Ruby had a dream recently that she believes Dunewalker is dead. I for one highly doubt that even if some of the spellbooks. They would only burn if the curse for the Duneawlker is broken so it means Dunewalker is dead but not the real soul or the body. We are having a bit of an issue right now ourselves.

We have been in this vessel for almost a few months and many of us are starting to feel that we have cabin fever. The only thing keeping Ruby from losing herself is Melody. Now Gem told us there is an island on the way to the Upholi kingdom. On the island, we can refill our food, get out for a bit, and relax.

I hear a knock on the door.

“It’s open.”

Melody opens the door coming inside. She sighs, turning her head to look at me and then back out the door.

“She won’t talk to me. She is very upset and something is bothering her since there is no pure magic on this flying ship. She feels she is trapped and I think it’s the hormones from the eggs forming inside her.”

I nod.

“I think she is starting to see no matter what she does for the land we are returning to in a year or so. They will turn on her and expect her to take the fall for the mistakes of the leadership. I wish I could tell her it won’t end that way. But even I know many of them will turn on her. It’s the way of things.”

Melody sighs.

“Will I lose her?”

I shook my head.

“No, I will make sure of it, Melody. She may have to give up those little ones growing inside and let her friends of old and the others she brings with her raise them. Another group of friends she makes will have to give up and move on to land who has no idea who she is.”

Melody smiles weakly.

“She did tell me she had to change her look for a bit and change her name. She then told me the body color change and changes in her body will become permanent if she talks to someone known as Glendo. She will go through a short cocoon change to change her body just a bit and her color. Then she will choose the name. So I will still have my wife to come just upset. It's going to happen.”

I stroke my head, sighing.

“It’s not easy to understand your soon-to-be wife's species. When is the wedding since I am told she asked you to marry her recently?”

Melody snickers.

“She told me the first place we land is when we will get married. She doesn’t know Gem is going to land us at an old trading post she went to back during the war. I know nothing about this place. Gem said she has been here and it's easy to be tossed out for doing the little of offenses.”

I laugh softly. Then it hit me a port used during the war. Oh, Junk Island I know of the place..it's a weird place. They will learn about it themselves.

“I am happy she found love with you Melody. It’s too bad she couldn’t find love with Scaled Wing. I wish I stopped him from doing what he did to her. He told me it was a normal thing with his species. Even if that is so he forced so much on her and if I confronted him about it he would just go it’s a magic eater thing.”

Melody frowns; she shifts on her hooves, spreading her wings and folding them to her side.

“I am not angry she is going to lay these eggs and she knows they won’t be ours. She knows she may never be able to watch them grow up. She knows full well the only way to protect the rest of us and to protect you. Is to take the fall with The Storm King and Wheel Tread. I am not happy with it. Since she will never be able to show her face in Widowmaker ever again.”

I nod opening my book to show Melody the vows for the both of them.

“I wrote your vows.”

Melody uses her wings to read them.

“Oh, Beezen, these are beautiful vows. Can I make them mine and tell her I wrote them please?”

I laugh nodding.

“Go ahead I wrote some even for her and she asked me the same thing. Just don’t tell her I told you her magic eater pride would make her upset.”

Melody giggles.

“I won’t Beezen thank you so much. Do you think getting married to me will help her get over some of her problems and anger issues?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know if our new friends are getting used to her mood swings. I told them this is normal for her species to be high strung even when they aren’t holding eggs in them.”

Melody sighs, shaking her head.

“Ruby thinks something is wrong with me if I don’t have my makeup on. She said ``I know I am happy and not upset when I have my eyeshadow and makeup if only she knew I worry about her.”

I chuckle softly.

“Melody I think the reason she saids that it shows the true you. You want to be beautiful for the one you pine for. Even if she is a bug, not a pony I am sure if your family was still alive they would take a big issue to her.”

Melody shifts on her hooves again.

“I think they would take a bigger issue to me being a lesbian. It was not because oh I am attracted to other females. To my family, continuing our line was above all. If we didn’t have a female or male wanting to extend our line my parents and their parents before them didn’t take kindly to it. Now they did accept it but the looks they would give to make you feel guilty would stop with me or my brother.”

I shudder a bit. Sadly, some families don’t care for the choices of those who come after. I can understand with everything that happens during the war extending the family line is always a wise idea.

“Let's go get something to eat Melody. What was Ruby up to when you left?’

Melody looks back outside my door.

“She was asleep crying about Duneawlker. Felt she should have been there and tried to save her. I doubt she could have saved Dunewalker.”

I sigh standing up.

“She can’t save everyone, Melody. She is going to learn that many times even when we get to Dream Valley. Being a hero is not sunshine and rainbows. She is learning it the harder way now and it’s not something I hoped she would learn. She learned many of them in the land she was trying to save are not going to even forgive her when she dies of old age.”

Melody nods. I follow her to the mess hall. Many of us have been stuck in this airship. It’s been a while since we had fresh air or were allowed on the docks. Since we are flying through toxic air. From what Gem told me an old weapon ship sank here and it mixed poorly in this area of the water. It for some reason only affects this area.

I look around seeing many of the ship workers who keep this flying city running. The gardeners ignore what is going on. The guard's patrol is trying to make sure everyone stays calm. It’s getting harder to stay calm though. We sit on the stools and Mellow looks at us from her kitchen.

“Ah, there is the mare of the hour. I am getting your cake ready. It's going to take longer than expected. We need to land. I can't use too much power to get it cooked while we fly.”

I forgot that flying through this toxic fog is causing the fans to run hard to make sure we don’t breathe in these fumes. It’s causing more problems for a lot of other things we use here. Thankfully the bathrooms and showers don’t need much power.

“Well, when we land we will do the wedding right now though. Beezen and I would like something to eat. Have you or the others been able to fish?”

Mellow shifts on her many legs flapping her wings and looking through her icebox.

“Hmm, we have a lot of meat left before we leave. I know ponies don’t eat meat. So I could make you a carrot sandwich if you want Melody.”

Melody orders everything veggie including a veggie drink. I ordered a meat burger and a beer. It’s been a while since I just splurged like this and relaxed.

“So Mellow have you been able to accept my wife to be as one of your species?”

Mellow looks over to Melody smiling at least I think it was a smile. I can’t tell still Melody can tell but it’s harder for me to understand the emotions of magic eaters. I am starting to wonder if I will ever learn how they feel.

“Yes, I can Melody. How she has treated you and how she goes out of her way just to make you smile shows me she no longer is under the control of Wheel Tread. I do worry though what will happen when we get back if there is any lingering control over her.”

The melody shifts a bit on the stool.

“I agree with you. I worry about it too if she is still under his control. I have checked every inch of her and…”

Melody's cheeks glow brightly from a heavy blush forming. Mellow laughs loudly. I have a feeling she walked right into all that.

“You caught yourself this time Mel.”

Mellow laughs.

“Oh, hush you have said worse about the stuff you do to your husband.”

Mellow giggles setting down our food. The PA system comes on.

“Hello, everyone letting you know we are almost out of this deadly fog. Before we get to our destination we will be landing in the water to clean the ship and make sure we don’t have any lingering issues. We will need to check our food, drink, and everything else before we head on.”

Melody sighs.

“I wish the food Rassie and his kingdom gave us didn’t turn out to be older than he expected.”

Melody eats her sandwich.

“I think more of the issue is it’s going to take a while to get his city back to normal Melody. If I stayed I would have been able to help more. But Ruby and her new friends will need me. Their friendship is blossoming and it will never be enough to get rainfall to rain down on the land.”

Mellow shifts on her many legs leaning on the counter.

“Tell me Beezen how is our bird friend handling this trip?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I haven’t seen her. Gem feels she would handle this trip better if she was left alone for the time being. So we gave her a room where she can relax and read up on what happened during the passing of so many years.”

The pa system comes on again.

“We are out, we will give it another hour and then land on the water. We will give the air system a rest while we try to get to our destination on the water. All hands are ready just in case the air system overheats and shuts off.”

I glance at the crew and others getting ready.

“We have been flying for almost three weeks in that fog of acid. I am amazed it took so long just to get through it. I wonder if anyone has even tried to go through that acid or whatever causes it and see what is below.”

Mellow shrugs her shoulders.

“I got my first job as a cook on a traders ship. We went through many trials and many problems. One of the biggest problems we faced is old warships of both sides still holding weapons which haven’t been used.”

I tilt my head. I never understood this. Old warships still around full of their ammo? Oh, that is a problem. I have also been hearing stories of other ships and wrecks full of weapons of old never used and hopefully will never be found again.

The PA system sounds again.

“We will be going down to the water sooner than I thought. The flying system is overheating. It's full of ash and poisons and we need to push everyone out of the ship for a while to clean the system. So vacation on the top deck everyone while we clean up. Warning the landing may get bumpy, do your best to keep lost objects from flying around.”

Mellow sighs.

“Great, can you two help me?”

Melody nods, finishing her food. She quickly flies over the counter to get into the kitchen making sure everything lost is taken care of. I get over the counter making sure all the cabinets are locked and ready to handle the landing.

“We will be heading for a landing into the sea in about ten..”

I watch while everyone else runs grabbing on things and I am sure Gunpowder is cussing. We feel the airship dipping a bit and an alarm ringing. I watch out a window seeing the water coming up pretty quickly. I closed my eyes feeling the airship hit the water pretty hard. The entire inside of the ship shakes and groans. We hear some steam hissing and pipes bursting and soon after everything calms while steam hisses. I lift my head before I could do anything. A steam pipe swings hitting me hard, my entire world going black.

_____________

Ruby

I am thrown from the bed after being rudely woken up. I hit the hardwood floor hard and I groan. I slowly get back on flapping my wings to hover. The PA system comes on.

“Sorry for the hard landing into the water. Please get to the deck of the airship and get some fresh air. We will not be flying for a while till everything is fixed. Our destination will still be the same for a few hours. Now please forgive us if any of you are hurt.”

Wait, we landed? I know we were stuck in some strange old weapon. I fly out of the room hearing groaning and seeing doctors helping the hurt get to the upper levels. I notice Beezen is one of them.

“Ah, there is my buggy.”

I turn my head to see Melody.

“Love, I got many questions first. Why is Beezen hurt and why are you wearing a hat. I know it’s not yours.”

Melody removes the hat from her head and chuckles.

“It landed on my head after the landing. It belongs to Gunpowder. A pipe in the kitchen broke off and smacked him in the head. I am sure you felt the landing into the water wasn't pretty.”

I let out a deep buzzing sigh. I feel trapped enough in this place. I don’t need it crashing down somewhere and then making me feel it’s going to get destroyed when it lands. At least it sounds like everyone is doing alright.

“I am going to go check on our Panna friend to make sure she is alright.”

Melody nods, heading out I head deeper into the ship. I know the area we gave her holds metal for the hull and wood for the hull and canned food which last almost forever. I see this area is taking on some water a bit from a crack in the hull. Something which will need to be fixed.

I knock my little leg on the door.

“Um hello?”

Ah, she is alright then.

“May I come in? I need to speak to you.”

It took a second and the door swung open up. I go inside studying the area around me. The Panna turns her head to stare at me. Her eyes have an unsure emotion. It’s like she has seen my species before.

“A magic eater?! A creature created by the great Majesty. What is going on on the island? Many of us got chased off after Majesty went nuts.”

I took a deep breath. So she knows about the island and she should. Since it was her race and many other races who helped create the island.

“The island has changed and Majesty no longer controls it. A war drove her out and it was because of some fake legend of heroes some race made up. Now the heroes of legend didn’t do everything. The war would have happened without them either way. I think the fake heroes helped get the ball in motion.”

The Panna sighs.

“I am Joona, can you please tell me why you woke me up from my slumber? Am I going to be used to help you find Dream valley and then go back into my prison of sleep?”

I shook my head.

“No, you’re free to do what you want. Even now you’re not forced to show us the way to Dream Valley just it would be great if you could. We aren’t your prison masters. You’re free to even leave on our next stop.”

Joona stares at me. The surprised look on her face confuses her. It confuses her a great amount. I don’t think she was expecting to be free.

“Forgive me my kind have not only been slaves most of our lives. The bigger thing is that we almost lost most of our lives to Squint, a giant squid who used to hold a powerful weapon of the past. Thankfully, years ago it was shattered.”

A powerful weapon then it’s not the weapon I am heading to get. All I know about this weapon has the name the Rainbow of light? What will a rainbow do for a weapon? I will never understand it.

“Excuse me miss magic eater. Am I allowed to walk around this airship, you call it?’

I nod

“Yes, but we need you to head to the upper levels. A lot of old warships sank and held some nasty weapons. It caused some problems with the systems of the ship. I don’t get it but hopefully, someone finds a way to clean it.”

I leave the room with the shapeshifting bird not far behind me. A bunch of ponies and other creatures wander around working on parts of the airship that got heavily damaged from the hard landing on the water. Gem turns to look at me coming over for a second.

“Excuse me, Miss Panna, you can go ahead. I need to speak to my adoptive daughter.”

Joona stares at me then at Gem.

“Huh, times have changed if dragons are willing to adopt other races other than their kind.”

Joona leaves to head up to the deck. Gem looks over to Joona waiting for her to leave while she looks back at me with a weak smile leaning down to whisper. I don’t know why she is whispering about this though.

“Gizmo and Oil took apart the stasis chamber we found her in. It’s a very old tech from what I have seen. It's tech from the island you are from. So either the Alicorns of the past had powerful technology. Who knows if Majesty was still around I could ask her if she was willing to talk to me about it.”

I sigh deeply, a buzz leaving my body.

“Gem, why are you telling me this? I know I am from the island. I know I may have been made by some of this technology. I don’t know everything she did or allowed. I am sure I will be seeing those she turned into trees and those she trapped into paintings.”

Gem sighs

“Ruby, I am trying to help you. Lately, you just seem very unhappy.”

A weak smile forms on my face. It’s hard not to be unhappy. I swear I had a dream where Dunewalker showed up and told me she was sorry and then died. I know when I return to fight the Storm King and Wheel Tread the land is going to turn on me

“Gem, my question is to you. Why should I be happy? You and I both know that when I take on Wheel Tread and the Storm King we all know they could take them on themselves without me. I will just be used as a scapegoat.”

Gem sighs.

“Yeah I know I won’t be able to stop them neither will the others. I doubt they will even try. I don’t know what others think of you anymore. I even have a feeling these new friends you’re making won’t even stand with you at the end either.”

I take a deep breath sighing. I know Melody will stand by me no matter what. I just know it. I know the other friends I am making in this airship other than Melody will do whatever it takes to backstab me when it comes down to it.

“Now is there anything else you need me for Gem?”

Gem smiles.

“Do your best to talk to our new friend of ours. Maybe she will remember why she was put in that tube. If Majesty placed her there or someone who wants Dream Valley to be found, put her there to fix some grand cosmic scheme.”

I laugh loudly. I get it yes I am helping a grand cosmic war in a way. But from the sounds of it, some of the stars use some bodies as vessels and they’re only found in certain areas for some reason. A few of the good vessels are in Dream valley I guess hiding at least it’s the story I have been told.

“Alright I will do my best and if it’s true we have to do some cosmic game of chance then I will do my best to do so.”

Gem sighs, shaking her head.

“I doubt you will fight in this cosmic game. I see you being more a minion of the stars. I am sure it’s going on right now.”

She is not wrong. I take a deep breath knowing I am still helping the stars get their blood. I know full well I will never be able to escape their hunger for blood. I know I will never be free from the hunger of the stars.

“I am already in the game Gem. The stars demand me to shed blood for them. I doubt I will ever be free from their want for blood or souls. I am sure sooner or later I will be free from them but It will be a long time from now.”

Gem sighs

“Alright, Ruby please head up to the docks. If we need your magic sight to see the magic fluid around the ship I will call for you okay? Oh, don’t you need to feed on magic soon?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“Ever since I met Melody my body has been absorbing the magic she gives off from her love. She makes meals for me which also have magic in them. I don’t know how she does it. Maybe Mellow is teaching her how to give bits of magic to a magic eater? I am unsure anyway, take care Gem.”

I flap my wings flying up through the ship ignoring the others around me while I do so. I think I am close to the dock.

“You failed, He rose, he has risen.”

I stop right there in midair turning my head and seeing nothing at the moment. I then see those robots who I had to deal with a while ago coming toward me yelling those words at me. I just stare at them, taking a deep breath and blowing cool air out of my mouth.

“So either I am going crazy again or somehow you’re here. I have a feeling of guilt from allowing the Storm King to rise and to become a threat to the desert of Widowmaker, am I correct?”

The robots just turn to look at each other and then back to me. I doubt they expected me to just stare at them like they were there. I got closer to the robots. It was all in my brain and mind. I see them shift back into parts of the ship itself. I am worried if they would show up during a battle and my guilt takes over again.

I finally get up to the docks seeing the others meeting and laughing. Joona is talking to Melody while I get to the edge of the airship looking down to the water below. I stare down at old water mines. These mines might be active while I watch Gizmo and Oil going through each mine taking them apart to get parts for the ship.

“Bits for your thoughts?”

I glance at Dust.

“Oh hello, Dust I didn’t hear you coming.”

Dust laughs taking off his hood. I finally get a good look at him. He has most of his fur missing and a heavy ruby earring in his left ear. He looks like he is covered in old wounds and burns.

“If you did, I would be worried I have lost my touch.”

I let out a buzzing sigh.

“My thoughts are heavy and unsure what to think. How will I handle the witches when I see them again? May I ask you a question, Dust?”

Dust looks at me tilting his head.

“Why is your name Dust and why are you trained in the skills you’re trained in?”

Dust chuckles.

“I was raised to be ready for a fight in our war. I was named after my father. He called himself Dust. Since he always found a way to hide in the dust to kill those who he could. Now while we are at peace I still use those skills to help you and the others.”

I let out a deep buzzing sigh.

“Am I a threat to your species too? Am I a threat just for trying to help free land from pain and hardship?”

Dust sighs.

“No Ruby you aren’t even if some will see you as such yes. It’s sadly the truth not everyone wants a hero around. Sometimes the hero is the scapegoat. They will always be the scapegoat since most see heroes as the threat and others see the hero as someone who is a threat.”

I look away from Dust. I feel a claw on my shoulder turning my head to look over at Rhyolite. The raptor-like race evolved from large lizards of the old world. I haven’t even gotten to know her yet.

“I couldn’t help but overhear you two speak. To my species Ruby you’re not a threat you’re not a hero you’re a lost soul looking for others to help so you don’t feel lost anymore in this world. To my species, you have done more than any of our warriors ever have done. You gave us peace and a home.”

Dust nods.

“Yes, you gave us everything our three races wanted. There will always be problems and issues between our three races. Since many of the old guard or old generation wanted the entire city back. They will have to accept that though we will never get the full city back we can live together.”

I am worried many of the old generations will not be happy for a long time. It’s like how many of my species of the older generation are some of them who survived. Many of my species didn’t survive the war. Majesty destroyed many broods and sadly I still feel I am the last of my brood till I lay these eggs.

“I have a question for another egg layer.”

I turn my head to look up at Rhyolite. A gentle smile forms on my face. Again of course many find it hard to read my species' emotions.

“So a question from egg layer to egg layer?”

Rhyolite gives a nod. She shifts on her back legs. I finally got a good look at her in the sun. She has so many scars on her scaled body. One of her hook claws is missing and on her chest, she has a long deep slice scar.

“Does the male just leave the seamen in you to fertilize the eggs or do you have mateships which last for life?”

I take a deep breath sighing and shaking my head. I didn’t want it brought up but I don’t know how to say it. Sometimes we do but it’s rare for ones who have a queen of the brood to breed if the queen allows the drones or workers to.

“It’s very rare for us to have mateship or to fall in love. Even though I fell in love with Silver Wings. He just planted his eggs in me. I thought he loved me, maybe he does but I am too much of a problem for him.”

She sighs, shaking her head.

“I see he is not worth your time more than Ruby. The males of my species will mate with us for life. If we are strong or the male is strong he will have more than one female. I have two husbands and they’re waiting for me to come back home before we start our family. I connected my soul to them after we took care of the cultists.”

I wonder if it means Melody is strong.

“I guess it means Melody is a strong mate?”

Rhyolite chuckles

“Oh if she wasn’t yours I am sure many males of my kind would have tried to claim her for how strong she showed herself. So tell me about your island. You came from Ruby. I am told it’s a former prison?”

I land fully folding my bug wings to my side.

“The island formed after a war of old to house a very old threat known as Squint. He was or is one of the minions of the undead goat known as Grogar. You may notice a blue goat with black horns. He shows up and sometimes spreads a sickness of hate and the hate spreads causing so much strife.”

Joona hears Grogars name and Squint's name. She turns her long neck to look at me so she can listen. Melody listens too.

“I will not go into my species creation or other things. I will just go into what caused him to finally escape. A legend created by some old race Majesty killed brought us, heroes. One of those heroes is a pony named Star Shooter. The legend wasn’t only made up and fake. But it turned out she wasn’t even the hero of legend. Somehow though the legend came true at every turn. It was created for another group of heroes. Fate forced them into the role.”

I take a deep breath sighing.

“Star Shooter is the reason I ended up on the island. My friends and I left to go see her. She did so much for us. Now she is brain dead waiting for her memory and brain itself to heal from being overloaded with a lifetime of memories.”

Joona frowns

“So Squint survived the old war then? Grogar is returning as well? I have a question for you, Ruby.”

I turn my head to look at the Panna.

“Do you think Grogar could have been the one to start the war between zebras and ponies?”

I glance at the Panna. It could have been many factors that caused the war. I am sure a little bit of hate sickness spreading could have caused some of it. I remember old stories from books I read. There were many factors.

“It could have been many things. Grogar could have added to it but it accumulated too many factors and how many felt back then. I heard stories that the elites did a lot of stupid things. I was also told Luna did her best to lead. It’s not going to be simple to say one thing is the reason.”

I look back out at the sea. The ship's engine turns on spurting a bit and we start moving. I could smell how overheated the ship is from dealing with the strange weapon smoke we went through. I am sure we are lucky we didn’t inhale any of the weapon smoke. The PA system turns on.

“It’s going to take longer to fix most of the ship. The weapons are fused and melted and the flying system is shot. So we will be running in the water till we get to our destination. There is an old trading post not far from here. It will take us an hour to get there and then we will make our way to the land of Upholi.”

Gizmo and Oil get back onto the ship. Gizmo comes over to us looking at her two new friends then back down at the water below.

“After this war, we are heading to in a year or so is all said and done. I think I am going to come back out this way and try to clean up the water and those weapons. I worry there might be some nasty creatures in the water here and since we are in a big ship they won’t attack us.”

Looking back down to the water again. With how clear the water is I see a lot of fish and sharks in the water. I worry there are bigger creatures in this sea. Before I could do anything or say anything I heard singing. I see sea ponies and one of them looks up from the water coming out of the sea to look right at me.

The sea pony is a very young newborn. He waves a fin at me before I could wave back an older sea pony mare comes out of the water looking up at me and a large smile forms on her face. Wait, I know her. I flap my wings flying down to the sea pony.

“Snow Drift?”

The sea pony mare giggles.

“I never thought I would see you out here Ruby.”

I hear a horn of alert and the sea ponies look worried. Snow Drift looks even more worried when a sea dragon comes out of the water looking down at us. The Sea dragon smiles sweetly at me and then looks back at the way we came not too long ago.

“I am sorry we can’t stay and talk with you miss the bug. Snow Drift has told us all about you but we need to get as far as we can from those ships.”

I look over to the area we left again. We may be far away but the green smoke absorbs into the ships slowly.

“What is going on?”

I am confused about what is going on.

“There are ghouls on those ships who think the war is still going on. Every few years they break the code of some of the weapons and then cause them to blow up. It doesn’t cause any radiation problems but more the shockwaves kill many.”

Snow Drift mods.

“But they’re getting more and more insane and wanting to unleash them all. We are heading to the trading post ahead to see if anyone will go take care of it. Before it gets worse or they learn how to run their ships again leading them to land.”

Maybe they can help us.

“How many Sea dragons do you have with you?”

The sea dragon chuckles.

“We have like five with our pod. Do you guys need help?”

I chuckle weakly.

“We flew through the smoke. It took us almost three days to fly through it and it screwed up our systems.”

The sea dragon sighs, shaking his head. He howls calling the others. A bunch of ropes gets tossed down from below. It takes a while for them to fully get ready. The sea ponies tie themselves to the ropes as well.

It took about three hours to get everything set up and Gem had a talk with the sea dragon leader. I could make out a few words they said. It will take less time to get to the trading post. We finally get moving.

The PA system comes on.

“Everyone gets inside since those battleships might set off more of those weapons. Gizmo and Oil will stay outside to help the sea ponies and sea dragons. Please don’t panic everyone we need to make”

It’s an hour later I sit at the desk which is in the room Melody and I share. I look down at a letter I have been writing for the past few months. Melody is not in here. I take a deep breath relaxing writing more knowing someone will read it when the time is right. Melody trots in looking over at me frowning.

“Are you alright Ruby?’

I put the letter away looking back at Melody, a weak smile forming on my face.

“I will be fine when this journey is over. I highly doubt I will ever be the same again till I get these eggs laid and till I see what is to come. I worry I may be forced to fight a cosmic avatar or whatever they call them.”

Melody chuckles.

“Ruby I doubt it will be some cosmic avatar you will be facing. Knowing how some zebras are connected to the stars. These stars of hope and good may just speak through them. I doubt it will be a large fight.”

A deep buzzing sigh comes from me. I flap my wings a moment to help me feel better.

“I worry about the calls for blood. They may be silent for the time being. I haven’t even heard from them since I got out of the cocoon. I worry when I get to Dream Valley they will call for me to give them blood again.”

Melody puts her wings on me, turning me around in the chair so I look into her eyes. I see the love she has for me. We haven’t been together for long at least to some it hasn't been very long. But I see why I fell in love with her.

“No matter what you do Ruby. No matter how far you fall I am going to fall with you. I am going to go every path with you to make sure you don’t fall too far down. I will be there to catch you and then make you feel wonderful after the pain you go through.”

Will she follow every path with me? I guess I am very lucky she loves me as much as she does. Because I would never do it myself. I don’t trust myself to do it for anyone else. I might have done it with the mare who adopted me.

“I am not used to the love you give me, Melody. I promise you when all this is said and done. I will find a male we can share it with. First, we need to make it through this journey.”

The PA system comes on.

“I want everyone on high alert. Those who aren’t soldiers or know how to use a weapon stay in your area. Those who know how to fight are prepared. We are in sea raiders' shipping lanes. We might not get attacked since the ship is pretty big. Now I want everyone to be on their best behavior at the trading post. It’s not run by ponies or zebras. It’s run by dragon bovines and races you wouldn’t see much with power on the mainland.”

The trip through the sea went pretty uneventful. Beezen has been out for a while after getting hit by a pipe. The ship was a flying airship made from an old large cargo ship. Taken to Peace rock and then created to be what it is now. The reason for its creation was to help fight in the war.

Many of these creations are around this is one of the few witches that came to be used and able to be worked on. The biggest issue from it is the old history of this ship. Most never knew what the ship was from a peaceful time. It’s an old ghost ship found in the middle of the sea by both sides before the war. He couldn’t stay awake though he had to get some rest because his head took a beating. So there wasn’t anything to do after all that other than just take a nap.

Two more hours went by and things were uneventful. Melody and I went for a walk out on the dock. We had our weapons with us since we had to be ready. I wanted her to have a wonderful night. The moon was shining and there was a calm sea breeze.

“If I could marry you here and now Melody I would.”

Melody smirks.

“Oh, Ruby, I would be flattered if you married me right now. I think it’s best to wait since the others want to be there.”

All I can think of doing is singing for Melody. Things are calm. I don't see any sea raiders. I feel so happy just being around her. One moment oh please give me one moment to have a calm gentle day. Only around her, I have had these little moments. The music starts to swell. I felt a song I wanted to sing to my loving fiance.

I lean in to get a kiss from Melody. She giggles, leaning in so we both are close to a kiss. We both hear something firing and the whistling of something coming down at us. Before it hits the docks one of the sea dragons jumps out of the water grabbing whatever it was sending it back to the one that fired.

I look over to the burning ship hearing screaming. I see ponies trotting around trying to put out the fire. Another sea dragon comes out using its water breath and magic to force a strange beam of watery magic into the ship. It causes the wood to snap and break. The metal of the ship flew and hit one of the ponies.

The sight wasn’t pretty while we sat there to watch. If we didn’t have the sea dragons and sea ponies with us we would be fighting for our lives right now. I take flight flying over to the burning ship to see if there is anything I can get from it. Before I could get closer though, a kirin mare jumps off the ship. I quickly go to grab the kirin she snorts at me.

“If I wasn’t in this water you bug I would be making you walk the plank.”

I just hover over her, flapping my wings. I could tell she didn’t know how to swim. So I just crossed four of my many arms, staring down at her.

“I could just let you drown. How about this you don’t attack us and I let you come with us on our journey. I am sure you could be useful and not about to be shark bait.”

The kirin mare growls.

“I am too prideful to go straight you fucking bug.”

I turn around to fly back to the ship.

“Well then enjoy being the meal of a shark.”

I don’t know why I am being so cold to this poor mare. It could be because a kirin used me three years ago to get power in her town. Then she said she didn’t want to do it the way Wheel Tread wanted to do it.

“Alright, fine.”

I came out of my stupor looking back at the mare. Did she want help? From the look on her face, she did yes. I used my many arms to lift her. It wasn't easy, she was pretty heavy. I grunt, flying her back to the ship. Melody flies out to help me get the kirin back on the ship when I set her down and land. Many on the deck surround her getting ready to fire if she does anything.

The orange kirin looks around. I finally got a good look at her. She has many weapons in her armor. A large wooden club latched to the barding with the name ‘Bonecrusher’ On it oh my it even has spikes on it. She has a serrated cutlass and the last thing a pirate made looking magnum

“Whoa whoa everyone relax let's make sure she won’t turn on us first.”

The kirin looks at me and a weak smile forms on her face.

“As I live and breathe I think I know you. You’re Ruby Glide aren’t you the one who helped bring back the biggest threat of the old world, the Storm King?”

I sigh looking away.

“Yes, I am Ruby. I wasn’t fully in control of myself. I wish I could go back and stop what I did.”

The kirin chuckles.

“Oh don’t worry bug I ain’t going to turn on you. If one like you can survive being shot by him and then make a legend outside of the desert you’re from by helping a city of cats. Then you’re alright in my book. I heard stories about an unknown hero who has been traveling the seas. I wish to join your crew. Please accept this since you killed my old crew.”

I look at the others and then back at the kirin.

“If I do this will you fight with us when we get to Dream Valley? Then go back with us to the widowmaker to take the fight to the Storm King.”

The orange kirin lowers her hat to her chest. She bows her head in an instant as a show of respect.

“I will follow you till the seas swallow us up and we are no longer in need of these shells of flesh.”

I tilt my head.

“Why are you accepting this so easily?”

The kirin looks at everyone and chuckles.

“I know when I am beaten and licked bug. I know when I have lost a fight it’s how I have survived all these years. I am Wicker or most call my Cannon Wick but just called Wicker.”

I take a deep breath exhaling after Gem comes to us and looks down at the kirin.

“How about this Wicker? We settle this only a pirate knows how to make a blood pact.”

Wicker smirks.

“Then I will do it with Ruby.”

A blood pact? I have no idea what a blood pact is. I leave the others behind and follow Gem and Wicker to Gem's quarters. It looks like what would be the captain's quarters a bit bigger than the rest of the places to stay. She doesn’t seem to use much of this place. I see many paintings of CranBerry and her adopted children. A deep blush fills my cheeks when seeing a pretty lewd one of Cranberry.

“Ahem. um before I see my adoptive mother in any more compromising positions, what is a blood pact?”

Gem brings over a cup of water as well as a large knife.

“A blood pact is like a blood debt. We work together till death we part. It’s a bit like marriage but less sex and children and all that rot.”

Wicker laughs.

“Makes it less fun to always use a good stallion’s cock.”

I groan deeply.

“Oh come on bug even you could use a good fuck now and then between those legs.”

I growl.

“I am about to get married to a mare.”

The kirin laughs.

“So what even though you’re a lesbian you still need the sleeve now and then you know that right?”

I groan again.

“When this journey is all said and done. My wife and I will find a stallion we trust to share.”

Wicker smirks

“Sounds good to me now let's see get this pact done and I would like to know my new crew.”

I sigh deeply. I have to ask.

“Wicker before we do this, why did you attack us? The sea dragons warned us that Sea raiders are not nice and will do anything to kill and get what we have and rape the mares we have with us. Did something change?’

Wicker frowns.

“Yes, you could say something changed. Ten years ago not too far from here there was a big city in the middle of the sea called The Metal Ring. It’s coupled together with very old cargo ships and whatever was around during the war at the time. We thought it would be easy pickings, oh we were wrong. They destroyed almost everything we sent at them and they have trained for everything. They have been preparing for stuff like this for many years.”

There is a city of ships who don’t know the war is over? I hope someday they find a way back to the mainland and learn the war is not only over. The world is slowly coming back to normal even if small wars keep popping up

“Alright, shall we then?”

Wicker lifts the knife, cutting a part of her leg to let blood into the water. Gem does the same letting her fiery dragon blood into the water and it hisses just a bit. I lift my leg letting my magic glowing blood drip just a bit. Wicker takes a sip as steam hisses from her mouth.

“Ooooo Spicey.”

Gem takes a sip. I am given the cup. I drink it feeling strange. I am doing this since It just seems odd to me. I set the cup down and I sigh looking away from the others wondering what I have done. I look at our new friend and then at Gem.

“Ruby, go get some rest. I will wake you when we get to the trading post. I am going to show our friend around here and see what her best skills are to help with this big airship.”

Wicker looks around.

“This run-down piece of shit is an airship? How in the world does it fly?”

Gem laughs.

“Very good so far even though we kind of burnt out the flying system going through the green cloud of weapons from the old warships.”

Wicker shifts on her hooves.

“Yes, those… even the sea raiders avoid the area. It’s going to spread if something is not done soon.”

I leave the two alone. I head back down the stairs to the area Melody and I stay. I get back into my room alone. Taking the note out of the desk to start writing again. It’s not easy to write this letter to others since I know it will be read when the time is right.

I forgot I left the door open. Melody comes up behind me and she sees what I am writing.

“Ruby..”

I quickly hide the letter, turning in the chair to look at Melody, a weak smile forming on my buggy face.

“Yes?”

She shakes her head.

“Ruby, you're too worried about what is ahead.”

I sigh looking over at my armor. I have been through so much and It was only six months or I am unsure I don’t remember how long it was. I knew my new friends for six months. I lost two of my arms and I got my reputation destroyed. All in six months I have no idea how I am going to fix it.

Melody strokes her hoof on the two holes which hold my cybernetic arms. It feels strange still that I have gotten used to all this.

“Ruby, you haven’t been taking care of these cybernetic implants. I am going to have to put you out and take them apart to clean them.”

I gulp remembering the pain when I had those cybernetic implants implanted. I worry that if she does this it’s going to be harder to use the cybernetics.

“Can you just check them out instead of putting me to sleep?”

Melody sighs

“Are you still scared of never waking up again Ruby? I understand you’re going through some awful nightmares, my love. You need to allow yourself to relax and not worry. I am here and I will make sure they don’t hurt you.”

She puts my face in her wings pulling me close to her face.

“I promise.”

I just look into the beauty of her eyes. I know she won’t steer me wrong. I am just scared of being in a world of darkness longer than I wish to be. I don’t sleep as much as I used to. I barely do much these days. I try to stay awake as much as I can absorbing so much magic so I can avoid the sleeping curse.

“No, I can’t. I can’t sleep in the endless dark again please Melody. I fear I will never wake up!!”

I shook Melody holding my face tighter in her wings pulling me closer to give me a deep kiss. I feel my shaking slowly subside. She pulls away slowly after the kiss, smiling at me.

“I will make sure you wake up Ruby. I promise you will wake up and not see the world of darkness for very long. All I need to do is remove the cybernetics and give them to Gizmo and see if she can upgrade them to something much better okay?”

I let out a deep exasperated sigh.

“Alright. Do what you must.”

She lays me on our bed stroking a hoof slowly on my body to relax me. She opens her bag, brings out a needle, and puts in a sleeping agent to make sure I fall asleep. She injects it into my side. While I am passing out I feel her inserting an IV with cold blood magic and water going through my body.

“Just talk to me before you sleep my love tell me what is on your mind.”

My vision goes drowsy. I see many more things than my buggy vision normally does. I groan, feeling a bit sick. It's normal.

“You know what’s on my mind Melody. Knowing what my fate is going to be. I know my friends are going to betray me. I worry they may convince you to do the same to me, Melody. I worry everyone is going to turn on me because of Grogar or because of the hatred of a hero.”

Melody leans down before I fully fall asleep. She kisses my head.

“Never.”

I make a smile form on my face knowing she will never betray me. My vision finally goes dark,

________

Gizmo

I laugh drinking from the wooden cup drinking with our new friend Wicker. She has many fun stories. Oil and I welcomed her to living in the area of the core with us. Since most of her skills are in working on heavy tech.

“Then I may have been trained in working in heavy technology like this core. But Noooo sea raiders needed a captain. They didn’t want me to help them build better weapons. They wanted a fucking captain who had no idea how to be one.”

I laugh louder Oil chuckles.

“I know the feeling of being a camel. Some expect you to follow what those before you did. My father was a guard. My mother was a whore and I was expected to follow in their paw steps. I went no, I will do what the one before them did work on technology.”

I laugh loudly while drinking more from the cup.

“With my species, it’s rare for one like me to show up. Since we have been at war so long just for a stupid city. So to help I used my brain and my skills to make weapons and to help both sides try to get their lives better.”

We all laugh when Melody comes down the ladder by flying. I stand up from the table walking over to the pegasus.

“Melody, how can I help you?”

Melody opens her bag putting two cybernetic sockets. I know what these sockets are from. I can tell from the glowing blood. These cybernetic sockets are badly put together and rusted. I can see Ruby didn’t keep them in good condition.

“I was able to finally get Ruby to rest. I put her to sleep and took these out of her sockets. Can you please give her better ones which I can place inside her? So she wouldn’t be in so much pain when she puts her cybernetic arms back on each time she places her armor on?”

Wicker comes over smirking.

“You must be Melody. These two spoke very highly of you and told me you’re the only doctor on this vessel. You’re also the soon-to-be wife of the bug hero.”

Melody smiles.

“Yes, I am Melody. Do you have any health issues I should know about Wicker is it?”

Wicker shrugs her shoulders.

“I wouldn’t know I have never met a doctor before. Well, a doctor who wasn’t a real doctor and knew what they were doing. So I wouldn’t mind going to your sickbay and you can look me over if you have the time for a pirate.”

Melody chuckles.

“As long as this is not a ploy to get me in your bed.”

Wicker snickers.

“No ma'am I like stallions. Besides, I would never go for a mare or a stallion who is about to get married. I may be an evil pirate to some ponies or creatures. But I am a gentle mare of a pirate. I know when I am beaten and will never try.”

Melody giggles as she heads back to the ladder looking up it and then back at me.

“Do what you feel you can with those cybernetic sockets Gizmo. Then you can help me get them back into her body.”

Melody flies back up and I go back to drinking with Wicker and Oil. After a few hours, Oil and Wicker went to see what damage could be fixed on the flight system and the weapons. I have seen the flight system. It's going to take some parts to make it work again thanks to all that weapon smoke we flew through.

I put on some welding goggles while I work. I hear footsteps come up to me. I don’t look up from my work knowing the weight of the steps and who normally walks on two legs. It could either be Gem or Beezen and I know we have at least two Minotaurs on this ship with us.

“How can I help you Beezen?”

Beezen chuckles

“I heard we have a new friend, a new hero?”

I shrug my shoulders removing another tool from my shell to work on Rubie's cybernetics.

“To be honest I trust her already. I know Ruby risked her life for someone she didn’t even know. But I worry we all are going to betray Ruby in the end.”

Beezen sighs.

“You’re not wrong and knowing me I will be the one who leads the charge.”

I look up after finishing putting my tools back in my shell. I pick up the cybernetics looking at Beezen with a frown forming on my face.

“I worry we all will turn on her. I feel the only one who won’t be Melody. So no matter how deeply we become friends with the bug. Is her fate to be condemned because some have issues with her doing things outside their ideas of the law? “

Beezen nods.

“I am going to stay here if you don’t mind Gizmo. I would like to meet this Wicker.”

I don’t argue with Beezen since I have grown used to the troll. He and I have grown to be good friends. I wish I could save Ruby from her fate. The only idea I have is something I have not told the others.

I head up to Ruby and Melody's room. Melody is on the bed with the sleeping Ruby. Humming to her as she sleeps. She looks up nodding to me as we start working on getting the newly fixed cybernetic sockets into the empty holes of her body. The new wiring I use automatically attaches itself to the nervous system.

“When she wakes up, warn her not to go overboard with these new ones. It will take time for her flesh to grow over them and for them to work better than her older ones. So please, I will do what I can to fix them if needed.”

Melody nods and I head back down to my room. The PA system comes on.

“Everyone, we made it to the trading hub. I want to welcome everyone to the island of the Junkyard, an Island made of junk and trash found over many years. We will stop here for a day or maybe longer to get everything fixed. One warning to you all. Please don’t tell them we have a hero on board. If they ask, tell them Ruby is a merc looking for work.”

I head up to the dock to see the large island. It’s a giant island made of trash pretty far out to sea. I watch while a large dragon takes another large set of trash and connects to the island to make more islands and how the place looks so nicely built from trash and how food is growing here.

I worry about what is to come.

Footnote: Level up

Two perks added: First perk: New Cybernetic sockets. These sockets are better built than the old Rock Ball ones. They will handle more force coming at you than the others did. But they have a big weakness. If you overwork them they will send a nasty charge up to your brain stunning you for a few seconds.

Second perk: Kirin Pirate: Wicker is your new friend and will come with you on your journey. From her evil life from being a raider. She will get you into places with her evil personality which shines if needed. She will fight with you to the very end from the blood debt.

Next Chapter: Chapter: Forty-Six: Welcome to Junk island Estimated time remaining: 18 Hours, 19 Minutes