The Sand-Hooves are outsiders from an old platoon that broke off from the rest of the zebra army. After a mistake on my part. I had a falling out with my daughter who was with me at the time. Who was raised just like me thinking all ponies were evil? She fought me to get the command of the platoon. I wish I could go on more about what happened. But if I told you everything my dear friend you wouldn’t take the case. So please read this letter and come down to see me as quickly as you can. I will be in Moonshines bar.

Written by. Commander Poison Rose to Smoke Pipe.

Wymarnic is peaceful after my friends and I did what we could to bring rain back to our lands. Even if we did what we could the poison the blue hats put into the ground will never fully go away. It may take years for the soil of this land to go back to normal. I look outside my window seeing the various gangs and Apple Jack rangers bringing out their gardens to catch the rain. I heard a knock on my door pulling the pipe out of my mouth to blow out some smoke.

“It’s open.”

The door opens and I see my earth pony friend Root and Blossom both of them now married. They help raise their foals and I take care of them when they need a foal sitter. Root closes the door and the two middle-aged mares sit in my chair.

“What brings you two here?”

I don’t even turn to look at them. The two don’t say a word at all for the longest time till Root speaks.

“The Storm King has returned. The news is making the gangs on the border gather heavier weapons and rumors of locking down the border again. But that is not the biggest thing there is a zebra ghoul in the bar downstairs. She said she wishes to speak to you."

I lift the letter Poison Rose sent me. I think I know what she wants from me. I put the letter in my pocket. Looking up into the sky as the rain falls into the gardens below. The gangs protecting the gardens. After the war 20 years ago we all agreed this area of Equestria will work together till peace is finally back in this world. The Lightbringer may have brought peace back to some areas. But not every area.

“I would ask how your children and husbands are. But I see them down there.”

I wave to the two stallions who fell in love with the former enclave pegasus Blossom and Root my dear friend. I turn to look at my two friends. I see how old they have become after the 20 years of our greatest mystery.
“As you say the Storm King returned. I am starting to see why the security of this land doubled. But first. I must talk to an old enemy and a friend.”

I head down the stairs a jazzy song playing while a blue mare sings into the microphone.

“There's a moon over bourbon street tonight
I see faces as they pass beneath the pale lamplight
I've no choice but to follow that call “

I sit down at the bar. Moonshine is still running this bar after 20 years. Her beauty hasn’t left her. The beauty of her dark moonlight fur. She has helpers now since many of the gang members of many towns are wanting to bring this land back to normal after 220 years. Moonshine doesn’t even ask what I want she puts down a large bottle of Whiskey. I hear someone sitting on a stool next to me.

“I didn’t think you would show..”

I didn’t even need to look to know who it was. I know from her walk and how she presented herself. A mare of style a former commander. The two of us have known each other since the end of the war. She told me one day she would need a favor from me. While the peaceful jazzy song plays in the background while the two of us talk. An old ragged hoof slides a photo for me to look at.

“This is a new photo of them. They call themselves the Sand-hooves. I need you to find them. I need you and any who can protect you to go to that desert the Storm King has returned. It may take you a year or two to get there. On how you go about it but I need you to find them.”

I didn’t look at her just stare at the photo of a group of zebras that live in a desert wearing old war armor. I take a long drink from the whiskey the music slowly ends and just goes to jazz music with no vocals.

“Why are you so keen on having me find them?”

I finally turn around to look at the old ragged zebra ghoul. The poor mare has been through a lot so have we all. But she is wearing the old commander's armor that I met her in. The armor is tarnished and hasn’t been cleaned for years. It looks like she lost her want to care to clean it up.

“We didn’t leave on good terms Smoke Pipe. The Storm King's return has caused a big stir over there. It got bad enough that the hero that they had over there. Got killed by him and he judged the friends of the hero. The land is under his rule now.”

So the Storm King got what he wanted. From the sounds of it but why me? Can’t someone else go that would do much better I thought in my black-and-white mind? It’s not even normal for a simple detective to even go into a war zone. Maybe there is more to this than she is letting on.

“You’re not telling me the full truth are you?”

The mare sighs looking back to the bar. I could tell there is more to this. I am not a detective for nothing after all. Even after Slice returned to say he is sorry for all he caused me. I didn’t let him off the hook even though I feel bad for what happened to him.

“My daughter and I didn’t see eye to eye. I know the leader of these desert-dwellers they call themselves are led by my descendant. I want you to go find them and if need be fight with them to protect that land.”

I sip from the whiskey bottle looking up to Moonshine.

“Is there a deal you can make with the remaining Blue hats to get me into Windowmaker Desert in three years?”

Moonshine cleans the table. She takes the caps and other money that we use on this land. She then turns back to me looking at me like I am crazy. I know her history with the blue hats and everyone’s history with them.

The jazz gets louder while they play a song called paint it red no singing just a mare gently tuning her voice in the song. It took a while for Moonshine to fully talk to me about this. I look over to Poison Rose.

“I will do this at no charge, my friend. I will not expect any pay. I will do this for you so you can see if they’re alright. I already need to go there anyway. An old friend wishes me to come for another reason. The deals I can make to get souls ready for battle.”

Moonshine finally comes back to me. I look up at her as she singles with her hoof for her helper to take over. She leaves the bar soon after to do this deal for me. She walks down the road to a home near Zoonies home. The zebras of this land are still heavily defended here. Since we learned after my adventure. That there is more to the poison that the blue hats did to the ground of this land. It may take even longer for the rain to cleanse the poison from the soil.

I get off the stool putting the whiskey bottle in my coat. Give Poison Rose a tip of my hat. She gives me a quick nod while I head back up to my room. I see Root and Blossom talking to each other while they look at me.

“How would you girls like to go with me on another adventure?”

The two mares look at each other. The adventure we went on was 20 years ago. We found out the secrets of the blue hats. We fought a war but more happen. The idea is that we haven’t been on an adventure since then and allowed the world to pass us by.

“Well, it’s been 20 years. I can no longer randomly screw around like I used to. I am still a guard of this town even if I am married and had children. Soooo I wouldn’t mind going on another adventure.”

Blossom looks to the closet that holds their old clothing. The old clothing to hide in this land. Opening the closet brings out the old outfits and offers them to the two mares. They both look at each other.

“I am unsure my husband will let me go on an adventure. I will go talk to him real fast.”

Blossom flies out of the window to go talk to her husband. I sit down in my other chair smoking from the pipe. Lifting an old magazine that is the history of what is known about this desert I am asked to go. It’s old and not well kept like most of my old books.

“I will go talk to my husband.”

Root steps out of the chair and heads downstairs. Moonshine comes up after a while and sits in my chair. I look up from the book. The bartender is always being herself of course she looks drained. Of course, knowing her she had to go through harsh treatment just to get to see the blue hats.

“So what did they do to you this time?”

Moonshine snorts.

“They took as much blood as they could from me. To see if I wasn’t some changeling that would wish to use their tech of evil. Of course from what I am told by that wife of yours that it’s nothing to do with changelings just stupidity and some can’t get over that the world ended.”

Ah yes, my wife. Thanks to her help of her and learning more about myself during my adventure back 20 years ago. Looking back on what I can remember and I shrug just remembering that 30 years from now something will happen. Looked at that tablet I took with me and the time slowly counted down to something that will happen.

“Did they agree to help me get to widow-maker?”

Moonshine nods tossing a note to me taking it in my magic. I read what it saids. ‘In six days we will take the old railways to get as far as we can take you. It will cut at least a year off that walk and you would have to go the rest of the way on your own.’
“This is fair.”

It took us six days to get everything ready. Root and Blossom did come along with me. I told Rolex since he was in jail since I finally beat him in the game. I told him what is going on and he is worried about the issues this could cause for our land. I told him if I don’t return he is free from his guilt. He for one didn’t enjoy hearing that. I remember what he said to me.

“You come back detective we got a game to still play. When I am free I am going to prove to you I can change. I am going to reopen my old casino and clean it up. I will prove to you I am not a creature of habit. Survive detective the game is not over yet.”

It would take us close to three years just to get to this land. We have time but for now, I must rest. I feel strange magic coming over me. The girls have already passed out from it. I don’t know why this magic is starting to affect me. Just I am warned this magic has been hitting anyone who tries to get to this land.

__________________
Three years later.

We woke up after we made it to our part of the land. It took us three years longer than we thought. We had a run-in with some of the creatures that protected the land and we had to find a way through the storm. It wasn’t that hard to find it though. Since well we have a pegasus with us. It didn’t take us that long to get through the storm. Just when we got through it we noticed that the sun is allowed to come in just it seems from the sounds of it. The Storm King is not wishing to seal the sun from them.

Looking over to the water a long way from here. I see Mount Aris and look at my friends who wouldn’t have an easy time here. We walk towards the mountain. We finally make it to the mountain three days later. Of course, we went through some problems we had to fight raiders and well giant bugs.

We get to the coast and notice many are hiring boats to get to Mount Aris I walk up to one of the Storm King’s minions who is not even acting like one of his minions the creature turns around and smiles. They normally wear these masks to hide their faces. This one has been through much.

“Are you here for the alliance talks?”

The creature looks at the three of us. I had no idea what to think. An alliance talks and a creature that is the Storm King's minion willing to help with this? I took a deep breath feeling air going into my withered lungs. My lungs have never been the same since I have become a ghoul.

“For a creature that is known to work for the Storm King, you don’t seem to be doing so.”
The creature sighs shaking his head. He looks to the other minions that broke off from the. He finally looks back at me and kneels on one knee to look into my eyes. I could see how tired he is and smiles weakly.

“Not all of us want the Storm King to win. His idea of progress will keep us all as slaves. His idea is Wheel Treads’ idea. Wheel Tread wants to force all of your lands to follow his way of thinking. Forcing the view of heroes to drastically change and him turning him and the judges into heroes. Including the Storm King. To the eyes of this land, the villains are the heroes.”

My eyes go wide in surprise Neighsay is here?! I heard stories that he pretended to be Wheel Tread the creator of the Storm Watch project. He is taking up the mantel of a loving stallion. A loving stallion that loved Equestria and didn’t want heroes or villains to be made from the war.

“I see. Then my friends and I will leave back to our home after I speak to the leader of the Sand-Hooves.”

Root stares at me.

“That is unlike you Smoke Pipe normally you will stay and fight. What is with this Wheel Tread?”

I took a deep breath giving some bits to the creature and he offers me one of his boats. I get on it with the two mares and I sit down to look at them. I didn’t want to tell them the truth but I had to. This plan is the Storm Watch.

“I know who we are dealing with. We will just talk to the leader of the Sand Hooves and then leave. I will not stay here.”

After what I said the two mares went back to staying silent.

_________________
Mount Aris

We finally made it and I told Blossom and Root to stay here. I follow the other creatures inside the city to the meeting room. Before I could walk in they called for a six-hour break and all the creatures come pouring out talking. I see the mare I am meant to talk with. All I think of is calling her a zebra. I did learn some of it but it’s not very easy to learn.

“Uxolo ... uwena u-Isla?”

The mare wearing heavy golden earrings on her ears rings all over her legs and tail. When she finally turns I see her stripes they’re swirls. She removes her skull mask looking at me. The look of a stranger to her since I am to her speaking in her tongue. I am very thankful there are no guards around.

“Ngingubani wena ghoul?”

The mare replied. She walks closer to me I could tell she was very unsure about me. I reach into my pocket and bring out a large book of history for her. I offer it and smile sweetly.

“Ngacelwa ukuthi ngikuthole futhi ngikunikeze lokhu.”

I give her the book she opens it up and her eyes fill with tears seeing the name. Hot tears stream down her cheeks. I am sure what she sees finally triggers a response she turns to give me a quick hug. I had a feeling she knew who it was and who sent it.

“Uyaphila futhi uyi-ghoul njengami. Angathanda ukukuhlangabeza uma ungamvumela.”

It was getting harder for me to speak zebra. So before I insult her and say something out of line I quickly bow my head. She nods knowing that it’s time for me to go. I head back to the boat and look at my two friends.

“My job is done. Let’s return before a battle takes place. What is going to happen here is not something I wish to be part of. I am sorry for not taking you on much of an adventure you two.”

Root just smiles.

“I don’t need an adventure as we did 20 years ago. Blossom and I being mothers and wives is an adventure enough. Let’s get home before something does happen.”

Blossom giggles.

“And to think I missed this but Root is right. Being a mother is a full-time adventure and I need to get my hubby in line anyway. Since he is overworking himself again to try to find a cure for the land.”

We get back into the boat. We head back to our land the way we came. I look back to Mount Aris. This is one adventure I have no right to be part of. When I was told by a friend of Silver Gunner to come. I said no to them and then got a job to bring that book and letter. I looked up at the creation known as Project Rainfall I stood up and went to the captain of the boat.

"Turn us around I have a task to do"

The captain turns to me

"Sir?"

I toss the captain some money and he nods he takes us back to the port of Kludgetown My friends and I get off the ship. Blossom stares at me. Root is very confused.

"Smoke? What in the world are we doing here?"

I look up to Project rainfall.

"No matter how long it takes no matter how many jobs the three of us have to take for Storm Kings minions we are going to get up there. I need to speak to him so my friends we will find ourselves a place to stay and then find jobs to get into the good graces of the Storm King."

Root and Blossom sigh this is not the first time we did this on our journey twenty years ago. No matter how long it takes I am going to make sure I speak to him. My two friends and I go to find places to stay and then we will find jobs and the only way I can feel at peace is if I give Neighsay a piece of my mind.
_____________
The eyes of Isla

I look down at the letter my great-great-grandmother has given me it is written in our old words. I was raised in speaking them. I read them loudly to myself even if others won’t understand me. I don’t care. I need to speak these words.

“Isla othandekayo wena mama nami asikaze sizwane. Ngiyakubuyisa okwenzekayo phakathi kwethu. Kodwa sathengisa ngokungapheli. Sakhaphela uhlobo lwethu futhi sababuka beqeda umhlaba. Kanye namaponi. Ngiyakuthanda othandekayo ugogo wakho omkhulu”

My mate walks over to me and puts her hoof on my shoulder. I turn to the large zebra a gentle smile forming on her face and she wipes her hoof to clean the tears. Kissing my cheek turning to look at the others walking out of the halls. We would have to wait for six hours then the talks would start again.

“What did you find moon of my heart?”

I took a deep breath wiped my eyes a bit grunting looked at the book again and closed it now I have more history to explain before. Looking to my wife who I fell in love with at a young age. It is unheard of for two females of my species to fall for each other. Well, it used to be of course.

“A ghoul gave me this.”

I set down the book to let her see the words. She opens her eyes wide. The stories of Poison Rose have been talked about for years. On how she convinced the rest of us to betray Caesar and our land. I doubt we would ever be welcome to go back to that land. We were called back then the Sand-hooves since well we had no better ideas for a platoon name.

“So the old founder of our name is still alive? Hmm, I never thought I would hear this. It seems we better talk to our husband since he will wish to know about this.”

I quickly nodded she is correct we need to talk to our husband. We have been given queen Novo’s old meditation room when she needed to relax. I look over to see a waterfall that would have been going but the water has been stagnant for years. It stinks but it’s better than having nothing. I look over to the large stallion who is our husband. He and the others did their best to make it a room for us.

“Excuse me, Axel”

The large stallion turns his head. He is wearing a golden crown of strange wheels he found in the desert. He looks at me as he tilts his head looking at the book with his hoof he singles me to come over I set the book down and he opens it up.

“So she found us. She gave us the history we have lost for years. Do you wish to use this to make our case for this alliance?”

I give a quick nod.

“Then do so. You’re the leader, my love. You two are my treasures so please do what you feel like a leader.”

I went to go meditate on my own away from the others. When I did I heard a strange song and the mountain joined in. I forgot a lot of what is here are ponies. I heard the voice of one of the heroes singing and I feel my heart calming down. I see why they sang it helped them calm down during the war. I walk to Cranberry's room I need to speak to her and when I get there. I see Beezen walk out of the room he turns to me bowing his head. Heading off to an area to relax. I knock on the open door.

“Excuse me may I come in?”

The blue dragon. From what I have learned Cranberries wife Gem. She looks at me and then at her wife who looks out the window at the former city below the castle. A castle that had been made many years after the Storm King’s end. Cranberry just didn’t even look at me. Gem gently pushes me out and she closes the door looking down at me.

“I am sorry my wife is not herself right now. I wish things for her would be better. But the stress she has from trying to fix her friendship with the other heroes. They haven’t seen eye to eye since.”

We heard an argument not far from us.

“I don’t fucking care Tick Tock. I am not a hero I want to get back to those I gave my heart to. The rest of the land can just die for all I care.”

It was Roll Roll and Tick Tock another voice spouts out the anger in her voice.

“We can’t just let my kind get their home invaded are you Isimungulu?”

The word hit me hard. She just called her friend a dumbass. I feel that I need to do something. Then a heavy stomp is heard in the same room. It makes the floor we are on shake. I wish I could stop I try to move to the room. Gem stops me shaking her head.

“We can’t help them. Ever since the fall of Ruby, they allowed the hate sickness to get the best of them.”

Before we could keep talking Cranberry walks out of her room and she trots to the room we heard the argument in. I could see tears forming in her eyes. From Gem's body language she wanted to help her wife but she had to stop herself.

“Enough!!”

Cranberry screams going into the room the argument got even worse when she walks into the room. I was worried a fight was about to start.

“Don’t make me shoot you all!!”

I heard Hawks guns start-up like she is about to shoot her friends. I quickly trot to the door and open it up staring at the angry heroes. Hawk is about to fire her guns at her friends as the others have been fighting. Of course, Inyanga just sat there drinking a cup of tea. She looks at me with a gentle smile forming on her face. Seeing another of her kind seems to make her happy.

“Have you all forgotten what you are?”

I heard Gem behind me. Looked up to the Dragon her eyes red with anger. Steam coming out of her nose. She stares at her wife. Cranberry cowers a bit looking like she is scared of her wife. I have a feeling that Gem had enough of this.

“You all came together as friends. Now you Hawk are threatening to kill them. You Roll Roll are angry because you had to give up your lovers or mates. Listen this is bigger than all of you. Do you want this land to become worse than it already is? Wheel Tread may want to bring this so-called progress that would help this land. But I doubt that the Storm King will fall in line much longer.”

Cranberry and the others didn’t talk.

“She is right you know..”

We all turn our heads to see Beezen. He comes in and sits down in a chair.

“If you keep fighting the judges will win. I know I may be a judge myself. But I regret what I did to the ponies back in Dream Valley. I may have not done much to them but make their house alive. But those that were with me used that to break them.”

I took a deep breath. It was time for me to say what I felt I had to say. Shifting on my hooves looking to Inyanga. She didn’t seem upset with her friends neither did the water hunter. She looks back at me Inyanga gets down from the chair offering the cup of tea to Water Spout who takes it to drink it.

“I wish to express my heart to you, my dear friends. I know we haven’t had good moments in our friendship anymore since the fall of Ruby. I do have to wonder though would she be happy if these friends she helped brought together that we fought like this?’

The others look to Inyanga. Hawk shuts down her weapons and lowers herself more. I am now seeing how she got in here. She lowered herself enough to be able to get inside.

“I regret what I did to Ruby. I talked her into trying to kill me. I told her I am a judge and I am. I am a judge but I am also a bringer of life with my magic paint. But I need to warn you all there will be more eyes after the six hours are up. More races are coming and all of them are from the desert. Now get some rest and stop fighting each other.”

Beezen gets off the chair. He turns to the rest of us nodding to us all. He left and I did my best to leave before I could fully leave something grabs my tail. I was about to lose my temper with whoever dared to grab my tail and I stare face to face with Inyanga as she points her hoof to her room. I follow her and she closes the door.

“I am sorry about that scene. It started as us wanting to get to know each other again. Then Tick Tock brought up something to do with the hero of the island. She added that this hero went through a lot of what Ruby did. What we learned though she was trapped in a prison for six months and thought to be dead. To us right now Ruby is dead.”

I nod quickly.

“I may not understand this idea of pony friendship. Since you’re a zebra with a bunch of creatures not like us even if Tick Tock looks like a pony. Water Spout though understands how we see friendship.”

Inyanga sighs shaking her head.

“You focus too much on the old ways of thinking our kind had. I feel the bigger issue has we forsaken ourselves when the war happened. We never allowed ourselves to understand why the ponies fought us so hard. But we focused too much on their leader Luna.”

I wanted to argue with her. I am starting to wonder if she is correct. The stories of the zebras of the past did much to forsake friendship. We all forsake friendship and the stories of ponies doing the same because of that silly old war. Closing my eyes I had to say what was on my mind.

“Siyalahlana. Satshelwa ukuthi uma sibulala amaponi sizohlonishwa.”

Inyanga stares at me after those words.

“I agree and you gave me a lot to think about. Just I need to rest soon you will be telling your story. I have a request though. Do it the way of a zebra.”

I leave the room the zebra closing the door. Do it the zebra way what did she mean by that? Then I finally understood. I quickly trot back to the others to explain my plans on explaining our story. It would take six hours for us to get ready.;

__________
Six hours later.

It took us six hours before the others came back. We got what we need, I got the drums and the others got horns. Our ceremonial armor has feathers and skulls all over the armor. I had a headdress that is made of armor made from a skull turned to gold and put it on my head. Our brewers made many potions to help explain along with a campfire. When the meeting came back we surprised the three leaders and the heroes when they came back they all sat in their chairs.

The other leaders of the desert dwellers sit in their chairs so did Beezen all the chairs are now full. But we see other creatures I have heard of but never seen before. A living machine gun with other weapons on it. One of them is even a living suit of Enclave armor. I am guessing that magic paint that Beezen has. Rat creepers and many others I can’t see. Looking to see the probe that the DJ normally has here. I took a deep breath closing my eyes unsure how this would be taken.

Hooves gently hit the drums. While three stallions play flutes to gently play the music to express themselves. I open the book looking at the brewers who are ready to use the fire. Looking to my husband Axel to be ready to translate for me he nods.

“Siyakwamukela, endabeni yezinselo zesihlabathi.”

The zebras hit their hooves harder on the drums and the flutes play gently. The shaman we have with us uses her sense of zebra magic to wave her hooves of power over the fire. Just to make it dance. She quickly drinks a potion it’s a potion to keep her from getting burned.

“Welcome, to the story of the Sand-hooves.”

My husband said and he paces around speaking these words. He wanted to do this to express the words even more as more to come. I look back to the book taking a deep breath feeling the stress from doing this vanishing.

“Impi enkulu phakathi kwamahhashi amahhashi namadube. Impi yegazi impi engapheli.”

I quickly point my hoove to Axel and then shaman using Axel’s words to express what is being said.

“A great war between the ponies and zebras. A battle of blood a battle of never-ending.”

The shaman takes her hooves forming a vision in the fire. Fire forming into ponies. Then the flames turn into zebras. It shows them battling with weapons like guns. Blades show much blood and gore lost between each. Many battles between the ponies and zebras show.

“Kwakungubusuku obuzolile. Ngacelwa ukuba ngehlise uhide lwezempi olwaluza ngeqembu lami.”

I read from the book I am going to now going to learn why we broke off from the others. I took a deep breath after saying all that and look over at my husband. He quickly nods pacing around and grabbing his sword to show how he is into this.

“It was a calm night. I was asked to take down a military convoy coming through with my platoon.”

The fire forms into a convoy and a group of zebras hide in the brush waiting for the convoy to come by so they could take it down as quickly as a zebra can.
___________________
The war and that faithful day.

We have spent three days here waiting for this convoy to come. It wasn’t easy and we had been here too long away from our families. I wish I could do more but we can’t even have music going since we could cause them to hear us.

“Commander I see them”

I look in the binoculars and look at the convoy. I look back at my platoon. A lot of us have been fighting too long and we have been wanting to go home for a long time now. I lift my hoof at my second in command who saw them and with my hoof told her to get closer. She did so and when she did she saw something I would always remember.

“Poison I see the soldiers there are many. But I can’t see what is in this convoy. It’s locked uptight. What are your orders to attack or let them go?”

I had to think of what to do. I had a bad feeling about attacking this convoy we are deep in equestrian lands. It’s strange to see a convoy this far in from what I am told by others. I took a deep breath. I spoke on my radio I wanted to say the words it was hard for me to do so.

“Attack.”
With the others, I grab my knife and we charge as fast as we can. When we finally get to the convoy the ponies didn’t even seem to notice us till it was too late. We were all charged with no guns using our knives and hooves to kill what we could. After slicing the throat of a mare. What’s odd though they didn’t even fight back. Another mare is screaming rolling into a ball.

“I am not a soldier don’t kill me please don’t kill me”

I walk to the mare looking at her. I have a bad feeling about this. Looking at the convoy they had with them. Three large boxes are heavily defended and there is a pipe coming out of them. Taking a deep breath. I remember being told to do whatever I can to destroy the ponies. I am worried now that is blinding us.

“Open them up. We need to see if what we were told is true.”

One of my soldiers opens one of them and she stares inside. She looks at me like she was surprised at all this. I look inside seeing there are zebra and ponies. They all cowered from us in fear even the zebras.

“Don’t worry we won’t hurt you. We are here to free you.”

I was speaking to the zebras ignoring the ponies. Since I have been shown all my life the evil of ponies and we are in the right here. We had every right to kill ponies for they dare turn Luna into their evil queen. One of my soldiers found their orders. I look at the order I felt very sick to my stomach after reading them. The orders are about escorting these zebras and ponies away from the war.

I felt so sick I ran into the grass and vomited at what I had just done. I killed so many innocent ponies for no reason. I feel everything I have learned and shown over my years of this war. I am starting to see what we have been shown is not real. I come back and look at the convoy taking a deep breath.

“New orders… we take this convoy to its destination.”

The others stare at me. They know if we do this. It could mean our deaths. We would be thought of as traitors and we would be treated as evil for what we dare to do. We can’t just murder every single one of these ponies and zebras. That wouldn’t be right and I would never get over it. I was told this war was because we are in the right…

“Miss Rose.. we might never be able to go home. If we do this.”

After everything that happened, I felt we had to do this. The mare that survived we placed in the convoy and told her we will try our best to make up for this. We take our time to bury the ponies we killed and left the scene.
It took us close to a week to get to the destination. The destination was a desert called Widowmaker. We made it to a strange town that called itself Hope. When we got there the ponies look at us and wave at us. Zebras and ponies are living together in this town?

The leader of this town comes to greet us. I stare at the creature. A camel I have heard of them but never met the old camel stares down at me. Then looks at the convoy she shook her head.

“You killed them didn’t you?”

The Camel stares at me I felt my heart sink so much. She knew I killed them I gulped looking at the others they started to feel just as bad as I did. I nodded weakly opening the convoy to let them all out.

“We were told there was a weapons convoy and we saw this convoy and were told it’s holding weapons. I am sorry I didn’t mean to allow my hatred for the ponies to blind me.”

The camel lifts her hoof and slaps me across the face I fall onto my ass and she stares down at me. The anger in the old camel’s eyes. I didn’t know what to do my platoon grabbed their weapons and a bunch of guns from zebras and ponies cocked and aimed at us.

“Your platoon is welcomed here you are as well. For now, I may not be happy with what you did. But you’re welcome to stay here away from the war. As long as you stay in the good graces of those here then you will be welcomed.”

I nod as my platoon left me to go take a look at this town. I was mostly by myself sitting on a bench not sure what to think and laying down relaxing and watching this town. I watch while zebras and ponies talked and their children played together.

“Mother…”

I turn my head to see my daughter. She has been in the platoon for the better part of two years. She sets a sword down infront of me she was wanting to fight me for the leadership of the platoon. I just stare at the weapon and tears stream down my face.

“Wavuka, please I don’t want to hurt you.”

The zebra stares down at me lifting her sword. She was determined to fight me for leadership. I stood off the bench and lifting my sword in my mouth looked at her. I shift on my hoove and we size each other up swinging my blade to smash into her sword. The town watches with the platoon. I grip my sword tightly and I have a feeling I would have to kill my daughter. I quickly shifted knowing I need to let her win. I shift my hoof in such a way that my guard is down and she swings her sword slicing into my side I scream as I was the first one to draw blood dropping my sword and grunting holding the wound. My daughter forces her sword into the ground without killing me.

“Leave and never return mother!!”

She lifts a stone with her mouth and tosses it at me. The others in the platoon do the same. I have been removed and thought to be a traitor now they treat me as such. The stones fly around me since I know they don’t want to hurt me. I run back to Equestria to hide. Many months have passed and the world has ended. I am very sick and I don’t know why we ended this war this way. I thought I have died and I learned I am what is called a ghoul and I have met others. I was told the war ended this way and all I can do is hope to find my platoon again.

When I went back to the town it was evacuated and no one was even there. Like they left in a hurry I am wondering if they went to find a place to stay till they can think of coming back. I can no longer breathe and I no longer have a reason to keep this book. But I should it's the only history I have of my platoon the Sand-hooves. The book ends.

______________
The alliance room.

“That is our history. We have more history we could tell you but it was pretty simple. We are now desert dwellers. My second husband Ehlane said it may be longer to get many tribes of the zebras in this desert to fully agree with this alliance. But my kind and I are the last here to help and show what we can do.”

I get away from the podium and shift looking at the others. All the Sand-hooves that came with us ten of us and the shaman we had. We all stand together in harmony as they hum and chant.

“We will fight and if you form this alliance with us the desert-dwellers and others of this desert. That has come from this war. All those that sit in these seats behind us are the heroes. Come form this alliance.”

The three leaders we have been selling ourselves to for this war ahead. Look at each other and the princess stands looking at everyone going to the podium as she looks at us and all of us waiting for her words.

“I Princess Sea-shell. Agree with the others Rassie and Silverwing. We will form this alliance not just for this battle ahead. For any battles that come to this desert land. In the name of the heroes, we shall rise and fight the evil that wishes to harm this land.”

The rest of the chamber cheers while the paper for the alliance is brought out and we all sign it even the heroes. Even all those sitting and watching the living objects that have been given the magic paint treatment sign it. Many creatures sign it and I am amazed at every creature I see it’s impressive to me how many are sighing.

_______________
The eyes of Beezen.

I sit there watching all the creatures sign the treaty looking down at my book and not sure what to think. My pen hops on my book as he stares at me. I couldn’t believe it but the other creations of my paint look at me too.

“Beezen you told us that you gave us life because you felt that we have a history we wish to tell. We all think you should join in and sign this treaty if you want to finally prove you wish to move on from your history. Then sign it.”

I took a deep breath he is right I should do this. I get up from my chair and come over to the treaty as they all stare at me even the heroes stare at me their surprise with I grab the pen from the ink well and sing my name. My living pen even signs his name. They all stare at me and put the pen back.

“With my history, I killed many ponies. I feel this is the only way to regain my heart. I shall join in this battle and my friends bring back Ruby. Go find her go and do what you can for us.”

It was many days later the heroes get on the airship and others get on small ships that have been here for many years waiting to be used. We watch them leave to head back to the mainland and we all watch while the airship and the smaller ones get engulfed by the storm. There they go off to protect this land from the judges. They have much to do before the battle. First to find Ruby and then to try to connect with the rebellion.

Footnote: Max level

Perk added: The alliance: An alliance of desert dwellers and many other races has been signed into place. All of them fight together as one gains a buff in health. When the battle is called all will come and fight. For now, though they wait and train for the battle ahead.

Next Chapter: Chapter Thirty-three: Yanari the DJ Estimated time remaining: 26 Hours, 22 Minutes