“There are rumors and stories of those that betray others. Some betray for love for sex. Some betray for a reason just to survive. Many betray for a reason just to help the race they consider theirs. The Dunewalkers have been betraying comrades since the curse has been placed on us. No one can trust a Dunewalker. Even if they become the greatest hero of our time.”

Written by the First Wheel Tread

I stood guard right beside another guard that I have trained. I shift a bit knowing that something is watching me. Maybe it’s guilt for allowing Wheel Tread to do what he did. It’s been almost a year since it happened. I don’t know why I still regret what I did to them. I look back on everything. Closing my eyes to remember. My memory goes to when I am talking to Wheel Tread about Ruby for the first time.

“I have seen her. I have even spoken to her.”

The two of us are watching on the roof of a building not far from the research building. Around this time of course I already knew who Wheel Tread was. I even knew he was lying that he is part of the Wheel Tread line to use the deals that the ones of old started. He didn’t say much at first, his eyes focused on Ruby. Who is arguing with her friends about helping the elites of Hard Rock?

“She is weak. She will be easy to use. Just I know you and the other Dunewalkers are easy to fall into the trap of friendship. Use her to train her to make sure she can handle it. Use the dagger that holds the eyes of water.”

The memory is interrupted.

“Dunewalker.” Opened my eyes looking into the eyes of Pinda. I stare at him, my chest tightens up, staring into his eyes. The stress in my friend’s eyes. I want to tell him the truth. I want to tell him Ruby is dead because of me betraying her. I push those thoughts into the back of my mind.

“Oh, my Pinda are you okay?” I croaked out the words, it wasn’t easy. I wanted to say I am so sorry for the death of Ruby. I am sorry for breaking up the group of heroes trying to fight to protect this land. I am so sorry for betraying our kind to Wheel Tread and allowing the Storm King to come back.

“It was hard for me but I found her armor. I heard stories that the Storm King tossed everything she had over his airship or gave it to his minions. I found her armor. I placed it in the museum to honor her.”

My good eye felt wet. I want to cry because of what I have done to her. She was a loving little bug so full of life. Even if she made friends with a zebra. I felt the rage in my core; it wasn’t because of my experiences with zebras. It was the old genetic memories of what they and ponies did to us. Back during the war.

“I feel that it is best to do what we can to honor her. A year has almost passed and I have trained so many new guards and helped you find old gun turrets come on Pinda when you will relax and just..”

Before I could finish the storm up above forms and then it quickly vanishes like it never was there. The Storm King is now testing his power if he can do what he promised. There is a rumor that Silver Gunner and his friends have almost broken through the outpost keeping them from coming in here. Pinda looks up into the sky, the stress worse now just because of that storm.

“I will never feel peace because of him. There are rumors of many of our kind bowing to him with no issue. They love his idea of bringing back the balance. The balance has been fucking out of wack because of idiots like him!!”

Pinda screams out loud all those words and no one even stares at him. They all have their problems. The only one that comes up to him is a young filly one of the ones he has been raising since her parents died to those parasites

“Pinda. Father. Please come with me.”

She was young and a zebra that he rescued from being sold. When a child of this town doesn’t have parents they sell them to those that they think could raise them better. Pinda didn’t argue he looks at me again.

“I need you to do me a favor. The order of Mimic is going to be set up here. I would like you to go talk to them and see if they need anything.”

The order of Mimic. The ones before me had run-ins with them before. The Lunar rebellion back during that time tried to force their dream valley ideals. Since their land was long destroyed by those evil creatures that came here.

“Pinda… You know that it’s not wise to have them around here. But I will do what I can to help you.”

Someday he will learn what I did and I am hoping it is not from one in the order of Mimic. Somehow they have hooves in everything and they learn secrets very easily. I took a deep breath lifting my robotic paw. I look into the part of the paw that Ruby engraved. ‘It said to my best friend and the one who helped me through so much.’

I didn’t want to see this memory again. I look back into the memory.

It was pretty late when I woke up from a nap I noticed my leg was gone. I look over the side seeing Ruby working on it.

“Oi… Buggy did I tell you that you could” Cranberry puts her hoof to my mouth to shush me.

“Let her you’re her friend. From what Hawk told me she does odd stuff for her friends.” I never understood why an Enclave or one like Cranberry would ever join the Enclave. She is not like them she is kind respectful and willing to help the world instead of control it.

“Just I am not happy when others take off my cybernetics. I have had them so long that well it’s hard to be without them. I have lived almost 100 years and I still hate the feeling of them being taken from me.”

Most never have learned but my kind can live a pretty long time. Ponies used to be able to live a pretty long time as well. Ever since the war, their life spans have halved big time. I doubt they will ever live close to at least 90 again. It used to be longer I think all the experiments they did cause more issues. Unless the stories and memories I remember have been told were faults.

“I do agree with that as well. She took my staff and cleaned it. I almost lost my temper with her” I look to the side of me standing beside me is Inyanga who is leaning on the clean staff. I want to insult her. I want to hate her. During this time I had no idea what to think of her. But I slowly started to respect her.

Tick Tock trots in looking over to Ruby.

“Hey, Ruby Hawk, and I need your help with getting the defenses up and running outside. Whoever built this place left in a hurry. So we need those skinny little legs of yours to get into the areas that have bad wires”

Ruby looks up from working on my leg. She looks back at me and I couldn’t tell her emotions. Her emotions are never really shown in her. I couldn’t tell if she was ever happy or sad. Oh, when she was sad though. She would do pathetic little buzzes.

“Coming let’s hope these turrets aren’t programmed to go after my kind like the ones on the island.” Her pink wings flap quickly and she flies to me attaching the leg back to my socket. I had no idea what she just did. I look at the bottom of the paw and I see it. I lost my temper and lash out at her.

“OI!!! You could have asked me first buggy before you ruined my leg.” After my outburst, I look at her landing and her sad pathetic buzzes come back. Her body droops. Looking at the paw again I realize something. I have a friend now.

“Look Ruby I am sorry for losing my temper. But this is expensive to repair. I will not get angry at you again I promise. Just please ask before you do something like that again.”

Ruby quickly hugs me. This was before Cranberry adopted her. She flies out and Inyanga sighs and follows. I know what she is thinking she is going to need to stop them from doing something stupid. I look over to Cranberry.

“You going to follow them since Ruby or someone else might get hurt?”

Cranberry sits beside me looking at me.

“Do you think that Ruby is younger than she lets on? She saids her age to us is like 10 years old. She acts younger than that. I know she was born severity years ago but she still acts so young."

I didn’t know much about the Magic eaters. But all I can remember is they age slower than we do. I respect Cranberry more deeply than any of the others. I didn’t know what to think of Hawk. I do remember stories about her. Old stories back during the war.

“I don’t know Cranberry they don’t have the family unit as we do. The queen may give birth to them the male may have sex with the queen but she is just a brood like the others. I don’t think her kind has an idea what family is.”

Cranberry had a lot on her mind she stood up pacing around. I didn’t know much about her at the time. I do know that she lost her family she wouldn’t say what happened to them but I can understand why.

“Back ten years ago when the hardliners were threatening to use a powerful weapon of the past. The ponies of the tenpony tower. Used a weapon known as Celestia one. To get back at the ones known as the hardliners. The Enclave felt that we should be like we used to be before Little pip took over the single pegasus project. I lost my children and my husband. I…miss being a mother. I look at Ruby she needs a mother.”

My good eye is wide from what she said. I heard about all this before. Scootaloo the murder of so many. Then turns into a hero that would have brought hope here. Even if she did all the murders the hope she brought would have been welcomed here.

“If you feel that you have to go with it Cranberry. Just be prepared for the hope she brings. Is going to piss off someone sooner or later. To the point that she may become a threat to them. That would mean you would be a target as well.”

She stares back at me.

“I know this. I know this well I am already a target just for being Enclave. It’s not easy to be part of something grand when you know so many refuse to trust us because of what we have done.”

Looking back in my memory I see all of the Dunewalkers before I have done. My kind has every right to kill me on sight just for having the name of Dunewalker. The betrayal during the Lunar rebellion. The other Dunewalkers wanted to make alliances with ponies zebras and all the other races. The camels of the past were so xenophobic. Then we heard a gun going off outside and Ruby screaming in pain.

“She is okay it just hit her wing!!” Tick Tock yells to us from outside. Cranberry sighs shaking her head and looking back at me.

“Come on let’s go save them before they do damage to her.” We both left and the memory ended there. I lower my paw looking up seeing Goldie looking back at me the golden camel tilts her head.

“Memories Duney?” A large smile forms on my face. Goldie and I go way back. I grew up with her I fell in love with her. But she doesn’t swing that way. I have come to accept that. I wish I could tell her what I am feeling right now. Just if she knew the truth I would lose my best friend.

“You could say that. I need to go check up on the order of Mimic and learn what they want from us. So is the bar closed for the sermon of the elders coming up?”

Goldie laughs looking back to her bar.

“Dune you know that getting the elders together for anything will take 400 years. The last sermon was almost 1000 years ago. Just it’s closed right now to honor Ruby. Many asked me to do so. For now, I am doing it to honor her. Even if I didn’t know her that well just the hope she brought..”

I felt sadness filling my heart. I knew the hope she brought would tear into many of the souls that loved her. She was a sweet little thing that didn’t do anything wrong. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Yes, but she was also a fool thinking that she could get this land to change. It will never change the rest of the world did change Equestria changed. But this one will always be full of those that want to kill and murder.”

Goldie stares at me her eyes full of disappointment. That hit me hard when she is disappointed I know I hit something hard with her. I know she gets angry easily when it comes to heroes the heroes of stone are a big legend among the camels and how one of them betrayed the others and got turned to stone with them. Just because Crunch had a sense of humor.

“You know full well Dunewalker there needs to be hope. If there is no hope we will become like the ponies and zebras always ready to attack each other. Now I need to speak to Pinda about adding more security to my bar and the hospital.”

I watch her walk off. I could feel her anger for me just saying those words. The guilt fills me again. I could have stopped what happened to Ruby. I could have done everything to stop it. Walking through the sandy road. Trying to ignore the memories. I finally get to the order of Mimics’ newly build church they started a while ago.

“So the betrayer comes.” My ears perk up looking at another camel part of the order. She stares at me. The hate in her eyes for she knows who I am.

“The Dunewalker line is cursed to never be free of the name. You just proved that Do you even remember the name you were given before Dunewalker?”

I stare at her my real eye full of anger. I reach for the hilt of my sword. I will not be called a betrayer and before I could do anything. Others of the order around me cock their guns and aim at me.

“It seems you have a problem Dunewalker. I called you a betrayer because of your name. Everyone else of the hero’s friends got harmed. You are fine maybe there is more to it. Since you’re a betrayer. You have guilt and you better talk to me about it.”

The camel lifts her paw to get them to lower the weapons. They do so and I follow the camel inside the temple. She leads me to a very private room. It’s a confession room. She looks out of the door and locks it.

“Dunewalker you have done it this time. The hero trusted you and because of you many of the Applejack rangers that came here are either dead or missing. Most of the Enclave has been destroyed. They wanted to prove to this land they aren’t the same anymore. So explain to me why all the guilt?”

I didn’t have to explain myself to her. Looking away to the door. I could kill them now. I could end this. Then it hits me I am willing to hurt another of my kind. I am willing to go deep into hurting my species. Another camel hasn’t attacked or killed another camel since the years of Grogar. Should I end that to save my pride and my guilt?

“Listen. I betrayed the hero. I am the one that allowed her to get captured the first time. I helped Wheel Tread capture her two friends. I told the ones that went after them where they were and what they were doing. I didn’t stop them from brainwashing her. I just stood there in the darkness watching. I had to follow her friends. I almost lost it and walked away when she almost died. Then… he told me his idea.”

The camel stares at me. The rage in her eyes said it all.

“You destroyed one of this land's best hopes to get the balance back? You know full well look deep into your memory. How the balance has been destroyed before the war even started. It started with that poor school. When that happened the balance ended.”

The camel paces about her anger growing. As she is cussing in our tongue.

“Dunewalker you’re an al'abalah. How dare you?!” She seethes in hatred and closes her eyes calming down.

“I feel guilty enough as it is.”

She opens her eyes staring at me. I could see the amusement on her face. Dunewlker's line has done so much. The line has betrayed so many and done so much to make it harder. To make it harder for the others to be accepted by the ponies or zebras.

“A Dunewalker feeling guilty really? Did the hero melt your heart? When the time is right Dunewalker the friends will come together again. You will go through worse than most of them for what you did. You’re still a hero. Just the hate will take hold of you. You will do something you will not be happy about.”

I took a deep breath great another cryptic vision that this order pretends to have. I do hope we all get together again. I am sure though the worse she tells me about. Is that I won’t be there with them at the start. I turn to get ready to leave.

“Dunewalker I am sorry but you’re not welcome to walk in here anymore. Please when you tell Pinda. Tell him to send someone that won’t betray us at the drop of a hat. Just because they believe the words of two mad creatures.”

I stare hurt she is right. The order needs to trust someone that won’t turn around and betray them. I get ready to leave.

“Do one of your visions from MImic if they’re real see me finally redeeming my family line?”

I turn over my shoulder to look at the camel. The hate from her eyes vanishes. She sighs looking away to the wall. On the wall is old paintings of an old pink castle. She then looks back at me with a weak smile forming on her face.

“I can’t see if you’re ever going to redeem your line Dunewalker. I do know something will happen. Everything is clouded it seems even though Mimic Is willing to share. She is not willing to share everything she sees. Before you go Mimic wasn’t a goddess or is dead. We know that just remember her golden horseshoes.”
Yes, the golden horseshoes. All of them but one vanished. The one that could somewhat predict the future. The other was lost forever when Dream valley was lost. Leaving the room I see all eyes staring at me. The order looks at me with disdain most of them in here are camels. They see me as the Dunealkers of old.

“Leave.”

One saids as the guards of the temple escort me out. I felt the tension rising while I walk by more of my kind in here. They all stare at me with hate. I never felt welcomed by my kind. Even though Pinda let me live here for almost 100 years. I left the building and went to go tell Pinda what happens.

___________________
A new year

The new year is finally here. Things have been tense the last few months. I trained more guards and did all I could. I heard the zebras are going to be closing their home in the cavern. I don’t know why but I have a bad feeling.

I stood guard like always but this time it was time for the journey of our kind. To the place we got our curse to remember the past every time we are born. So the town was extremely busy and before I could leave for something to eat.

“Excuse me.”

I look down at a group of colts and fillies. I love children well I do love children just right now is not the best for me to talk to them. I tried to walk away from them and they get infront of me again to stop me.

“Please we want to know why they call you the betrayer and Dunewalker.”

I stare down at the little ones. Looking up I could see Goldie’s bar not too far. Just a few more steps I could ignore them. I took a deep breath closing my eyes and trying to relax. I haven’t felt very happy ever since the temple. I just do my job and try to move on with every step I can. The guilt is eating me up inside.

“I won’t be able to tell you everything. A lot of what happens is secrets only among other camels. You got to understand. The memories I have in here are secrets still protected for how long I have had them.”

I had to make sure they understood these rules. Trying to understand what a camel can know is not wise for everyone to know. I am hoping that someday my memories will die with whoever comes next in my line. I am hoping I can find a way to make sure my memories never make it to my children.

“This will be a long story little ones. It’s not going to be a happy or a pretty story. It has no once upon a time or a happy ending. Are you all still willing to listen?”

They all quickly nod. Sitting down on my haunches closing my good eye and sighing. I didn’t want to look deeply into these memories again. It took a while for me to dig into them again. I took a deep breath.

“It all starts a little before the rebellion that Luna starts.”

________________________________________
The memory

It was during those days when you wouldn’t find any tech just magic and metal weapons. Days that think came to a lot harder and where you had to prove yourself. During this time the first Dunewalker had a name. It was Walker. Back then my kind didn’t have a good grasp on naming. It was during the day Luna felt unloved. He first learned this problem by speaking to one of the Luna guards.

I stood there speaking to the guard. I didn’t know what to expect these coming days. It was time for me to speak to the princess of the night. About a dream she came to. Of course, she wasn’t seeing anyone. I had to try to prove she wanted to see me.

“Come on I may not be a creature of the night. But I could offer some help to the princess of the darkness.”

The pony bat just stares at me. It wasn’t going again to be that simple. Proving your worth to a princess is harder said than done. Even one that could lift the moon and bring the stars into the sky.

“The princess said she won’t meet anypony.”

I took a deep breath. Most of my kind did what they could to expand around the planet. Most of us stayed in the land that became window makers. After a while, while I argued with the bat guard. Luna opens her door. Her eyes are red from tears as she looks at me.

“Are thou here to see thy sister?’

I quickly shook my head and bow my head down.

“No my princess of the Night. I have to see Thee.” The princess of the night stares at me unsure what to think. She looks to her guard.

“Allow him to meet us.” She goes back inside and the bat opens the door for me. I follow the princess. Her part of the castle is known as the castle of the two sisters. Her part is known as the wing of the princess of the night. It’s been mostly destroyed by the poor mare’s anger.

“How can thy help thee?”

I don’t understand why she called me here, to begin with. I have just been hearing stories from other camels that came down here to try to ally with the ponies. From what I have learned it’s harder said than done. Because the ponies are so xenophobic they dislike other races. Luna sits in a chair in the middle of her room staring down at me.

“We have a request.”

I took a deep breath closing my eyes tightly. The princess has a request. I didn’t like when the royalty of this land wanted something from my kind. It’s gotten to the point they act as they lead us.

“What is thy request then?”

Luna gets out of her chair she paces around her room. The beauty of the mare glows while she walks through the darkness in the room. The poor mare seems to be having a problem with her mind.

“I have been hearing from my guards that my sister is thinking of betraying me!! I can’t allow this she is so much more loved than me. She wishes to have all the love. I can no longer stand it!! I will make them love my night!!”

I just watch her lose her mind. I have never seen Luna like this since I first came here. Taking a deep breath so I am worried that what she is expecting of me is not good.

“What we need is thee to lie to your race. Lie that they’re in danger and join me!!”

My eyes go wide at the idea. I slowly tried to sneak out of the room. I was expecting her not to see me. One of Luna’s guards come closes the door staring at me. Hearing the metal hooves coming up behind me. I look back at Luna the anger in her eyes.

“If you don’t do this for us... Camel your family that we allowed to live here will die. We will do it ourselves if we have to.”

I gulp looking back at the guard. I had no choice then she threatened my family. Looking back to Luna and turned to bow my head. If I had no choice in this matter then I have to do what I can to prove myself to this princess.

“I will do what. I can prove this lie.”

I was allowed to leave and many days later I was finally allowed to speak to the elders. I made up many lies about how Celestia was going to use us and make us her slaves. There were no arguments. I gave enough fake proof to show it.

After I left, I was stopped by Plando one of the sand walkers. He stared at me the entire time.

“Excuse me Dunewalker.”

_____________________________________
Hard Rock city.

I look up after talking to the little ones. Looking at a few adults walking over to me.

“We are sorry that they bothered you.” The mare smiles sweetly at me.

“Oh don’t worry about it. I was happy to do what I can to explain more of my species.” Looking into the sky it was late. Later then I thought I smile at the family walking off with the young ones. Looking to Goldie’s bar finally going to get a drink.

“Oh Dunie you look very tired are you okay?”

I shook my head stroking my head with my flesh paw. I groan while Goldie pours coffee into a pint cup meant for beer. Oh, I needed this amount of coffee to at least stay awake and not have nightmares anymore.

“Here have some coffee and go relax. When the crowd starts to thin I will come and talk with you”

I took a deep breath lifting the cup in my cybernetic fingers. Carrying it to a table and just relaxing sitting in the booth. Taking a sip of the cup hearing someone get into the booth behind me. I took a deep sip and all I heard was a nightmare.

“You betrayed us..”

My head lifted I knew that voice. I felt my anger finally snap. The look on my face was full of sadness I didn’t want to do this. I grab the hilt of my sword and quickly stand up slicing the other table. My sword stuck in the broken wood. The sudden fight causes Goldie to hide behind her bar and others to run out. I just stare at the table that I cut in half. Why am I so upset to the point I am willing to kill this zebra?

“Is this how you betray those that called you friends Dunewalker?”

I lift my sword from the broken table just staring at the table. I am trying to control my anger. All I can feel is the rage of my hate for the zebra. My eye burning with hatred. I had no idea what was happening to me at the time.

“Betray? I did what was right. Heroes are a threat to this land. I joined the winning side if you had smarts Inyanga you would do the same. The days of heroes and villains are over!!”

I turn my head to see a smile form on the zebra’s lips. She was taunting me into fighting her to prove a point I am sure of it. Just why am I so bound into wanting to kill her? Then I finally see it behind her. Black horns glowing eyes and his horns glowing pure red. I feel the hate entering me. Grogar...he is there.

“Oh no, it’s not Dunewalker for you have become the villain. The day of Heroes and Villians has ended. But you have become a threat to this land. To my kind you allowed Ruby to die!!”

That hit me harder than anything. I never wanted Ruby to die as she did. She never should have died to prove the point that Wheel Tread wanted to prove. He could have just sent her to the leaders. Allow them to choose to end her life.

I grip the sword hilt with my cybernetic paw. The paw turns into fingers holding the blade tightly. I finally turn my robotic eyes and my normal eye to stare at Inyanga. She has grown up from what I see. She has grown older and more willing to stand up for something. She looks like she went through hell and back.

“Then if I am the villain what does that make you Inyanga? The hero with a self-important sense of fake justice? A justice that to others gets many killed? How many died during the Lightbringers battle? How many died during all the hero’s paths to conquest?!”

I quickly swing the sword. I cut through the robe the zebra is wearing and smash right into Goldie’s wonderful clean floor. I helped her put in this floor so many years ago and now it’s destroyed because of my anger for this mare.

“What does that make me? I am not a hero. I never wanted to be one. Neither did the rest of us Dunewalker. I am not some Lightbringer I am not some pony seeking justice for a wartorn land. I am doing what is right.”

Non of them wanted to be heroes, to begin with? I remember Ruby telling me this she didn’t want to be a hero at the start. She just wanted to enjoy her life here and it was forced upon her. I am guessing if things changed she would have left for Equestria. Then something tells me I am the one that forced the issue The words that come out of my mouth next. These are the words I would ever think of saying. I feel my hatred and the memories of the past are now connecting.

“The elite of the past caused the war that brought this world to death Inyanga. The elites came back into power because of the heroes. Wheel Tread and the Storm King are bringing back a sense of balance to a world that needs it. A sense of balance to this land... A balance that hasn’t been here since Nightmare Moons curse.”

I watched while Inyanga held a sword in her hooves. She created it like the warriors of old did. I remember those warriors my memories. My ancestors fought most of them. I may have been larger than her. I didn’t see any fear in her eyes. I knew full well It was going to be very hard to even win this battle. Our blades smash together causing sparks to fly. I didn’t care that fires started either.

“Don’t do this please Inyanga. I don’t want to kill you.” I didn’t want to kill her. The others that came before me. Oh, they wanted her dead. I can understand why but they would even want ponies killed. I wish I didn’t have these memories it would be so easy for me. To just stop this now.

“I can’t if I allow this to continue Dunewalker. My home will be next on the Storm Kings block. You betrayed this entire town. To the Storm King.” Whispers and gasps from the patrons in the bar. “You betrayed the hero. You could have saved her from her darkness. But you have a sense of being a slave don’t you?”

The word slave hit a mark. I felt my rage getting out of control. Her kind tried to make my kind slaves years ago. So did the ponies. I took a deep breath but the rage just kept filling my heart. It beat in so much rage. It starts to hurt inside my chest. A nerve must have been struck. I normally would have never acted like this. Then I look behind Inyanga again he was still there. I can hear him laughing. Grogar is having a field day with this.

Then finally I was able to hear the gasp from the others in the bar. They all know now that I betrayed the hero. I allowed the heroes to be judged and I had it easy. I was tossed like the others but all it did was made me end up back here.

“I am no one’s slave. The camels know who will win this battle. They know who will win this war. The ones who control the water. The food others will know this. Others will get smart and join that idea. Water is but money and food is but power for lives. If I must be on that side to protect the world from another war. Then SO BE IT!!” I quickly swing my large sword our blades finally clash. Sparks fly from the blades of the swords coming together to form a sense of music. A piece of music that can bring forth death brings forth the end of lives and peace. Some would see this battle and be in awe. The sparks fly onto the wood causing small fires to break out.

Get out!!” Gold screams to the others inside the bar while the Camel works to save her bar. I heard my friend screaming to the patrons of the bar to leave. I was too focused on this battle to stop right now.

Our two blades clash harder between us while the blades shine and sing. Her blade is knocked out of her hoof. I swing at her quickly trying to stop her. I have her on the ropes. She could die right here. I could take her out right here if I wasn’t doing such wide swings. She hides under the bar and I smash my blade into the bar. It gets stuck and I have to do something I didn’t want to do.

She gets out of the bar. I pull a shotgun out of the hilt of the blade. It was how I made my weapons. I fire at the running zebra a few buckshot hits her side. She screams and falls to her side. I put the barrel of the shotgun right to her forehead. I reload the gun feeling tears form in my eye.

“I didn’t want to do this...but please say hello to Ruby for me.”

Before I could pull the trigger Gold pushes the zebra out of the way and the trigger is pulled Goldie’s head is blown right off and her body flops right to the floor. I stare at the body of my friend that I just murdered in cold blood. I want to scream Goldie. But all I can focus on is killing the zebra.

I knew Goldie all my life and here I just outright kill her. Outright kill her for saving the zebra. I didn’t mean to do so. Now my rage won’t stop. I crash through the bar chasing after the zebra after she picks up her sword. The battle goes out into the streets now. I get close enough and she bucks me right in the face. I back up from the buck and groan but that just pisses me off even more.

Lights turn on in all the town ponies and camels run out to watch us battle. She tried to strike again but with all my weight I force her down onto her side and with my metal foot I try to stomp down hard on her. Inaynga quickly stands back up her she pants the battle is taking a toll on her.

“Inyanga. You should have stayed where you belong stripes. Ruby should have never found you and brought you with us.” My hate for Ruby means no bounds. This hate sickness have learned about all these years is finally winning and I am losing.

“I am not the one that sent Ruby on a mission to train in a death trap. You sent her to find me. Admit it you knew about her from the start. You knew what she was. You just didn’t care because to you she is not a camel. But a species lower than you.” How dare she say that to me?! I loved that little bug like a sister. I would have done everything to stop what Wheel Tread was doing. Just I didn’t have the guts to do so.

“A zebra has no right to tell me!!! What I can and can’t do. You and your Rome are the reason this world needs ponies like Wheel tread and creatures like the Storm King. You’re what the camels of the past called. A Kaffir” I can’t believe what I just said. I said the worst insult to a zebra known to them. I had no right to act like this towards her. I watch while the hate sickness starts to fill her up. Till she took a deep breath and looks like she is giving up.

“I am willing to look away from what you just said. If you’re willing to drop your weapon and admit you just murdered an innocent camel to get to me.” I stare right at her the hate building so much now that I lift the blade holding it tight. I knew fully that She wouldn’t survive a strike if I hit her. I pray to Luna to protect Inyanga from my attack. The blade swings down hard I hit something very hard and bright. I can finally some something in the bright light. A pony from the order of Mimic defending the zebra. Oh, thank you, Luna!!

My blade smashes into the magic shield. The runes on my sword glow brightly. I lift the blade again and smash down hard on the shield The stallion screaming in pain. With his might, he can extend the shield causing me to back up. I wasn’t sure how to handle this. So just keep smashing.

“In..” He coughs in pain from the use of his magic. I notice the makeshift horn. These horns are easy to make and also very easy to break. “In the name of Mimic. I shall protect this warrior of the stars. Release the seeds of hatred and the hate in your very heart.”

“You talk too much!!” I smash the blade into the shield again and it starts to crack along with the horn on the stallion’s head. He screams in pain he falls on his forelegs struggling to get back up. The horror I see in Inyangas eyes. I can see myself in the shield. All I see is the endless hate. I hate myself for allowing Ruby to get hurt as she did. I hate myself even now.

The poor stallion from the order of Mimic. Had one last bit of magic one last blast of the shield to expand it one more time. He causes me to back up again and the shield broke and he forces himself back to his haunces blood draining from the broken horn. I finally regain my footing and to all the horror around us I stab through the stallion and his eyes go blank and the blood sprays all over Inyanga. I pull the blade out of the stallion’s chest and while the stallion goes limp dying from his wound while the blood drains onto the sand.

I step over the body staring down at the zebra. I feel the hate sickness finally leaving my body. I am now fully back under my control.

“It’s now time for you to admit to something Inyanga. Join with the Storm King and Wheel Tread and follow progress.”

“So it is true then.” I finally notice where I am the entire time. I am in the middle of the town looking over at the burning bar. I see the horror on all the citizen’s faces. I look at the kids I was speaking to a while ago. I see the fear in their eyes.

“GOLDIE!!” I scream at the burning building. Tears fall from my eyes I am finally remembering what I did. The guards force me down and force chains around the ankles of all four legs.

“Take her to a cell till I decided on what to do with her. Inyanga?” I look back seeing the poor zebra pass out from what I have done. I am led to the cell a cell that I have been in before. Well not me my ancestor has been in here before. I am taken deep into a darker cell one that has no windows. Only a small little opening can be opened.

I sit in the darkness and all I can do is sob. Finally, I see what I have done. I attacked the poor zebra and insulted her. I killed one of the order of Mimic. The door opens up and what comes in is that camel I spoke to a year ago.

“So you did what I said you would. You went through the worst part of it than any of the heroes and yes. You’re still a hero part of the heroes that you made friends with. Just the trust will be hard for them to get back for you.”

Yes, I had to do everything I can to get the trust back. I am sure though Pinda is just going to sentence me to death. I try to stand to move but I am fully chained to the wall. All my weapons and even my armor have been removed. I asked them if I could keep my leg. I look at the engraving again on my foot.

“When regret fills you. You start to see that everything you stood for has failed. I never wanted to become the enemy I thought. I was doing the right thing. I could have done everything to stop Ruby from getting hurt. I even offered to send her to the leaders of towns to let them handle her. But he wouldn’t have it. He had to make an example of her in his head.”

The camel sighs shaking her head. I never got her name. I doubt I ever will now. She knocks on the door to get out. Looking back to me. I see the sadness in her eyes. I am sure she wishes she could help me.

“I just know things will be alright in the end. Just keep your heart full Dunewalker.” When the door opens I finally see who the guards are. It’s those two snake creatures that we met at the bunker. Then large female slithers in she is heavily armored like her mate. He uses his tail to shut the door.

“I heard you're the reason Ruby is dead. Is this true Dunewalker? That you’re the reason she is dead? I… I trusted you so did my mate. We had to hide our eggs deeper in the research building after we heard. Please tell me please be truthful to me if you can.”

I didn’t say a word. I knew that these two snakes were put in here to help. It’s a job for them to be useful. I guess they use them to get confessions out of those that steal and murder. I didn’t want to speak. But with her just being here. I could feel the emotions coming over me I break down sobbing.

“Yes...Subira. I am the reason she is dead. I just sat there and watched...As she was brainwashed. All because I felt I owed Wheel Tread. I tried so hard to stop him from doing what he wanted. He wanted to use her as an example not to get in his way.”

Subira stares at me when I finally get over it. The anger on the snake’s face. She wants to kill me I can feel the emotions. But she knew better and calms down.

“I am upset with you. But I can’t stay that way. I can just hope you will be allowed to defend yourself. Even though from what I heard it won’t be easy for you.”

A kirin walks down the hall.

“Hey, you two it’s time to change the guard. I got a bunch of food or you two in the mess hall.”

The two snakes look at the new guard coming.

“Okay thank you Gleam,” Slither spoke, wrapping his tail around his large mate and pulling her out of the cell. I hear the poor little snake sobbing as they both leave. Gleam stares at me with her gentle yellow eyes. I could tell this was killing her.

“You trained me.. Years ago Dunewalker now I am forced to stand here. Forced to stand here and…” She closes the door with a soft sob I hear outside. I broke so many just for what I did. I close my eyes to try to dream.

_____________________

Time Unknown

I don’t know how long it’s been since I am locked in here and there are no clocks. The door opens up I see Pinda staring down at me. He sat down on his haunches. All I see is the anger in his eyes and the stress in his body.

“You almost killed another friend of yours. Inyanga will be fine she will wake up tomorrow. But now I got to see what I must do with you. The fact I was told you could have stopped what was going on with Ruby. The fact you allowed yourself to get consumed by the hate sickness.”

I didn’t know what to say I just look at him.

“It’s like what your ancestor did during the times of Luna. The lying and the betrayal are the reason you’re Dunewalker. How fucking could you do that to that bug? She was the sweetest creature I ever met. I had no idea what to do. I wish I never allowed you back into society and go back against the elders of old. I allowed you here 100 years ago now you betray everyone you met. Everyone!!”

I tried to stand up to confront Pinda. Hissing anger filled my core.

“He had no choice but to betray our kind back then Pinda. If he didn’t Luna would have killed his entire family and the other camels she allowed to live in a part of the castle. She threatened to kill every single one of us. If we didn’t join her fight!!”

Pinda stares at me.

“I already know this Dunewalker. I didn’t get every memory my great-great-grandfather had. But I do have his journal. But he couldn’t stop the elders. You know this well Dunewalker you could have stopped everything if you didn’t join with Wheel Tread. You could have brought the water back!!”

Bring the water back and remove the curse?!

“Pinda you and I know full well that Wheel Tread and Storm King are the only way to bring the water back. Relying on a hero is the worst idea we could have done. Relying on a worthless little bug!!”

I hear my own words and I fall to my ass again sobbing.

“I loved that little bug as my sister. Now she is dead and I killed her because I couldn’t stop her from being a hero.”

Pinda growls and knocks on the door to get it to open up.

“I have no idea what to do with you right now Dunewalker. But I am going to go relax and...maybe put you to death. Then we can finally be rid of you and your foolish family.” He sneers so much anger in his walking when he leaves.

I close my eyes to fall back asleep and many many hours later the door opens again and what walks in is a Zebra. I didn’t want to see her. But I am so happy she is okay. I try to stay hidden in the darkness. I have no right to even speak to her.

“You shouldn’t have come.” I softly spoke in the darkness.

“Dunewalker. The hate you felt for me. Was it real?’ I open my eyes staring right at her. I felt very hurt just by that question. Of course, I don’t hate her. I think of her as a close friend. I don’t know why I had some hatred for her. I shift on my feet to try to think of what to say.

“I have been raised all my life and during the past lives of a Dunewalker to hate and belittle the weak. But...Ruby changed that idea to become friends. When I first contacted Wheel Tread about Ruby. He didn’t want me to get close to her and just train her. Then I saw the determination in her. The willingness to make friends with those she barely knows. All to forget the past.”

That changed my heart. The ability to look past what happened in her past. Then just try to move on from being a simple minion of a crazy queen that wanted to be loved and just to a hero willing to risk her life.

“But to answer your question Inyanga yes alot of that was real. You got to remember my species have genetic memory. That is still not warranted for what I did or those I killed. But even though I started liking you. I could never get over the racist feelings for you. The fact I believe what Wheel Tread and the Storm King stand for. Now I am going to be killed and the Dunewalker line will cease to exist. Then we will be free.”

I wanted to be put to death. The Dunewalker line has done nothing but cause issues over the years. It caused so many problems to happen and I can no longer defend the actions of my family line. I wish I could but I am just like all of them in the line. I hope someday what they learn from what journals they find of my family no more Dunewalkers will come into being.

“What if I can save you?”

My ears perk up my eye-opening up fully staring at the zebra. Does she wish to save me from death? Why I have done so much that I deserve death. I didn’t have a choice in this case though. If she means what I think she does. Then it won’t be easy to handle this.

“You’re willing to save the soul of one that tried to kill you and that helped destroy Rubies path and her reputation? I have no right to be saved Inyanga. I have every right to be killed for the two innocent souls that are dead because of me.”

I didn’t enjoy the fact that Ruby and her reputation almost fully got destroyed because I wanted to follow a crazy pony. Closing my eyes again feeling my heart full of grief. I wish I could do more for Ruby. I hope she is still alive.

“Then what about the souls and lives that will die if you keep following this so-called progress of The Storm King and Wheel Tread.” My eyes just blink and then I try to speak but my mouth refuses to say the words. Closing my mouth and then after a while, I try again ears pinning to the sides of my head.

“I...never thought of that. I have been listening to Wheel Tread all my life every one before I listened. He was there raising me when I was very young. He drilled it for years in my head. Telling me the ponies can’t be trusted and neither can the zebras be trusted with the world. He said only the villains of the past can become the heroes of the past. Over the years his mind and wants for this day got worse and worse. It got even worse when Ruby showed up.”

Inyanga shifts on her hooves. She looks back to the door and smiles weakly at me. She taps her hoof and leaves. I am now alone again closing my eyes to fall back asleep. The door opens up again many hours later. Pinda walked in looking down at me.

“I made my choice. We are going to banish you and just erase your family history from our books. You will never have existed in the 100 years you have been here. I am sorry this is worst than death. But.. You do know what this means right Dunewalker?”

A weak smile forms on my face. I full-heartedly know what it means. It wouldn’t be the first time a Dunewalker has been wiped from the history of a town.

“It would mean the only way for me to find love with my species again. If I find the outcast of our kind. Even then I am sure when they hear what I did they would refuse to join me in mating. It’s normal for us to be banished.”

Pinda didn’t want to do this the look on his face he didn’t want to do this to me at all. I helped him so much with everything here.

“Before I do this. Did you betray us even before Ruby showed up? Everything did training the guards to help to build the walls. Building those old gun turrets did you give them the passwords. Did he pick who you make into guards?”

I shook my head.

“He knows nothing about who I trained and what I have been doing since I have been back here. Even if he demanded to know. I would have said no to him. I destroyed my life enough helping the worthless pony. I didn’t want to destroy any more lives. I feel the hero and her friend’s lives were enough.”

Pinda relaxes from his stress nodding looking back to the door.

“You know how this is going to be correct? We will have to drag you through the streets. Our kind will toss fruit at you like the old times and maybe some rocks. I hope you’re ready for this Dunewalker. Also, you’re allowed to keep all your weapons but everything else you own will go to the camels.”

I remember it all I remember everything. I will have to take what is for me and leave everything else behind. My name will be removed. My history of me will be slashed from everything. If I gave any of my names or paid them. They will lose that pay and it will be given another way.

“I expect nothing less from our species Pinda. I deserve it I may not be happy with the idea of doing this and feel I deserve death.”

Pinda stares at me shaking his head and knocking on the door. He turns his head and the door opens he walks out.

“In the morning this will happen Dunewalker. I am sorry.”

__________________

The morning

The morning came and It didn’t take long for things to get set up. Pinda and many of the others lifted me by my front legs and they all whipped me. Inyanga stood there watching the non-camels stood by watching. Even the young were told this is a learning experience from the camels. They stop for a moment Pinda stands infront of me and sighs.

“We aren’t happy to do this to her. We will break into her home and destroy everything she owns and give her the weapons she created. She will stay here and watch as everything she owns burns.”

Just after that my home is broken into. While I hang here and all my weapons including a sniper rifle created from metal that falls from space. It has never been used and still has the Blacksmith shine on it. I watch while my home burns along with all that is left and Pinda takes every book that they leave.

“Now to non-camels, she will be dragged through the street as we throw rocks at her. Please I ask you if you don’t wish to watch please don’t. This is not for you this is for us. It’s a way to relax our hearts and how she treated us in the past. She is not the first Dunewalker that was wiped from our history.”

I ready myself as they release my cut-up body and they drag me along the sandy roads. A bunch of fruit and rocks smash into my body. As the camels cheer and scream in their lust of anger. The idea of all that has happened the last few days. It’s just like a second thing to me. I have hope in my heart though. That someday I will be forgiven by Inyanga.

Finally, after so much time it’s time for me to leave.

“Dunewalker you’re accused of betraying us and murder. In normal times I would have sentenced you to death. But I can’t do this to you. You’re no longer a camel you’re a manafaa. No other camel will see you in a romantic light. No other of our species will give you heel. You’re completely erased. Take the family that came before you with you. If I ever see you again I will end your life. Go join your masters or become a nomad I care not.”

The other camels stab their weapons into the sandy ground. They turn their backs to me. I have been given all my weapons. I was given a pack of food a sleeping bag and water. I was given enough water to at least find a water source. I turn to head to the way of the city. I take a deep breath and feel my heart finally breaking. I walk down the old roads leading to the place I have learned other outcasts like me reside. I look up seeing the storm finally slowly starting to be made. The sand storms are going crazy and I look back after a while and I don’t even see the town anymore.

________________________

The desert of madness five days

It’s been five days later since I have been removed from the town. Walking in the desert of madness for five days even without the sun from the random storms that try to fill the sky makes it hotter.

“You walk with yourself you start to wonder.”

I was laughing my eyes bugging out from the madness. Oh, the madness will get insane the thirst that allows the madness. You feel that your heart begins to beat endlessly the thirst slowly allows you to die.

“There are times when you just wish for it to end? Maybe we will never know. Who knows the idea of it is just ahead. I see the paths in my mind.”

I laugh loudly walking along the road. The pain of the laughter causes my dry throat to make me croak and I cough from the madness. The madness is fully taking over my mind and as I look to the Side I see Ruby.

“I hope betrayal is how you wished to make a friend Dunewalker. I am sorry that you will die now alone. Purely alone.”

I laugh croaking coughing up sand and dust falling on my back staring at the sky in the blowing sand and wind. I had no idea what to think but my entire brain is fully out of it. I feel that I might die here even if all I can feel is guilt.

“What… day...what a lovely day.”

I tried to move but I was too weak. I can no longer move and my body is too weak. I drank all my water. I try to get back up unable to all my gear is on the sand while the dust and storms bury it along with me.

“So...this is how it ends for me…”

I close my eyes and quickly I see glowing eyes staring down at me. I thought I was dreaming and I was carried off to somewhere at least maybe I am being taken to the realm of those that betray and die. Maybe the hell I deserve my vision slowly goes dark and all is well in my mind.

__________________

The next day's place was unknown.

I open my eyes I am far too weak to even move. I grunt and try to get up but I can’t even see where I am.

“Shhh shh don’t move you have sand blindness and you might not even survive the night. I am sorry I have to do this to you.”

I feel a needle go into my side. I have no idea what is going on and I finally feel myself fall asleep again. I must have been out a long time. I feel myself wake up and fall back to sleep many times. I have no idea what is going on anymore.

I open my robotic eye since that one is back online. I can look around and finally see. I am still too weak to even move. What I see who is my doctor it’s one of those mutated praying mantis. A large female has grafted cybernetic arms on their sides and since their real arms are like large barbed weapons. The female reads through a book while with her hands she is mixing something.

I try to speak but all I can do is croak coughing. The red female lifts her head looking over at me. She walks to an iv I am attached to looking at it. She changes the iv bag to more fluid looking down at me. I try again to move but I can’t even do it.

“H...how long?” I cough out.

“You have been here for about six days almost a week. Your body was in the heat for too long. Thankfully for you, the sun wasn’t out. If it was you could have been dead. Now you need to relax. You’re over the danger. But your heart could still give out if you’re not careful.”

I weakly nod coughing.

“Again you’re lucky that you were found by one of our scouts. I will do what I can to keep you alive. I can’t promise a thing camel. The leader doesn’t trust outsiders. So for now she wants you to stay in here.”

Closing my eyes tightly feeling pain filling my body and shivering. I feel cold the poor doctor covers me with a blanket stroking my head with her sharp blades.

“So.. ..So...So...cold.”

I couldn’t see the emotions on the mantis’s face. But I could tell in her eyes that she was worried about me. I fall back asleep again and I must have gone through an entire week again. I finally woke up after a while. I felt my body in pain.

I can finally move now. I shift my weight a bit and since the mantis is not here. I sit up finally able to move but I cough and my body is so weak still. The mantis walks into her clinic and she laughs watching me have trouble sitting up.

“Very funny I have been in bed for too long. I need to see where I am and. Then I need to be on my way.”

The mantis shakes her head.

“You aren’t going anywhere. Our leader wishes to speak to you and she will be in here soon.”

Closing my eyes sighing laying back down. I heard the door open.

“Well well. The betrayer the Dunewalker has found her way back to us.” I look to see the leader my eye opens wide. I know this camel I feel my heart sink. I was told years ago by Pinda that she was killed.

“Black Rain? You’re alive?!” I stare at the pure black-furred old camel walking up to me her eyes full of wisdom she stares at me I could tell she wasn’t happy to see me.

“Yes despite what that foolish husband of mind has told you. I am alive I have been alive ever since. But I can’t hold it against him because it would be hard to do so.”

I finally sit up looking at Black Rain.

“I.. was banished from Hard Rock for… being the reason the hero is dead.”

Black Rain shakes her head.

“So the name Dunewalker hasn’t left at all I see. But you’re an outcast now and. I can’t just toss you out of here. Welcome to Oxoshiwe. The home of the outcast. Come stick around allow your banishment to become part of the land.”

I took a deep breath. Feeling the air in my lungs and the doctor takes out the iv. She smiles sweetly at me. I finally got a good look at her she is pure silver. Her body shines in the light.

“Now that you can see me fully. I am Cra you will see many of my species here. Just if you need any more help. Just come to me and so you know you have almost been out of it for almost a month.”

The sounds of screaming outside. I didn’t care about it at first I then hear a roar of a large creature. A filly runs into the clinic.

“The eel is back!!”

The filly runs into the back hiding. This town needs my helm and I know these eels if this base is built inside a cavern then they would consider this place their home. Looking around for my weapons I have to help.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” I turn my head to Cra.

“What the fuck do you think I am doing? I am going to get my butt out there and fight this thing. I may still be weak. But I will not allow this place to get destroyed.”

“But..” The mantis was about to speak. Black rain places a paw on her shoulder shaking her head.

“Go outside the door you will see your weapons waiting for you. Just you don’t have to do this. You’re not a citizen yet.”

I just turn my head to stare at Black rain shrugging my shoulders. Walking outside the clinic seeing my weapons. They’re all neatly in the holsters and scabbards. Getting it fully on my back while the roars get louder. It sounds like more than one of them.

I quickly make it into the middle of the base that is now a makeshift town. In two recently dug tunnels are two large canyon eels. Reaching for my large sword holding my name. The runes glow and I lift it in my cybernetic paw.

“OI!!!”

The creatures were about to attack when I yell my OI they stop and they both look at me tilting their heads. It was that easy to get them to stop attacking? Before I could swing my blade at one of them. I hear a large gunshot and one of the heads of the eels bursts open in blood. The other screeches angrily looking at me and attacking.

“OI!!”

I swing my sword and even though they’re bigger than me and with the might of this blade. The creature bites into the blade and the runes on the blade itself glow. Since the eel fully focuses on the blade. I pull the shotgun out of the hilt causing the eel the fling back a bit in surprise. I lift the shotgun and fire. The bullets bounce off it and the eel tosses me into one of the houses. I groaned trying to stand up.

A dragon in full armor helps me up. I couldn’t see their eyes through the helm. I couldn’t even see their scale color. They hold a large sniper that looks so much like mine. Wait that is mine.

“Think you can distract it while I kill this one? Like I did with the other betrayer?” I didn’t wish to argue we had lives to save. I just nod and dance infront of the eel.

“Here I am just a lovely bit of food. Oh, come on I am soooo tasty you can’t just ignore this fat on these legs. These lovely thighs.”

The dragon groans. While the Eel spits out the sword blade. It goes for me again and this time my sniper fires. The bullet goes through the eel’s head. This time it didn’t explode and the creature lays its head down. The pain for it is too much I pick up my shotgun and then my blade. Lifting the blade to make the killing blow.

After a while everything calms down it takes an hour or so for other creatures to come in and cut up the creature's skin them. I didn’t get a very good look at all the creatures. Since I was pulled away by the dragon.

“Did you have a death wish or something?!” The armored dragon pokes me with their armored claw. I stood pretty high up but I still had to look up to them.

“OI you used my gun dragon. I could have done a better job at keeping any damage from happening.”

The dragon takes off their helm. A female dragon stares at me the rage in her eyes. Her eyes are pure yellow. Her scales are shiny blue and she tosses down her helm staring at me smoke rising from her nostrils.

“UGH, You’re a fucking travesty!! How dare you think you think you could fight that thing on your own?!

My nostrils flair themselves.

“OI dragon you know what when you’re beaten. Get over yourself and stop acting like you can defeat a camel.” I smirk and the dragon grows angrier.

“Don’t make me disembowel you.”

I just stare at the dragon why did she look so attractive to me.

“Are you always this cute when you’re angry?”

She stares at me her cheeks glow bright red.

“I..are you always this hot in your fur?”

Are we attracted to each other because we both have the same type of temper? Suddenly I don’t know why the two of us kiss each other and come around the corner Black rain just stares.

“Ahem..”

We finally notice and we break the kiss coughing and looking away from each other. I don’t know what came over me and why I just kissed the dragon. I felt so heavily attracted to her after we argued as we did.

“I could just leave you two alone if you two feel you need to be alone hmm?”

I shook my head.

“No need I am sorry miss Dragon. I don’t know what came over me. I am Dunewalker I am recently banished from my species. Because well I helped the hero get murdered. I will be going on my way soon.”

Black rain sighs.

“Excuse me Anys. Could I borrow your girlfriend for a second?”

The dragon growls deeply.

“She is not my girlfriend. I kiss her fucking once and now you think she is my girlfriend!!”

Black Rain stares at her.

“Because you and I both know. Anyone else with a stick up their ass is attractive to you. So now you will be kissing each time you two argue. I am sure sooner or later I will find one of you in each other’s bed going at it. Having wild angry sex.”

I just stare at Black rain. I don’t have a stick up my ass? I think to myself a moment, do I? Well, I did treat Ruby-like shit when we met. I didn’t respect Inayanga and I insulted Ruby when she tried to do something kind for me. Oh my, I do have a stick up my ass.

Anys snorts flapping her wings and flying back to her home.

“Dunewalker I request that you stay here. We need you we don’t have many protectors anymore. Alot of them either died or went on.”

I took a deep breath and sigh.

“Alright”

Black rain smirks.

“Since you will be close to our dragon protector. There is an empty house right beside her. I hope you understand that she used to be mated to a male. So she has some young and she needs help to raise them.”

I just agree to this and a few days after I am given a new home and everything to live in. Now I just wait to see what happens with my life.

_______________________

Two years later.

Two years have passed since I have been in this lovely land. I have become one of their defenders of the town. We haven’t had many issues since I have been here. I got to know everyone in the town.

They all welcomed me here and I did much for all of them. I got to know most of the races that ended up here. Alot of them are old creations of the Enclave that ran away here many years ago. Old war creations were left behind after the war was over.

As I write in this journal I have heard stories that something is searching for me. So I have to go on before whatever is looking for me finds me. So I got married to the lovely dragon. She and I couldn’t stand it any longer after a year and just got married.

A while ago I felt my body glow and my heart heals like the magic of friendship has found me again. Set down my pen looking down at the little ones at my paws making sure they were okay. I pat them since they’re still pretty young for dragons.

“Love do you hear that?”

I look over to Anys and then I hear the strange blades and something flying above. Looking over to my dragon wife nodding to her while I stand and watch it land and look to Anys holding onto the hilt of my blade.

When it lands the door opens up.

_________________

The eyes of Cranberry

I walk down the catwalk to the sand below. I look around as the others stay on the airship. I finally see the camel I have been searching for. I walk up to her and at first, I wasn’t happy to see her. But I close my eyes tightly to relax my anger.

“Oh my gosh. Cranberry you have seen better days”

I look up to Dunewalker.

“We need you once again Dunewalker. We may find it hard to trust you but we found. Where Ruby is and we have a way to bring her back. We need to forgive each other and let go of everything. That would mean bringing us all together again.

Dunewalker looks back to her home and her family.

“I can’t just leave my wife and her hatchlings. I can’t just leave my home here. But if you feel we need to do this. Regain our friendship and get our hearts back as one. Then I am willing to do so.”

Anys looks to Gem and then she looks to me.

“You must go Dunewalker. To protect our homes our families..”

Dunewalker sighs and with that we are on our way to find the body of Ruby. The airship lifts into the air as we work to regain our friendships.

Footnote: Max level.

Perk added: The Dunewalker: You’re an old history a simple history not much is known.

Next Chapter: Chapter: Twenty-Eight Desert Dwellers: Naga Estimated time remaining: 28 Hours, 40 Minutes