The aftermath of a battle never goes well. Sometimes the aftermath can cause more problems than help. Hopefully, we will never have an aftermath like the great war. The great war caused so many problems. This time maybe the aftermath will bring something much greater.

Written by a soldier.

In the aftermath of the battle, they summon four creatures of the old world. Four creatures, I wish I would have never laid my eyes on again. The three witches from the Volcano of Gloom. As well as their spider monster Ahgg. I run in with the others seeing Ruby laying on the ground magic lighting arcing through her body. I run to her and Melody screams at Ruby to keep her awake trying to pry her helm off as the others fire on the four and Panna as they vanish to Dream valley.

“I need help!! The helm is fussed about her armor. Please help me!!”

I ignore what just happened and help the others try to pry the fussed helm off of Rubie’s head. Melody is beside herself, tears streaming down her face as she tries so hard to get the helm off of Ruby.

“I got it!!”

Gizmo comes over and I grab Melody, pulling her out of the way. Gizmo turns one of her fingers into a knife from her cybernetic arm cutting into the armor. The armor helm sparks a bit and shutters from the connections being cut.

“I will have to repair this.”

She gets the helm off and thankfully Ruby herself is okay. Melody knows more about Ruby than most of us do. She looks her over.

“Is there a hospital? I doubt I could get her to the airship's medical bay soon enough.”

Rassie sighs.

“No, the only way we can help her is. By feeding her magic. Without magic her chances of living what she went through are slim.”

Melody’s eyes open wide.

“But she told me that magic is part of her system.”

I shook my head.

“She lied to you Melody, not all magic is good for her species. Pure magic like Hydia used is deadly to her kind. I doubt she lied to you to hurt your feelings. I think she did it to make sure you don’t follow her.”

Melody was beside herself sobbing. Rassie pats her back and all I can think of is doing what I came to do.

“I know a way I can save her. But that would mean all the ones around me. Would die.”

I turn to the objects I brought with me. The tables, the chairs, even the machine gun. They would have to give up their magic just enough so she can live. Each of the creations I brought to life with the magic paint come forward.

“Are you sure if I do this? It would be very hard to let the paint bring you back. The magic that is within you will vanish.”

They all agree.

“I speak for all of us. Since it’s the only way to save her. We will give our newfound life to her. Just remember us for what we did in this battle.”

I nod casting a spell and watching each of the creations slowly crumble apart. The chairs fall apart back into the ruins I found them. The table slowly becomes dust because the spell was the only thing keeping it together. The machine gun platform slowly rusts and falls apart, the ammo falls out of the casing and the ammo decays.

The magic forming in my hands I place my hands on Ruby’s face and slowly helps her to breathe again. But that is all I can give her.

“Now you have a chance to get her to the medical bay. Make sure to attach her to a good flow of pure magic. As the unicorns give as much magic as they can but only enough they can handle. But when she wakes up Melody. Make sure you keep her in that bed. Don’t let her move one inch.”

Melody nods.

“She is my wife-to-be. She will not go anywhere without my permission from now on.”

I roll my eyes. I doubt she will agree to this herself. But I have never been married before. So I have a feeling she is going to force the issue on her when she wakes up.

Boxie stands beside Rassie turning his head to look at him.

“What do we do now? I doubt the battle is fully over. But what will we do when the battle is fully over? “

Kafe stands on her legs. Kafe’s guards help her to the other leaders. While they watch Ruby be carried away by Melody and they look at each other.

“Do we just go back to hating each other?”

Kafe asked a good question but I knew what they should do.

“Why not just live in this city together? It may belong to Rassie’s species. I am sure he knows his species can't handle the rebuilding alone. Even if he got it back from you two. It would be hard for him to even get it rebuilt.”

Rassie nods sighing.

“He is not wrong. I am not my ancestors. I doubt I would have been a king for long. I am nothing like the other leaders. So all I could see was my people falling apart soon after.”

Then it settled, I thought to myself.

“Well then while your troops go through the city to see if there are any more surprises. I will sit here and talk with you three.”

Kafe’s guards put her back in her chair. As the others sit down beside her and I sit right in front of them. I took a deep breath unsure what to think. But if we can make this deal work then we can do anything.

_________

Aftermath.

With the battle’s end. It’s been at least a week. Ruby herself has been in a coma for at least a week. An alliance turned into a pack of the three races sharing the city. The alliance went from a just alliance to fighting a small war. To become a full-fledged agreement on sharing the city.

Sadly though the decay of the dead in the streets attracted many awful creatures and all the races had to come together to fight the creatures that are now trying to attack to gain a piece of the pie. A lot of the city is burning from the battle and it’s taken a while for each side to relax.

Some of the cults have been found throughout the city. Some have found old spells and magic that they used on the troops. A couple of them get the old spells off not only killing themselves but deeply harming the troops that chased after them.

Part of the market is a smoking ruin after one of the members of the cult found an old bomb from the war sitting in a box. It went off killing many of both sides, even Kafes king-to-be. Thankfully non of the leaders were in that spot. After that bomb went off though the rest of the cult gave up after seeing the loss of life.

When the dust cleared after that week was done. Many mourned and had no idea how to even move forward. After another week of rebuilding and counting the dead, the three leaders stood on a stage and spoke to everyone present, even the new heroes. Ruby of course was still out of it and not even awake.

“Everyone, I king Rassie. Have much to say and an apology to our new allies. I can’t make up for what we did to them in the past. I wish I could make up for everything we did to them in the past. But all I can do is move forward. I will be stepping down as king and will be joining a new group of leaders.”

Kafe stands up and an egg hangs in a pack on her side.

“I Kafe the leader of the Ingwegwe. Will be stepping down at the queen to join the same group of leaders. It will be Rassie and Boxie. We will lead with a fair claw. We will work together and make sure everyone lives together in harmony.”

Boxie is the next to speak.

“We agreed to this to help our peoples rebuild and mourn the broken hearts and lives. There is something else we found out though. We found a key from where the Panna that helped summon those four dropped. She had a note on it. I will read it. ‘Deep under the prison of the old palace, you will find part of the map to help save Dream valley. I am sorry for what I did but I had no choice.’ We are going to wait for Ruby to wake before we go down there.”

Rassie is the next to speak.

“For now though we will work on a treaty and those that have family they want to bury do so. Just remember if you need someone to talk to. Please do me a favor. Don’t blame the hero Ruby for what happened here. She is not at fault this would have happened with or without her showing up. Now let’s get out there and never allow things like this to get in our way of peace again.”

The crowd cheers.

__________

Dust

Well, that is it then. We have our home back and now we are going to be living together. I am not sure how this will work. But we will have to make it work. I won’t be staying though to see it in action. I stood up and sat beside Rassie.

“I think you did the right thing, my king. We have to build trust with others sooner or later. I feel though that our ancestors wouldn’t be happy. Sadly though we can’t think like that any longer. That is the bigger problem.”

Rassie nods.

“I do have a request for you, Dust.”

I glance at my king, bowing my head to him.

“Yes, my king?”

Rassie smiles

“I am no longer your king. Anyway, I want you to make sure Melody and Ruby get married. I want you to keep them together so they can become strong. I also want you to keep Ruby from doing stupid things as she did with going on her own.”

I quickly nod.

“I will do what I can. Just I am unsure want to think of her. She seems like a creature that is not what should be a hero.”

Rassie smirks.

“That’s the beauty of her. She is strong at heart but not in body. She may be a warrior of her species now. But she is still weak in body and needs training.”

I nod quickly hiding in the shadows to head to that airship that she and the others came in.

_________

Melody

I haven’t slept in days. I have been doing everything I can to make sure Ruby wakes up. But it’s been two weeks now and she hasn’t even opened her eyes. I have cried so much that my eyes are burning and red.

I look in the mirror, my make-up is ruined and my mane is frazzled. I don’t even care how I look till Ruby is awake again. I come back out of the bathroom and Gem is standing by the bed that Ruby lays in. She turns to look at me.

“Oh, Geez Melody get some sleep and clean up seriously.”

I stare at Gem.

“I can't, I don't want to sleep. I want to stay by her side just in case something bad happens.”

Gem sighs.

“Melody you have no make-up on your eyes don’t even have your iconic purple eyeshadow you’re allowing this to make you a mess you need some rest. So please I will watch her while you go get a shower and some sleep.”

I tried to argue but Gem didn’t let me. She pushed me out, folding her arms and staring at me.

“But what if she needs me?!”

Gem shakes her head.

“Melody she is a strong little bug and you know she will be fine a few hours without you.”

I snorted, stomped my hoof, and tried to push through and Gem pushed me back hard and snapped her claws, another dragon grabbing me.

“Take her to bed, make sure she takes a shower. Then tell the door to lock her in. If she screams and tries to break through him. Sedate her. I am not going to allow her to be like this anymore.”

I whine.

“Gem let me at least shower and then sleep in here. I want to at least be close to her please.”

I pin my ears to the back of my head giving Gem puppy dog eyes. Gem stares at me, sighing deeply.

“Fine, I will put a sleeping bag back in there for you. But if you don’t listen to me and eat or sleep. You will be locked in that room, right?”

I spread my wings flying to the shower room. I get into the shower and turn on the water. Allowing my two weeks showerless body to get wet using the soap feeling upset. Upset that Ruby is not with me.

I finally came out of the shower heading back to the medical room. Gem kept her promise she also had a bowl of soup for me. I lay in the sleeping bag eating the soup.

“Hmmm no. I am not going to draw another pint of blood. I am not your minion.”

I look up, my ears pinning to my head. She is dreaming about the stars again. She always cries when she has this dream. But now she won’t wake up. But at least I know she is sleeping peacefully.

She has gone back to full sleep. I lay my head on the pillow closed my eyes slowly fell asleep finally having a peaceful sleep

__________

Gizmo

I have been getting to know the core of the airship for the last two weeks. I have been getting to know the camel which is the main caretaker of the core. She told me she has no help but. She is willing to let me help her.

“Now this core is an old core from 200 years ago. It needs a lot of tender loving care. If you don’t give it the care it needs. It will sometimes overheat. So you need to make sure it stays cool. But that is not all I do. I try to keep everything repaired. Gunpowder works on the cannons.”

I nodded.

“I see now I will not try to take your job. Just I want to at least do something to help. I doubt I will be able to just sit around doing nothing.”

The camel who I got to know by the name Oil. She just laughs.

“Oh don’t worry about it. I am amazed that I even survived the trip here. I am hoping you will have fun here. Just don’t get into the way of Melody if she wants her lover. She will get her. It’s something I will never understand.”

I quickly nod.

“Is there anything else I should know?”

Oil leads me to the area I would be sleeping. It’s not much of a room. But I will have enough privacy. I have my bed and a place to put everything that is mine. There is a bathroom as well but it would be hard for all of us to use it once. From what she told me it would

“That’s all you need to know, you have no job, you just have free room and board and keep this place moving sooo smooth that you can’t feel anything.”

I laugh.

“I could do that if I can upgrade it. But are we allowed to upgrade any of this?”

Oil shrugs her shoulders.

“If we can find the metal and the tech and whatever else to upgrade it. Just we would have to ask Gem. She is not sure how to upgrade anything. I feel it’s a wise idea. Maybe when we have a meeting with her before we leave we talk about it.”

I look at my bed. I haven't slept well the past few days.

“Go ahead and sleep, Gizmo.”

I head into the room I am given. I lay on the large bed looking at the metal ceiling. The room makes a lot of sounds because it’s connected to the core. I close my eyes feeling that I will relax and soon become part of this.

_________

Rhyolite

I am getting a tour of the new home I will be having for the next year or so. It’s the first time I have ever met a dragon.

“So what can you tell me about Ruby?”

The dragon turns to look at me shrugging his shoulders.

“You would have to ask Gem. She is her adoptive mother. Since she is married to the mare that adopted her.”

That is fair. I am led to a big unused room that has nothing in here. I would have to bring my nest and my weapons and armor stand. Just I have enough room for everything. I do see that there used to be beds and such in here. But I don’t need that, just my nest and other items.

“Sorry about all this. Just Ruby lost her temper a while back and broke everything. So she took the stuff from here. But I doubt you would worry about that.”

That little bug has a crazy temper.

“I do feel sorry for her. I heard from Beezen that many didn’t trust her because she is a hero. Now when do you think you will be leaving?”

The dragon shrugs his shoulders.

“I don’t know. We haven’t fully made repairs. So you will have the time to get whatever you need. Just do me a favor. Please keep Ruby safe. I have known Gem for years. I don’t want her to lose any closer to her. Now I will go get movers to get all you need.”

I was about to argue but it didn’t take them that long to get everything. My weapons, my armor stands, and armor. My nest I took a deep breath, a little upset that someone went into my private room. The dragon left I go get into my nest curling in it, falling asleep.

_______

Ruby

I open my eyes, grunting trying to move. I scream in pain. Every nerve in my body screams in pain. I try to move again more screaming. Melody stands on her hooves. I stare at her seeing that she is not wearing any of her makeup and she looks like her eyes are dry and red.

“Mel are you okay?”

Melody didn’t say a word. She grabs my face with her wings kissing me deeply and all I could do was scream in pain at the kiss. She breaks the kiss crying and holding me tightly. All I could do was lay there groaning in pain.

“Melody please..”

Melody finally notices that I am hurting badly she backs up her cheeks filling with a deep blush.

“Sorry.”

I grunt trying to sit up. Melody puts a pillow behind my back. I groan deeply looking around.

“Mel, what happened?”

Melody stares at me, her eyes full of many different emotions.

“Before I answer anything. You will never do anything like this again without my permission Ruby. I know you aren’t used to what being in love is. But you’re not just a hero. You’re somepony I deeply love. I will not let you do this and almost die again!!”

Tears stream down her yellow cheeks. I feel awful. I am starting to remember what happened. I groan deeply.

“So she is awake.”

I look up at Gem. Oh, I know full well that I am in for it. Gem stands over me Melody backs away. I get ready for the scorn from a protective dragon. Gem puts her claws on my head stroking.

“So did she tell you what is going to happen soon?”

“What do you mean?”

Gem smirks.

“I told her how your species sees love and living forever. Your kind doesn’t only go quickly with the mating and becoming married so to speak. That sometimes you don’t even mate for life? Well, that is going to change here. We are going to be here a few more weeks. I am going to be marrying you two after you feel better.”

I just stare at Gem.

“But we barely know each other..”

Gem laughs.

“Ruby this world you can’t wait for something like that. I am sure you could have waited for stuff like that on your precious little island. But this is not your island, this is a world that is not going to wait for you to get ready.”

I try to argue.

“But she and I have only been together for two weeks. I don’t want to rush into something and then say something that will hurt her. Something that I say that she will regret ever meeting me.”

Gem snorts

“I got married to Cranberry like six months after I met her. You can get the time to know her Ruby. She didn’t even touch up her makeup, she didn’t even shower for almost two weeks or even sleep because she was so worried about you. Don’t you fucking get it she is a damn keeper!!”

I buzzed angrily enough that I could flap my wings to make them a passing Even though it’s very painful to even move some of my body.

“I get it, Gem. I will do what you tell me”

Melody smirks.

“No, you will do what I tell you. I get it your species are very free. You do need someone to pull you in if you do something that could hurt you a lot, Ruby. I am not going to force you to do anything. I just don’t want to see you on a bed like this again.”

I close my eyes, sighing.

“How long have I been out? What happened to the four that got summoned and that bird?”

“Well, all three leaders allied to make the city into a city of all three races. The four and the bird went to Dream Valley and the bird left a key and they’re waiting for you to go into the jail cells. But for now my love I say no. You need to heal if you leave without my permission. I will give you an earful alright?’

I lean back into the bed.

“I get it, Melody.”

She stares at me.

“Say it again.”

I took a deep breath. I exhale soon after I am going to have to get used to this.

“Yes, my love.”

Melody smiles as she leaves the room. I think she went to take a shower and clean up again. I am just amazed she did that and didn’t take a shower or even sleep while I was out. I grunt trying harder to get out of bed.

“I wouldn’t try it.”

I glance at Gem.

“I just want to see what this key is for.”

Gem folds her arms.

“Then wait till Melody gets a shower and puts her make-up on. Then she will get a wheelchair for you. Now I need to get this airship ready. I am hoping to gather more supplies from this area. So you take care.”

Gem left and I tried to get out of bed. Melody came back in soon after. Gem distracted me long enough and Melody quickly forced me back in the bed laying her head on my bed and staring at me.

“I know they want to see you, Ruby. You need to let your body heal or you let me carry you around. Are you willing to make that deal? Can a hero like you allow their wife to carry them around like luggage?”

I stare at Melody. She finally fixed her make-up and now she is relaxing. She gets into the bed laying beside me leaning into me.

“Oh, Melody, I think I would either be lost without you or dead somewhere.”

Gem yells in the room.

“I TOLD YOU!!”

I sigh.

“Heh, I am happy you finally admitted that you would be lost without me. Now let’s get you cleaned up.”

I didn’t know what she meant by that. She gets off the bed locking the door. It took an hour because of all the bits of pain. But she gave me a sponge bath. It felt wonderful. Just I wish every touch didn’t make every nerve scream.

I finally felt clean. She used some perfume to make me smell wonderful. I am not used to being dressed up like this. I know I am a pink female magic eater but some on. I am not that type of gal. I don’t like dressing myself up.

“Okay let me go get a wheelchair. Now just lay here and allow the smell to clean you, my dear.”

Melody rushes out of the room and Gem comes by sniffing the air and turning to look at me.

“Is that you?”

I groan, shaking my head.

“Yes Melody got very odd with a sponge bath and she wanted me clean before we leave. Just making me wear this perfume is strange.”

Gem laughs.

“Well, you take care. I will get the others to go with you. Since you will need to be there for the funeral of all the dead. I wish I could tell you that it wasn’t your fault. This time Ruby these deaths weren’t your fault. This would have happened anyway.”

I wish I could agree. I doubt I ever will agree that the deaths that happened in this small war weren’t because of me. I just think I have too much guilt in my heart. I was about to speak to Gem again. Melody came in pushing a wheelchair with her mouth and Gem smirked.

“Take care of you two. When you talk to Rassie ask him if we can have some food supplies.”

Melody uses her wings to help me onto the wheelchair. She straps me in to make sure I don’t fall out of it. Trying to make sure I can move my wings and flap them if I need to. After I am all strapped in. She puts her wings on my face staring into my eyes.

“Such a beautiful little bug that is all mine.”

My cheeks glow bright red.

“We aren’t married yet, Melody. Just when we do. It’s normal for my kind to age. So you will live longer. It’s not easy to do this, it will use a lot of my magic core.”

Melody giggles.

“So my bug wants to keep me alive as long as she can, hmm? So she will never be alone.”

We leave the medical room and the others leave the airship with us. It took us maybe thirty minutes to get through the town. Since Melody wanted to help all those she could. Beezen and the others did what they could. Beezen pushed me a few times.

“How do you feel in that chair, Ruby?”

I glance over my shoulder at Beezen.

“It’s weird I never had to do this before. Of course, I never got hit by power magic like that before.”

It was a new feeling since I have been attacked and so on. I have never had this problem. It’s like she knew what magic to use on me. Maybe the magic that was used on me is magic that my magic core can’t handle.

We all finally get into the old palace and there are now three throne rooms in the throne room.

“There you are, Ruby. You look strange in a wheelchair.”

I sigh smirking weakly at Rassie.

“Can you lead us to the cells that the key is used for? I am sure the rest of us would like to get some rest. Gizmo has to be woken up. I believe Rhyolite was asleep as well. I ain’t fully sure myself. I have seen Dust at all.”

Rassie nods.

“Dust is already down there. He is waiting for us all.”

Melody gets me out of the Wheelchair. She holds me in her wings, putting me on her back and holding me tightly on her back with her wings. While we head downstairs. I grunt in pain as it hurts from the feathers.

We walk down the stairs. No one has been down these halls for years. It’s like the last time anyone was down here it’s when folks would have used it. But how will we find half of the map to Dream valley? It’s so odd to me that the only way to find it is by going through these halls to the cells.

Dust waits for us by a heavily locked door.

“Whatever is in here. From what I read on a note I found. They put some metal in here as well that fell from space. But the note said the first part of the map to Dream Valley is in here.”

Dust puts the key in the lock. An old spell that had been put in place breaks. We open the door and inside is a large old satellite hanging on the wall. But that is not it in a tube frozen solid is another Panna.

“Well impressive it’s another Panna.”

I glance at Beezen looking at the very old tech that has been used to freeze the poor creature in there. It’s like this creature has been locked in this cell for so long. I wonder what we will learn if we free them.

“My question is. Can we trust them?”

The others look at me.

“We won’t know for sure if we don’t release them, Ruby. We got to allow them to express themselves. I don’t know how to work this machine. I may be magic and able to bring things to life. I doubt it’s wise to use my magic paint on this.”

Gizmo comes out from behind the group to look at the machine.

“Wow, this is old. It’s also pony-tech how this was used here is amazing to me. I wonder”

Gizmo clicks on all the buttons to see if she can get the creature thawed out. I glance at Rhyolite pulling the satellite off the wall so it can be used to make something I believe. She nods to Rassie since he is the one who told her to do this. She and Dust carry it back to the airship.

“Okay, I will be shutting this off. This poor creature might be blind for a while.”

Melody holds me tightly, easing me to the floor so we both watch the machine power down. The poor Panna comes out of the machine falling to the floor below. The bird lifts its head on the end of its long neck looking around.

“So much… time has passed. I would only be woken up if I am needed to get back to Dream Valley.”

She stares at me with haziness in her eyes. I am sure she can make out shapes of me but that is it.

“Hero. If you need me to lead you to the lands of Dream Valley. I shall just...you need to find the next part of the map. I don’t remember who knows the part of the waterways to get there. I am sorry.”

Before I could say a word the poor creature passes out. I look back at Melody and watch Beezen lift the Panna to carry her back to the airship. The others leave and it’s just me and Melody the door closes with us still in the cell.

“Mel, we should get going.”

Melody lets go of me and sit on the prison bed looking at me.

“This is a good place for us to talk alone.”

I stood on my weak legs unsure what she wanted to talk about.

“Melody, there are so many places for us to talk. Even in our bedroom, we can talk.”

Melody shook her head.

“No, this needs to be said. I love you with all my heart Ruby. I know I have said this many times. But you don’t seem to get it. I noticed every time I say I love you and kiss you. You just don’t know how to act. Like you have told me your kind doesn’t understand love. Unless it’s another of your species.”

I sigh unsure what to say.

“Melody I understand you want me to say I love you. I do love you. Just to my species, mating for life is very rare. I thought Scaled would be the one I do that with. But all he did was plant a brood in me. But you’re showing the love I have been wanting for so long. I have even told you before. Are you worried that I would just hurt you and leave? We are going to be stuck in an airship for a year”

I took a deep breath.

“I am not going to break your heart Melody. I have a feeling even if I said I don’t have those feelings for you. You would do what Blaze did to Star Shooter. You would say I have no choice in the matter because we have slept together. I am correct, aren't I?”

Melody smirks.

“Well, that is not correct. I know full well not to force it. But to me, I was raised if one does sexual acts with you. Then they don’t only have a sexual attraction to you. They also have a deep love for you. I know you love me, you have told me before. Just I needed to hear it.”

Melody opens the door looking back at me. It’s now time to rest and relax. For whatever comes next we will never know. I am hoping that when we finally get our path going again. We will finally be able to learn. When we both came out Gizmo stood by the door and I noticed her winking at me. I just smile as she follows behind us.

Time to rest and get ready for the next leg of our journey.

Footnote: Max level.

Perk added: Magic core: Your magic core has been through so much. Thanks to the spell that was used on you it shows that your core is slowly getting stronger. But it is still too weak to handle some magic. If your core is tested a bit too much it will overwork and destroy your ability to handle magic and consume it.

Next Chapter: Chapter: Forty: The Sand Dream Dunwalkers fate mini arc Estimated time remaining: 22 Hours, 22 Minutes