There are old stories in the land of Dream Valley of creatures known as witches. These witches are evil beings that look like a race of insanity. Now they’re just called witches. Three of them caused many problems for the ponies of Dream Valley. They were called the witches from the volcano of gloom. Their names are Hyeda, Reeka, and Draggle; the stories about them have been told as legends to the ponies of Dream Valley. The ones that released the fabled smooze. There are times when you can hear the screams of the ponies of old. I wish we could have done more for them. But I can only write this last letter to you. We have failed as Princess of Dream Valley. I am sorry my Queen the heart of Dream valleys magic has been destroyed.

Written to Majesty from Princess Tiffany of the princess ponies of Dream Valley protectors of the magic of Dream Valley

_______________________
Cocooned dreams

I have my many arms up in the air. The Storm King himself lifts my pistol aiming right at me. I couldn’t move and I looked over at my friends smiling weakly at them. I brought them to this and they will now watch as their friend falls apart. I had no chance to defend myself. While he aims at me I am led to the edge of the airship. I swear I heard screams of my name as the Storm King fires right into my head.

I fall off the edge of the airship. While I fall I see that my friends are sent everywhere while my body shuts down and I am fully cocooned and I am placed in a heavy stasis of my body and brain. I don’t know how long it’s been since I found myself in a pure white room. I see some creature in a strange white robe.

I walk over to the creature in the robe and reach out to grab the strange claw. Coming out of the light is a strange creature.

“Hello, Ruby. I am god and you're dead.”

I just stare at the strange creature tilting my head. What in the world did he mean by god? What is a god anyway? I never heard the word god before so that is new to me. I shrug my shoulders and turn to look for a way out.

“Hey wait.. are.t you going to say No Q I am not a god and let me back home?”

I turn back at the creature.

“I am sorry but who is Q? What is god? and why are you in that cloak and why did it look like you slept with a ton of creatures and you’re a puzzle of yourself?”

The creature shook his head.

“I guess I expected too much. I am Discord many believe me dead. Of course, I could be dead and this is just a way for your brain to handle the fact that you’re either dead or in a coma. Maybe I am dreaming and you’re the dream who knows.”

I just stare at the creature like it’s crazy.

“Look I don’t know what you’re trying to do. But you say I am either dead or in a coma. Now, what is the point of you being here? Are you going to try to tell me there was a better way to live my life? That I could have done a better job at my choices?”

Discord facepalms hard with his claws. I think I am bothering him with my stupid questions.

“You know you’re taking the fun out of this.”

I smirk.

“I am sorry but I have been through hell. I have been mind-controlled as well. I have killed and done so much. I am not sure I am willing to deal with it. Oh if I went down this path I could have done something different. I am told your path always leads down the same road no matter what.”

Discord sighs.

“Okay how about this then. We go through your life and what you could have changed. Would that work best for you?”

I quickly nod.

“Yes.”

Discord snaps his claws suddenly a bunch of wooden doors comes flying toward us. I shake my head at the sudden stop of the doors. That felt odd. . made my stomach lurch for just a moment.

“Don’t do that again please.”

Discord opens the door looking inside. He quickly shuts the door looking down at me and smiling.

“Wrong door.”

He goes to the other door. I open the door he looked in and I see some strange creature in a red suit and another in a white robe. They turn to look at me before the door is closed. All I could see is that one of them is bald and one of them has pure black hair on his head.

“Here is your life.”

He opens a door and the two of us go inside. It was the day the queen laid my egg and the others of my brood. Majesty stood there watching all this as the queen rested after laying so many eggs in her brood nest.

“Do you believe this batch will be stronger than your last for my guards my dear?’

The queen weakly up with a weak smile on her face.

“May I ask that you leave me just one of them? I want to at least raise one this time. Allow me to choose the weakest of them all.”

Majesty nods, waiting for my mother, my queen to choose the egg. She picks the smallest of them, the weakest of them. Me. I was weak. I was smaller than the other eggs. I am sure if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t have lived through the night.

“Protect that little one, make him or her the power of your brood. Make sure you raise them so they know right and wrong. Oh, and please don’t tell them about that silly legend. I don’t believe in legends even if I am old enough to remember the creation of that legend. I doubt it will come true if it does. I am sorry for what will happen.”

Majesty lifts the other eggs carrying them off.

“So you were the weakest of your brothers and sisters. If she didn’t choose you then you wouldn’t be here. You’re a runt the weaker of your own. But you became a leader and now here..”

He was about to say hero when he saw the look on my face. He stopped with the world. I am no hero, I will never be one. Even if Beezen tells me I am a hero I am meant to be. I know full well I will never be a good hero.

“I am no hero. I am never going to be the hero that many feel I should be. Look what it got me to look at what happened to me.”

Discord didn’t say a word but I was woken up from my dream. I guess I was redreaming what happened to me when I cocooned and spent the last three years inside an egg.

_____________

The waking world.

My vision was coming as I finally was waking up.

“Oh, Ruby time to wake up it’s me your somepony.”

I open my eyes fully and Melody is above me and in a position of being on top of me. What in the world happened last night? I grunt unable to move because the heavy pony is on me. I move out from under her feeling sore.

“Oh, what is going on Melody?”

Melody giggles.

“Oh, trying to wake you up. You talk in your sleep you know. But the scouts are back and Rassie wants you, me, and Beezen to come to the throne room.”

I get off the bed to get my armor, thankfully my weapons stay attached to it. I want to at least get away from Melody before she asks what I was dreaming about. But.. if someday she is going to be my wife. I am going to have to be open to her.

“Ruby.. before we go. What was that dream about?”

I stop doing what I'm doing. I at least leave the helm off and shift flapping my wings. I hover in the air not too far from her face.

“Melody, I don’t want to tell you what I have been through.”

Melody smiles pulling me down with her wings so I am closer to her. All I could see was nothing but deep love and we barely knew each other. If I am going to be spending a year with her in a flying boat. I need to tell her the truth, everything I need to empty my heart to her.

“Did he need us now or can it wait?”

Melody shrugs her shoulders. Heading to the door she opens up and Beezen is out there talking to a guard.

“Excuse me Beezen, do they need us now or can they wait?”

Beezen looks to the guard. The guard turns his head to speak to Melody.

“Whatever they’re doing out there. It seems it will get worse when you go out there. They will start rushing and the spell might start causing problems. Right now we have a window and that window is from what a spy told us 60 to 70 hours before there is no return. From what they said, rushing a spell like this could cause a backfire that could destroy the entire city.”

Beezen shudders.

“That sounds like a powerful summoning spell. Some of those spells can take weeks to cast. If they’re rushing then it could cause more problems. Do you know how long they have been casting this?”

The guard thinks for a moment.

“Well, it took a year to get back the palace, and from what a few deprogrammed cultists of the pact told us. They have been gathering the materials for this since 13 years ago. They used the Enclave war that happened to get things they needed. So yeah I am sure they’re willing to wait another year if they have to.”

Beezen sighs.

“Can you tell the king they may be longer than expected? I don't understand why?”

I come to the door and hover over Melody’s shoulder. I may be a warrior now and bigger than I used to be. But the pony is still much larger than I am.

“If I am going to spend the rest of my life with this mare. I need to tell her everything, Beezen.”

Beezen shifts a bit, staring at me. A weak smile formed on his face. He knows what I mean and it hurts him to think about it. I will go into almost killed him and when I thought I killed him and he used the illusion magic on me.

“Forgive me Miss Ruby if I don’t understand this. Because same-sex couples are still very new to my kind. We had to spend most of our lives not being picky and getting our numbers back up after what happened. The attack was close to almost wiping us fully out. Now I am sure there were more of us outside of this land. But still, you can understand.”

I nodded it’s rare for my species to even have same-sex couplings. It slowly became normal after Majesty finally was beaten. Because she wanted us to breed and breed and breed. I was one of the lucky ones. I did have one brood before that died thanks to Star Shooter. I am not going to hold that to her. This brood I will hold from the one I thought loved me. I am sure he does but he can’t show it. I stroke my stomach knowing what is in me. Just I won’t be able to give it back to him now.

“Oh don’t worry I understand. Majesty our creator we outlived our creator now. Forced many of us to breed and breed and breed. I only had one brood and the hero that freed us from the island prison. Killed every single one of my older broods I gave birth to. I wasn’t even a queen and normally queens give birth. I only gave birth to about ten eggs. Since I was a worker of my kind that is normal. Now that I am a warrior I am going to be able to lay more than I was able to. Just I won’t be able to see them grow up. If the leadership of that desert has anything to say about it.”

I leave the doorway to sit on the bed sighing. Melody nods to them, closing the door and sitting right beside me. She holds me close to her body. To feel her warmth keeps me moving and keeps me alive.

“Now please Ruby tell me what you can, we can't wait too long. This cultist could get desperate for all we know.”

I sigh deeply

“Since I know I am slowly falling deeply in love with you Melody. You give me wonders and pleasure I have never felt before. You have even helped me through times of great issues. Like when I have a nightmare of what I have done.”

Melody smiles.

“Ruby-like I told you when we met. I fell for you after I was told about you. Then when I saw you just sitting and listening to those creations that Beezen brought to life I couldn’t help but love you. You’re a decent kind gentle creature that doesn’t deserve the treatment you got.”

I don’t deserve the treatment I got? I wish I could agree with her. I did some pretty nasty things. At least I stopped myself from murdering little ones. I am sure when or if I get forced into a court case. They will say I did harm children.

“I was dreaming about what happened to me during my time in the cocoon. I met some strange creature that called himself Discord. He told me that he’s dead or moved on to some other universe.”

From the look on Melody's face, this Discord creature used to be a large problem.

“Don’t worry he didn’t do anything bad to me he was. Just showing my life. You see Melody I am a runt of my kind. I was born one of the weakest. I was weakest to the point that my queen raised me all on her own. Majesty always comes in to gather up all the brood eggs leaving at least one or two with our mother. I was the lucky one.”

Melody doesn’t say a word. All I feel is her wings stroking along my back and wings. It felt strange but I felt safer around her. I look over at her as she just gives me a gentle sweet smile. That smile makes my pink cheeks burn brightly.

“I woke up before I could remember the entire story of my life. I don’t remember anything about the last three years locked up in that cocoon. It seems the only way to remember any of it is to be asleep and let my mind wander to it.”

Melody tilts her head flapping into the air and staring right into my eyes. I crane my neck just a bit to stare into her eyes.

“You don’t remember anything?”

It’s confusing that I don’t. One would think this Discord would want someone to remember their past even if they wake up from being in a coma for like three years. I think why I was gone for so long was because of being shot in the head.

“Well since I plan on marrying you and becoming your wife. But we should be getting going my dear Ruby.”

Melody held my face with her wings. I stare deeply into her eyes. All I could do was blush. My cheeks burn deep red staring into her eyes. She pulls me into a deep kiss and we hear the door open up.

“Ahem.”

We break the kiss looking over to Beezen.

“It’s time for the meeting with the king. Unless you two want to stop and just have sex?”

Beezen laughs.

“I will be right there just let me get my armor and weapons. Get going my dear magic eater.”

I put my helmet on. Before I fully leave I feel a wing smack my buggy ass. I turn back to Melody and she giggles oh thankfully I have the helm on. My face is so bright red in my helm. When Beezen and I leave the room he looks to make sure I got all my weapons.

“Alright, you got everything. Now Ruby I want to warn you. There are things you’re going to learn about Rassie you will not care for. Things that might change your mind about helping him. Even if you feel how he runs his kingdom is evil. It is your choice to either fight for him or just leave us be and let us run the kingdom as we see fit.”

I didn’t know what to think of what he just led. He leads me through the halls till we get to a door leading to a balcony. He leads me out and points down to the ground below. Below I see the guards beating many broken citizens.

“Rassie may be a king. But he is nothing like those before him. He has killed his people but. Something he is doing is not evil. It’s a way to survive. Ruby, what you don’t get about this world? Is that to do some good you need to do some evil? This type of evil though is not always the wisest but they’re a dying race.”

I look at the scene below. I am not a stranger to this type of living. It was very normal for the island. The slums you would see worse. I just shake my head. This is normal. I didn’t have the heart to tell Beezen but I have to.

“Beeze this was what it was like on the island. It got to the point I became part of that group down there. I may not respect what Rassie is doing. But I can’t condemn him. It would mean condemning myself for doing the same thing. I wish I could take what I did back but I can’t. I am sorry Beezen.”

Beezen just smiles patting my helmed head.

“You seem to understand the hardships of this world. Granted in Equestria sunshine and rainbows happened. Just that didn’t affect the entire world. Most seem to forget the world is not Equestria. Just some of these wars will harm the world entirely.”

He is correct when I hear stories of how peaceful it has become in the land of Equestria. I wonder if folks forget that Equestria is not the whole world. A guard comes onto the balcony looking down at what we are looking at. She sighs looking down at me.

“I am sorry you have to see this. Our kind used to be great people. But the bomb made us break and the king is trying very hard. Just some guards he can’t control. Because they feel they can steal and harm in the king’s name.”

Looking down at the guards below. I see a large black cat in the captain's armor. The guards get in line and they look like they stop beating the citizens. She speaks loudly enough that I can even hear.

“I will learn sooner or later who are the ones stealing in the name of our king. When I find them I will take away your weapons and armor. Then allow the ones you have beaten to beat you and then toss you out into the monster-controlled city.”

I look up to the guard beside Beezen and me.

“Monster-controlled city?”

The guard sighs, stroking her head.

“A lot of old creatures from the outside of the land. Made their homes in the city. A lot of them got mutated by the radiation of the bombs that went off here. Some of them have been corrupted by the cultists but the cultists don’t control them. They can’t control them and the cultists are barely surviving just as we are.”

I wish I could learn more.

“I”

The guard lifts her hand to silence me.

“The scouts and the king will explain what you face. Just don’t wait any longer the creatures in the city are massing they sense something bad is about to happen. So please head to the king and don’t just listen to one guard.”

I quickly nod Beezen leads me back inside the castle. I look back at the guard who just stares down at the courtyard below. While I am led to the throne room. Melody finally comes beside us in her heavy armor barding. She has strange energy rifles in some contraption used for her mouth. I look to her side seeing her cutie mark a musical note with a needle. Then seeing her doctor’s bag on her side. What is odd to me is that it's the first time I have ever seen the butterfly symbol.

We get to the throne room door. The door looks new and like it was added not only recently. A lot of this palace looks like it’s barely even standing in some areas. I am sure years without anyone taking care of it for those years and now just starting to care for it again.

Beezen knocks on the door. The door slowly opens up, and the old hinges groan heavily rusted and having a hard time opening. The left door falls and the guard quickly moves away and the door falls with a heavy thud. One of the guards though is not so lucky she gets her legs smashed under the door screaming. Melody quickly rushes into action helping the others pull the guard out from under the door.

“Go listen to the king, you can fill me in on the details later.”

Melody with the help of some guards carries the broken guard to what is being used as a hospital. Beezen and I fully go inside and the king is looking out a broken window. Rassie doesn’t even turn to look at me.

“Ruby, my people are not only broken. Sometimes you have to do evil to survive. These are of my race that survived the monsters and the cultist and the others want to come back. But it will take a lot to rebuild and make this like an old splendor. I started doing this to honor my grandfather. Who put it in my head to get back to our old home? He died during the assault to get the palace back. We made a new kingdom many miles from here. But.. So many want the old land back. Why am I here..”

Rassie turns to look at me. He sees me in my new armor and doesn’t see the buzzer name. All he would see now is the markless helm. That has no name. I am just a no-one and will always be a no-one for now.

“Now to explain what you will be facing down in there.”

He claps his paws and the scouts bring in an old screen. I am guessing they recorded what I would find down there. The scout held a strange device. I glance at it. I have seen these before on the island. They normally record but I haven’t seen them outside of the island before. I glance fully at the camera more. It saids on the side. ‘Abyssinia news station.’ Ah, I have heard of these as well. Old stations helped many keep up with the news itself.

“Now I wish I could say you will have a grand time there. But these monsters you will be facing aren’t like the creatures from Equestria or your island. These creatures have something most don’t. They can talk, they can think hard for themselves and they have thriving communities. But they don’t trust each other.”

The cam turns on with it being pointed to the screen. They show the two creatures he was talking about. On the left are lizard creatures that look like they haven’t only mutated by having a hook claw on their foot. They wear heavy armor and hold weapons.

“These are called Ingwegwe. They used to be brainless creatures that you would find in the forest near our kingdom. After the bomb though they heavily mutated and learned how to make communities. They won’t harm you unless you get on their land. Their land is the old slums.”

Rassie sighs sitting on his throne allowing his scouts to continue. The next race looks like turtles. I have seen a race like them back on the island. But these are different ones. They have large heavy weapons and they seem to be wise but slow.

“These are the Ufudu. Their home is located in our work district. The rest of the creatures don’t have the brainpower and they normally either tame them or kill them. Manticores and so on you would normally see in Equestria. These two don’t trust each other. But they’re willing to talk to someone who is not our species. If you could get them to work together they will help you.”

The cam then shifts to the cult.

“This is a small version of the pact. But these poor cultists are created by the ones that got left behind. They have taken up the main buildings in each area. They have too many numbers in each area. The market place in the middle of the city. They have one of the bigger buildings in the slums and the worker area. They were pushed into each area and we had no way to get to them.”

The cam turns off and they take away the projector screen.

“I feel the only way you will be able to take care of all this. Is to ally with those two groups. They don’t trust my kind at all. They will never trust any of the royal family. Because of what my family did to their ancestors years ago.”

Beezen looks down at me and then back up to Rassie.

“I will help with that. I doubt it will be that simple. We would have to find a way to meet the leaders of both factions. Do you know the best way we could do that?”

Rassie nods.

“Today is a deal both sides made. It’s called the day of peace and it’s a day they have every year. If you wish to join it. You will have to say you’re here not in my name. But in the name of a hero or the name of a creature that wishes to help them. Just don’t say you came from the palace.”

I take my helm off sighing.

“Listen Rassie I don’t trust you I don’t trust you as a king. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t take you down and toss you to all groups as a token of peace?”

Rassie looks at me and he smiles weakly.

“If you did, I wouldn't blame you. But you wouldn’t have many left to defend you. When those that wish to make a scapegoat out of you do so. So I could defend you but I doubt I would save you. I may not be the best king but as you can tell. I am not Majesty.”

Beezen shakes his head, slapping my head hard.

“Ruby, that is not a hero. A hero doesn’t tell a king trying to help his race to survive that they’re a threat. He is doing his best for what he is given. You were a hero for not very long and you act above the others. At least you seem to but with how Rassie treated you I don’t blame you. But still, that is why I am here to keep you on the right path.”

I stroke my head, sighing he is right. I put my helmet back out heading back out of the door. I turn back to look at Rassie. The poor guy looks very stressed. I wish I could do more to help him. I doubt I will ever see him again after I am done helping him.

Melody finally comes back after helping the poor guard. A guard is leading us to the outside of the walled-off palace. Looking over to the heavily damaged door that is keeping the palace protected from the outside.

“So we are going to try to ally with these two groups? Are you sure this is a wise idea?”

Beezen didn’t say a word he wanted me to say whatever was on my mind. Before we even go out of the door. The doctor that helped Melody with the broken-legged guard is waiting.

“Before you go out I need you to understand this. In this place, you will find many old food items, water bottles, and whatever else. To protect you from the radiation you will get. I need to give you a shot.”

Melody allows the shot and he shoves it into her ass. Oh, that looks painful, and then for Beezen, in his left arm.

“Ruby your turn.”

I backed away shaking my head.

“It won’t affect me like the others. If this is magic radiation it will supercharge my magic core. Now if I stick around it too long. I could gain dependence on it. I know some would say the magic ley lines aren’t the same as the islands. But even so, they might be close to the same. So just give me the needle and I will inject myself if I need it.”

The doctor nods, opening my bags to put the shot in there. He then places a bunch of clean water and food. On my visor, it comes up with an inventory list of what I have. I don’t remember what I had in my old bags. I make sure to look through everything. The armor is full of healing potions. I have bandages and ammo bolts for the crossbow. Looking further through the inventory spell. I see my skinning knife just in case I need it.

“Open the door for them.”

The doctor calls the guards up on the wall working the door. The door opens slowly groaning. There is another hall leading to a broken door that leads outside. The three of us finally go out of the door and it’s closed behind us.

_____________

The city of Abinsinnya.

“How do you plan on getting these creatures to sit with you, Ruby?”

It took us a while to get out of the hall through the broken gate door. We are now in the broken ruins. Many buildings of this old city are barely still standing. There are signs for each direction. The markets. The worker district and the red light slums. Around us are many old bones and former shadows from the bomb.

“I am not sure about that Melody. I am guessing if I go to each one alone and ask them to meet with me. I would say ``meet with me in a neutral part of the city.”

I turn to look at Beezen.

“What do you think?”

Beezen looks around taking a deep breath.

“Hmm give me one second.”

Beezen picks up a very old broken chair that was being used to try to break into the gate. He magically forms his magic paint and covers the chair in the paint. The paint forms back together. Eyes form on the chair seat looking around like it recently came back to life.

“I.. why would you bring me back?”

Beezen chuckles.

“I did it mostly because I felt you deserve a second chance. Now my question to you is, do you know any place for a good neutral conversation?’

The chair looks around and lifts one of its legs pointing to a large restaurant. The door and the windows are boarded up. So we would have to remove all that.

“Okay, Melody come with me. I think it might be best if Ruby goes alone. They might have an issue with ponies or my race trolls. If they ever met them.”

I could tell Melody is about to argue with Beezen. I take my helmet off reaching over with my buggy finger and stroking her cheek.

“Please Melody go with him.”

Melody looks at me and puts her wings on my face to give me a deep kiss.

“Please don’t get hurt Ruby.”

A smirk forms on my face.

“I can’t promise anything. But if I do get hurt I got the best doctor to help me.”

I wink at her putting my helm back on. Heading towards the worker district. I know there would be a checkpoint so I can go talk to the leadership of the Ufudu. I flap my wings to get to the checkpoint faster. I don’t know what their checkpoint looks like and thanks to me watching everywhere else. I get smacked in the face by a shovel again.

I fall from the sky from whatever hits me I groan. Looking up through a cracked visor. An armor alert comes up saying ‘repairing esteemed time for full repair six hours.’ I look up at what hit me and hovering over me are the turtle-like creatures.

“Um. I come in peace?”

They took at each other then the shovel smashes into me knocking me out. I woke up like thirty minutes later in the main leader’s room. My armor is removed so are the weapons I look around but I am chained in the middle of the room. A heavy light turns on sitting on a large chair is what I guess is the leader. His face is painted red, he has a large box shell and he stands up leaning on a cane.

“So let me get this right. You wish to meet with us. But we saw you come out of the palace doors. Yes, we have been watching you. Now tell me why shouldn’t we kill you right here and now hmm?”

I chuckle

“I have been dead before, just recently hatched. I am in a bad freaking mood because I am trying to fucking ask you to a meeting with the other damn race. So we can save the fucking world. Are you that dumb?!”

The leader is taken aback by my hostility.

“I come to talk to you about fucking peace and you just have your minions smack me with a shovel!! I mean who does that?! I come to talk to you about peace talks with the Ingwegwe. Now I will relax if you release me. Then we can talk without me chained up is that fair?”

The leader sighs looking at his guards. I am sure that brought me in. He doesn’t seem too happy with them.

“Is this true that she came in peace and you smacked her with a shovel?”

One of the guards is still holding the shovel.

“Well, what do you expect sir?”

The leader groans, stroking his head. They’re a lot like the turtle race on the island. Their old forelegs now have something like hands like Minotaurs have. They only have three fingers. I sigh.

“Please can you get me down?”

The turtle leader stares at his guards and they quickly as fast as they could get me down. I grunt, falling to the ground and flapping my wings before I hit. I land staring up at the leader. I weakly smile feeling bad about how I acted.

“I am Ruby Glide. My friends and I came in on that airship I am sure you have seen. I am from the Widowmaker desert. I was on my way to Equestria to see a friend of mine. But a project of old ponies tossed us to the desert. Then the storm king returned.”

The guards and the leader gasped. I think the Storm King scares many. I wonder how many have a history with this creature.

“Wait, the Storm King has returned? Is that why Rassie has been trying to get a meeting of peace going?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I was told by Rassie not to tell that we came from his palace to stop the cultists from summoning whoever they’re trying to summon. That is why I am here to try to get help.”

I left out the part that is most of the reason he is back. Is well because of me helping the one that brought him back.

“We don’t have any respect for Rassie. But if you could at least get us into a conversation we would be glad to speak with him.”

I quickly nod looking around.

“Um, what happened to my armor and weapons?”

As if it was fate or something. My answer was that a large female turtle came in. She has a cybernetic shell and her left arm is cybernetic. She is using the arm to work on my armor and fix whatever is broken thanks to that shovel.

“Oh, this is your armor. Amazing work needed some work and a solar rune to keep the battery-powered genius. Also connecting your weapons to your armor is interesting how that works.”

She sets the armor down beside me. I get inside it and put the helm on turning to look at the strange cybernetic turtle.

“Uh, may I ask how did you lose your arm?”

The turtle looks at me and then at her arm.

“Oh I didn’t lose it I thought hmm could I turn my arm into a cybernetic arm? Using the tech that was left around during the war. Removing my arm and you guessed it, attaching this to me. Same with my shell it was amazingly fun. Some blood loss and a little sickness from the loss and then boom new arm.”

I didn’t understand that at all. I look back on the leader of this community.

“Listen, all I want is to bring the factions together for this cult. You could stay as allies for all I care really. Rassie’s people may have done some awful things to you in the past. But this world is not meant to be fair, I am sorry.”

The leader strokes his head again.

“No, we will do it. It’s better than suddenly attacking each other because of past problems.”

I nod flying into the air.

“I am going to go head to the slums to see if the other race will. Not trying to kill me because I am there. Unless it’s just my luck they don’t know how to greet someone that comes in peace.”

I turn to fly out but before I do I quickly grab the shovel from the turtle that hit me. I swung the shovel hard right into the face of the turtle guard that did it to me. Then I toss it away if he could see how much glee that gave me.

I fly out of the throne room trying to find my way out. But I get to see the community of these creatures. They don’t seem to be too upset about sharing beds and areas to live in. They shell some very old artifacts and old tech they found around the place. I fly to one of them.

“Excuse me, I am trying to find the way out of here.”

The turtle lifts her arm pointing down the stairs. I follow the stairs seeing a door leading outside. I realized I forgot to tell them where the meeting would be.

“Excuse me.”

I turn my head to stare at another guard.

“You forgot to tell our leader the location of the meeting.”

A deep sigh comes from my mouth. I hate I didn’t tell him but hey at least I can tell one of his guards now.

“Yes, there is an old restaurant in the market area that is not far down the road. They’re opening it up and trying to clean it up the best they can.”

The guard shifts on his feet and heads back in to tell the leader. So for me, I head out of the worker district to go into the slums.

____________

The slums

It didn’t take me too long to find my way into the slums. These slums remind me of the slums back in the castle, well the former slums back at the castle on the island. What is better about it though the creatures I have been told about are helping sick and homeless Abyssinians, ponies, and zebras that from what I can tell have been here awhile. A heavily armored lizard creature with a bent back comes up to me.

“You must be the bug, Ruby. We have heard of you from outsiders that have been on the run from the returned Storm King.”

It surprised me they knew who I was already.

“Well yeah, I have come to talk to your leader so you can come to a talk with the turtles. Forgive me their name is hard to remember and well king Rassie. Even though I know you don’t trust him from past problems.”

The armored creature laughs.

“No, it’s more that they don’t trust us. I can see why that is a mistake though. We have no issue with him or the other race. It’s just that cult we have a problem with. Oh forgive me”

The lizard finally took off their helm and I got a good look at her. She is a pure black-scaled female warrior. She has a few scars along her neck.

“I am one of the warriors of my kind. I am known as Rhyolite. I have been asked to lead you to our queen. When you get there though don’t be surprised at all the males fighting in the arena. Since it’s time for her to choose a new king.”

Males fight to become the new king? I wonder how many of them die during this. I follow Rhyolite through the slums into a building that leads to a used bar. Inside the bar is an outside arena. I follow the warrior upstairs.

“My Queen the hero Ruby Glide.”

I finally get a good look at the queen of their race. She is laying on her side from what I can tell she is pregnant right now. She has males of the species waving leaves. She smiles showing jewel teeth and jewel claws.

“A hero to be has come to grace me. I am Kafe and welcome to my kingdom.”

I sit in a chair beside the queen. While she is given large bloody meat. I watched the games below. Seeing that I missed some fights, some males lay in bloody heaps. Some were stabbed into spikes and even some lost limbs.

“Is your society run mostly by females?”

Kafe chuckles

“Not just I am the longest living queen. If a king was sitting it would be the same with the females. The king that gave me the little one I am with now got killed in a fight with the cutlets. He was going to try to get back the rest of our land. But of course, they have magic and we can’t use magic.”

I was about to speak up and ask.

“We know about what you’re doing as well. You wish to have a meeting to take on the cultist and someone from King Rassies court will be there, correct?”

“How in the world do you know that?”

She chuckles

“You seem to forget we may not have magic but we know how to spy and being able to hear well and jump to higher areas makes it easy to do just that. Now please miss Ruby, take off your helm. I need to see the face of the fallen hero wishing to be a hero again.”

I remove my helm and the large grey pregnant queen gets on her other side to look at me. Since it’s hard for her to move and she has some of her male servants help her. . Looks right at me with a gentle smile forming on the queen’s face. She is a mother not just a queen but a mother first.

“Your eyes are very gentle. You have killed and seen the ones you killed slowly draw their last breath. From the look on your face. You have seen much and I wish I could tell you seeing death becomes easier. I am sorry to say no it has become harder. It shows you have a heart and a love for life.”

Rhyolite leans down to whisper to her queen. Kafe chuckles, nodding Rhyolite heads downstairs to head to the announcer’s stand. I have no idea what is going on. Looking back to the arena and a large red-scaled male has beaten all in the arena he has killed them all and pulls his sword out of one of the ones he just killed.

Rhyolite gives a note to the announcer.

“Our great Lava scales have won. But a new challenge has shown up. A hero by the name of Ruby Glide. She will test you sir Lava scales if you’re worthy of the queen’s chambers. If you’re worthy you may become her king.”

It took me a second to notice that he said my name. I look over to Kafe. I don't know why she would do this to me.

“Why? I am not part of your species or have anything to gain from this.”:

Kafe sits fully on her butt turning her head to look at me.

“There is a test for you Ruby. I can’t fully trust you till I know what I heard is true. I heard you got mind controlled twice. You had a run-in with the fake Wheel Tread. I need to see the truth in your heart, little bug. Then if you prove to me what you have then. Then only I will do this meeting.”

I put my helmet on and before I go Kafe set down a scabbard with a sword inside down. . I grab the large broadsword pulling it up. Staring at the old runes and the name. ‘Raptor's soul.’ I place it back into the scabbard and attach it to my armor.

I fly down to the arena and stand in the bloody arena. Watched many come into the arena to remove the bodies. I don’t know why I am being tested when I was given a weapon. I grab the sword with my many buggy hands holding it tightly.

“This is now my friends, the queen has asked a former hero to fight. What is she doing with this hero? Does she know that Lava scales will be the living tar out of the wannabe hero? Why does our queen even care? Maybe she wants to see if this male is worth her time?”

Many thoughts went through my head. I didn’t know what to think after what I just heard. I took a deep breath in my helm allowing the ventilator to fill my lungs. I needed to stay relaxed knowing that I might get a few dents and stabs.

I look at the stand of the queen as she stands holding onto the railing to keep her pregnant body from falling.

“My friends, my people, we have all heard of the heroes of Equestria. We have heard how they bring so much death and try so hard to prove they’re nothing but pure and full of honor. Lava Scales if you kill this hero then you have proven to be my next king.”

I feel I have been betrayed. Closing my eyes unsure how to handle all this. I watch while the one known as the Lava scale charges at me and I see the sunshine on the blade and the runes glow. I can finally read them. I lift it into the sun and blind him.

He stumbles from the blinding sun. I take the hilt of my blade and smash right into his stomach knocking his air out. As he tries to attack me, I am quickly able to dodge his wild swings. I take the hilt again, smashing it hard into his face and making him fly back. I don’t let up. I keep using the hilt, not the blade, to handle this. Then with one quick movement, My stinger comes out of my armor.

I jab the stinger right into his gut. He falls to the ground paralyzed and all I hear are boos and fruit and vegetables tossed at me. As they hit me I just stood there looking up at the queen.

“Kill him. Show me what a hero is.”

I look at the paralyzed half-blinded male. The crowd was still tossing the fruit and everything because I hurt their favorite fighter. I close my eyes wondering what to say and how to handle this. I hover with my wings over to the downed creature.

I stare at him while I am pelted by everything even rocks. As many smash into my armor are damaged in some spots of the armor. I lift the blade and lower it looking down at the creature that killed so many. I turn back to the queen, putting the blade back into the scabbard.

“I will not kill this poor creature.”

After I said those words there were more loud boos and the guards came into the arena to pull out the wounded fighter. But they aren’t so kind to me. They remove my armor by force and force me to the ground with spears holding me down on my sides.

“STOP!!”

The queen yells and the guards look up to the queen to silence the crowd as well. She lifted her hand and I could hear the gentle music forming.

“Oh, great people. We have found a true hero. Who dares to know when to save a life? Even if life could be a great evil. She dares to be such a hero. So please give her back her armor and give her back her weapons. Cheer for the great hero that will not kill unless the need is dire.”

The crowd looks at me and then their queen and they cheer. I have a feeling they figured I was the hero that would just murder and kill. A hero that murders and kills to get what they wish is a problem in some eyes.

“Honor her. For she has proven beyond a doubt she is a real hero of the broken world. Many have brought back life to this broken world. By doing what they can without death even if some heroes cause death. It’s more what others think around them, my friends.”

The guards release me and bow to me.

“Oh, a great hero of the faraway lands. Honor us and we shall fight together to protect our broken world. Oh fight in the name of our queen and we shall all fight with you to become one.”

I didn’t feel like singing. I just grabbed my armor looking at some of the bruises forming on my exoskeleton from the shovel and the pokes from the guards. I added it to the song.

“I will fight for you. I will not fight in the name of a hero. I will fight in the name of a creature that is part of this world. We are all part of this broken world. Even though my race is not naturally made from this world. But created by a crazy queen that demanded a race to be her foot soldiers.”

The song ends.

___________

The meeting

It’s been about a day since I did all I could. The meeting would take place on this day. But during the night Melody worked on the bruises and dents in my body. I told Rassie we did the right thing and with the cutlets closer, we couldn’t wait much longer for a set time. So each leader came on this day.

I got to know the leader of the turtle race. I kept forgetting what they were called. But he called himself Boxie. Since he said his ancestors came from box turtles. With him is that female with the cybernetics I got to know her name it’s Gizmo.

Next, the queen came in a lifted bed by her guards, and leading them is her most powerful warrior. She is in heavy golden armor this time Rhyolite. I got to know her just a bit. She has been one of the longest-living warriors.

Next Rassie sits in a chair with a cloaked Abyinsinnion near him. From what I was told they train former thieves to be scouts and backstabbers for them. I got to know his name was Dust.

Beezen sits in one of the chairs to talk to each of them. I was in the room next to it eating food made by Mellow and Melody was looking at my body as well. To make sure to fix my dents and bruises forming.

“Now is a time to not look at the past. I have told Ruby and she knows this. I am a former judge of the stars. The stars are two versions of them. We need to wake the stars of peace. The only way to do so is to find Dream valley. We need to all join together in this fight.”

The others went silent for a second.

“So it’s true then the stars have forsaken us and the zebras have been right all along.”

Kafe spoke up after.

“Then does that mean this entire battle is stacked against us then?”

Boxie brought up.

“I highly doubt it. If it was true they wouldn’t have allowed me to get the palace back. But we have to work together to get this city back before the cutlets summon whoever they wish to bring.”

Rassie is correct.

“Now my question is are we going to force Ruby to fight for us?”

I perk up at Kafes' question.

“No, I feel that you pick your best warriors and then we fight and we take them with us to the next spot. Because to prove we can do this she needs to become friends with them. Then after a year take them back to her other friends. That is the only way to win this battle.”

The three leaders look at each other. Gizmo, Dust, and Rhyolite

“I, my queen, I will prove to those around us. That I will be your best warrior to join in this battle.”

Gizmo nods.

“I shall do the same. In the name of so much and just to see the tech around the world. Heh heh.”

Dust stands bowing.

“My king I shall do the same even if I must make friends with those I don’t trust but if it leads to trust then it is so.”

I come out and they all look at me. Melody is behind me and the three heroes come to me and Melody. Gizmo is the only one to speak.

“I feel I speak for all three of us that we will join you and Melody on this journey. Even though I may not trust the other two behind me. But those are the old days and it’s time to move on and be ready for the future.”

We then heard a sound outside and I quickly flew out to see a storm from above the three areas the cutlets are in. Beezen stands outside with me and he looks down at me patting my head.

“You have proved you’re now a hero, you're a threat.”

Melody comes out with the three others that joined me. Melody wraps her wings around me and my armor is brought out by Rassie. Setting it down as the three leaders look at me I have no idea why so many care. An alliance has now been formed and I place my armor on

“We will send our troops ahead and then, after all, is said and done we will take them to Mount Eris to get ready for the final battle.”

I go back inside with the others to rest and at least relax. I sit in one of the chairs while Mellow is making dinner for all of us after the leaders left and it’s been an hour. Soon many are going to die because of me. Beezen looks at Melody. Rhyolite leans near Melody to whisper. I can hear just a bit.

“Is she okay?”

Melody shrugs her shoulders. She sits beside me while the others sit on the other side. Of course, poor Gizmo has to stay standing since she would break the seat if she even got on it. Her big shell doesn’t allow her in the booth.

“Soon three factions are going to die because of me. I didn’t have an issue with it. When it was just my friends and I fighting. Now, so many are going to die. How many of these cultists are innocent? How many of them are just doing this because they have nothing else to fight for.”

Rhyolite tilts her head and a smile forms on her face. She takes off her helm. I finally see her gentle yellow eyes.

“Now I see your true heart. You’re not only a hero little Ruby. You’re a gentle soul that has been through so much. That you wish to redeem your soul. Redeeming yourself is never going to be too easy.”

Gizmo nods.

“I agree I have heard many heroes lose their hearts. We heard stories of the Lightbringer and she tried to keep her heart and soul. Then of Security, she did the same but then fell into that hell. Then Scootaloo redeemed her soul. The fact we learn so much about the outside world is from those running from it.”

Dust removes his hood. I get a good look at him. He is brown-furred.

“You can’t allow the death that is going to happen to get to you, Ruby. They aren’t fighting because a hero told them to. They’re fighting to get their home back. We may have to share this land. But it’s better than allowing whatever is being summoned to come.”

Beezen comes back in looking back out the door.

“They’re gathering their troops. Ruby.. they want you and the others here to take care of Capper. Just you and your friends.”

I glance at everyone and smile.

“Then I got a plan.”

_________

Beezen

It’s been hours since the battle started. I hope this plan that Ruby made works. But I am the first line that shall come from the back way. But I won’t be alone. I walk to the heavily guarded back part of the building. Walking beside me are creations I brought to life. Beside me are a couple of tables and a nightstand. Then on the left an old machine gun platform that got heavily destroyed during the battle here.

I go in alone leaving them behind as I go to the cutlets and when they finally see me they laugh.

“Oh hello, there is one that uses magic. Hello Green-skinned, what can we do for you?”

A smirk forms on my face.

“The truth then. I am here to break your lines and I shall do it alone if I have to.”

The guards at the back door were staring at each other. They laugh and the guards above the wall laugh as well. It’s like they have never seen someone willing to do a fight like this. I just let them enjoy their laugh.

“You and what army?”

I click my fingers and a bunch of objects that have been hiding finally come out. They stare in horror as chairs, tables and even a machine gun comes at them. The machine gun fires at them while the chairs link up and throw each other.

They cleared a path to the back door. Before I am stabbed from behind an old coat rack swings itself smashing into the cat breaking it in half and killing itself. I look down at the coat rack slowly dying and turning back to an everyday object and the magic vanishing from its body.

I got to the door forming my magic paint so I can talk to the door. It takes a while for the door to come alive from my magic paint. When the door’s eyes finally open I get a good look seeing the poor worn creature.

“I. I am alive? Are you here to stop them?”

I quickly nod.

“I can’t promise we will do it. But maybe you can tell me who they’re summoning. This spell is pretty weak to summon Grogar.”

I lean in to listen to the whisper. My eyes go wide when I am told who they’re summoning.

“Oh no.”

_________

Gizmo

I was given the job of destroying any power going into the building just in case. Just in case they have any force fields or any doors that are locked from a magic core in the building. Even though the sad problem with this was I got to walk through the used sewers.

“You could have complained to her Gizmo and told her that you wouldn’t allow this plan. But now you have to accept to prove yourself to the hero.”

I take a whiff of the air down here. Putting on my techno mask to breathe deeply from the air supply in my shell. I felt something rub on my leg looking down. It wasn’t shit like I thought it was. I look up and see giant rats.

“Oh...great.”

I slowly reach to the back of my cybernetic shell to not suddenly have them charge at me. Pulling Tonfas from my shell. They’re made of a hard metal I found that fell from space. With my lumbering slow body, I can swing but not fast enough to hit the fast rats.

They climb all over me. I fall on my back to smash a few with my heavy shell and get slowly back upon the lumbering slow body of mine. Swinging each of the hard metals at the rats. Smacking them hard enough to at least hurt them.

It didn’t take much for the rats to run. But I expect worse things in this sewer. I get out of the water to walk to more of the core. When I get deeper into the core room. I see wounded and broken prisoners that are used as sacrifices for their rituals. I watch while one takes a mother from her children to use them in said ritual.

I try to reach for another weapon to deal with this. But I feel a gun in the back of my head. I glance at what came up behind me. It’s one of the cultists with a gun? How in the world did they find a gun here?

“Hey look what I found.”

I lift my hands. I am led down to the others below.

“Instead of that mother, you are there. This one could give us a lot of honor to Grogar.”

A smirk comes over my face. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. I shift a bit watching them put the mother back in the cage. I turn to the young ones in the cage mouthing. ‘Tell the others to close their eyes.’

“Look, I will make this easy for you. All my body functions are connected to that large pink button on my shell. Click that and I will be paralyzed and won’t be able to stop you from killing me. Oh, the horror, the horror, the horror.”

I hope they’re that dumb to take it. Of course, tech, like I have, hasn’t been seen in this area for that long. Since I notice the one that has the gun has the safety on. So I am still safe from going off.

“It sounds like she is willing to die. So give it a click.”

The button is clicked and my shell heavily glows. It makes such a bright flash it blinds. The group and while they’re blinded I quickly grab one of my tonfa smacking each of them out. But I don’t wish to kill. I want to find a way to help without harming life.

I look over at the blinded prisoners. The only one that is not blinded is the little one. I go to the cage to let them out.

“You got to be a strong little girl. Lead them out, and make sure you speak loud enough so they can follow you. Make sure they hold each other’s hands.”

The little girl nods leading the others out. One of them even grabs the hand of the cultists.

“Come on we can’t let you die down here too.”

The blind cultists are confused.

“We just tried to just kill one of you.”

The male chuckles.

“Even so you’re still one of us and in this broken world we need each other. No matter what you have done. Maybe we can help you come back to a clean life.”

The other cultists stay silent. But I have a feeling they agree with this.

“I can say I speak for most of us. Not all of us since some feel the world owes them. That we will try our best. But if we fall into this again. Please don’t kill us, just get us better help.”

The others nod and quickly follow upstairs. I watch them and see nothing wrong with this. I may not agree with this idea. I look over to the core. The core has been cannibalized and many pieces of junk are strewn about like they had no idea how to work this system.

“Okay, how do I do this without destroying the entire city?”

I look around staring at every terminal and computer. This is pony-made and given by the ponies so long ago. No one even knows how to work it. I am one of those so all I can think of is doing well.

I lift my cybernetic arm smashing down hard on every part of the terminal and the core. This machine might never work again. That means Rassie and whoever runs this kingdom will have to live like the old days. After a second everything powers down. I hear a strange alarm looking at the floodgates opening up. Since well there is no power keeping it from opening up.

The shitty water comes into the room. As quick as my lumbering body allows me to, I head back out. Hoping my task helped the others.

_______

Rhyolite

I see that the power is shut down. Since I was told I will be handling the rest of the outside so Dust and Melody could do their task. Ruby didn’t even tell us the task Beezen was doing. I charge as quickly as I jump up onto the roof.

With how flat the building is. I turn to see many of the cutlets using what are called guns. Gizmo gave me a once-over on these weapons. There is a safety that is on and they seem to be having a problem learning how to fire them at the troops below.

I feel a smack on my helm and my head dings. I turn quickly to look at one of the cutlets holding a giant club.

“I um… please drop your weapons?”

I stare at the cat laughing, swinging my sword cutting right into the club making it fall apart. The cat cowered back and I smirked.

“You’re lucky I have been asked not to kill you. So go run before I change my mind.”

I smirk

The cat quickly runs, not calling the others. I notice that the entire thing didn’t even make the others who are shooting arrows and trying to get their guns working from turning around. But each time I hear screams. I know more and more are dying on each side.

Ruby wants to try so hard to make sure no one dies. I can understand why she wishes to do this but she can’t stop others from wanting to harm each other. It’s never going to be easy not to take life. She might have to as well.

I quickly run on my armored claws charging at one of the cats and shooting arrows at the troops below. It surprises him and with my entire armored body smashes into him. He falls to the ground below screaming. When he falls he gets trampled to death.

“Oops.”

I turn to the others feeling that I can’t stop deaths from happening now. I this time swing my sword at the next when they turn to fire an arrow at me. The arrow hits right into my neck. I gasp in pain as the arrow breaks into my scaled body.

I try to pull the arrow out of my neck. I feel that it’s too stuck in there and I might have to have Melody help me. Another arrow is shot at me and it hits the joint of my armor. This time I am protected but It still hits my scales.

I grunt charging even with the pain in my leg. I swing my blade cutting into the bow and slice deep into the female cat. She screams in pain and falls to the ground. I almost cut her in half staring at the blood falling from the wound into the roof.

“I am sorry..”

I lift my head looking at the others cowering in fear at what I did to the female before them. They lift their weapons to launch arrows at me and another one of my kind jumps up getting a bunch of arrows lodged into her armor.

“Rhyolite stop just standing there caring for their lives.”

The male charges at the cats, slicing all their weapons and making them run as the female cat puts her hand on my armored face lowering me down to whisper to me.

“Is it over?”

I held the cat’s paw.

“Yes, it’s over. Please tell me you didn’t do this at your own choice.”

She nods weakly, a smile forming on her face.

“In.” She coughs up blood “ In this broken world something that gives hope...”

The poor cat dies and I look up. These cats from what I see felt they had no choice. The others fall from my friend killing them and they all have smiles on their faces. I stood up and sigh limping back down off the roof to find Melody.

________

Melody.

I stay around Ruby to at least talk with her before I go on with my task. Ruby looks out of the window of the restaurant where we did the meeting. I wish I could see how she feels. I use my wings to pull off her helm. She turns to look at me. I stare at those large eyes.

“Ruby, are you sure about this?”

She just shrugs her shoulders.

“I feel the only way we can handle this. Is having Dust handle the other leaders and I go right for Capper. I may not like it but it’s the only choice I feel I have. Mel, please don’t ask me too many questions. You’re a doctor, you may have many to help on both sides.”

We may have been together for almost just two weeks. But I know when she calls me Mel she is very unsure. I know full well though not to try to pry. I wish I could tell her how I felt but she is too set in her ways. It’s the biggest reason I fell for her; she will not let anyone talk her out of anything.

“Ruby, can you please open up to me?”

She just looks up at me. I could tell she wasn’t wanting to open up to me. So I do what I do to open her up. I put my wings on her face, kissing her just as deeply as I did when we first met. I feel her tense buggy body relax, removing my wings from her face after breaking the kiss.

“Melody I am unsure what I am doing is the right thing. Just Dust and Beezen are taking care of the other leaders. Beezen should have gotten to his leader soon. Dust the same. But I must go on my own. I must prove to myself I am strong and worthy to be a hero.”

I wanted to argue with her. I know full well it’s not wise to argue with her. She becomes so unsure about herself and breaks down. Then closes up on me. I don’t enjoy it when she does that. I need to make sure she stays strong and ready.

“I am sure the friends we have are unsure what to do. Ruby, please don’t close yourself off to me.”

Ruby looks back out of the window and then back to me.

“Melody, we will talk about this later.”

Ruby puts her helm back on, flapped her wings flying out of the restaurant, and before I could say anything. I walk out looking at all the wounded and the dying. I lean down to a couple that has already died. See if there is any way I can help them. But all I can do with my wings is cover them with a cloth.

My eyes open wide seeing Rhyolite. Out of her armor and arrows in two spots of her body. I trot to her and she lifts her claw.

“Melody, I am fine. I can wait till you help the worst off. I can handle the pain.”

I stare at the arrows I am more used to bullet holes and bullets lodged in the body. I have learned some about arrows though. The horror of these arrows comes fully true. These arrows are the ones that expand and make it harder to pull out.

“These won’t be easy to get out of you. So when I come back to you expect a lot of pain.”

I leave Rhyolite, she nods and I go to others tilting my head. It takes about an hour to work on the wounded. Some just need their wounds cleaned out and make ten times bloodier. I glance at the other doctors who are helping me.

“Excuse me, I helped Rhyolite. She will be fine just because she was lucky that she got hit in the spots that she did.”

I glance over to Rhyolite who is moving and helping carry the wounded on both sides. One that she helps carry has lost a leg. The wound is pretty bad so I do what I can. I look up at the other doctor and he looks at the soldiers of both sides coming in without arms or even legs.

“Do you know how to take care of those wounds?”

The Abyssinian doctor turns to look at the armless and legless soldiers and cutlets. I knew this would get bad but it’s worse than I expected.

“I read old medical books. They said the best way is to make a fire and burn them to cauterize the wound. Am I correct?”

I take a deep breath blowing air out. The air smells like copper and decay since many bodies that have died are already decaying. The copper smell hits me harder. I haven’t been in a battle like this. This is the first in my skills and my brain can’t think quickly enough.

“I was unsure if my training will ever lead to a battle such as this. So do what you feel is safer. My skills are being tested like the rest of us. Just keep your food down if you eat.”

The doctor nods watching the other doctors form a fire to do what they wish to do. I wish I could cover my ears at the screams of pain and crying. The smell of copper is getting worse and worse. It makes all my senses broken but my hearing. I can even taste the blood.

It took at least a few hours to take care of all we could and the wounded stopped coming because I am told the battle has at least stopped in the other areas and before I could do anything the ground started shaking. Over the main building that Ruby went to, a large beam hits the building causing the roof to shatter. My eyes go wide at what I see.

____________

Beezen

It didn’t take too long to get into the old factory that houses the leader of the cultists that control the faction that runs this area of the city. I walked in but not alone the door opened up for me and took me about an hour to convince her to let me in.

She didn’t want anyone that I brought to life to get hurt. Beside me are a few chairs and a table that survived. I look over to the machine gun platform and get help from a couple of tables to reload. I have to speak to the leader here to ask why.

“Remember, don't kill her. We need to understand why they wish to summon who they’re summoning.”

A couple of the cultists aim their guns at me trying to fire and they haven’t taken off the safeties. I am very happy they don’t understand how to work the weapons. I glance at the Machine gun and nod to him.

“Make sure you just fire at the guns, not them.”

The machine gun turns to look at me for a second. Then a loud metal scraping sound sounds off when it turns up and fires into the guns. A few bullets do hit the cultist’s hands and I have no idea who even gave them these weapons.

“Good now I will be going on my own. If I find anyone on the way I will be fine. So guard the way in and keep any cultist from following me.”

I go off my reach into my robe grabbing the hilt of my sword. Pulling the sword out and it’s a blade with a bent and sharp edge at the end. The blade glows in the sun when it shines and a rune shines along with it.

“Why do you think they’re summoning them Beezen?”

I shrug my shoulders looking down in my chest pocket and seeing the pen. I have been talking with each other for a while about this.

“I wish I knew. I wonder if Capper has been tricked into summoning them. They may not be Grogar but they’re even worse than him. He may be awful but these are a problem.”

A cultist screams charging at me with a large sword. I lift my blade blocking it and the blade glows; it was like the attack they used was to break the blade. I take my fists I may not have trained like others. I smash my gloved hand right into the face of the cat. He backs away and quickly attacks me again, our blades hitting.

Sparks fly as our blades smash into each other. I toss him away again. I may not be strong but this one hasn’t eaten much for so long.

“Non te quaerit interficere. Recedite, meque ducem vestrum curae.”

I try to talk to their cat in their normal tongue. He stares at me panting, grunting in pain holding a wound that looks fresh.

“Nulla spes est in hoc mundo relicta. Te prohibebo spem nostram reducere!”

My eyes open wide at the word hope. He believes summoning these creatures will bring them hope. I can no longer allow them to stay alive. I grab the hilt of my knife tightly, charging at him quickly to punch his face, and then stab right into the fresh wound.

“O mihi dii benedixerunt.”

The poor cat’s body falls to the ground with a thud and I pull the sword out. I close my eyes feeling sorry for him. I walk into the door that leads to the leader. I look around seeing many of the cultists gutted and the guts and blood all over the walls and the words of the summon written in guts and blood. I walk to the female that is the leader of this branch. Her spell has been cast but she sits in a chair.

But it was too late for the leader and all her followers killed themselves to fully cast the spell. I look at the other wall reading what she wrote in blood. ‘I am sorry to my family and friends. I had no more hope and I was told this is the only way to bring back our hope. I am sorry I am so sorry for what we are doing.’

I was too late and the ground started shaking. I quickly run to the window to stare at the building that Ruby went into on her own. Seeing the storm forming over it and a strange beam shooting down. We were too late and they were summoned.

_________

Dust

I don’t remember how or why I have been called Dust. I remember my training removing my old name and calling me Dust. A spell that has been placed on me allows me to hide in the shadows. I quickly go through the shadows of the city getting into the slums.

I watch the troops of both sides fighting to see the blood and the wounded. King Rassie is not far from and I come out of the darkness.

“My King. Ruby has a plan you should know about.”

Rassie turns to look at me.

“What is her plan?”

I explain the plan and Rassie looks unhappy shaking his head.

“So she is wishing to prove herself that way? She refuses to kill Capper. She knows full well that she may have to. I may not like the idea myself but he is causing a lot of problems. But keep up with her plan. One thing though please don’t think any less of her because of this. She needs friends to guide her on the right path.”

I sighed, shaking my head. If this is true, why didn’t her other friends guide her correctly? Maybe I will learn why later. I quickly go back into the shadows.

“Stay safe my king.”

I follow the shadows to the brothel that is being used as the main HQ for the cult in this area. I am sure this place hasn’t been used for what it should be in a long time. Of course, being born outside of this place in the other kingdom we made. I never understood the reason for places such as these.

I slowly go through more looking at old propaganda posters that somehow made it here. I have only seen them here. They’re all like Pinkie pie is watching and why would ponies force their views on us here? It made little to no sense.

I work at the door of the brothel. This door has been locked since the old days. The locks would never hold. I take one of my tools that releases a type of acid to destroy the old lock. The lock burns and I go inside. There are many shadows in here and I am doing what Ruby asked me to do not kill anyone.

I went through the halls seeing most of the cult sick and hungry. I come out of the shadows and they look very scared of me.

“Shhh, I am not here to harm you. Can you tell me where to find the one leading this area? Also if you surrender and ask for food and medical care you will get it.”

One of the broken, hungry, and sick cats points her claw up to the master room.

“In there?”

She nods.

“Alright now tell the others that there will be free food for them and free healthcare. All you gotta do is not attack the ones outside. Just tell them you want to be fed and helped Okay?”

They all nod and help each other out of the building. I hid back in the shadows to watch them. As they talk to the others of the cult. It seems they’re so desperate they’re willing to leave without a fight.

Heading through the darkness of shadows seeing many now dying from sickness and wounds they got from the battle. I wish I could help them then I come to the master’s bedroom and I open the door and sit on the bed as the leader.

“I know you’re there and if you’re here to kill me. It’s better than what we will be causing. What we have summoned is not what we were promised, we were promised hope and we haven’t even been given that.”

I come over to the cat and sit beside him.

“I am not here to kill you. I am here to ask ``why did you?”

The cat doesn’t even look at me.

“You’re too late my friend.”

The ground starts shaking and I rush outside to see the portal open up and a beam coming down in the area where Ruby went on her own. A flash hits the building and whatever is summoned has come.

________

Ruby

I took a deep breath after the talk with Melody. I didn’t want to lie to her but my choice is to fight whatever comes. All the guards and cultists have left the main building. I go inside I see this is an old marketplace that was used inside.

When I fully get inside I see that Capper has killed many of his followers to bring whatever is coming to the world. I didn’t know what to think then I noticed something even worse. I see in a case Capper’s bones.

I look at the bones closer and he has been dead all this time then who is mimicking the poor old cat? I am worried I brought myself into a trap looking at the ghoul who is pretending to be Capper. I try to switch to my magic vision to see what I can find nothing.

I finally got to what I am facing. It’s one of those old birds that are shapeshifters. The bird turns to look at me. I finally remember what their race is called. They’re the race that helped make the island and they made the legend a Panna.

“So you’re a creature from the island of the Majesty. I sense good in you though unlike the evil from her.”

I took off my helm staring at the Panna.

“Why are you doing this? I have heard much of your species as a peaceful race. That helped impress the giant monster in the middle of the island.”

The bird sighs as she looks away looking at the portal forming in the middle of the market and then back to me.

“With the death of Pluma and many of the others of my race. This was the only way to get me back to Dream Valley to search for the others of my race. I am sorry I made a deal with those that are willing to send me to Dream Valley by freeing them from the prison the ponies of old placed them in.”

I sighed and knew full well I wouldn’t be able to fight a creature this powerful.

“So the truth I heard of your species being pure of heart and willing to fight evil wherever it shows its faults then?”

The Panna weakly smiles.

“Yes.. but if you find another of my kind. They will join you in the fight to stop me. From finding the heart of Dream valley. I am sorry but the spell needs one last thing.”

She takes a knife stabbing into her wing tossing the blood into the beam that forms the portal when she does this. The sky booms and the ground starts to shake thankfully I am flying and it doesn’t do much to me.

When the portal fully takes shape the shockwave from the spell makes me fly into the wall and I shake my head watching four creatures form from the spell. When the spell fully is gone I stare at a large spider-like creature with one eye as it looks around.

The smaller of the creatures laugh.

“We have returned girls!!”

I stare at the four. The three are strange. Behind them is a giant spider with one eye. The fat one is wearing a strange dress with a pan on her head. Th either is very skinny and wearing a strange outfit. The smaller one is looking to be the older one. They look like they haven’t seen water in ages or even been to shower for a long time. The small one has so many warts on her face it’s creepy.

“Yes. Mama.”

The old one stares at the skinny one.

“I mean Hydia!!

The old one stares at the Panna.

“You have your deal. Shall we destroy this entire city first?”

The Panna shakes her head.

“I doubt you have all your magic from being locked in the prison. Just if you wish to prove yourself as a threat. There is a hero right in the same room with us.”

I fly into the air as now I am the target of the three.

“I shall take care of them.”

Hydia smirks

“Reeka Draggle cast the spell to transport us to dream valley.”

Draggle laughs, grabbing a sandwich from her pocket full of worms and bugs eating it, and with her sister, they start chanting a dark spell. While the small little creature chants a spell to target me. I charged right at the creature but before I even hit her she cast her spell and lighting charges through my body.

I fall to the ground screaming in pain.

“Hydia the spell is ready.”

Hydia gets beside her daughters and the large spider. As the army charges into the room guns fire at the spider as it screams from the pain and arrows go into him as well before they could harm the creature or the other three and the Panna vanish from a strange spell

Melody comes into my vision and she tries to pry my helm off. But the lightning spell fuses the armor to itself and she screams at the others to help. I look back at where they vanished. They said dream valley. But I feel myself slowly drifting into a coma. They overcharged my magic core making me pass out.

Footnote: Level up.

Perk added: The new heroes and friends: You have started to gain a new group of friends and heroes to join your side. When you get your full group of new friends and they join with your old friends. Their morel and their will to fight with you never leaves.

Next Chapter: Chapter: Thirty-Nine Aftermath Estimated time remaining: 22 Hours, 45 Minutes