even get affected by this and trotted to me.

“What…” The voice is blotted out from the music in my head. I screamed my vision going cloudy. I noticed one of the unicorns had a broken horn looking down at me. I couldn’t tell if she wanted to kill me or was happy to see me.

“Tu.,” I screamed more of the song coming through my head

“ Who lives in my hometown.”

The music finally ended with another station. I didn’t understand this station but it sounded more like the station of ponies talking over it.

“Paladin Soda pop we are just entering the desert.” I couldn’t take it anymore and I pointed my bug hand to the power breaker. The two looked towards it and then at me my eyes bleeding along with my ears from the sound in my head.

“You won’t stop me, Shadow Mare. The Mechopony will not be stopped!! You can try to disable the bomb on the bus or stop me. You can’t do both!!” Finally, the two of them understood what I meant. They quickly went to the power breaker of the broken tower and when they pulled it. The tower went haywire like there was too much power in it. Then it did a nasty charge and blew causing all of us to fly and all I did was hit the roof not far from everyone else.

I couldn’t keep myself from passing out. I lay my head back and let the pain wash over me.

<000000>
The mind.

I opened my eyes in pure darkness looking around and Glendo formed in front of me. I could see the warden again? He looked at me since my kind can connect to him if we wished to the warden of the island.

“Well after all this time I can finally talk to you, Ruby. I couldn’t talk to you after that one known as Wheel Tread placed those crown pieces inside your head. What happened that allowed me to contact you again?”
“I don’t know...warden. Just I am still doing his bidding I am no longer calling him master. Maybe no matter what I am doing what he wishes without even noticing. Maybe he is one step ahead of me or. I am just a simple bug that does stuff that falls in line with him.”

Glendo chuckled and shifted a bit on his chair. I couldn’t fully see the features on his face. But I could tell he was here.

“I wish I could tell you more but all I could do was contact you. I am sure the crown pieces will stop me from contacting you again. But what did happen to cause them to shut off for a bit?”

I stroke my head unsure about it. I felt pain in every inch of my body like I was waking up. I didn’t like the feeling of this pain. I am sure it’s from the charge that went through me. I screamed when I finally started to wake up. I wanted to stay and talk to Glendo but my body wanted me to wake up.

<00000000>
The rooftop

Finally opening my eyes and groaned. I still smelled like a corpse and the dust and grime were all over my body. So I didn’t get cleaned. But when I finally woke up the mare with the broken horn stared down at me.

“Um… hello.”

“What in the ever fucking hell made you think you could survive up here?” The mare didn’t keep her tongue to herself. It’s amazing the words that came out of her mouth. “Many have died up here because of that tower. Even though they never even noticed that power breaker. Even if it did worse than good.”

I looked at the tower it’s smoking and still intact somewhat the top part is fully gone. I got off the bed I was layed on and walking over to the tower. It looked like I could repair it I just sighed shaking my head.

“Look I came up here to fix it. I didn’t know it was causing these problems up here. If I may ask why did the gang destroy it?”

“What gang?” The mare looks down at me. I could tell the confusion in her eyes made her unsure of what I was saying.

“I was told by a cat on the other roof. That told me that a gang destroyed the tower.”

“No, it was always like this. The strange radio singles didn’t start till when that Dj Mixer showed up. So when she turned it on the power and singles started going insane. It started bringing more than just hers here.”

Looking towards the broken tower and then back to the community here on the roof. This community is safe from the battle below. I am hoping it stays that way. I sat down feeling so tired and upset.

“You look like you have been through hell little bug.” I glance at the broken-horned mare nodding.

“Yes, you could say that. But I came up here to fix that. They feel it will bring hope and a swift end to this battle. A swift end to the battle with music. I fully doubt it but look at me. I am covered in dust and grime. I smell like a corpse.”

The pegasus stallion patted my back. A zebra filly looks through the tool bag. She brought out all the tools and then the device looking to the tower. The zebra fillies mother trotted to her and they both looked at me.

“Mommy that poor creature. Came up here to repair that. Should we get the leader to help her?” I couldn’t move that much or I felt defeated the two zebras left my vision and I closed my eyes in pain. A large shadow came over me after a while and I turned to see a creature I have never seen before. This large creature looks like a bear in a top hat and a black suit. He just stared at me like I was something to eat.

“I am a former Enclave creation miss. I’m known as Goris. Now you wish to rebuild that tower?” He lifts his bloodstained claws to the tower. I follow the claw to the tower nodding. I didn’t want to piss off this bear. But he seemed nice enough.

“I wish to try to bring hope back. To this city at least that is what. I was told.” I weakly tried to smile then groan showing the weariness of my body.

“We will rebuild it for you. You stay here and rest.” I nodded to the bear as he pushed me into an old couch. I laid back on the couch given a plate of cooked meat. It looked like it was the meal for the bear. But he didn’t mind if it was given to me. I eat the food watching the community up here working on getting the tower back together. Now of course it wasn’t going to be easy. A lot of the old tower parts are either so old they can no longer be connected.

What they do though they take wooden blanks from their homes and do their best to fuse them to keep the tower up. It’s taken over a bit of two hours and the sun started to go down since it’s been a long day and I heard that the battle stopped again for a time. The last bit of the tower was the device.

They turned it on and it screamed to life the tower had power going through it. They turned on the radio and then Dj Mixer came through. It was a little static and cut out at least once.

“Greetings DJ Mixer here. I got some news for you, my friends, I learned something and it’s getting scary my friends. The project that normally tosses water to the desert is now stopped. It’s hovering near an airship. I don’t know what to tell you but I am worried about this. It’s only twice a year when this device makes it to land to give life-giving water. But right now it’s just there hovering.”

“In other news, Tiria’s heart got attacked no one is dead. But from what I learned they broke into the stable there. They also stole something called The howling dance. I learned more about that diamond. It’s what created the race like Tiria they have no idea why they took it. I couldn’t get my drones there. So I had to kindly ask to ask Dj pone3 to get me an interview. Forgive the static it seems our stations don’t get along technology-wise.” Yanari’s voice went silent and all we heard for a second was static. Finally, a soft exotic voice broke through the static.

“Good evening children. Dj pone3 here. I am interviewing KipKipe. I learned that her town got attacked by some strange robots that kept yelling he is rising. Now miss KipKipe I am happy you’re alright. What can you tell us?” So much static made it harder to hear and it finally cleared up.

“I’m happy to be alive. We don’t know fully why they took the Howling dance. But we know why they attacked the stable. I don’t want to scare anypony but after they left we learned what they took.”

“What did they take?”

“It took us a while to find out. But Silver Gunner knew it’s why he left with the others. He never really tells the rest of us what is on his mind. He does this it’s why Crow, Peach, and her wife left us. They got tired of Silver not explaining what is on his mind.”

“Why did he hide it from the rest of you? Is it something very bad then?”

Kip took a deep breath sighing. “Yes, what we learned is not good. They found a way to remove the stone spell from the Storm King. What was in that stable was his brain. They put it in a magic tube to remove the spell. Silver Gunner left to make sure he doesn’t return. But when Silver doesn’t fully explain then it’s best to know it's bad.”

“Thank you miss KipKipe. You got it here first children. The fight may be over in Equestria. But other parts of our world are still under strife. If this is true that the Storm King will return. We must be ready to stop him.” Static took over again Yanari returns.

“That is what I can give you my friends. We have no way to know what is going on. All I can say is it has a lot to do with Ruby vanishing. Then the war at Kludgetown it’s gotten worse, my friends. I fear we are at the endgame. If you no longer hear me, my friends. Please fight for your lives.” Music came on and it played in the background.

I didn’t understand what I fully heard. But what is this howling dance? But the biggest question why would the ponies take the Storm King’s brain locked in a stone spell and try to remove the spell? Why would they even try to bring him back? But I look back at Project Storm watch. It’s a project to get ready for the return of Grogar. I wracked everything in my brain the fact this battle in Kludgetown is going to get even worse. The fact that the elemental that was made to fight in this town is going to gather foals. The fact it’s going to get even worse after this. I just can’t understand it anymore.

“Now we have to ask you to leave Ruby.” I look up to the bear. He knew who I was? I didn’t know why I had to leave but I am starting to wonder if they don’t trust me because of me having a connection to Wheel Tread.

“Why must she leave Goris?” The bear looks down at the little zebra foal. He strokes her head with his claw and he looked back to me.

“She is a hero.” Fear fills the eyes of the ponies even the pegasus that helped me. They all back away from me. I have never seen such fear in the eyes when someone goes she is a hero. The foal backed up from me tears streaming from her face.

“Go before I have to kill you, Ruby.” I stare at the bear I just wanted to break down and sob. But I couldn’t.

“I didn’t do anything...though I came to help you.”

“That is the problem, Ruby. You’re helping when a hero helps stuff like what is going on now happens. If you stayed out of it the battle would have ended by now. So please go before I make you my next meal.” I look away and flap my wings to make my way back down to the inn.

“Ruby.” I turn my eyes to look at Goris. who smiled gently at me. He patted my head and looked down at the inn. “Listen I am sorry for what is happening. Heroes have done some pretty bad things in this world. Scootaloo I am not going to go into her. Her hero path removed her sins for what she did for Equestria. Not everyone may agree. But other heroes have done some things in this land. That caused many to not trust them here.”

I nodded looking back to the inn. I quickly flew off and despite how I felt I flew as fast as I could before the battle started up again.

<00000000000>
The inn

I made it back into the inn and The doctor and the Queen are now arguing again. It wasn’t a pleasant argument either from what I am hearing. I walked upstairs and I listened to the nurses holding back the doctor. The Queen looks like she got punched in the face.

“You lied to me!!. You said you wouldn’t use the foal bodies. If you don’t tell the necromancer to stop right now I walk!!”

“I told you before we aren’t using the foal bodies. Doctor, there may be some teens in that group of bodies. But as I told you. We won’t be using them. So you can relax.” Ocean strokes her eye it got hit very hard. Now it’s bruising up. The poor doctor growls and heads into the old office and closes the door. The nurses went back to their rooms and I looked at the zebra mare I have been helping.

“There is my helper. Are you willing to help me with the rest of these bodies?”

“Yes but I need to talk to the doctor real fast.” The zebra nurse tried to stop me but when I walked into the office door. I saw the doctor injecting herself with a drug. The fluid looks green and her tired eyes look full of energy again. Looking at the box of the drugs she took it’s called stims. The biggest warning on there addictive and I look around seeing many empty boxes and vials. She didn’t even know I was there but when I dropped the box it made a sound and she turned. Her eyes had so much anger.

“When a door is closed!! You shouldn’t come in without knocking!!” A nurse comes in.

“Doctor we got some new patients that need treatment. What should I give them?”

“Give them an immunity booster and whatever is effecting them give them potions.”

“Doctor?” The nurse questioned.

“It will work I promise you.”

“Now!! Why are you in here RUBY?!” The nurse left and then trotted back in not too long later. “They’re crashing doctor.” The doctor was about to lose it then Rassie came in.

“Doctor one of our guards got their leg blown off what should we do?”

Then she finally lost it from the stims going through her body from the stress from everything else. She finally snapped.

“Will you all shut up?! Look find cybernetics and now get done with your FUCKING JOBS!!. DAMN IT!! Also, take this fucking bug with you!!” She grabs me and tosses me out of the door pushing everyone out. “Now don’t bother me again unless someone is dying!!” She slams the door loud enough that it went through the inn.

I just stare at the door and then back to the others. Who didn’t even do a thing I went back in and she didn’t even react this time. I closed the door and sit beside her.

“You do know...If you didn’t want me in here you could have locked the door.” The doctor looked down. She was about to scream again and lifted into the air my stinger coming out of the bottom. “If you yell at me again and not talk to me. I will sting you and paralyze you so you are forced to talk to me.”

I stare at her with my emotionless eyes crossing my many arms and my cybernetics are on her desk. They’re even opened up like she is reprograming them now. I remember why it was so hard to carry those tools. I forgot I didn’t have these on. Looking at the holes in my side. She looked back at my cybernetics.

“Look Ruby I give these back to you and you leave please?” I shook my head.

“No, I won’t leave. You’re a doctor I don’t even know your name and you have taken to many of these vials. I am sorry to say doctor but you’re addicted and you’re a danger to those you try to rescue. So I could ruin your job right now. If you don’t test yourself and see that I am right.”

The doctor just stares at me and she nods tossing me my arms after she closes them up and i shove them into the holes and they connect. Finally coming back out and turning to the zebra nurse.

“Now may I have your name before I work with you again?”

“That is fair. I was raised by ponies since they found me years ago. I’m

“Educatrix my father loved looking at the old words of the past. He found this it means nurse in old poenish he felt it would be my calling. Since to him, a zebra should always be a healer. He was right. He died last year from cancer along with my mother.”

“I see but do you still need help with the rest of the bodies and whoever else?” The mare nodded.

“Yes, the others are doing what they can to keep some alive. But Ruby you should rest get a shower and then eat something please.” I shook my head.

“No, I need to be helpful with something. I can’t just sit around doing nothing. So please let me help you.” The zebra nodded and we went to each room. I held the hoof of a young foal who was bleeding out and we couldn’t stop the bleeding.

“What’s your name little one?” I stroked the fillies mane she looked so pale she looked so weak. Blood was all over my body thanks to this filly. She was spurting blood even though she was. She was a strong little one.

“I’m Tiger.” She weakly squeaked tears streamed down the little ones face. Even tears from my eyes fell from my eyes. I wanted to save everyone I couldn’t though. It’s getting harder to do this. Looking at some of those that will live through this. But why must a few of them be little ones?

“You’re a strong filly Tiger. What are you going to do when.. You get to the afterlife?” Tiger tried to smile but the pain was so much for her. All she could do was grunt and try to show a smile through the pain.

“I.. will try to find. My mother. I will try to find my father who went before I was born. He died a hero my mother told me.” I just held her to my chest and allowed her last few moments to be peaceful and decent. I held her ears closed so she couldn’t hear the screams. The cries of others dying around us. This war has become hell and it’s not going to stop. I held her tighter and softly sang.

“Oh, the moon sees you on your way to the next journey. The end may be now but you’re a strong little filly. The stars look down and laugh as they see you falling and becoming stronger than them. Please dance for me in the afterlife my dear little Tiger. Please laugh and play with your friends.”

In the middle of the song she grew cold and right in the middle of my singing, she passed away. I lay her back down on the pillow and cross her hooves on her chest. Placing a wilted flower I found in the inn. I felt my emotions turn off again as I look around me seeing the dead and the dying. Looking back to the nurses who have gone through just as much as I have. We have all turned off our emotions.

The smell of decaying bodies as I lift Tiger into a body bag of the ones we would burn.. Not the ones we would use as the weapon to end this war. I open the bag and give a gentle kiss to the filly’s cold lifeless head.

“Hambani ukuthula” I learned those over the month but the meanings are Go in peace. I wish I could have done more for the little one but. All I can do is help as my body starts to stink even worse as this room. Soon we will burn these bodies and then I can finally rest. But for now, I must keep on with my task no matter how heartbreaking it is.

We worked on the others in the room many of them already passed away before we could get to them. The other nurses carried off the body bags and I noticed that they only could do what they could. But some gave up even trying. Looking at one the last ones still alive in the room. I noticed there are no elders at all in this town. But the last one alive in this room a middle-aged stallion. I poor stallion had his voice box torn out. All he could do was write to us when he wasn’t feeling depressed.

But he wanted us to leave him alone so we could help those more in need. We did what he asked but a guard that he is friends with came in to keep an eye on him. There is only one more room it’s been almost hours since we got to the last room and the smell was getting awful. All the bodybags of those to be used and burned started to stink. But it wasn’t to be helped. I followed my friend to the last room and inside it was the worse. These ponies lost various limps even some of the lizard creatures I met before were here. But they were all dead on the floor. They haven’t even been helped.

I helped my friend gather the bodies from the floor and the stained carpet stank of blood and empty bowls. It would never be the same again unless someone tore this carpet up and had to get ponies and others to stay here for the night.

It was the same thing we worked on those that could live but when we finished we counted. Almost all of them died but twenty. Those twenty would go with the elemental monster to Peace Rock and we would burn the others. After a while, we cleaned up the room and I was pushed into the bathroom. I took off my Cybernetics putting them down so I could clean them later.

“Take a shower Ruby you deserve it.” I did what my friend asked and turned on the hot water. When I got into the shower. The dust and old blood came off me even if I didn’t have any fur I took the shampoo and cleaned up my body with the soap every inch of the smell finally left my body.

I even cleaned the holes that the cybernetics would go inside. It hurt but I had to do something to keep those areas clean. I heard singing down below it seems even though the war outside is not going so well. The ponies and others are in high spirits. Finally, when I got out I sat down taking a towel and cleaning the dirty cybernetics.

I turned off the water and took the other towel drying myself off and leaving the bathroom standing outside her room is the doctor and she was talking to Educatrix. After putting my cybernetics back into the holes in my side. I went up to the doctor.

“Ruby was correct I am addicted. So... “ She strokes her head looking towards me a weak smile forming on her beak. “So I need to go on a walkabout. I need to get away before the Storm King returns.” She gives my friend everything even her room. “Please don’t tell Ocean that I left. She will learn.” She finally walked down the stairs.

“Oh...Ruby. I’m known as Duster” She waves to me and left. Not saying a word. I looked at my friend. She is now the doctor she shook her head. She went inside the room and came out in the doctor’s jacket.

“I am going to follow what Duster wants. I will not allow the bodies of the foals to be used.” I am happy that she wasn’t going to go back to what Duster wanted. “Now Ruby as the new doctor. I want you to go get some food and talk to others in the main hall of the hotel.” The main hall I look down to see ponies and others with trays going in and out of the hall. I could hear laughter and cheering like those that are inside there don’t know a war is going on.

“I think I will just go get some sleep.” Educatrix stood over me I looked up to her. The look in her gentle red eyes made me not want to fight her doctor’s orders she sat in front of me and smiled. I felt maybe since we talked about each other’s lives during the times we worked together. I told her that I am lonely and I miss my friends and family.

“Ruby you need to make some friends. You opened up to me I feel you need to open up to others. Even if you don’t open up to others. I feel you need to at least she the peaceful cheerful friendship inside there.”

I look back down to the lobby. The gunshots started to sound outside again and the guards rush out to keep whoever is fighting from getting inside this inn. I noticed the zebras keeping the shield spell up change each time. Another set of zebras takes over in the same spot. While the others come upstairs to rest in one of the clean rooms. I shook my head I didn’t even watch at all what was going on around us. I just focused on helping with the bodies. I look at one room that holes both sets of bags. They’re put in piles with the words to burn and to use. There is more to use then burn. I am happy I see that since it wasn’t many foals that died.

“I don’t think I have the mental ability to make new friends. I already forsake my other friends.” The zebra stroked my head and I just froze not sure what to think of the hoof stroking my head. It felt so motherly and what Cranberry did when I was unsure about myself. I finally moved away and walked down the stairs. Before I could make it to the door Ocean waves stopped in front of me.

“Ruby is it true that Duster left?” Oh, she didn’t know I am sure she is not going to be happy about this. But it’s better than allowing an addicted doctor working on others. If she was allowed to keep working. She would have caused a problem and may be caused someone to die. I took a deep breath having to finally tell her.

“I found that Duster had been taking stims. She took more than she should have. I saw that she took so many that her ability to make judgement and talking to others made her very upset. She even lost it with Rassie. He didn’t tell you that this went on between them?”

“Ah, so that is why she was so upset.” I turn my head seeing Rassie who was sitting in a chair near the door of the main hall. “Thank you for taking care of it Ruby. But you should have told the rest of us. I do understand why you didn’t. If we confronted her with all this. She would have either lost her mind or tried to kill us.”

SilverWing nodded who used a whetstone to sharing her cutlass. Wiping off the blood on it. Since Silverwing has been out fighting. She took the stone again and it slides on the blade. Sparks fly from the blade while it was made even sharper.

I turn to the Queen who didn’t even look sad. She nodded and she went into her own room. I felt maybe I should talk to her as well. I turn to the door and the guards stop me with their spears.

“Let her through.” The Hippogriff guards look up to Rassie. “Ruby needs to understand what is really going on here. Then just gathering pieces of a weapon.” The guards move away from the door as I go inside.

<00000000>
Queens Chambers.

The room is much larger than the others. In this room is a study with an old dusty desk table. On the desk when I look at it. It has a nameplate on it. ‘Capper.’ I look at all his books and some of them are so old just touching them would fall apart. Looking to a glass case that holds a large gem that used to have magic within it. I can sense it I look at the name of it. ‘The SunStone the life and heart of Fluttervalley.’ I turn to see one more case and it has a set of wands inside them. The wands look gray and dead.

Looking at the name on the case. ‘The Wands of the princess ponies. The magic protectors of Ponyland.’ Ponyland? Looking at an old painting of a pink castle with a small pink dragon and Majesty?! I back away from the painting as I stare into those eyes. Turning to the other paintings of other creatures in them they stare at me. One even tries reaching for me as they try to scream and talk to me.

“I am sure you see them too.” I turn finally see the Queen. The paintings stopped moving and I sighed looking to a stump reading a sign on it. ‘A poor former soul.’ My eyes open wide with horror. I remember now Majesty had the magic to turn creatures to trees. To bubbles even trap them in paintings. I look around seeing all of her work and evil. All the stuff in this room belonged to Majesty at one point.

“I… why is all this here?!” The fear of the fact I am in this room is making me scared. As the Queen sighed shaking her head.

“It’s all here because before the war Capper was a collector of old items. He went to a land that he found called dream valley. A land that used to be full of life and hope. But when he got there he just found nothing but ruin.”

I took a deep breath finally relaxing. I looked at more of the glass cases holding many other things. An old in one of the cases an old pointy hat and I stopped looking at them all. But I finally found one of them broken. Looking at the sign. ‘The satchel of Zeb. He used it to destroy the lives of many. Including the one named Nightshade.’ So that is were that weapon came from that zebra used.

“I am sorry to say Ruby you see history here. That old land that Capper went to. It wasn’t always peaceful. Most of the judges you face are judges of that land. So those judges were allowed to run rampant. They destroyed the land and one of them is now good and on our side.” I understood this but seeing all this is from a long-dead land.

“Before I came in here Rassie told me you would tell me the truth.”

“The truth Ruby? The truth is you’re going to have to go to this land. There is a weapon inside an old locket that could be used to fight all these villains. That is the problem though it can only be used once. Finding it though will be hard and a long trek. There was a name for this weapon but it’s been lost in history. But if you do search for it and use it. Remember it can only be used once and you must use it when the need is dire.”

I sighed stroking my face. This is so much to take in so I would have to go to a whole other land. Looking away shaking my head. Why me though I thought to myself? I felt a claw on my shoulder and looked up into the eyes of the Queen.

“I know this is much to take in. For all the fuck we know it could be a big chance this land even exists still. This land could be so hard to find again that just leaving this land would give evil an easy time to take over. That is the problem are you willing to go on a journey but giving the villains more power?”

I didn’t know but she is right. If a hero left this land when they needed the hero most just to find a weapon. Maybe the land deserves to lose that hero. I look at the old painting of Majesty and then back to Ocean Waves. She just sat in a very old chair. It was strange she didn’t even look tired or put out at what happened. She looked out as another creation of the enclave crashes into the sand outside the town

“This war for this town is going to end with half of it dead than half of it dead rather than most of it alive. The reason I am talking to you about this land Ruby. Is more that I plan to search for it. I plan to go on a search to find this weapon.”

“Is it wise to search for a weapon when your subjects need you to lead them?” The Queen turned to look at me and nodded.

“Yes, that is the thing I should care about more leading. Just I want to find a way to give this land hope. As you can tell heroes don’t give this land hope at all. A lot of them are scared to death of the heroes.”

She was right this land had more fear for the heroes than the villains. But maybe after what the heroes have done, it’s not a bad thing to be fearful of them. It’s something to be worried about. Since they respect villains more then what I brought. I guess bringing them hope makes some of them fearful.

Even when I was trying to save some of the dying ponies, zebras, and poachers all of them just kept saying please don’t give me hope. I guess hope here is gone and they want to allow their judgments to be passed. I think many who knew their judgment was going to pass. It made me unsure if I should have even tried.

“Oh, Ruby thank you for helping save as many foals as you can. I had a personal talk with that elemental. She will be leaving before we do our attack. She doesn’t want those that she saved to see their friends and family rise up as corpses to fight for us.”

I took a deep breath I still didn’t like the idea myself. But if it was the only way to stop this battle from getting worse and more lives being lost. Then I would think it’s wise to do so. Looking back at the history of the other land. The books that I could read about it. The journals made by Majesty and the names of the ponies that created some of the books. One of them caught my eye though. Near the title was the name ‘Wind Whistler.’ She had many of these books and one of the others was Paradise. I could tell just from the title alone that she was the storyteller. One of the books was called the land of legends. The book though was so old and unable to be opened.

“Alright, I am going to go get something to eat and talk to all sides in that hall. I just need to see why they’re so peaceful in there. But outside this inn, they fight. It just makes little sense to me.” Heading back to the door and closing my eyes sighing.

“That’s because it’s an old spell.” I stopped going to the door and turning to look at The Queen. A spell was keeping them from fighting each other? “The spell is an old one from this Dreamvalley. It was used to bring all those together even if they hated each other and drink and be merry. It’s not forced on them they accept it from the drink and food they consume”

I didn’t like the sound of that a drink and food that forced them to be respectful to each other. I am guessing maybe it was done to keep them from killing each other. Maybe they knew they were doing and needed this to keep themselves happy and not falling apart. I went to the door and left the Queen’s room standing in front of the great hall door. I didn’t know if it was right for me to go in.

I look at the inviting door opening the door but before I could go in. I turned hearing the door opening up seeing one of the robots. The robot went right to me and looked at me with its many eyes. For some reason, the guards let it in. There was no one else in the room with me at this time. I am sure I am being watched while this Robot his here.

“He is rising All we need is the last part of the puzzle. You so stop holding back and take that knife and fill it with the blood. The project is stuck and waiting till it’s master comes back. OH, he is rising we need to praise him.”

“I have done what I can for the knife. I have taken some blood but I haven’t killed anyone I refuse to. But I know when the battle fully comes soon. I am going to need to fight. I..” I had to ask before I went on.

“Why did this project stop? Why did it stop for Wheel Tread?”

“That is not a hard secret to know. He had many friends in high places that did things for him. Some added failsafe in this project just for him. More because he promised to bring back the rain. But if they knew his true plan. To bring back the one that shall bring this land to heel!!”

I turned back to the main hall door. “I don’t have time for your pointlessness. I don’t have time for it at all. All I keep hearing and seeing is you spouting that he is coming. I know my fate I am going to accept it. Just let me be happy before the stars have my blood.”

“Soon the judges of the stars will give what a hero like you deserves. Now when you come to your little battle to the main bases. You will face two of the judges. With their mark of guilt. Because of them, you’re guilty. Of all the crimes you caused by all the deaths you caused.”

I tried to stay calm I was mind-controlled during that entire time. I was under the control of Wheel Tread. I was injected with pieces of the crown that Majesty used on me. I tried to ignore what the robot was saying.

“The smile on your face when you killed that stallion. The smile when you almost killed that foal. Oh if Wheel tread didn’t just simply push you. Just the glory of seeing all this was amazing to me and my master.”

“I didn’t do it. Wheel Tread mind controlled me.”

“Oh what a fool. He had nothing to do with it.” The robot gets right into my face. I see myself in its shiny armor. “The universe wanted you as its puppet you’re just a vessel for the wrath of the stars themselves. You will now give them all their blood and you will be tossed aside. For they will run and bring this land to heel. Then later let the real master destroy it!!”

I was about to counter and a door opened in front of me. All of the soldiers came out and get ready for the final battle. As their new general who is the species like Oku. I never got her name and I doubt I will unless she survives this. I look to see that the robot was never there I shook my head.

“Come my friends we used to be at war with each other. It’s time to end this battle and free Kludgetown from this battle. We are going to be at war with our friend’s family even children. Let’s get this battle over with are you all with me?!” The entire crowd cheered and we went to the back of the inn that is a big courtyard and the bodies of the foals are placed in a pile and then Rassie stands in front of the bodybags.

“Behind me is what happens when hate controls the mind. These foals fought with their families or loved ones. Mostly because they were raised to do so. Its why this land is called Widowmaker. I wish I could say otherwise my friends I really wish I could. But we have this battle ahead of us.. Then we got the return of the Storm King. We will be too weak to fight him. So after this battle is over we all go into hiding and let this town rot.”

The soldiers and leaders nod in agreement.

“Ruby please come here.” I flap my wings and fly into the air near Rassie. “Look at the hero. She has done much for us. But so many have forsaken her. It’s what is going to happen. She will not be trusted anymore after the Storm King rises. Most heroes will be shunned. I hope we are ready for that. When heroes refuse to rescue us because we never called them.” He offered the torch to me. I took it in my little bug hands and look at the fire closing my eyes. They would want me to say something I guess I must.

“I wish I could say I was a good hero. I can’t I have done many things I am not proud of. I will be accepting my judgment when the time comes. I can’t run from it any longer. I must sit and face it. But I will fight like you all are going to fight. I am going to spit in the faces of the judges. I will go down cursing and screaming. I will not go down that easy. It’s now time to fight this battle.” I toss the fire onto the bodies of the foals.

The bodies started to burn as well all watched. It was time for the final battle of this town and then the end.

<00000000000>
The final Battle for Kludgetown

The sun slowly started to rise. I had my armor all my weapons and I was set all I had to do was wait for the necromancer to finish. I watched while the necromancer took many vases cutting out the heart of the dead. Placing them inside the vase with a potion she created. I didn’t get her name but I was told when the spell is over. She would die from the strain of the spell. Then another group of zebra came over to her having her drink a powerful potion.

“Oh, the stars in the sky. Give us back the spirits of the dead. Give us back their souls for one final task. They shall give you the blood you crave.” The necromancer mare yelled to the sky. I have been told that zebras have a connection or so they say to the stars. But I don’t see any glowing. I see the necromancer releasing a green smoke from her body and it enters the vases and I hear hearts beating. All the bodies that died recently stand up. All they knew was their task to fight in the name of the stars.

Oku looked down at me. His eyes screamed at me they had emotions. They had the ability to know what is going on. They’re trapped in their own bodies. I swear I could hear him scream kill me, please. I look away and the leader’s Galaxy and Skysong blow into a horn to single to move forward. I look out to the desert watching the elemental creature leaving. I am happy they’re finally leaving.

“Charge!!” One of the soldiers say and I grab my sword and knife. Holding the knife while the gem glows brightly. The battle finally was on and the zombie or whatever they were now. Constructs of the stars? All of us quickly went for the first base. The enclave base that held the first judge I will be facing.

I flew into the air to see what was going on and I finally saw the enclave base. An old factory built here ages past. The factory has been hit by so many things there are holes in the side of it. I watch below as the soldiers the living and the dead fighting towards the base. I finally able to see it all and all I see is hell.

I feel maybe this is what I have caused. I fly off to the base getting further to the ground below I held tightly onto my weapons feeling the grip getting so tight. I quickly had to lift up my blades while an armored enclave attacked me with a strange tail. I blocked each attack but this pony was faster than me. So it was getting harder to keep up. One of the construct bodies got in the way of the attack from the tail and got impaled. I watched while the pony tried their best to get the body off the tail.

While they focused on that I looked for weak points in the armor. I saw in the neck there looks to be less armor. I took the dagger and try to force it into the neck. I feel the blade cut into the flesh and then I backed off. What am I doing? This pony is just protecting their family and protecting their friends.

“Look pony I don’t want to kill you. But I have to face the first judge. Lavan. Please I don’t want to kill you.” The pony removed the dead body from the tail and we looked at each other. It felt like we just stared at each other for hours. But it was just an amount of seconds.

The pony turned and lifted the visor of the armor. Then turned back to look at me. I saw the mare’s eyes. This mare is young and new to battle. She looked like she has seen some things. But she placed the visor back down.

“You’re the one that he wishes to face then? I won’t stand in the way he has taken over. The Enclave leader has been killed. If you get him out of the base we will all surrender to you. Then you have to deal with the other judge on the other base.”

“I am ready for it.”

“I doubt you are but lucky for you the dead constructs they used are making it easy for anypony to get in and out. You could bypass the entire battle if you wish. I can lead you there hmm?” I nod and the pony flew up into the air and lead me into the other side of the base. When we got there there was nothing inside. We got to a room and it was very empty the battle outside didn’t even make it in here yet.

I looked down at the body of the former leader and he was burnt to a crisp nothing but bones and soot. I look on the desk to see the other part of the weapon. The right side of the blade and then I sigh were is the judge I thought.

“I don’t see the judge.”

“He is around more than you know.” I quickly turned seeing the body of the mare change into a large crystal being. He laughed loudly like a villain full of power and magic. I heard of Lavan he was a lava demon or he used to be. What happened that caused him to become this crystal monster?

“FEEEL THE POWER!!” He screamed and shot rainbow light out of his fingers and when it hit me I flew into the wall dropping my weapons screaming in pain. As the rainbow went through my body and it hurt so much. “It’s so grand!!” I groaned and well again stuck in a wall looking at the crystal monster.

“What...what happened to you?! I was told you’re a lava demon. How did you become that?!” The crystal monster laughed and stood boasting like well a king.

“I did what most would do. Get more power feel it in me. I went to a land known as dream valley years ago. I found these princess ponies. I stole their wands and then I got power!!!!” He screamed laughing. He no longer a lava demon then. I won’t have a problem with him hopefully. I pried myself off the wall. Taking my weapons and charge right at him cutting into the crystal. His blood though it was lava.

The lava coated the blade and it sizzled if it wasn’t for the runes on Spitfire it would have melted. Looking up at the creature while he just laughed and boast like a monster. I don’t know how I could fight this judge and win.

“If you’re here to judge this land. Then why haven’t you?!”

“Oh, that is simple. I want power more than judging. I know though that you’re the one I am meant to judge. The stars call for your death Ruby. To make it so the heroes never fight them again!!” He charged at me and we fell through a wall smashing to the battle below that finally stopped when we got there. Before we hit the ground though I was able to get out from under him and getaway.

“I may not get my chance to take you down, Ruby. But look at the eyes around you. Do they see you as a hero or as a threat?!” I look at all the eyes around me as the battle came to a halt even the necromancer constructs looked at me with their dead eyes.

“Are they my judges to for what I have done to piss off the stars?” He didn’t answer just the battle stopped because of our battle. Maybe I need to prove that I look at a weapon being tossed down beside me. It’s a large hammer I look to the dead Oku who simply gave me a nod. I pick up the hammer. It has a name on it. ‘Freedom’ Then Lavan laughed loudly.

“You don’t seem to get it. You have already lost and you have been judged.”I lifted the hammer and held it tightly after I put the rest of the weapons away. I held the hammer so tightly in my bug hands and took a deep breath. My breath caused the visor on my helm to fog up just a bit. The laughing monster was either going to be the end of me.

“I will not fall to a creature such as you.” I charge at him and I don’t know what will happen but what will happen is that soon the end of my journey will soon come.

To Be Continued.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nineteen: Battle for Kludgetown part 2 Estimated time remaining: 36 Hours, 38 Minutes