The future will never be set in stone. The Storm King was meant to die in the past. Most never understood why some during the war wanted to bring him back. His spirit of him floated through the years. He lived in somebodies but stayed hidden. There were rumors of hauntings because of it. But during the end of the war, the hauntings vanished and he believes he entered the body of the one that was left on that cruise ship. I can no longer with a good heart follow the words of the Storm Project. I have scraped the mind-control chips.

The enemies of the past may have been many things. But we don’t have the right to do this to them. I am sure though when this gets out I will be hunted down. I will be killed for what I know. I am sure some will not kill me and try to extract the memories of the blueprints. So for that my family and I are going into hiding. We will try to get to one of the stables if we can. I am sorry my friends.

Old recordings from one of the former big brains behind Project Storm watch. His family was found dead six days later after this recording was ruled out as a domestic killing and the news called him the killer and he killed himself.

________________
Order of Mimic Mare.

I watched what the order told me to do. Lead the heroes to the ones they love. The cocoon opens up and a large bug-like body flops out of the broken shell. The poor creature's brain is dead like it's not there. It may take hours for her to be herself again. I have met others like her before who have gone through this.

“What’s wrong with her?”

Cranberries voice is full of fear but also sadness as she slides her hoof on the face of the pink bug who doesn’t even react. Cranberry looks at the others and she feels something is wrong. I know what is wrong. I have dealt with this species before.

“The reason this only happens once. Our brains and bodies can’t handle the change so it takes a while for our brains and hearts to catch up. She is alive but she will be this way for many hours. I feel the issue though is when the Storm King learns she is alive.”

They look at Roll Roll for what he said and they argue about what to do with her. But they need to know they can’t be together. They need to go their ways again. I use my magic even though some of them are larger. I push them back and use a spell to block them from Ruby.

“What are you doing?!”

Tick Tock yells.

I hear the wiring of Hawks guns starting up while she aims at me. I sigh deeply, turning my gaze to Dunewalker. She doesn’t say a word but nods. She bows her head and the others look at her while she heads out.

“Dunewalker, where are you going?!”

“She does what she must do. What you all must do.”

I turn my gaze to Gem as they all turn to look at the dragon. Cranberry looks like she is about to cry. She is finally able to see her adopted daughter again and now she feels the poor creature is being ripped from her again.

“I can’t explain my love but I am sure she can.”

She lifts her claws to point at me and they all turn to look at me while Inyanga watches Dunewalker leave. I have a feeling she knows what needs to happen as well but it’s not going to be easy. It's been three years.

“You can’t be seen together. It would raise too much suspicion. Ruby can’t be seen either. If the Storm King and his minions knew that you all came back together and that Ruby is back. He will enact his plans early. The resistance and the alliance are not even ready for it. That is why we asked Dj Mixer to come on the radio soon and explain the alliance is only here to help the cities worse off with food and health problems, not to fight for them.”

Cranberries’ features on her face turn from sadness to anger.

“Then why did you tell us to do all this? Why did you say to meet up and go to Mount Aris?”

A weak smile forms on my face.

“To start in motion what needs to happen. For the hero to wake up, she needed her friends. But this is what she needs even more. She needs to find a way to break her contract with the stars. But I can’t tell you where she is going and what she is going to do. All you need to know that is you started the motion now the heroes must wait.”

Hawk robotically growls.

It took a while for the zebra to speak. I have my eyes on her to try to at least get her to understand. But she does understand that is the thing. She understands and it hurts her. It breaks her heart.

“We need to do this.”

Water Spout didn’t argue at all; she nodded quickly when she finally understood.

“Go back to your homes, your lovers. Form alliances and craft weapons if you can. Help the alliance your way. Talk to the leaders of the desert dwellers to get them to try to contact the other desert dwellers that didn’t come. But go back to the places you live and grow and I swear to you she will return.”

Cranberry sits on her rump and cries softly. Then it becomes very hard. I felt bad for Cranberry. She finally got her adopted daughter back. But she needs to understand that someday she may lose her even more. The stories I have been hearing make sure of that. Inyanga hugs her friend, and so do Gem and Water Spout. They live on the same island now. But even so, they need to leave alone.

“The three of us live on the same island. We may not be able to leave the same way. Don’t worry I will find a way to get past the storm. I am sure Water Spout will too. So cheer up we will always have each other.”

Hawk sighs, turning her cams to Roll Roll and Tick Tock.

“I guess I will see you two again when the time calls for it. I would like to say I am sorry for my temper. I love you two as my family. I even love my other friends. I still don’t trust Dunewalker but good luck in finding your way back home.”

Hawk turns away and walks out of the bunker. Following the same footsteps as Dunewalker. Thankfully I know full well that no one under the power of the Storm King followed us or they would have already started to attack this place.

“We will see each other again. Roll… I must get back to Hope. I am sure you have that family to get back to. You have a father to be.”

Tick smiles walking out Roll sighs going as well. The last three behind are Water Spout, Cranberry, and Inyanga.

“Love, just be happy that you have seen them. It's time for us to get back home. You will see them again on the island. Just allow us to go and I am sure the alliance understands..”

Gem turns her head to look at me.

“Correct?”

I nod.

“The leaders knew this had to happen. Just be prepared though I warn you they will start blaming Ruby for all the problems that will be arising. They will use her as a scapegoat and after all, it is said and done. You know what will have to happen.”

Gem frowns, her crest droops, she knows what is going to happen.

“They will put her on trial for war crimes or anything they can pin on her. The leaders of the alliance and this desert will turn on her. I knew this would happen myself. Some heroes have gotten off too easily. I am sure this is a sign that might never happen again.”

Inyanga nods and walks out with Waterspout following behind her. The two left are Cranberry and her wife Gem. Thankfully from what I noticed Cranberry is crying too hard and Gem is talking to her loud enough so she didn’t hear what I had to say.

“May I please hug her before we leave?”

A soft sigh comes from my mouth and I let the spell down. So Cranberry can walk to the braindead Ruby. The poor creature is breathing and her eyes are open so I am sure she can hear Cranberry. Cranberry hugs the bug tightly; she is much larger than she used to be. The bug is bigger than any pony now.

“I love you, Ruby..”

Cranberry sobs gently while she and Gem walk out. It’s now me but I hear the music of the land starting up. I don’t understand this music. I close my eyes to hear the heroes sing since I know their hearts need to.

__________
The song of the heroes.

The music gently plays while the first one known as the Dunewalker sings.

“It’s time to walk away again. It’s time to follow our paths again till the time is right. We follow our hearts, we follow our songs. I am named Dunewalker. I have forgotten my name. I have been Dunewalker for almost as long as I can remember. I am thought to be a traitor because of my family’s past. I have betrayed, I have murdered, I have killed in the name of peace.”

She takes a deep breath and keeps walking back to the hidden valley of the exiles as she heads back to her wife and children tears stream from her eyes though feeling her heart about to break from seeing her friends go their ways again. She has no idea how to handle this feeling. It’s so foreign to her.

“It’s time to watch the desert fall apart more. It’s time to get ready for the battle and the lives that will be lost ahead. There is no time for us to be together as the friends we are meant to be. Friendship maybe is magic. But the magic takes time for it to fully take control again as all of us become empty with sadness.”

The next to sing is Hawk. She is walking through the desert to find the spot her lover that the robotic hippogriff told her to be when it’s time to return. She knew that this might happen but the song came over her robotic brain.

“Peace, how does one like me have peace? I have nobody I don’t even know if I have a soul. I feel that I am in love with the one who saved me. But how does one like me know the feeling without a body? Friendship might be magic but in life, I have been a killer. I killed in the name of peace to stop a war. But they used it to blame the zebras. They used my brain to make a weapon. But the cost of living?”

Hawk's legs make hissing sounds while she keeps walking in the hot sand. Even though the storm overhead kind of blocks the sun. Thanks to the curse nightmare moon placed on this desert. The heat never leaves even when the sun goes down or is blocked.

“It’s time for my path again till the time is fully right to become a hero again. I am no hero, I never will be. I am a freedom fighter and I will fight for freedom in the name of freedom but not in the name of a hero.”

The next to sing is Water Spout while she walks through the sands. Digging her hoof through the sands to get into the water hunter tunnels so she can get back home and she knows how to avoid her own.

“I am just a water hunter, a former warrior of Luna. I am a warrior of the night I have left my tribe. I am an outcast. They will protect me even so because I have been near the bringer of water. But in truth, we all know prophecies and legends are fake most of the time made by those that are mad. I am just a mare that found love in a camel. I made friends and have hope in my heart.”

She takes a deep breath, tears falling down her eyes because she knows what will happen after all is said and done. She shivers from the tears trying to hold back her sobs. It's not easy for her but she is trying hard to do so.

“My friend, oh Ruby. She will be blamed for everything after it’s all said and done. Her soul will shatter and we will lose her again. I don’t wish to see that. For I know that she will not win that battle. She will be judged like the stars demand.”

She uses her magic to let her throwing knives float around her as she gets into the tunnel she will use them just in case one of her attacks her. But instead, she meets those mutated blind naked mole rats that she and the others made friends with. One of them nods to her and without words, she is led through tunnels the water hunters no longer use.

The naked mole rats join into the song.

“We are all but in a dream. We see what the world is and we wish the dream was real. The hero behind me is broken and shattered. We must follow the plan through which the desert dwellers will know when the time is right to strike. The antlions sing and mate to be ready for the time ahead. It’s time for our numbers to grow.”

The next to sing is the zebra. She follows the path to peace rock. She looks behind her as the desert blows away her hoof prints like it’s a defense so no one finds their way to this place of peace. She turns her eyes to stare at the large rock and a large elemental weapon of the zebras that keeps casting an acid rain spell.

“The storm has come. The storm king has won. At least for now the souls are broken. The end of this desert may as well come to pass. Citizens flock to him like hungry ants. They feel hope around him. They feel hope in progress but this desert can’t be tamed. It can’t be tamed till it wants to be.”

She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes. She opens her eyes and finds the gate leading into peace rock. It may take longer than most to walk. But she feels it’s like time doesn’t even pass when it’s already been hours. The door opens and MRS Slice welcomes her and leads her through the tunnels. The zebra looks around at the many zebras and other creatures around this tunnel they all sing as one.

“The storm has come. The song has been sung. We are getting ready for the battle ahead. Our time has come and peace is broken. We shall rise and become what we shall always become. The warriors shall come to the stars and shall have their blood.”

Inyanga gives a quick nod to Lotus and Hunter. She doesn’t know these two zebras but from the respectful nod, she gets from them they may be friends of the hero. She looks back to the tunnels feeling her heartbreak more. She wants to see her husband again. But she knows full well she will have to leave him again for this battle.

She turns her head to stare at the mare that has a rocket pack attached to her back. She wears a golden helmet and a strange leather coat. She lifts her helm and waves. The zebra waves back and nods.

The next to sing is Roll Roll. He rolls his way back to Nirak; he sighs he knows that his children will become warriors for this battle. Since broods age quickly and become warriors because of that stupid Majesty wanting a warrior race.

‘I am unsure what to think. I did lose my way and now I have lost my friends again. Now I am heading back to my home. I am heading back to those I love. I have become another lost soul in my heart. I will miss my friends but I am sure we will see each other again.”
He keeps rolling faster and he wants to quickly get back to his family. He wants to finally see his brood. He wants to see everything and hopes he can help his team and the other rock-ball teams get ready for the battle ahead.

“I have a journey to make. I am a father, I am a warrior. I am a siege breaker. When this war and battle are over. I will retire and become a former breaker. I will shed my shell and become a small version of myself. I will finally be free of this body and looks. I feel that my time has come and my molt will come when the battle ends.”

He shifts in direction as he sees Nirak. He rolls as quickly as he can home to those to whom he gave his heart. He knows how they are though they’re in the sexual business even if they will still love him from the promise they told him.

The next to sing is the robotic mare. Tick Tock does not need rest. She never expected she would fall in love with a former zebra warrior that she fell for. They work together in the city of Hope. She is also hoping to get the entire town to come to the battle; she will have to talk to the leaders of the town.

“I don’t know if the princess cares for a plea from a clockwork mare. A mare that has done so much in their names. Who has done much more in their eyes? I foresee the end of my life when the world ends. I see myself ending when the world ends. But I know for well what will happen to Ruby after all is said and done. She will be blamed and she will be the one who is at fault. Then we will lose her again.”

She follows the path back to hope. The road to this town is very empty and strangely the spell of the Storm King has a weakness in one spot and it’s close to this town. She wonders if it has something to do with the magic that comes from Hope. Sometimes magic comes from not only hope itself but the magic of hope can break just a little spell. Even if this spell is strong it can still break at least part of the spell.

“I used to be a broken mare, a broken soul. Then I found the hero of the island. Star Shooter, I watched while she gained her friend. When she returned after the six months of pain the minions of the queen put her through. I watched her become a strong hero and then she paid the price for it. All heroes someday will pay their price. The story of heroes is that most get broken and some die at the end of their journey.”

Tick Tock gets closer to the spell and walks through the charge going through her shell. The new shell is so strong that the spell just arcs through her and she may feel some pain inside. But her gears and joints keep moving, not allowing her to stop. The final journey in her mind is her final stand; she feels that maybe she or someone close to her will die. She looks back to the desert, a desert slowly blowing the sand around. She knows soon these sands of the desert will run red with the blood of those that fight for freedom.

“I foresee this land becoming a graveyard. It’s the point of war and the sadness of truth. It’s a time and a song we all know. I know I will see my friends again. Though there will be a day that I watch Ruby be dragged out for just giving this land hope and then she will be put to death. Someday they will do this in the name of peace.”

She knew full well what was going to happen from the start. She remembers stories of these talks being used on the elements of harmony if the war ended peacefully. Sadly, the idea of heroes will not only become myths, most will do their best to put them to justice for what they have done.

The final ones to sing are Gem and her wife Cranberry. They both look back at the bunker door they came from as it closes. Gem sighs and leans down to look at her wife’s puffy red eyes. She had her friends close to her again. Now they have to break apart to protect each other.

“My dear wife. We have a path to go. For we are going home. I want to hear the sound of your laughter. I want to see those eyes full of love. I don’t want to see you empty and broken. Place your armor back on and become the healer once again, gain friends and become a hero to those that need you.”

Cranberry stares up at her dragon wife who sings to her a smile creeps on her face. The song takes her heart, letting it beat very slowly in her chest. She allows the stress and pain of loss to relax her just from the song alone.

“I shall become the healer again my dear Gem. I shall become the master of my destiny. If I have to lose my daughter again even after this battle is said and done. I will be with her till the end of her life. I will be there till her soul gains remembrance”

The two get into the new airship and when Gem gets into the deck she looks at many of the ponies and other dragons that work the machine. She clicks her claws to hide the ship from sight. They finally found a name for this machine.

“Come now my friends, let’s raise our great machine into the air. It needs to be repaired and it still has problems from staying on the ground for so long. So what name shall we give this wonderful ship of ours?”

The crew looks at each other and over the PA system, a soft female voice sounds out.

“Name it the Bell of Freedom.”

The entire crew looks at each other. They then turn to Gem and they all smile including her and she joins in with them.
“It shall be the Bell of Freedom.”

Cranberry sits in a room that she uses with her wife when they’re here alone. She sighs looking out the window and watching the desert drift away. She closes her eyes, tears streaming down her face thinking of Ruby. She finally starts to sing again feeling her heart soar at least for this moment.

“I have felt these last three years were nothing but a dream. A dream where I watch Ruby and my friends either die or go their own way. Someday I will say goodbye to them because even though we are friends we have our own lives.”

The whole song has been going on as the order of Mimic carries the broken bug to the place where they feel she can rest. The only place she can rest. They cover her up in a cart and then place a bunch of food and metal all over it but give her enough room to breathe. The unicorn mare that got the heroes together watches the Bell of Freedom fly over her head and then she smiles knowing they have listened. The song reaches its peak and finally, all the heroes sing together all for Rubies sake.

“I have friends again and we foresaw what shall become the full path of us all. I, Dunewalker shall do what I can for my friends and my family. I will never give up hope and I will always sing for my friends and my children.”

When Dunewalker gets back to her home her dragon children and her wife come out to greet her and they go back inside as she goes to tell the leaders it’s time to train for the battle ahead.

“We are all in this together. I am a clockwork mare, just a simple creation of a mad pony. We worked hard together and became a song in each other’s hearts. We will always remember the dance ahead and the song in our hearts.”

She finally gets back to hope and Wraps her robotic legs around Black Rose and she looks at the crowd of the village looking at her. She nods and they lead her to the meeting hall as she looks back to the storm feeling that it’s time to act.

The order of Mimic keeps moving on their path. It's either been hours or a day since this happened. They make it to the gates of Hard Rock but they know it’s going to take a while before they’re allowed in. They cast a spell to make Ruby look like a piece of fabric.

“I am just a simple zebra trying to find my place in this land of endless sand. I found my love, I found my dance and heart. I have found what I have been seeking. I shall become the farseer and do what I can to get other tribes to join us in this fight.”

After getting off the boat she heads to the inn and Rex and her share a deep kiss showing their love for one another. It’s been a while since these lovers have seen each other and she goes back to standing behind the desk to watch the souls come in and go out of the inn.

The order of Mimic waits in a line waiting for their cart to be checked out. The order has been planned for this for so long. But they worry that the hero herself will come to her senses before they get inside the research station. So a unicorn mare strokes the head of the poor little bug and uses a spell to make her sleep longer and when the spell is cast the poor creature goes back to her brain-dead state.

The line finally moves and their cart is the last while they look at each other knowing that they wouldn’t be able to do this if the order wasn’t trusted. It was very much hated like it was during the old world.

“I am a water hunter I shall always be a water hunter. I can not forsake my tribe or those that came before me no matter how much I want to. I found my home, I found my friends and now I am back where I belong for now. I have sought all I wished to see.”

She finally gets back to the island goes into her home and embraces her half-camel pony children and her camel husband as they all relax she goes to make them dinner since she feels that is the only thing she can do to keep her mind off what is going on.

“I am a simple.. mech. That has been welcomed in the mountain that I have forsaken so long ago. They welcome me even though I blew them up in the name of freedom in the past. I feel my forgotten soul and forgotten heart slowly shatter from the pain of what I remember. Someday I may request a new body and I know full well I will never get that wish. Since my brain is in this juice for so long, it has made it grow too big for a normal body.”

Hawk finally makes it to Mount Arise, her new home away from home. She gives those that greet her a warm robotic chitter she goes into the workshop of her lover and he doesn’t even say a word he looks at her grabbing a large set of metal and armor. He starts to work on her fusing heavy metal and more guns to her to be ready for the battle ahead.

“I am a siege breaker. Just one meant for the front lines. I will never be a normal creature. I will always be a large brute. But for those I found love and we shall always rise.”

He walks past the stadium and waves to his team.

“WE DIG IT!!”

They all yell at him and he yells back. He finds himself not long in front of the bar his mates run. He stares at the cybernetics that now makes him what he is. He finally gets to The Sexy mare to be with his lovers. He stands outside to sing the last few words.

“I am home and I am a father now. I shall fight for my brood whatever it takes. I shall be there for everyone and make sure that life will never end for them.”

He finally goes inside to see his two lovers Savannah and the female silverfish magic eater Isiliva. When he goes in they see what has become of him over time and they both rush from the bar staring at them but he saids no words to them pulling them into a hug and the two just embrace the large bug.

The final hero finally sings the last words.

“We will meet again, my friends. We shall meet again when the Storm is right. When our blood flows when our song becomes one again. I Cranberry or..”

She puts her suit back on the healer, turns the visor on, and sighs not wishing to be in this suit again but it’s the only way to protect her family. When they land they place it in the hospital where it was meant to be from what she was told. She walks out on the roof and feels happy to be home again for the time being.

“I am Cranberry the healer.”

The next sing is Dunewalker.

“I am Dunewalker, the traitor of my kind.”

Roll sings

“I am the siege breaker. I shall always be the first in line to fight.”

Inyanga sings

“I am the farseer I can see the future of what is to come. I may not always see the true future of what is to come but I will finally see the end of it. I have become the known and I have seen the unknown but that is all that is time to be.”

The next soul to sing is the Water hunter.

“In the words of the Water hunters. Pugnabimus in nomine lunae et canticum cordis nostri. Numquam finem nos fieri sinemus et cum cantico nostro semper finiemus in cordibus nostris.”

She sings in her own words feeling her heart sore from the song and feeling her heartbeat louder. Just from those words alone.

Hawk sings.

“I am but a machine made for death for a war that is long said over. I will always be ready for the next war as the war will be ready for me. I will walk that fine line of a killer to murder there is no way I can sing my heart so I will sing with my brain. My thoughts are my way of seeing. If I do have a soul still it is lost within this shell of metal but I shall always endure.”

The final one to sing is Tick Tock

Tock is in the meeting room yelling and arguing with the leaders and telling them what will happen if they don’t join the fight. She doesn’t even let up while she sings it in song. She knows full well the citizens of hope are tired of staying and not fighting.

“We must fight, we must never let them think we have lost. We must let go of this town’s xenophobic nature we must act we must do it now before another gets the ideas of the Storm King and tries to cause another civil war in this town. Look at the graves within these halls of those who died, we must act!!”

The leaders this time couldn’t argue and they hit the gavel and then finally the heroes sing together even if they aren’t together they feel their hearts connecting and all they can do is do what they feel they have to do.

“We have found the magic of friendship again in our hearts. We will never forsake it for we will make it ours again even while we are on our own again. It’s time to never pass up this idea of the love we have for each other.”

Finally, the order of Mimic is allowed into the city and they bring the cart up to the research station standing there is Beezen, one of the former judges of the stars waiting to join the hero’s journey to where she must go.

“We brought…”

Cranberry sings.

“Our hearts..”

Dunewalker adds.

“Back together.”

Water Spout adds.

“So we can finally dance.”

Hawk sings.

“It is time to rise.”

Tick Tock sings.

“It is time to see and foresee the future.”

Inyanga sings.

“It’s time for peace and time to love those that come before us so we all can be one together in the great world of peace and friendship.”

Roll adds.

They all sing at once.

“We finally brought the peace of friendship back into our hearts. So we can dance and sing together and we finally will never allow ourselves to ever break apart again even if we have become lost within.”

Cranberry sings the last verse.

“ I have finally found myself...It is time. For hope and time to rise. It is time. For the great day to seek.”

The door of the research center opens up and Beezen carries the body of Ruby inside the research station with the unicorn that got her friends back together when the door closes the music ends and when the door latches it ends and the mind of the bug finally wakes.

_________________
The eyes of the hero.

My vision is fuzzy and dark. I don’t remember much. When my eyes finally focus I stare at Beezen, the one I killed with the blade of Spitfire I try to move but I groan feeling my body in such pain. I am then held down by a unicorn. I feel a needle go into my side and feel the pain slowly subside as I get onto my legs noticing I still need the cybernetic legs while I see another pony working on a suit for me like my old one.

“I thought… You were.”

Beezen smiles.

“Dead? No, it was just a spell to make you think that. So you would fall and finally see the pain you have been causing. It worked too well. I believe I wasn’t expecting you to get shot like that. It’s been three years. An alliance has been formed and resistance is forming. But the alliance is not here to help just yet. They’re here to save face and make you out to be the villain and you know what will happen after the end of this battle.”

I groan a bit trying to get on my legs but my new body makes it harder. Then it finally struck me I have been gone for three years. I look around and finally understand where I am. I am in the research station that was given to us as a home.

“Has it..really been that long?’

Beezen sighs.

“Yes but it’s not just me and my friend here. We felt you would need help getting better so we brought someone from peace rock to help you through all this.”

Peace rock and I could sense the scent. My cheeks burn red with the scent. I look up and see him, the male warrior magic eater that I fell in love with. Why is his scent so intoxicating? I have no idea, I just feel that my heart is beating.

“Scaled wing.”

The words come from my buggy mouth slowly. I try standing up but all he does is kiss me deeply, my cheeks burning red like fire. I closed my eyes and I didn’t notice Beezen and the mare leaving the room, closing the door, and taking the suit of armor to work on it while I was with my mate. I softly break the kiss staring at the male that I wish to give myself to.

“Wh..what happened to waiting till the battle ends?”

Scaled wing chuckles.

“You and I both know if I don’t take you now I will never plant my brood inside you. So they’re going to allow me to have you for a few hours. I am going to give you a brood Ruby when you return I will claim you as my queen."

My cheeks burn brightly with the fact I would be considered his queen, the brood mother of our children, and maybe even a queen someday. I am very happy for this to happen. I feel my defense finally be let down as I let off the scent that allows him to know that I am ready. Even though I am out of the cocoon if we wait it may be too long before we can even mate again.

“I know it’s too soon but you will not have to do any of the work my dear. You just allow me to enjoy you.”

I shift in position allowing him to do what comes naturally for our kind. Venom drops from his mandibles. He forces them around my neck and forces me up so he can get into me easier. I don’t even fight back. If a female of our species fights back it means they don’t want it or isn’t ready for it.

A deep buzzing hum comes from him. His wings spread out and flapped to the single that he is going to take me for his own. In the position he takes, I feel him shove a strange hard thorn deep inside my egg-laying chamber. I gasp in deep pleasure feeling my body accept it. I scream in a buzz feeling each movement of his hips going back and forth inside me.

I didn’t say a word as he used every muscle in his magic eater body to force that thorn deeper inside me. I gasp as I feel him destroy the virgin part of what makes a magic eater a queen. He breaks that defense; it's not hard when one wishes to be taken like this.

Our bodies sweat pure magic while the magic drips to the floor below. It adds to the smell I leave behind from each movement he makes. I feel the heat from the friction that he adds to me. While I can’t even move. I feel the pleasure building to the point I want to scream. Just I don’t have the power to do so.

He digs the mandibles into my neck and I feel venom dripping from my neck. He has fully claimed me and no other magic eater will ever want to be with them with his scent all over me and it’s only smelled and seen by those of my kind. With one fast movement he buzzes loudly and I feel his thorn twitch and pure magic releases from the tip of the thorn.

I gasp deeply feeling the force of pure magic enter my egg-making chamber and I feel myself slowly pass out. With the trauma of the mating and hatching from the cocoon I fall to the floor and I feel him pull out after he is done.

“I love you, Ruby. But you and I both know after this is all said and done you know what will happen. I must now get back to Peace rock and get the others ready for the battle ahead.”

I understood what he meant and as soon as he left I passed out from the pleasure allowing the magic seed to fill me with the next brood to come inside me. I then notice just from the feeling he did not dig his mandibles into me. He just filled me with his brood. I start to wonder if he did claim me. Even though my brain is too dead from the cacoon and the mating to even think about it.

_____________
Three hours later

I woke up after all that and finally was able to use my body. Thankfully my kind doesn’t leave much of a mess after mating. I stood on my legs that didn’t get torn off like the ones from the rock ball game. I turn my head and look at Beezen. He is holding a new suit for me and holding my crossbow, and the machine gun I had with me.

“I am sorry I couldn’t get the other weapons. The pistol of yours that the Storm king used on you. Is in his chambers on project Rainfall. He has many items that he has accumulated over the last three years. He hasn’t fully gone tyrant yet he has kept his promises so has Wheel Tread. They have brought water and food to those that need it. But many still do their best to resist but they have been asked to wait till the time is right to strike. Get their ponies or whatever creature in power or other leadership and when the hero returns strike.”

I didn’t know what he meant but the armor I have a feeling I won’t be coming out of that at all. He sets it down and I place it on looking at the helm. It's just like my old one. But there is no name on it yet.

“How come there is no name on this?”

Beezen sighs looking away and standing up. He opens the skylight. It looks like the storm spell has a time it gets weak while the sun beats down and the sun hits my armor. When I put the helm on it has the same hud and it saids charging will be done in a few minutes.

“Your judgment was harsh. You have a journey you need to do before you’re even allowed to give yourself a new hero name. I may not be a judge of the stars anymore Ruby. But I will be with you on your journey the entire way. To make sure you don’t fall again you fell when you lost the will too after you tried to kill me.”

I took a deep breath buzzing the air out of my mouth. He is correct. I did try to kill him. I thought I did kill him and I felt my soul leave my body as I fell so hard that I would never recover. I am surprised I even did recover.

“So what do I need to do then?”

Beezen drops a bunch of pages he has been writing. I look at them each one I see is the Queen of the Hippogriffs who hasn’t been seen since she left for Dream valley.

“So she did it then. She told me she would and that she knew how to get there.”

Beezen nods.

“The issue is that she only told the leaders of Abyssinia and the city of Upholi. They call it Ornithia we know nothing about the place. It's just a problem they refuse to go into. I don't blame them we are outsiders after all. So we won't fully know till we get there."

Unless they get help? So I am going to be finding a way to Dream Valley but I need to help these two cities and maybe make some allies as well. I sigh looking away very unsure what to think of all this. I don’t know if I have a right to do this.

“How.. are we going to get there?”

Beezen smirks.

“I called for help.”

The door opens and a dragon walks into the room. I look at her. I have never seen this dragon before.

“So you’re the creature my wife adopted?”

Wife, I took off my helm staring at the dragon.

“Ruby Gem. She has been Cranberries' wife for three years now.”

Gem folds her arms. I can tell she doesn’t approve of me at all. I have a feeling she never will. She comes over to me grabbing my head looks me over and stares at every part of my body she snorts laughing.

“This is the bug that the Storm King is so scared of? Hmm, you will be sticking with me for a year. Since Beezen and I are your captains your generals keep you in fucking line to make sure you don’t do what you did ever again.”

Beezen laughs.

“Have you told your wife Gem what you will be doing?”

Gem nods.

“I haven’t told her that I will be making sure that I would be keeping my adoptive daughter in line. So yes I am your mother now like Cranberry you will not argue with me. You will not back talk to me, you will not make me look back, understand?”

I tried to say something but I couldn't. I took a deep breath and sigh as I knew that if I tried she would just slap me. I look at Beezen and he sighs, stroking his head. I am sure he is not happy to be going back to Dream Valley. I am sure he will tell me why.

“But my question. Why will it take us a year to find Dream valley?”

Beezen shrugs his shoulders.

“It could take a year to get there and a year to get back for all we know. We will be stocking up on a two-year supply of food and any supplies we need.”

A year or two away from this land. I have a feeling this is what I am going to need. I even think it’s going to take months to help each city anyway and then find what we are after in Dream Valley. I don’t even know what we are after.

“What are we after in Dream Valley?”

Beezen sighs, shaking his head.

“We are going to search if any creatures of the land are still alive after me and the other judges went in and destroyed everything. We are even going to search for the rainbow of light. One of the greatest weapons that the ponies of old were given so long ago.”

My armor is finally charged. I stand up my cybernetic arms attached to the armor now. I follow the two of them outside of the research station and floating above us is an airship. I can see the name of it. ‘The Bell of Freedom.’

We get into a strange little jet-like ship and we fly into the airship. I fly up quickly to the deck and look out the window to see the desert go by. I worry about my friends. I have no idea what is going to happen. But knowing my species I am going to be laying my brood in this ship.

“Everyone get ready for the journey ahead. I hope you have said goodbye to your husband and wife. For we will be on our own maybe for the next two years. Say goodbye to the desert and many other things. I worry that it might change drastically before we return. But we can’t allow that to stop us now.”

I shift a bit worried about what is going to be ahead. We go through the storm and I see an island and look on the roof we go over to a strange pony dressed in a metal armored suit waving her hoof goodbye. I watch mount Erise leave from view and we head right to our first destination the peaceful or formerly peaceful kingdom of Abinsinya

I turn my head to Beezen. He leads me to what will be my home in the next year to two years. I take off my armor to relax and look around. It’s a simple room with a bed, a workbench, and just enough food to get me by. Even though I normally eat pure magic.

“Relax my dear friend. When you have rested we will start your training. Getting to this kingdom will take a week. You and I will be working together for that week. We will be training. I will even be teaching you to make some new weapons for yourself. But for now, I am sorry that you didn’t get a chance to say goodbye. I wish I could consider Scaled wing your mate but you and I both know he is not."

I was confused by those words. Maybe it's for the best I didn't fully understand what is going on. He did mate with me and told me he loved me that is good? At least I thought it was now I doubt it in my heart. Maybe he never did and he just did what he did to spread his brood in me. I will ignore these feelings, for now, it's time to be happy. Maybe it was a slip of the tongue yes that's it.

"Beezen do you forgive me for what I did to you?"

Before he closes the door he smiles. Turning to look at me. I could tell from that smile on his face he already had forgiven. I don’t see why he shouldn’t have. He closes the door. Before I close my eyes I hear a voice.

“It’s good to see you again Ruby.”

I lift my head to look at the door. It’s the same door that I met before I killed Beezen. He brought him back to life.

“You and I will be talking for a long time, my friend. Also, I forgive you for what you did to Beezen. You had your reasons. You will be seeing a lot of us here. I hope you’re ready for we will be helping you with your training.”

A smile forms on my face. I lay my head down on the pillow. The old door hums to help me sleep. I close my eyes. I feel myself drifting away to dream maybe of what happened to me during the years I was gone. I am unsure but for now, It’s to rest.

Footnote: level up

Perk got old bad perk removed: The hero returns: The hero has risen back from the cocoon you’re still thought to be dead. You feel it's best to stay that way. You can no longer feel your friends with you. But you know they love you so much.

Next Chapter: Chapter: Thirty-Seven: A rough journey. Estimated time remaining: 24 Hours, 26 Minutes