Dunewalker most don’t seem to remember a Dunewalker is two camels within one. When one of them vanishes the soul they used to be will take over. They will take all memories of the Dunewalkers who came before. When the body of a Dunewalker dies the soul will finally unlock and take the personality of the Dunewalker they used to be. The curse has never been broken before. This was added after the curse was first cast. Two souls within one body, the one who they used to be and the one now. The Dunewalker will finally vanish when the time is right. They will rise and fight for their friends. I wish oh I wish this never happened and we all are friendly. One who tries would either survive the torment of their very soul for all their lives or give up in the sands and die.

Written by Camels in an old spellbook

A story is what is told by the victor of history. Some history can never be remembered for those who ever try to remember it all seem to forget those who did the right thing at the start. Most wouldn’t wish to know the threats all have known. To some, a dictator is their hero to others they’re a freedom fighter. To another, they’re a singer and a dancer but a Dunewalker? What are they to others?

“Bits for your thoughts?’

I glanced at the captain and I forgot his name. I took a deep breath unsure of what I was about to do. I want to break this curse because I know many are going to die. I asked them to stay behind to help me. While the others run. I know well no one will survive if they do it will be the will of the sand maiden.

“Truthfully my thoughts are all over the place. I am unsure what to do. I am unsure if doing what I am going to do will be the right way to break the curse. So many are going to lose their lives. Most know the rumors that the hero has shown up away from this land. A hero who might make their way here. If this happens they need help and I feel one of the best ways is to weaken some of the judges.”

The captain nods.

“I think it will also help the alliance get into more key points while the heroes go on with their lives. I know full well none of them will answer the call. None of them will ever answer the call again. If they answer the call it will be because they have something at stake with what is going on.”

I take a deep breath nodding. I am at fault for all this. I am partly at fault. I didn't know we needed a connected friendship to start Project Rainfall. Wheel Tread and I thought we could do it without the heroes.

Now the heroes and their friendship is strained. With me about to end my life in the name of friendship. I hope I will get to see what is to come. The battle I will join if my life allows me to. I take deep breaths watching my home from afar coming in closer.

The captain stops the ship in midair. I turned to look at him. I was confused about why he stopped. He sits there looking at me.

“I know you feel this is the way to destroy the curse of your species. Take it from a Rat Creeper we know curses. Just please tell me why you feel destroying your home will get this curse to fully go away?”

I take a deep breath. I am unsure what he wants to know. It’s not going to be so easy. All I know is I need to get to the worst time of my life. I need to get the soul of the Dunewalker close to death and then scream my real name.

“I know my species has weird ideas of how to break spells. My kind is very strange and silly at times. I can tell you fully looking back on my memories. Camels have done some pretty stupid stuff. The Dunewalker is not the full stupid thing they have done. It’s one of the things which has lasted the longest.”

Hitch shook his head sighing.

“Listen, I will stay and help you fight. When things are getting dicey though. I will make sure to help those who are alive to run. I promise you I hope you have a plan on what to expect and who to expect.”

I sigh I only really got ready just in case Arabus. Lavan and Crunch show up. I just know those three are the only ones who still listen to Wheel Tread. I am hoping weakening those three will help Ruby in the final battle to come. Even though nothing will change in this land. It will take years for food to grow back.

“I have a bad feeling many feel a hero here will change things around in a snap of a claw. They Sadly don’t understand it will take many years to get food and soil back into this land. It would take getting clean healthy soil from other areas and putting it into an area that would need a good amount of water and rain. No matter what, a hero will not fix anything, they will just expect those that live here to fix it after they do their job.”

Hitch nods.

“That's why I left the fields so long ago. Tiria the wolf may have freed us. It did little good for helping us find food and grow food. When I left many years ago it was getting harder for us to grow. A hero never understands what is to come if they get rid of the threat. Who will rebuild after they’re done destroying everything around them?”

I stroke my head with my paw. The only heroes I know who stayed around and helped are Desert Rose and her friends. Of course, they had no choice; it was the only way they could protect what they called the Frozen Clock.

“It’s sad I only know a few heroes who refused to call themselves heroes. They saved my life the first time and are kind of why I have these cybernetics. I was a bit of an ego nut back then thinking nothing could harm me.”

HItch nods, getting the small airship ready to go.

“Are you going to spend one more night with your wife before you have the message you did with Dj Mixer go out?”

I sigh remembering the message. She told me she would have a drone waiting for me to tell her to do it. It’s going to take maybe a day or so for whoever comes to get over here. It will give me that amount of time to get everything ready.

“I am not happy with what I am about to do. I am about to destroy a perfectly good water supply. It’s the only way I feel I can put Wheel Tread and his minions in their place. At least for the time being maybe, it will get whoever is leading the resistance to get off their ass and get into key places.”

Hitch signs as he sets his airship down in front of the main way into the town. I look around going through the town building defenses and I look over to Black Rain who singles me to come over. I walk over to the leader of the town tilting my head.

“What is going on?’

Black Rain looks around to make sure no one knows.

“I found a way to get those who won’t be staying out of here. I told them the canyon eels are having an early mating season. I have seen what you’re about to do with the water. It wouldn't be too far from the truth; it will attract them and destroy the water system.”

I glance at the defenses nodding.

“Only the ones who are staying know the truth. Have you convinced those who aren’t staying to leave and head to any place where they will be protected?”

Black Rain sighs nodding.

“Anys and her hatchlings are being forced to go. There is a large group leaving and you only have fifteen who are going to stay. Many of them are our crafters and some guards. I hope you know what you’re doing because I have a feeling we may never see any of them again.

I know the name of many of those who are staying. I trained some of those guards and many of them are willing to trust me. I glance at the drone which comes over me and I grab the drone tightly in my paws.

“Have you been playing the message yet?”

The drone takes a moment to speak.

“I am about to and it will play loudly through the entire land.”

I close my eyes, sighing hearing the PA system turn on static for a time coming over.

“Hi everyone. It's Dj Mixer. I had an interview with a camel known as Dunewalker at the station a few days ago. She wanted to explain some things to everyone. Now, this was almost a week to two weeks ago.”

The station goes into static for a moment.

“Hello everyone I am here with the one known as Dunewalker. She has much to say first though she has something to say which would upset many because she has to admit something.”

I took a deep breath during the interview.

“I am sure many of you heard rumors so long ago. Rumors about me infiltrating and breaking the spirits of those wishing to become heroes. I am going to be blunt, many indeed tried to fix this land. Ruby wasn’t the first one under Wheel Tread hoof I broke every hero who wanted to bring this land back to normal.”

I get many looks while this interview plays.

“I am going, to be honest with you I regret everything. The final straw oh yes the final straw when I met Ruby. A sweet creature who didn’t do anything wrong. I know her former friends are listening to this.”

________

The friends of Ruby and their loved ones.

On an island in a hospital, Cranberry tries to keep herself together without her wife around. Inaynga and Waterspout do their best to help. Before they help anymore a zebra trots in panting hard she gasps a bit from running so hard.

“Come.. outside listen to this.”

I glance at my two friends trotting out to part of Dunewalker's interview.

“I am going, to be honest with you I regret everything. The final straw oh yes the final straw when I met Ruby. A sweet creature who didn’t do anything wrong. I know her former friends are listening to this.”

I keep myself calm by looking at my two other friends who just sit beside me to listen. We aren’t the only ones whose loved ones are taking time from their jobs to listen.

“I have to do so much to say sorry to them all. Ruby, I can never say any words of sorry again. For she is dead. Even if she cocooned and returned like her kind is known to do. She wouldn’t be the same and just go back to her island. To protect herself just in case another threat shows up to cause more problems for her.”

I wanted to cry. I know Ruby is alive. Inaynga leans into me to keep me calm. I lay my head on her chest looking down at her swollen belly. It’s one of the things breaking down these days. Knowing my two friends have family and Iyanga with family on the way.

“Cranberry, what can I say about her.”

I lift my head listening to what Dunewalker is about to say.

“She is an enclave, you can’t trust them no matter what. At least it’s how I used to think so long ago. Cranberry is the mother who kept us together. She treated Ruby like her daughter. I didn’t understand it at first. Then I got to know her during the hardliner battle so long ago. She lost her family to the alliance attack”

I grunt feeling my anger building trying to forget about what the alliance and hardliner war caused.

“Then there is the zebra Inyanga. Camels have every right to dislike and hate zebras. The past zebras tried to enslave us. Even the ponies back during the war tried to do the same. It didn’t take long for us to put them in their place. But Inyanga even though I tried to kill her I look back on all that regretting it. She is a sweet young mare who didn’t do anything wrong like those before her.”

I glance over to Inyanga who is smiling.

“She is learning.”

I knew the next one was Waterspout. I take a deep breath knowing what she was about to say about her might be worse.

“The water Hunter, what do we know about them? Most forget they’re what remains of Nightmare Moon's old army. Most of them even forgot they were the ones who followed Luna into battle. Water Spout though a kind gentle creature who risked her life to surrender herself to Ruby and the others. If it was me or anyone else they would have killed her and never gave her a chance.”

Kludgetown I stand listening to my husband. I am not happy to hear Dunewalkers voice. I wish I could sigh or get upset. All I can do is listen to the bubbling in my brain dome. The two of us are just watching for Bray or more of Grogars minions.

“There are many friends of hers I could insult if I wanted to but I can’t. Hawk, what kind of fucking name is Hawk? Then I learned more about the mech with the brain in the dome. She is not a monster like most would think of her. She is just a former pony who did what she felt was right during the war. But instead, she was used as an experiment to turn her into what she is now. So I don’t blame her for why she is acting like she is.

I laughed robotically. She didn’t even have the guts to insult me. Then I realize some only do this when they’re about to fight to the death. Then I knew she was going to kill herself to get rid of the dunewalker curse. I remember talking to a camel years ago. They told me the only way to break the curse is to be close to death and yell your real name.

Before I could say anything our Grogar minion alarm rang. I run off with my husband to fight whoever we find since the entire town is now trying to get back to normal after what Ruby did to the place.

“What else can I say there are only three more I can talk about. One of them is Ruby. I am going to save her for last. Now the next one to speak about Tick Tock.”

In a village on the outskirts of everything not even engulfed in the storm, stands Hope. Hope is a village built by those who did what they can to bring hope to others. Stands one of their new guardians Tick Tock the clockwork mare.

I shifted a bit when Dunewalker said my name.

“I wish I could say what I thought of Tick Tock. But I can’t think of anything to say about her. She is the smarter of her friends and I wish I understood who she used to be before she turned into what she is. She refuses to even fight in this battle to come like the rest of their friends. Wheel Tread made a big mistake, something I never had the guts to tell the others.”

I am not sure why she is even doing this. Is she trying to prove something here? I look at the others who are listening.

“There is one more I can speak about Roll Roll, a good gentle giant who is now married to those who have lewd taste in jobs.”

The town known as Nirik was named after the Kirins who settled there so long ago. Many Kirins don’t understand why they left their old mountain. Most remember the war destroyed it and caused their old home to get destroyed.

I stood beside my two wives while they leaned into me and listened. They both laugh when she talks about their lewd jobs.

“I wish I could fix everything with these souls. Then Ruby… Oh, Ruby, I will tell you about the real Ruby, not the Ruby you saw when she started a war in Kludgetown or got brainwashed long enough to destroy how Nirik worked.”

Dunewalker sounds like she is crying.

“Ruby Glide, a gentle soul who came to this land by chance. The creation known as the Rainfall Project tossed her and her friends to this land. The project had an automatic system to go out to the ocean as many times as it could. It could only do so much and it caused the programming to go haywire and only take an amount and toss most of it to the land. By chance or fate, her boat got tossed to this desert.”

She goes silent for a moment and sounds sobs. Dj mixer's voice comes over in a second.

“I am sorry my friend, she is having trouble talking about this. I can understand why I met Ruby Glide, a gentle soul who didn’t want to cause any problems but the ones in our land never gave her the chance.”

Dunewalker finally allowed herself to regain her composure.

“She was a gentle creature. But this is all I can say about her. I didn’t have long enough to get to know her. Now to say why I did this interview. I live in a land surrounded by mountains. Soon only a few will be protecting the place along with me.”

There was a moment of silence then Dj MIxer speaks up

“Do you still work with Wheel Tread?”

Dunewalker chuckles

“I haven’t worked with him or for him for a long time now. The last time I think I would say I worked for him is when I tried to kill Inyanga. I have dropped all contact with him and I know when he hears this he will be pretty upset. Be very upset I am protecting a fresh area of water he would love to get his hooves on.”

____________

The eyes of the Storm King

I look up from writing in some contracts I have been working on the last few days. These contracts are to hire many of this alliance. I know full well Wheel Tread doesn’t trust any of them and is worried they will backstab him. If they do good for them he has become a fool and has no idea what the long game is. I am mostly listening to this interview with Dunewalker. I feel good for her because she broke off from the fool. I hear screaming and the door opening with a box being tossed in here.

“What’s wrong now?”

Wheel Tread growls.

“Dunewalker the bitch broke her contract with me. She always told me where I would find a good amount of water. Now she is doing this interview and I know the place she is talking about. I have had my eyes on it for a long time now and she dares to talk about it in this interview.”

I roll my eyes. I wish I could put Wheel Tread in his place. He has no idea how to handle this in the long game. I learned much during my last failure before I was shattered into many pieces. I look down at the orb in my chest. The orb keeps me alive and I feel it’s changing me more than I figure.

“So what are you going to do? Only three of the judges still listen to you. The others are doing their own thing. One of them vanished or was thought to be dead Beezen. So tell me what are you going to do hmm?”

Wheel Tread goes silent for a moment. I knew it would get him to think

“I know I will use your army and those three judges. Yes, I can see it now I crush whatever resistance comes our way.”

I set down the pencil and put my hands together staring at Wheel Tread. I close my eyes a moment thinking. I don’t know why I should even allow him to take any of my armies. Most of them I can’t even trust anymore since they wished for my return and they no longer care. I open my eyes.

“I will give you one platoon. I am not going to let you waste lives needlessly. You said you want to take over this land and how are you going to take over this land when the citizens of it don’t even trust you? The only reason they trust you is because of what you did to the hero. That is the only reason they even trust you right now. Because to them, you have an idea, unlike a hero.”

Wheel Tread growls. I lowered my head to look down at him and he was about to argue with me. I put my hand on his mouth staring down at him.

“Listen pony, I allowed you to bring me back. I allowed you to bring me back so I could handle this myself. Then I notice how you’re going about things will not win the hearts and minds of those you wish to rule over. You’re going about it how I used to go about it and I failed. You need to give them what they want and need instead of forcing your ideas on them.”

Wheel Tread uses his magic to pull my hand away.

“You have changed.”

A smirk of amusement creeps on my face. I wish I could be the same way I was all those years ago. It’s harder to be now since I do want to help this land. Even those who wish to fight me to win the hearts of the citizens of this land. When war happens it will cause more blood than help for this land. I know full well, Wheel Tread and Ruby Glide will be held in court, and knowing all three of us will be put to death. Ruby doesn’t deserve the treatment but they will need a scapegoat.

“Yes, after floating as a soul from body to body watching their views and ideas they tend to cling to you. Then you bring me back with Luna’s tears. The Howling dance has many minds within them of all those who had it over the years. You didn’t even touch it so you could wake up and learn the best way to help those of this land. Now get your army ready I will come and watch.”

Wheel Tread leaves to gather those who wish to fight with him. I turn around in my chair to turn on a screen. I wait for my commander to answer. She finally does. A large white mare stares at me through the screen.

“How can I help you, sir?’

A smile creeps across my face.

“Rot I got a request.”

The white mare tilts her head. I don’t understand why she calls herself Rot. She is very clean but her magic is strange. She is a necromancer but only uses it on those she feels deserve it.

“Wheel Tread is going to look for a commander of a platoon. I would like you to be the commander. My request is to make sure no children or the weak are killed. We can’t have bad press making it harder to win the minds and hearts of this land. So please make sure even the ones you fight till their end.”

Rot snickers.

“Wheel Tread failed now he wants to take over this land by force? Good luck some tried that in the past and the camels put them in their place. I think he should be worried about what the camels would do if he tried.”

I stand up from the screen.

“I am coming as well, Rot. I will be there to watch and maybe help those in need escape. To be honest I don’t know why I am acting like this. After killing Ruby I felt maybe I need to do this differently”

Rot signs.

“Master I haven’t been able to find any of the judges other than Crunch, Arabus, and his minion Zeb. As well as Lavan the others just seem to be doing their own thing now. Have they betrayed us?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“The others will be around if the heroes get their balls back and cause a final battle; it won't be easy with so many hearts we won. Of course, I won’t do anything to stop it. The one who wins the final battle will be the one with the biggest soul and the will. I will make sure if we lose though you and all my other troops don’t get put to death. I will make sure all the sins are aimed at me and Wheel Tread.”

Rot nods.

“I understand master.”

I sighed, shaking my head. Calling me master or king is in the past at least in my mind. If they wish to call me all of that they can. It's just not something I strive for these days. I turn off the monitor gathering my armor and my weapons knowing I may get some who wish to attack me. I am hoping if they attack me I won’t have to use these weapons on them.

I turn the sound up on the last bits of the interview.

“You believe you found a way to get rid of the Dunewalker curse forever?”

________________

Back to Dunewalker

“Yes, It’s not going to be a simple spell break. One has to be in their lowest moment and one then has to scream out their name. The spellbook which would house the old spell would burn. It will not only burn the spell but most of the spellbook.”

The interview comes to an end.

“I would have asked her more listeners but she didn’t stay long. She hugged me and told me she is sorry for destroying Ruby's life. I will be honest like I have said. Ruby was a kind gentle soul who didn’t deserve any of the treatment she got. But I know full well when the big battle we all know is coming. She is going to get a whole worse treatment if the leaders of this land have anything to say about it.”

DJ Mixer went silent for a few pregnant moments.

“I need to get some sleep. I will have my husband take over. He has been learning how to work all this. He calls himself Crazy Shell. He has been getting music recorded and many other things. He will wake me up if there is big news.”

She turns it over to some slow jazz music with only horns. Anys and I have been talking since the interview and I have a feeling she knows what is going to happen.

“I am sorry I am asking you to go with Black Rain, my love. You’re expecting and if you weren't expecting I would ask you to stay to fight.

Anys chuckles.

“Black Rain already ordered a lot of us to leave and head to Hard Rock or Hope if we can get past the storm shield. My first choice is Hard Rock or at least Peace Rock. I never noticed till now how the minds of this land have an awful choice in names of towns.”

The alarm sounds like it's the eel alarm and it normally means the eels have been found going through the sand. It will take longer for them to get here of course since the sand lions have joined the alliance and tried to kill the eels for us.

I lead Anys and our hatchlings to the gates with a big caravan of almost everyone. I look behind me seeing the fifteen who are going to stay and fight. A lot of them are camels I trained. One is a Kirin Blacksmith mare who wears heavy armor. The other is the furbob crystal blower. Then the rest are gentle camel souls who I know are going to die this day. I hope they won’t.

I give Anys and the little ones a kiss goodbye and I watch them leave. I turn to the others when they get out of sight.

“Alright, everyone, time to get ready.”

I know the judges who will be coming. I make sure the bottle to hold the cloud wizard is ready. I put the princess ponies' wands on a table to be ready for Lavan. I made sure I got everything. Looking at it all I put the bottle, the wands, and the hearthstone in my bag.

“Now these are warriors of the Storm King my friends. They will be led by Wheel Tread and the Storm King himself. Give them no mercy for you might not receive any. Now there are rumors the Storm King has become more mercy-giving than he used to be. If you face him don’t fight him, beg him to let you leave to rejoin your family. “

I look up into the sky the one pegasus mare we have with us. She is new to this community and she is willing to die for folks she barely even knows. She comes back down to land and she has a strange set of goggles she created to see far away.

“Dodade?”

The mare chuckles lifting the goggles to her forehead

“A small platoon of at least hundred fifty storm king minions with a mare leading them and the three judges. I don’t know how we will handle so many but I guess we got many traps waiting for them?”

I nodded and we got the traps ready. We have land mines we place around the area. Reddie places many traps worse than anything. He places glass bombs around the area. I head down to the water supply looking at the clear water. Placing hormone bombs around the area. Cra told me I just need to trigger them with some heat. I place down a remote bomb. When things start going south I will start it.

I look down at the pure clear water. I didn’t want to do this. I take out one of the potions from the lore keepers. I pour it into the water. The strange colored fluid puts a protective spell on the water. It’s to keep it pure. I then cast a spell to make sure no one but a lore keeper can touch it if anyone ever comes back in here.

Cra stands beside me looking at what I have done. I glance at her, blinking, turning my head to look at the mantis.

“I thought you would be leaving with the others.”

Cra shrugs her shoulders.

“I will be Black Rain asked me to return to make sure everything was all set up. I see you put a spell on the water to protect it. Dunewalker are you sure about all this? I could stay and take care of the wounded.

I shook my head.

“No Cra you’re the only one I trust with Anys and her coming hatchlings. I don’t trust any other doctor with my children.”

Cra smiles.

“I am happy you’re trusting me so much. I need to be going to catch up with the others. Did Black Rain tell you she made a deal with the Antlions if we don’t hear from you in twenty-four hours they will surround this area?”

I take a deep breath sighing. At least this place will be fully protected and no one will ever invade it again hopefully. I head back out and watch Cra put on a cloak the color of sand. She leaves the way she came. I look back and we are ready. I head onto the mountain top watching the army get closer as it was about to start.

__________

The hour is nigh.

It’s been at least two hours since I look down to the land below seeing the army make a camp. A mare walks up to the barricade we made with the Storm King not far behind her.

“My master wishes to speak to the leader of this small force.”

I walked down the mountain. It took me a few minutes to get to the barricade. I look down at Reddie and the others. I took a deep breath heading out knowing the far of my friends would stop me. I come up to the mare and the Storm King.

“You wanted to talk?”

The mare nods pointing her hoof to a private area away from the troops of both sides and Wheel Tread who is arguing with one Crunch the Rock dog. I follow the mare and the Storm King to the private area.

“Why do you wish to speak? I know the story of you Storm King, you're not one to talk and to have mercy.”

The king sighs, shaking his head. I knew I struck a nerve. He didn’t do anything though he looks at the commander.

“Go get us a table and some drinks Rot. This conversation may be a bit.”

Rot nods trotting off and comes back after a while with a tent one of the storm king minions sets it up and we both sit in a chair while the minion pours water into a cup. I take a sip from it and it’s not the best water.

“Miss Dunewalker, I need you to understand something. I may be evil but I do care for this land. My idea of taking over this land may not be for everyone. I want to bring back progress and my idea of it is doing it by force. Now I have had to make sure Wheel Tread no longer kills and murders those who don’t follow this idea. We need to win them over rather than kill them.”

I take a sip.

“I see, so it's true then the howling dance has changed you.”

The storm king nods.

“Yes, it’s true also I learned the truth after I killed Ruby. We ruined our chance to turn Project Rainfall on. There needs to be a strong friendship which will trigger the project to turn on and work correctly.”

I take a deep breath, sigh, and shake my head.

“I doubt Ruby and us were the ones to bring the water back. I fear the only ones who will ever bring back the water are those of pure love and friendship. Someday we may find them but it won’t be any of us heroes or villains to bring back the water.”

The Storm King nods.

“Yes, It’s going to be someone who has the will to have a pure friendship. I am sure you Ruby and the others had that friendship. I highly doubt it would have been enough though. These old Projects I have been hearing about are very crazy with what needs to be used. All I know from reading the old files.”

He sets down a folder of files he had with him.

“It was created in the name of Luna. To free her from the guilt of cursing the very land we are in. Now I need to warn you Dunewalker I will not fight in this battle but I can’t promise any of my soldiers or Wheel Tread will show any mercy. But Rot here will do what she can to pull out those close to death.”

I sigh, stroking my head.

“Well, why are you here then?”

The Storm King smiles. He shifts in the chair drinking the water.

“I am here to watch and to see if Wheel Tread can move back on being such a tyrant. Why are you willing to fight so hard for this land?”

I take a deep breath letting out a deep sigh.

“I had a sand dream. A sand dream that you and Wheel Tread killed my wife and my adopted children.”

Storm King laughs.

“I refuse to kill children. Wheel Tread is the one who has been doing all that craziness since he has been hearing stories of a hero who just recently showed up and saved a kingdom I used to control so long ago. Now I am sorry to cut this short but I must be going.”

I tilt my head watching the Storm King leave.

“What you aren’t going to ask for our surrender?”

He turns to look back at me.

“I know you camels, Dunenwalker. You have too much pride to surrender and I think you have something you need to prove I will be joining the battle but more to be a medic to those dying on both sides. Over the years I had some training and it’s what helped me gain many hearts and minds.”

He is not wrong. I got up from my chair before I could fully leave. The mare who is the commander of the army stops me.

“Just so you know the judges will be the first to attack. Storm King would like these judges to be put into their place. They cause many of the problems he is not wishing to deal with. The others are doing what they can to help rebuild and dig for water.”

I glance over at the three judges. Crunch the Rock dog, Lavan, and his lava demons. Then Erebus and Jeb. I don’t get why these three are still wanting to listen to Wheel Tread. I glance down at the mare.

“Is there a reason the others don’t want to fight?”

The mare nods.

“The flowies lost one of their own a year or so ago. The others don’t see the point of fighting anymore. They do know when the time comes some of them will be put down. I have a bad feeling though I heard stories that more judges are returning. Some judges never left Dream Valley and the king said more will come.”

Are more judges returning? I take a deep breath, sigh, and head back to the community. Hearing a shot ring out feeling a bullet hit me in my back. I groan in pain. I turn my head to see Wheel Tread lifting the gun in his magic.

“ATTACK!!”

He screams I get back into the barricade to hide behind there. Many bullets fly hitting the protection. I groan looking at the wound. It’s time to get ready for the invasion of the judges. I go quickly to get my bag and wonder who will be first. Since they have high egos and will do anything to destroy this community.

I grab the wands knowing from Lavan’s ego he will come in first. I look back to see my friends now fighting for their lives. I know full well I may never see any of them again. Lava comes over the barricade and many run away trying not to get burned. One of the ponies I have never learned of their name burns to death all that is left is his burning flesh.

__________

Lavan and his minions

I made sure the others weren't around while they fired on the troops. We were now down from fifteen to fourteen. The others did their best to make sure they didn’t get hit by any of the bullets flying.

Before I could do anything the little lava demons surrounded me tossing lava at me and it hit the metal bits of my body. Thankfully, I didn't feel any pain. I didn’t know the best way to fight them. They’re like every other being. I grab my sword slicing down into them. The runes on my blade glow. The lava demons scream since the rune magic causes more problems for them than I expected.

This is a bit too easy. Why aren’t they all attacking at once? Then I figured out why rainbow magic grabs me and tosses me away into the wall. Lavan laughs loudly and I groan trying to get back up. It wasn’t easy groaning.

“Feel the power, little camel.”

I grunt

“You have more troops than we do. Are you judges so full of yourselves? Is Wheel tread your master so stupid to notice many of his troops are going to get killed?”

I get up finally grabbing my sword and charging at the large Lava demon and the others who are still alive back away. I smash my rune sword into his crystal body. He laughs even though my sword causes his body to crack.

“Feel the power!!”

He fires more rainbow magic at me. I lift my sword and it hits the sword causing it to heat up. Now I can do it while he keeps forcing his magic into the sword. I look over to Reddie who comes over grabbing the wands and lifting them all to the beam of magic. The wands hit the magic and the entire area explodes with magic. I fly back and Redde hits the wall not far from me. But his left leg was mangled and broken.

The wands float there glowing in magic. Lavan laughs loudly.

“Ah, the Princess ponies wands. Too bad you have no idea how to use the magic.”

I watch while ponies from the wands hold them in their mouths. A pink mare with a red tail and blue mane. I read up on the princess ponies before I did all this. She is known as Princess Primrose the earth pony stands staring at Lavan. She uses her wand to summon a gust of wind to cause the other lava demons to fly away from the strong winds.

“WHAT?!”

The lava demon lord screams.

Then with another wand another earth pony forms. She is blue with a red mane and tail and from the name Princess Royal blue. She lifts her wand causing snow and ice to form to cool the lava around us.

I groan standing up while one of the lava demons tries using his lava powers but the cold keeps it from being used. I reach into my bag knowing I need to drink the potion. While all this is going on I drink down the potion of dreams. Feeling an odd taste though it will take a while to take effect.

The next princess pony forms Princess Serena from one of the wands. I am guessing they placed a little bit of themselves in the wands. She turns to look at me with a weak smile on her face holding the wand tightly. Making a second of herself to go around and help those wounded.

The next mare formed a unicorn mare this time a blue color and dark blue looking. She holds her wand. Princess Sparkle, I feel sorry for these mares. This might be the last battle they ever see. Sparkle uses her magic to form a bunch of plants blocking the way into the community. Heavy vines block the area for the time being.

Another mare forms the other magic wand. There is one more after the yellow mare forms holding her wand. I read about this mare's power. Her name is Princess Starburst and she only can change the colors of birds. So her abilities are useless.

“NO NO!!! You should be dead, all of you should be dead!!”

Lavan fires his magic at the princess ponies and a magic shield keeps them from getting hurt. He screams the anger growing from his hate for these ponies. These ponies have been thorns on his side for years.

The last and final mare forms from her wand. A pegasus a white pegasus, her wand hovers beside her. She looks over at me with a weak smile forming on her face. She looks back at Lavan.

“Years ago Lavan you killed me and the others. You did so much to destroy the ponies of old. Now it’s time for your judgment oh so-called judge. Girls it was wonderful seeing you again maybe this time. We will end up in the land after we see each other again.”

They all nod to her. The magic music plays around us and the princess mares sing starting witPrincessss Tiffany.

“It’s been a long hard road. For we have traveled a long hard road.”

She grabs her wand, swinging it around to form powerful magic. Powerful magic to do whatever they will as their judgment The next to sing is Princess Starburst

“The long hard road. A road we never should have been down. Our battle was lost so long ago. It’s time to fix our mistakes and fix our biggest mistake.”

She grabs her wand swinging it around like Tiffany. The spell building my fur stands on end. I look at the plants keeping the storm King minions at bay. I know when lavan is gone the next judge will come in.

“Oh the ponies of old are now gone and we see their world destroyed. We didn’t use to be friends, we joined to fight you, Lavan. Then you used our hate and anger towards each other. You killed us and the last will of our spirit will see us get judged.”

Princess Sparkle sang the wand floating in her magic. She swings it while her horn and the wand glow brighter. I feel the burning in my back. I am starting to feel the bullet that was fired into me hold a bit of poison. I don't know how long I have to live.

“Oh, I miss our old land, the magic of pony land, and the wonderful creatures wishing to help us make it live. Oh so much is gone so much is forgotten in the name of war. Oh so much can happen.”

Princess Royal Blue sang swinging her wand in her mouth casting an ice spell and it covers and goes into the bullet wound. To at least slow the poison from leaving the bullet and entering the rest of my body. At least I hope it works but it keeps it from burning too much.

“This is our last dance. The last time we went on this long road. It’s time to sing, it's time to dance.”

Princess Serena sings, grabbing the wand and doing the same as the others. The last two mares Starburst and Primrose grab their wands while they all sing the song together one last time.

“For we have traveled a long hard road. We are friends now and it’s time for our end. Here we go to our last dance. It has been a long hard road and we are here together in our last song.”

The song ends and the mares fire a great amount of magic at Lavan. He screams in pain and falls apart. The lava demons scream running away. He falls apart in pieces and the princess ponies drop their wands while the wands turn to dust sparkling into the wind flying back home from what I am sure. The others slowly vanish and the only one standing, for now, is Tiffany.

“He is sadly not gone for good and we are sorry we couldn’t do more for you. We gave you at least a year or two. He will reform thankfully be a ton weaker and not able to do the powers he once did. I have one last question before I go to see my friends.”

I tilt my head.

“What is that?”

She takes a deep breath.

“What happened to Ponyland?’

I shrug my shoulders.

“From the story, I have heard the destruction of the Flutter Valley caused the entire land to die. I wish I could say more to you about it. I am sorry.”

Tiffany smiles as she vanishes with the others going wherever ponies like her go when they fully die. The wind blows causing what is left of Lavan to fly into the wind. The wind is spreading him apart so it may take longer for him to get back together. I groan knowing we don’t have time to rest. I look around to see there are many still alive. They’re taking this time to rest and help the wounded.

A roar from behind the plants.

“I hate plants”

I know the next one we will be fighting Crunch the rock dog. I have no idea how we are going to fight him. The heartstone I doubt has the power it used to. I grunt, feeling the poison coursing through my body.

I go to Redde to check his pulse, happy he is alive. I look over to the new pegasus.;

“Dodade come over here please.”

The mare trots over looking at me then at Redde.

“Take him to Hard Rock or whatever is closer, make sure he lives, and please don’t return yourself.”

Dodade frowns, sighing.

“I do want to fight with you. But from what I learned about camels you will tell me no. Can you help him please?”

I nod helping Redde onto the mare. I make sure he is tied to her so he won’t fall to the ground while she flies.

“Whatever you hear when you leave, don't look back.”

Dodade nods flying into the air to get out of the community and I know the time is coming. I click a timer I had with me starting the bomb in the cavern below to release the hormones to cause the eels to take over the cavern and this land.

Crunch the rock dog breaks through the trees and before anyone could react he turns two of my guards into stone. Thankfully he won’t shatter them and he laughs while the others run. We don’t have many left and I got to keep this up till Wheel Tread comes at me like in my sand dream.

_____________

Crunch the Rock dog.

The giant stone dog stands over me. I gulp deeply having no idea how to fight this creature. All I can think of is getting to the heart in my bag. I doubt I would have much time to do so. This creature is quick for a giant stone dog.

“Hmm in the old days, I would just turn you to stone. But I will give you a chance if you can crack my body. I will leave the others alone.”

I was flabbergasted at this. This creature was made to bring love and life to many things back in Ponyland but instead, the creator didn’t see him turning evil. I have to give the others a chance to at least get out. I doubt they will get out quickly enough. Grab my large sword grunting in pain from the poison coursing through my veins.

I close my eyes, lifting my sword and chanting making the runes of the sword glow brightly. I swing right into the body of Crunch of the Rock dog. No matter how hard the sword hits it bounces off him and it cracks just a little bit.

He laughed loudly. I knew I would never be able to harm this big composing creature. So I must do what I can think of. I quickly try running to get to my bag. I feel him touch me but for some reason, I don’t turn to stone. I feel some sort of magic fight turning me to stone. I am still in heavy pain from the feeling of it and coughing up stone dust out of my lungs.

“You should be stone!! Why didn’t you turn to stone?!”

I open my bag coughing more of the stone dust-up. Oh god, it hurts. I feel some parts of my insides hard as a rock though. I do know it won’t be easy to live with all that. I bring out the heart stone. Crunch the Rock dog sees the stone, his eyes open wide in fear.

“The heartstone!!”

The stone dog charges right at me. I have no idea how to fight this creature. I quickly get out of the way and try to use the stone heart. He smashes me with the back of his paw and I fly into the wall, others get in the way as he stomps on the ground causing them to fly. Thankfully none of them got hurt, only my pride.

He comes into stomp on me and hits the heartstone hard. The stone glows brightly. I have no idea what is going on. I hear groaning anger and the stone glows brightly while Crunch backs up others using their weapons to fight him but the bullets just bounce off him.

“How dare you, my creation. You didn’t only destroy me and the creations of old of that beautiful land now you wish to harm the last remnants of me the Mountain Eminence your creator. I can only do so much to weaken you oh judge.”

The stone floats into the air glowing brightly. I wish I was stronger and did not need these powerful creations to fight my battles for me. My ego may be bruised that I have to force myself into a corner with these old magic items. The heart glows brighter to the point it’s blinding then smashes powerful magic into Crunch and he turns into a frozen stone dog.

“I wish I could have done more, I only had so much power. I will finally die and Crunch will be weaker in a few years. All those he turned to stone over the years will start to come out of their prisons. I am so sorry I wish I could do more and explain who I used to be.”

I glance up at the heart looking over to Crunch, his eyes still moving staring at me. I could hear a growl.

“When I get out of here you will be my first target!”

The heart breaks into many smaller stones. All that is left is pure rocks where they lay. Another creation or creature of old has gone and died because of the past. I stand up groaning, coughing up more stone dust.

Before I could do anything the blacksmith mare I made friends with within this town pushed me out of the way quickly. I quickly turned, seeing the metal jaw mare getting her shadow taken and placed inside the satchel the zebra who works with Erebus steals.

“Oh, too bad the camel she saved you. Don’t worry no one has ever died from their shadows being stolen.”

I glance at Metal Jaw the mare is so weak she can’t even move she is moping unable to do anything. She turns her head to look at me trying her best to stand up. I am starting to see what happens when they go into a deep depression and get sick.

“Listen zebra, you and your master aren’t as strong as the others I just took on.”

Zeb laughs.

“Oh come on girly you had to use magic weapons to take those two on. You didn’t do anything so I doubt you have the guts to take me and my master on.”

I try to do a rebuttal but before I could say anything I feel a great charge of magic filling the air. A dark laugh knowing Erebus is next.

_______________

The cloud wizard Erebus and Zeb.

I grunt. I don't know how long the battle has been going on. I look over to who is left. There are some left fighting off the storm king soldiers and they’re doing pretty good. Why they aren’t just charging in maybe it’s because the Storm King asked them to not charge in.

“Ah feed me the shadows you have been stealing over the years, my little zebra friend.”

Over the years? He hasn't been feeding Erebus at all these last few years? I watch in horror while he turns on the satchel and shadows fly out screaming and some are crying like they’re souls. While the cloud monster grabs them, eating them and laughing while it causes him to grow.

I look over to Zeb. I quickly grab my shotgun from the hilt of my sword aiming at Zeb and when I fire he uses the satchel to protect himself and the entire bag is destroyed. Causing the leftover shadows to leave and return to whoever they were taken from. Metal Jaw's shadow returns to her she stands up grabs a sword and charges at Zeb to fight him the two fight while the main target for me is the cloud wizard.

The cloud wizard uses a spell to surround me with clouds. I am unsure what to do. A camel guard I trained pushes me out of the clouds and I watch the camel get charred to a crisp. All of them are working to save me. I understand why I need to make it to the battle with Wheel tread. I grunt, getting on my paws and putting my shotgun back into the hilt of my sword. I need to weaken the wizard to trick him into getting him into the bottle.

The wizard stares at me. He forms a magic sword in his hand and he laughs. I lift my sword and he notices many magic runes forming across the blade. He smears at the powerful magic I weld from runes of old.

“Come on wizard of the clouds you git. I don’t need shadows to make myself stronger. You also killed one of the camels I trained. I plan on doing it to you wizard.”

I look over at Metal Jaw and Zeb fighting the mare has the upper hoof and causing Zeb to run. Erebus flies at me and our blades smash into each other. His lighting blade sprays electricity around causing many of the buildings around us to catch on fire.

I feel the potion slowly making me drift into the dream world so I can talk to Ruby. I must hang on till this battle is over. I need to be closer to death before I can scream my name. I feel Erebus's sword stab into my side. I scream feeling it burn my insides. I groan, kneeling, grabbing my side, and dropping my sword. The cloud wizard laughs.

“I am an all-powerful wizard, little camel. You can’t hope to stand up to me, you're nothing!!”

He is just sitting there?

“Um, master?!”

Erebus turns to look to see Metal Jaw and the Zeb fighting the poor Zebra is getting his ass kicked and has been stabbed many times. He turns to get ready to help his minion. Before he could I grabbed my sword chanting a spell stabbing into his cloud form he screamed. I quickly grabbed the magic bottle from my bag, opened the cork, and chanted the spell to suck him inside. Forcing the cork on standing up groaning, and dropping the bottle.

Zeb retreats leaving the bag behind and I groan. I drop the bottle barely able to stand up. Metal Jaw trots to me. I finally see how many are left. It's only four and most of them are those I know the name of.

“Metal Jaw go the back way out. Take who is left alive and get to Hard Rock. Take the bag and the bottle with you. There is a captain named Hitch out there and his airship. Please go and don’t look back.”

Metal Jaw wanted to argue with me but the zebra mare shakes her head and they agree. I watch them leave and the army that is left finally comes in. I grunt surrounded by the troops who are left. The pony commander is known as Rot. The Storm King and Wheel Tread I grunt barely standing leaning on my sword. I heard the airship quickly fly off I feel relief they got away.

“So Dunewalker”

I don’t let him talk. I need to get this done quickly. I charge at him as the army lifts its weapons. The Storm King shakes his head no Rot makes sure they don’t use them. While Wheel Tread lifts his sword to block mine. His weak body is unable to handle much of my attack. I feel a bullet hit me in the back groaning deeply. I fall onto the sword while it keeps me up.

“Are you that dumb Dunewalker? You’re here about to die and I could save you, my dear friend.” He lifts my chin with his magic. He stares into my eyes. I look into the eyes of the one who I worked for so long.

“Now tell me, are you going to stop fighting? Let me take over this land and let me have all the water?”

It’s finally time I feel it in the back of my head. I reach with my metal paw grabbing a knife I know I had with me for years just for this. I stab the knife right into his chest. It's a serrated knife. With the chair he’s in keeping him alive will be a great amount of pain. He groans and fires his gun at me again. I fall to the sand, my blood draining from my wounds.

Finally, I hear the voices of the Dunewalkers before me.

“Say your name..”

“Say the name you were born with.”

“Say your name, it's power.”

I finally hear my name, the one my mother called me when I was born. I finally screamed.

" JEWEL!!”

I scream loud enough. My name on my sword finally changes. I finally dream feeling myself drift.

__________

The dream world.

I wake up in a room calling for Ruby.

“Ruby, please I need to talk to you.”

Ruby turns to look at me.

“Yes, my queen?”

I must look like her race's creator Majesty. I hold her little legs and smile at her.

“I treated you so badly my friend. I wish I could go back and do things differently but I don’t have much time. Please forgive me for what I have done”

Ruby tilts her head.

“But my queen, I have already forgiven you for most of what you have done.”

I laugh weakly.

“I know you have my little Ruby. I know you have.

I groan outside the dream. I can see at least a bit of the Storm King hovering over me lifting a gun to fire at me. He fires and My word goes black.

I watch while my master the Storm King shoots his gun at Wheel Tread to keep him from harming the camel more.

“She beat you, Wheel Tread gave it up.”

Wheel Tread groans trying to pull the knife out of his chest.

“She is dying now, at least come let's see how pure this water is.”

Before we could go into the cavern full of water. The ground shakes and the houses crumble to dust and we hear screaming and roaring as Eels break through the ground. My master does what he can to move Dunewalkers body to a safe place. Setting her down in the sand after we retreat while many of our soldiers protect us by dying. All that is left is at least fifty of our soldiers out of a hundred fifty.

The Storm King looks over to me, setting the motionless body of Dunewalker down in a shaded away.

“We can’t allow her dead body to be eaten, come let's get the fool back and see if we can get that knife out of him.”

I nod looking at the army swinging my hoof for them to follow. We go off with one of the soldiers pushing Wheel Tread since with each step we take he keeps trying to fire on the poor camel. His pride must have been hurt.

___________________

The aftermath

Pinda in his office would look at the name of Dunewalker and change it to the name Jewel he stares at the name tears stream down his face he looks down at the name putting his paw on the paper.

“Pinda what does this mean?”

He looks over to Porchina, a weak smile forming across his face.

“The Dunewalker curse is broken; it means she is dead.”

He sobs softly and Porchina hugs her friend.

“Why the tears?”

Pinda smiles weakly.

“She proved to herself now that her family will not be banished like she was. She should have never been banished, to begin with, just my kind being too harsh to a Dunealker.”

Roll Roll cooks dinner for his wives he has a sudden feeling about what happened. They were close; their friendship may have been broken many times over. He feels tears falling from his eyes sighing.

“I am happy for you my friend you broke the curse.”

He said softly to himself

In Kludgetown Hawk is standing guard by an old guard post that has many names on it. One of them is Dunewalker. She turns her cam seeing the name of Dunewalker vanishing and changing to her real name.

“She broke the curse. I wish I was kinder to her and cursed my emotionless brain.”

Many doubted she would cry but her husband saw her leak some blood from her dome like she was crying. On the island, the three friends feel what came over them. Inyanga didn’t say a word, she just lowered her head. Water Spout didn’t know the feeling but when she saw Cranberry crying. She knew something happened that was amazing.

“She did it. I wish I could say sorry to her.”

In the lore keeper cave, they watch while the book burns which holds the Dunwalker curse they don’t do anything and let the book just burn. The ink keeper stands there watching the book burn and she looks over to the others.

“She did it. She did it the Dunewalker line is no longer cursed.”

Maerifa the master of the keepers goes to the cube to kneel and pray to it. She has tears fall down her eyes.

“She is finally free I hope she walks on the path of the stars wherever she went”

The order of mimic camels who has been helping Dunewalker the entire time stands outside of Hard Rocks church and a smile forms across her face.

“You did it, my old friend may Mimic bless your path.”

It is now a very silent time over the desert. The army of Wheel Tread and the Storm King has had a big defeat big enough to cause more of the resistance to get into key points of Wheel Treads' army and other places same with the Alliance. They’re using this to get ready for the final battle. They all hope Ruby will return soon or another hero will rise in her stead.

Six months later in the city of Hard Rock, a statue of the camel Dunewalker is in the middle of town. Her name changed to her real name. Pinda stands in front of the statue while many of the creatures and ponies of the town have done everything they can to protect Anys, her hatchlings, and the little ones she and Dunewalker mixed with male sperm cells to make an egg. She is showing now and about to lay the egg.

“We are gathered here for the one known as Desert Jewel formerly known as Dunewalker. We have welcomed her widow and her family here to honor her. We had to tell her the truth about what Dunewalker was doing to free her family from the curse. I wish we could have stopped her but now the Dunewalker curse will never have another soul again.”

Anys holds her stomach and her hatchlings close to her. They gave her Dunewalker's old home; it hasn't been easy for her Black Rain and the others did their best to help. Cra is doing all she can to make Anys happy while she mourns her wife. Far from all this, a drone from DJ Mixer flies through the ruined town of the exiles some of the eels have left or made a home.

When she gets to the spot she is told Dunewalkers body was placed. All the drone sees is an imprint of the body and it was dragged away a while ago. The prints she sees since there hasn't been a sandstorm these last few months.

______

Six months before

I look around at the destruction of the town and I lift the metal object on my leg talking to it.

“Maria, Deco, do you two see anything?”

Maria lifts her cam eye to look at me and shakes her head. Deco comes out of a camera and the pink Ai pony looks around frowning. Seeing all the death and the wounded. She looks up at me with a weak smile.

“I am sorry Rose, I don't see anything.”

I look over at my friends.

“Drift, do you see anything?”

The dark pegasus lands shrugging her shoulders. The orb in her chest glowed bright red showing her anger since we all knew Dunewalker well. We hear the roaring and look over to June charging into one of the younger eels and goring it she laughs snorting.

“June we are here to look for Dunewalker not to fight.”

June stares at me.

“Oh come on Rose I just need a little fun.”

Before I could make a witty retort to the buffalo I am cut off by another voice.

“Guys over here.”

The three of us trot to see Bowser over the body of the camel. He has his claws on her neck and looks into her with her eyes. He looks back up at me nodding.

“Come let's get her to Peace Rock, maybe they can make use of the body.”

We lift the camel onto Junes' back and we walk away. I look back at the place she made her last stand. I feel bad for my old friend. I look at the camel seeing her eyes open to stare at me. I believe she is still alive somewhere if the story she told me is true. Then her spirit is destroying what is left of the Dunewalker curse within her body and she is winning.

A letter is written to the keepers

“Many of our spells connected to the Dunewalker have all been burned. It means she broke the curse as she said she would. She deserved it and I hope we see her again. Now that her spirit is free from the curse she can finally take over her body and become who she is meant to be. I told this to her wife. I also told her it’s a camel thing and I warned her it may be a while before the spirit fully takes over.”

The writer takes a while to think a door opens up and he looks over to see Melody come in.

“Beezen Ruby has been having trouble ever since that dream Duneawlker invaded. Can you give me something to help her please?”

Beezen chuckles.

“Maybe you should just give her your love that could get her to sleep.”

Melody giggles.

“Okay, Beezen I was hoping for some warm milk or something.”

I sigh deeply.

“Unless we find an island before we get to the destination I doubt there would be any warm milk.”

Melody sighs leaving the room as I finish writing the rest of the note. Sending it to the keepers with my magic looking out of the port window thinking things are coming to a head sooner than I was hoping. It’s going to be at least another year before we make it to Dream Valley and a year before we get back.

“Oh stars of old if only you were awake now we could win this war here and now but you have been missing for so long now. We will find you, my old friends, we will find you and finally see who is the strongest, the stars of hunger or the stars of love.”

Footnote: Max Level

Perk added

Dunewalker curse: The Dunewalker curse is broken and the Dunewalker is dead; her fate is now known to many who knew her. Desert Jewel when her spirit fully takes over will remember all her memories and many things she did in the past. She will have to accept what she did under the curse.

Dunewalker arc is complete. Next back to Ruby.

Next Chapter: Chapter Forty-Five: The next part of the journey [Back to Ruby] Estimated time remaining: 19 Hours