In the name of the great people of Ornithia. We will break away from the ponies and their silly little war. Even though we broke off from the ponies and their silly little war. Some ponies built us a power factory here in the castle. It’s so we can make sure non of the ponies terror groups or zebra groups can break it down and cause problems for us. We are one step closer to my Upholi friends to be our people again before the ponies show their faces.

Speech by unknown Upholi king Anti pony speech 200 years ago.

_____________

Sterling ten hours before the power returned.

Out of request by my two new friends. I have been asked to sit and guard the room Ruby is inside. They went in and made sure every window is not only locked but magically sealed so she can’t leave. They asked me to stay by this door so I could talk to her if she gets upset and tries to break free.

“Come on please let me…out.”

I sigh she has been doing this for almost two hours and she is still not asleep. I hope these two know what they’re doing.

“Ruby, your friends care about your health. Wicker told me you never care about yourself. So for a few hours, you’re going to rest.”

Ruby groans inside her room. I could hear her trying to break things. Thankfully Wicker enchanted the room with her magic so Ruby couldn’t do that. I sighed, shaking my head. I haven’t known Ruby that long and I see why so many care about her.

“Ruby, please you’re a hero.”

I try to say hero but she cuts me off.

“It’s best to say guardian rather than hero Sterling. I don’t feel like a hero after what I did three years ago. A guardian fits me better at least. I am sorry for how I am acting. I am just worried about Melody. I don’t want her to be affected by necromantic magic and affect her ability to have foals.”

I sigh, stroking my head with my hand. I am worried she is going to hurt herself there. Wicker told me don’t let Ruby get to me and just keep doing what I do.

“Ruby, you talked to your wife already and you promised her you would sleep. Are you going to go back on that promise?”

Ruby went silent for a moment. I could hear her groaning angrily and buzzing.

“No fair using my wife on me Sterling. I guess I am just very stressed right now. I want to sleep but I am so restless. So many need my help out there and I got to help them. I don’t want anymore being hung just because they’re hungry.”

I chuckled, shaking my head.

“Ruby, we have been living like this for years. We can wait at least a few more days to live like this. I know you feel we have lived like this for too long. Frankly, many of us have grown used to it. We may want to be at peace and enjoy life like most lands do. I am sure some lands still are affected like this. Even they have had heroes win and fought their battles. Life is never going to change.”

I hope she is listening because this is a sad truth. Even if what she told me is true her island is free. The lands of Equestria or some of them have the sun back because of Sunshine and Rainbows. It’s going to cause more problems than help. Another person's hero is another person's terrorist. I don’t want to see her fall into that hole.

“Sterling I know…Just I wanted to follow the hoof steps of Star Shooter. I did it for at least a while and then I was killed and judged for it. I am starting to understand why so many hate the word hero. I see why Beezen uses the word guardian now.”

I chuckle weakly.

“Ruby, maybe hearing me read my next newspaper will help you sleep. Will it help you sleep?”

Ruby was silent for a while. I could hear her moving in her bed. The poor thing is very restless. I know I want to follow her on the rest of her journey. I want to be part of her family on that airship. I am sick and tired of being here.

“Maybe it will help me sleep so please Sterling.”

I bring out my pad to read it.

“It’s been so long since we have had any sense of normal in this lovely city of ours. The keepers of the bell have been keeping the bells of the old clock clean and up to spec like those before them did.”

“Keepers of the bell?”

I went silent after Rubie's question.

“There is a clock in the old library of this city. It needs the power to ring and to tell the time. It has been frozen at the same time since we lost our power. Ten a night and the keepers of the bell or clock mind you. Keep it up to date just in case someday someone finds a way to give us power back. It will bring hope to the entire city to hear the bell again.”

I went silent to hear what Ruby would say about it.

“A bell really, why would a bell bring hope?”

I chuckle.

“Ruby sometimes many souls need something to hear to bring them back to the brink of pain to hope. A sound like this bell that hasn’t been heard for so long. There are old recordings of this bell. Many play it to try to keep hope going and it’s going to be harder for many to focus on it. Hope is being lost year by year.”

Ruby sighs.

“I am starting to understand why so many cling to old stories and old ideas on the island now. Many focused hard on the drinks the inn made in Cliffside and in the minotaur and griffin town they focused on their battles and war to give themselves hope.”

I laugh softly.

“Yes, may I go on?”

Ruby goes silent which means to me she wants me to go on.

“The keepers of the bell felt that the outsiders coming in and bringing back the water was enough for them to keep their hope and to clean the bells and fix the gears of the clock. This is what the other leaders are saying in the other factions. The leader in the north Metal Beak had this to say. If these beeping outsiders can help us with our problems then we have fallen so far. We will see how the leader of the outsiders handles the arena then I will trust them.”

I flip the page.

“The leader of the east part of the city had this to say. Rose-Venom the leader of the brothels of the east had this to say. A married hero wishing to help us and bring back normalcy to this city? Frankly, I don’t mind this way of life. But just to have the city back to normal before the civil war like it was during my family's day would be wonderful. Like Metal Beak said though if she can beat our greatest warriors we can trust her.”

Ruby finally yawns. I chuckle and keep reading.

“The faction leader to the south who calls herself Brimstone had this to say. These outsiders are doing what we have refused to do for years. Even our parents refused to do it. They got the water back. Hell, the leader of these outsiders spoke to the mirelurk queen. If they can do what we can’t or refuse to do then we are fucked. I will not force them to fight my best warrior in the arena. But if they wish to fight any of them while they’re pregnant then they have guts.”

I was about to read more. I hear the little bug snoring now. A smile comes across my beak and I feel better now I lean back into the chair to get back to writing my next paper. I can’t leave anything out though. I talk to myself while I write.

“Yes, even though the bug is strong, if anyone from the outside world comes here we need to lie and tell them it’s just a random hero who came through here to help us. We can’t be truthful; she is meant to be dead after all. Truthfully to all those who read my papers, I will be going with her and her friends and this family of hers.”

I hear a knock on the side of the wall looking up and seeing Gearshift a weak smile forms on my beak seeing the female.

“You’re going to leave us when she leaves Ornithia Sterling?”

I smile up at Gearshift.

“Gear, you know the marriage between us never worked out and when you learned we couldn’t even have hatchlings you went into a deep depression. I left you so you could find someone who would make you happier.”

Gear sighs.

“I know Sterling I know hopefully I get the ability back to have hatchlings when the magic goes away. But Sterling, are you going because you took a shine to that donkey?”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“No Gearshift I am leaving because I need adventure and I will write everything I see and print it in the paper here when I return. Truthfully Gearshift my heart is still for you. I doubt I would ever fall for the donkey. She is so kind and sweet but she is not a Upholi. My heart still sings for you Gearshift. We need a normal life again and being married to a gang leader makes it harder for me.”

Gearshift sits in my lap and I hold her tightly.

“Please promise me you will come back and marry me again?”

A soft gentle smile comes over my beak. I set down the pad as it drops to the floor.

“Oh trust me Gearshift I will not only marry you. I hope when the necromantic magic is removed we can finally have the family I wanted to have with you.”

We hear a gentle giggle beside us notching the donkey coming over with two drinks, one for me and one for Gearshift. She sets the tray down and smiles seeing me and Gearshift.

“I was going to bring just Sterling a drink since he is stuck on keeping Ruby on lockdown duty. But I saw you here. I felt I would bring you one as well Gearshift. It’s homemade tea I learned to make on Junkisland.”

Gearshift laughs getting off my lap pulling a chair over to sit with me taking the cup to drink from it. I take it and drink while staring at it.

“Huh, it tastes very good but extremely salty.”

Amandla laughs

“That is because it’s seawater. Just a small bit of seawater. So Sterling is Ruby finally asleep?”

I glance at the door, drinking from the cup nodding.

“Yes, she tried to break everything in there. I have never heard of or seen a lady so upset about her health. I know you haven’t known her very long yourself. Wicker seems to know a lot about her though.”

Amandla signs she sits down on the ground looking towards the door.

“I barely know her myself. Her wife is the sweetest gentlest soul and Ruby insults her sometimes. I learned that Ruby was born like seventy years ago but it takes longer for her kind to mature. She is still pretty young-minded and I don’t think it helps a male of her kind gave her a false sense of security and implanted his brood in here just to remember her by.”

If Ruby talked about this I don’t remember it’s strange to me she is very silent about her life. She is so willing to risk everything to make everyone else around her happy. But she refuses to focus on her life. I worry about what is going to happen when all this is said and done. I don’t know what to think. I already care deeply for and I barely know her. She did something most of my species would never do. Risked their life for a species they barely know.

“So our guardian she likes to say has a chink in her armor.”

I glance at Gearshift and I chuckle.

“She has a lot of chinks in her armor Gear. I worry though when everything is said and done that she is going to turn into a heartless bug. I could see it in her eyes. So much stress in her eyes and told that this necromantic energy won’t harm her but her eggs could get damaged by it.”

Amandla stands on her hooves looking at Gearshift and me she shuffles her hooves on the floor. I could tell from the look on her face she heard me and Gearshift talk about how we used to be married. I glance at Gearshift and down at the donkey.

“Forgive me but you two used to be married? What happened what caused that wonderful life of yours to be cut so short?”

Gearshift frowns the crest of feathers on her head wilt she glances at me and I allow her to go on. Gear sighs, shaking her head.

“Sterling and I grew up together. I knew his father and I knew his mother so well. They both died because of the royal family. The king or the king back then was at least kind enough to give the body back and tell Sterling it was the will of the court not his will to kill his parents. Over the years I fell so deeply in love with him. He followed in his father's claw steps and became a reporter.”

I sigh, reaching into my pocket to bring out a photo of my parents. We may not have the same issues as the rest of the world but we still can use films from the old cameras we found around the area. I even use them for newspapers. In the photo is me, my mother who is green and my father is silver. Next to them are my siblings.

“Oh, you have siblings?”

I chuckle

“Yes I do but we haven’t talked in years. My brother sticks to the north side, my sister is one of the sluts on the east side of the city and my older brother is one of the greatest warriors on the south side. I am just a simple-minded reporter.”

Gear nods

“They stopped talking with him because of how he broke off the marriage we had. They got tired of how he wouldn't stick to a plan and suddenly left. I don’t blame him for leaving me though. I am the leader of a gang and in control of the west side here. I have much I need to take care of and I hope it will end. Because your friend is locked in that room.”

Amandla looks at the door leaning her ear to it to listen. She listens for a few seconds and I lean a bit to listen through the door as well. From the sounds of it, Ruby is talking in her sleep. Gear leans to listen too.

“The stars…want their blood. No, I can’t. Kill innocents no. Please I don’t want to kill anymore in your name.. Please.”

She sobs loudly in her sleep finally though she goes silent still sounds of her having pathetic sobs and buzzing.

“Wait the stars?”

I glance at Gearshift.

“Ruby has been touched by the stars of death or the stars the zebras are concerned about.”

I stare at my new donkey friend and Gearshift. This is new to me as well. I stroke my head remembering the stories of when the zebras came here during the civil war. Because of their stars, it caused us many problems and which caused the war.

“Amandla the stars to us Upholi is something we don’t like to talk about. The stars kind of ruined this lovely city. Because of course, the zebras used the stars to try to start their little war here with the ponies. But instead, it caused our civil war to break out because the kind broke us off from them. All we know is he let ponies and zebras stay in a bunker and that is it.”

I sigh deeply leaning back into the chair.

“Go ahead and do what you need to do, Sterling, I will take over.”

I glance down at Amandla, nodding to her standing up and grabbing my pad.

“I need to get my next newspaper ready. Gearshift I will talk to you later as well.”

Gearshift nods, giving me a quick kiss on my cheek and she heads out. I stand up looking over at Amandla smiling.

“Amandla, I am looking forward to getting to know you on this journey and making you my sister and friend. Are you up for the same?”

Amandla giggles

“It will make the journey easier to have someone to talk to that I know and others as well. Maybe you could bring your printing press with you so you could keep the entire crew up to date on what is going on and make it easier for everyone to learn about the others?”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“Well, I heard the captain of the airship is a dragon. So I doubt she would be happy with me if I did anything of the sort. It could be more of the news on the ship but not secrets. Too many feel the news back in the day pried into others' secrets.”

I put the pad back into my pocket drinking the rest of the tea about to head down the stairs looking back at the donkey before I left.

“Hey, where is Wicker?”

Amandla looks over at me while she leans on the door.

“Oh, she is out with one of Gearshift's commanders to meet with the other leaders. She felt it would be easier for Ruby to get. She also found a way to contact Jonna to help her with the bee creatures in the north. So yeah she will be gone awhile.:”

I smile weakly.

“Do you want me to stay? I doubt Ruby will be asleep forever, maybe I could.”

Amandla shakes her head.

“No you don’t need to stay, I will be fine. Wicker made sure the spell will last at least ten hours. Ruby needs some sleep and ten hours is enough I believe. Wicker was also told she will meet a lot of the lost children of this city. I wanted to go to help these lost children but I was told they normally stay to themselves.”

The lost children of our city nodded. I have seen them and talked to them myself. A group of them live in my news building. They even work for me. I worry about what will happen to them when things go back to normal even if they do, it will take many years for things to just go back to the right normal.

“The lost children are tribes of those who lost their parents over the years. They have spots of their own in each faction of gangs. They can take care of themselves. I even have some who work for me.”

The black donkey smiles. She has been very kind since I met her. I have been worried that something I want to be with her. Frankly, I doubt our species could do much together. I have heard donkeys can be with dragons but having children together is not easy I guess.

“Now Amandla I need to be going. I need to get the new paper going. It’s going to take a while to get it going with what I have to work with.”

The donkey waves goodbye to me and I head downstairs seeing many eat and drink. I notice something odd though the one behind the bar is not the normal bartender. I glance at the creature. I swear it’s Ruby.

“Ruby?”

The bug turns to look at me and she laughs softly.

“No, I am named Mellow. I was asked to come and help with making food for those souls here. I am told I might have to help the other parts of the city as well.”

I smirk weakly.

“You’re a creature like Ruby may I ask something though is that normal for her to act as she does?”

Mellow chuckles.

“Yes but I have grown to respect her and love her like she is my sister. I heard you’re the one who forced her into that room upstairs. Are we able to get her food?”

I think for a second shrugging my shoulders.

“Maybe I am unsure. I don't know how well that spell works to keep her locked in here. But I am sure she is going to need to eat. I am Sterling. I am going to be going with you on your journey to write your journey and then place it in my paper.”

Mellow tilts her head smirking.

“Well good to meet another who will join us on this journey. Now may I offer you anything to eat before you go?”

I shake my head no.

“I will be back later for something to eat. Thank you so much though and I am happy to have met you. Maybe I will learn more about you later.”

Mellow waves her leg to me and gets back to work. I notice the oven she is using is not from here. But wait, how is she using something that needs power? I glance to see it’s a gas-powered oven. Must be one they found on their journey. I shrug my shoulders and head out noticing the airship is closer now and seeing them use their system to remove the salt from the sea.

I am confused why they wish to help us so much. Also, it would take days for clean water to come. The issue with the water in the treatment plant is the treatment part of the plant we learned is broken so Gearshift went in to fix it. She said it would take a while to find the parts for it.

I shake my head. Things are going too quickly for me for my liking. I am going to have to get used to it. I take a deep breath and shake my head heading towards my home. It’s thankfully still on the west side of the city. I get to an old run-down newspaper factory heading inside. I hear talking and chatting about the outsiders. One of the female Upholis speaking stands up when I walk in and she runs over to me quickly.

“Sterling, can we trust them?”

I smirk weakly

“Yes we can but everyone.”

I lift my notepad.

“The news is needed and remember this is going to take a while. When it’s all done I will treat you all to a fresh meal. One of the outsiders is in the bar making food for all of us. So for now we can trust them but we can’t force them to do what we should have done years ago. Get the city back together and then fight the king and the court.”

The lost children glance at each other a male nods.

“I agree Sterling we all do. It’s something we should have done ourselves. I just feel too many have become used to this life that they will never want to do stuff like this again. Now come on people let's get to the news.”

The male takes the pad and they begin to work on the old printing press. I glance up at the power-generated ones. I remember hearing stories from my father about how these were used back in the day. Since he was told even shown with an old battery. I glanced at the battery which was left there to show him. The battery is long dead and I doubt I would ever see this used again. I head upstairs to my place of rest to sleep.

“Sterling?”

I turn to see an orange female younger than the other lost children. She is close to ten years old and has had to learn to be an adult at a young age. I lean back to smile at her. I feel bad for her since I knew her parents. No one had the guts to tell her she was killed by the wolves in the city.

“What is up Sky?”

Sky rolls her eyes. I do that pun around her a lot.

“It’s not me anyway I heard you will be leaving with the outsiders. Why if I may ask you have done so much for us why would you leave now?”

I figured I would get one to talk to me about this. I take a deep breath stroking my head unsure what to say to her but I have to say the truth.

“Well, Sky I have to go with them. It's going to be an adventure and we have to see what is going on with the outside world. I am the only one who will be able to do it and do it truthfully. So many might not write down what they see or the truth about it. I want to see the world and see the truth.”

Sky frowns.

“I see what we will do though we have no idea how to do the news you’re the only one that knows.”

I smirk

“No, you know as well. You have all watched me, you have seen what I do. You have learned how to use the printing press. Now I need some rest. I didn't get much sleep because of the party and making sure Ruby stays locked in her room.”

Sky rushes up to hug me and I pat her head.

“I will return, I promise and I will tell you all about my journey.”

Sky smiles weakly, shaking her head.

“Sterling, you always felt trapped here. But you’re still here, we will say goodbye to you when the time is right.”

I smile heading into my room and closing everything and lighting a match to light many candles to give some light. I take a deep breath getting into my bed. I close my eyes to fall asleep trying to remove all my worries.

I am not sure how long I slept. Something extremely bright causes me to open my eyes after sleeping. I notice the lights are on. I close my eyes again then it finally hits me the lights are on?! I get up from my bed looking around. I hear a lot of commotion outside my office hearing a heavy knock.

“Sterling, come out here!!”

I quickly get out of my room, come out to the main area, see the cheering and notice the power is on at the printing press. I fast go down there and notice there is ink inside and quickly look to see the old paper that was meant to be printed years ago.

I turn it on and get that paper printed and when it’s done I turn it off to read the paper. The paper is from two hundred 30 years ago. I grab the mic they used to talk to the workers speaking through it.

“Everyone, finally the power is back on. I am going to read you a paper I found in the system which has been here for many years.”

I bring up the front page. It's about whoever wrote this and how they saw the city before it fell into a civil war.

“My dear loving Upholi I watch while we fall into a civil war and I wonder if it will be stopped? We need to tell the royal family we don’t trust the zebras or ponies they brought into the city. These zebras I don’t like what I see about them. I am told they’re necromancers and the ponies I am told might be hidden soldiers ready to strike. I wish I could stop this war with the words we are stronger without them. Stay strong my friends and don’t let this war get to you.”

I go silent necromancers? Ponies the royal family accepting them into the city? I bring the mic back to my mouth.

“Everyone, the newspaper we have in the old printers now. We will place it on this machine. I want to say this. I never had hoped the power would return. I never felt we would get this close to getting our home back.”

Everyone around me cheers and we get the press. We gather the paper from the printing presses we used and gather more paper and ink. I take a deep breath. It's not going to be easy to use this press. We haven’t used them in years and it will be trial and error.

It takes at least four papers printing screwed up. We finally learn after at least two hours how it works and we get to work to spread the news. The lost children finally see what it’s like to see the power in a city losing its hope. I was one of them till I met Ruby and her friends and all I can think of now is we can do this, we can bring hope back to our home.

____________________

Wicker a few hours before power returns

I woke up after the party and I groaned a bit. I drank too much I think. I worry I pulled a male or female with me to the bed. I notice though we are all in the same room. I am on the couch looking over at Sterling who is sitting in a chair asleep with his hat covering his eyes. Amandla is awake and she is trying to make sure Ruby eats something.

“Ruby, come on, you need to eat and rest. You can’t just get no sleep and expect your body to keep working. I may not understand your species but I am very worried about you.”

From how I saw Ruby she didn’t look very healthy. I think her over-exerting herself is finally getting to her magic system. I know she has to go meet with the other leaders and join them in some arena fight later. I think I will be the one who does the talking. Her emotions aren’t the best during this.

“I am sorry I don’t have time to rest. I need to get ready to go meet the leadership of the other parts of the city.”

I stood up from the couch after yawning, putting on my gear and my hat. Without warning, I cast a spell on the windows of the room. While my horn glows I stare at the others. Sterling finally woke up and Amandla looked over at me.

“I am going to cast a ten-hour spell. it will keep her in here. This type of magic is sea magic and she can’t absorb it. Before you ask how I learned it from these zebra witch doctors who live on the sea now Ruby. You listen and listen well. I am going to go meet with the leaders. You will get some rest and you will restore your magic. I will make sure these two take turns guarding this room.”

Ruby flaps her wings. I notice she is about to argue with me. My horn glows brighter, another set of my magic forms over my horn and it turns into a water spell and I force her into a bubble. Thankfully there is air in this bubble.

“Now before you give me an argument like you give your wife. I am not your wife, I am somepony who cares about you and your wife would kill me if I let you get hurt. Now you will listen and make sure to rest. If you don’t I will knock you out and force the issue.”

Amandla giggles.

“You have to admit Ruby, Wicker is not wrong. You need to rest after what you did at the water treatment plant. Sterling and the others questioned your mental mind, Ruby. Sadly the desperate see you as a hero for what you did.”

Sterling nods.

“Yes they do and we don’t want the others to follow what you did. We don’t want them to just simply do it when others wait for the right time. Now granted you thought more about your eggs and the poor Mirelurk queen and her eggs won’t survive.”

Ruby sighs.

“Fine I will stay and I am still thinking of ways to remove the magic from the queen so she can at least lay a replacement.”

I nod, breaking the bubble with a loud pop and Ruby falls back on the bed and lays on the bed groaning. She makes sure to get her helmet. I think I know why since the device Gizmo gave me to give to her is now fully connected to the helm.

“Just in case Gizmo contacts me.”

I nod

“If you try to complain to the others about what we are doing and tell them how harsh we are being. Then do so. I don’t care what your wife thinks of me. I am sure she won’t have an issue with how I am handling you.”

Ruby laughs.

“I don’t blame you for how you’re acting towards me, Wicker. I deserve it. I just let myself do what I need to do when it comes to it. I need to find those bunkers and find out what is causing the necromantic magic.”

I make sure my gun and rifle are armed. My weapons may only have one or two shots but I know the best spot for them. I make sure my club is on my side and my knife is down on the strap of my leg.

“Okay, I am already Sterling. I will talk to Gearshift before I leave with whoever I am leaving with. I am going to make sure they understand Ruby is not the only one. She may be leading us but she is also carrying eggs.”

Sterling and Amandla follow me out of the room. I close the door and the knob glows to make sure Ruby stays inside the room. I take a deep breath shaking my head. I wish I didn’t have to do this. She is a wonderful bug. I just wish she would listen and not act like she needs to be the front of everything.

I head downstairs with the other two looking at them smirking.

“You two stay here as long as you can. I know you may have to go home, Sterling. If so, let Amandla handle Ruby.”

Sterling nods.

“I need to get back to writing a newspaper. Make sure to keep yourself protected Wicker the paths heading to each area can be full of creatures or very desperate Upholi.”

I nod, patting my weapons with my hoof.

“I got my weapons and such ready just in case. Now is there anything else I need to know about Sterling?”

Sterling shakes his head.

“If you see the lost children of our community, be as kind and respectful as you can. Most of them lost their families over the years. So if they ask for something to eat or trade. Do what you can to trade with them.”

I head out of the inn notching Gearshift waiting near the ones who will be escorting me to every part of the city. I know if I deal with those bees in the north to tell them I am with Beezen and he will speak with them later.

“Um, where is Ruby?’

I glance at Gearshift smirking.

“I put a spell on her room. We won’t let her leave till she gets rest and eats. The other leaders will have to understand she may be our leader and the one who considers herself a guardian. But they will have to deal with a former sea raider till the rest of us feel Ruby has had enough time to rest.”

A very weak smile forms over Gearshift's beak she sighs stroking the back of her head with her claws. I have a feeling she had her soldiers or whoever she sent ahead a bug is coming to speak with them. I hope they won’t care if it's a female kirin pirate who is willing to help. I do wish I can help without Ruby in tow.

“I did tell them the one coming is a bug. I did tell them that Ruby might not come. I told them she is pregnant and her friends care deeply about her. They will do anything to make sure the eggs inside her stay safe.”

I chuckle.

“Thank you. I may not have known her for very long. I will say what I got to know about her. She is a gentle little bug. Who has been killed and mind controlled because the one who created her wanted to feel loved. So to make sure of that she tried to murder everyone on the island for the queen.”

Gearshift nods as she introduces me to my three bodyguards.

“This is Dancer she uses the dancing abilities she learned while she was a slave to fight. The purple male near her is Joken. He is her former slaver now bodyguard. The other female is Nova. She is the most diplomatic of my gang.

Dancer the orange female dancer nods to me. Her bodyguard Joken bows his head and Nova fixes her glasses smirking.

“I hope we can do this without any bloodshed. I haven’t failed any talks yet and the ones I do fail are because they wish to have something more. Thankfully it doesn’t lead to bloodshed but more offering of some females to the others.”

I laugh

“I won’t be giving myself to anyone like I used to. I may be a pirate and had sex in all positions in the book and not care if I get pregnant or not. Now I want to stay as loyal as I can to the two I gave my heart to. It’s why I was worried when I woke up after that party that I pulled a male or female to bed but I was just on a couch.”

Gearshift laughs.

“Sterling is my former husband. We kind of broke it off when we learned I couldn’t have little ones. I think what hurts him more though is that he is more civilized than I am. He is trying to move on from these harsh times and try to break civilization back.”

A frown forms across my face.

“I am sorry to hear that the two used to be married. Maybe Melody could find a way to fix your abilities or try to help you fix them. I am sure it won’t be easy since Melody is not a miracle worker.”

Gearshift glances at the other three.

“I want you three to keep Wicker protected and also make sure she doesn’t try to steal anything. I may trust her but she is still a sea raider and a sea raider is always a sea raider I am sure she understands.”

I put my hoof to my chest feeling insulted. How dare they say I will steal something? A smirk forms across my face. Yes, I am still a pirate. I may be a good mare now but I still have my old mind. I am still sexually active only with those I love. I may like the idea of stealing.

“Oh, Gearshift you wound me. I am a changed mare.”

Gearshift snickers.

“No offense to you Wicker. You have to understand we haven’t had a good time with your ilk here before. They have attacked and I am sure you know what happened to them when they did.”

I chuckle weakly.

“Yes I know we are always asked to avoid this area including the Metal Ring.”

Gearshift tilts her head.

“The metal ring?”

I forgot many never heard of the area of the Metal ring. I also forgot many have never been in that area of the water. When others do see it they will find it a bit strange a bunch of old ships from war times is being made into homes.;

“It’s a community of ponies and other races who made homes in old cargo ships and vessels of other races who came together to work together when the world ended. They have done a pretty good job at making sure they don’t do inbreeding.”

Gearshift tilts her head.

“I see maybe we will be able to do trading with them if they don’t have issues with outsiders.”

I chuckle weakly stroking the back of my head with my hoof. Oh, they have big issues with outsiders. I don’t understand why. I think it could be because most of them don’t want outsiders in the gene pool.

“I don’t blame them for not wanting to deal with outsiders. It’s rare for any communities I ran into to want to deal with outsiders. Like Junk island, it was the only way they could survive after they became so big.”

Gearshift sighs, shaking her head.

“You three do what you can to keep Wicker protected. I am sure she can take care of herself very well. I just want to make sure the children of the lost don’t try to take anything from her. Make sure you have enough food and whatever else to give to them.”

I follow the three upholi while they lead me north. While we walk I talk with them about how things have been since the world ended. For them, it’s been as normal as a city and kingdom which hasn’t come back from an awful civil war.

“The profession of a diplomat is kind of new to us. Over the last few years, we found old training manuals on diplomatic relations. After a few years, I am not the only one in our gang. The other gangs have been doing the same to try to make peace between us. The only thing keeping us from doing so is who will get the castle.”

I chuckle.

“I can understand who will be the next king and queen of this lovely land. Even though it looks like a shit hole. I am sure when things are all said and done it will go back to normal. Unless you find a queen and king who can replace the ones you have now.”

Nova shrugs her shoulders.

“This city has been living on the idea of a king and queen for so long. I doubt we could move on from it even if we wanted to.”

I nod

“Life is not very simple.”

Nova sighs, shaking her head.

“I wish it was simple. It would be easier to live in this city. Many of us know full well we won’t grow old unless we finally free ourselves. Then we got to find a way to cleanse our bodies from the necromantic magic which has been affecting us for years.”

She is right it’s going to take very long to get the necromantic magic out of their bodies. It won’t be easy for them to do it either. It would take years for them to get the ability for them to have children again. They might have to accept the colonies they have outside their city. Since there are many upholi colonies. Many of them formed way before the war started. I wonder if there is more about them than I have been told.

“There are many of your species living outside of your city in other areas of the world. You might have to accept them to come in and help you with cleaning out your bodies. It may be the only way to keep your species from dying out.”

Nova looks down at me, her face is full of confusion.

“Wait, we have colonies out in the other parts of the world? In the old history, we found they refused to allow any other colonies out of this city. Of course, this was an old history book way before the war started. There might be more to this than I know.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“Heck most of them became pirates. It won’t be hard to get in contact with them. I wish I could help with it. Just Ruby and the others including me just came through here to help because Silver asked and then to find a forge for metal from space.”

Nova stares at me and so do the two others.

“Metal from space?!”

Nova stares at the others.

“That forge has been missing and lost for years. The king moved it to one of his bunkers and we have no idea how to find it.”

I shake my head so much is missing. Being able to use the old vessels like the cargo ships and old powered ships the instructions are now missing. It’s why many of us had to resort to old wooden galleons from our own making and magic if the magic is right in the wood. I glance at Joken who is sticking close to Dancer.

“Excuse me Joken?”

The male turns his gaze towards me. I see in his eyes he has seen so much in his life. I am sure he has seen so much to the point he wanted to give up his old life. He doesn't answer me and just keeps staring.

“May I ask you a question, sir?”

Joken just keeps staring. Dancer flicks Joken's beak with her claws. He turns his gaze back at her his eyes blinking.

“You can answer her Joken unless you're worried about her asking the truth from you.”

Joken laughs.

“No, I am not worried. I have been raised in my life ponies or anything resembling kirins ponies and zebras are below us. They don’t honor our gods and when I got older I got to the point what fucking gods? If we had gods they wouldn’t have allowed us to get this way. I am sure your question is ``why don't Dancer and I look like the other Upholi who have been born here? There is a good reason for this.”

Dancer smirks.

“That is the amazing thing we weren't. Joker's mother gave birth to him on one of those flying pirate ships other Upholi had. I was born in one of the smaller colonies. How they lived they sold their younger females to ones like Joken. It was the only way they could get money.”

Joken nods.

“Many of the Upholi colonies did this. I doubt most of them still do it since they got new leadership and have done better at handling things. Even though the Upholi stick together even if some have done some awful evil things.”

Dancer frowns, nodding.

“Yes, I told Joken I wanted to see our homeland. The home we came from. He warned me I wouldn’t like what I see. We did everything we could to avoid the king and army like your friends are doing Wicker. The court is going to get angry at your friends in the airship for daring not to help them.”

I laugh. I try to keep it soft though. We are walking through unprotected parts of the city now. I was told many parts away from the factions, beast, and many other things make their home here. It’s not going to be so simple for me or the others. Since it’s just four of us. Hopefully, we run into the lost children.

The borders of each faction have at least a gate leading to them. I was told there are ways to get beyond the gates and the walls. The only faction which doesn’t have walls is the west of the city.

“So why did Gearshift send envoys to all the factions to tell them about us coming?”

Joken chuckles weakly.

“Not all the factions get along. Thankfully we never killed each other. It would have gone into another civil war if we harmed another of our own. We send them ahead just in case outsiders come and we shoot them on sight and regret it. It happened a few times and we killed friends of theirs. They wanted to help but they left soon after.”

Dancer nods.

“Yes, it’s why Nova has done all she can to become the best diplomatic voice. She becomes one of all the factions when they need to work together. If you tell the others you want to free them and bring this city back to their rule and get a new king and queen and court. Then say it just be prepared for a nasty fight.”

I was about to say something and we heard a loud roaring. I quickly stopped looking around and we didn't see anything before I could say the word and kept moving. A large giant creature jumps from the roof staring at us. This creature I have never seen before looks like a mutated Jackal.

“Oooo a Jokle.”

I glance at Dancer and Joken the only one who seems happy to see this thing is Nova. I am about to say something when the Jokle’s eyes dim from a red color to a calmer color looking down at me and the others.

“It’s true then outsiders in our homeland.”

I stare at the creature while it talks Nova comes forward bowing her head to the creature.

“Oh, great Jokle we don’t mean to enter the domain of yours and the lost children. We just wish to move on through and speak to the other faction leaders. The outsiders want to give us our home back that includes you and yours.”

The Jokle stares down at me and then at Nova and the others.

“I now understand why the lost children have been doing everything they can to gather supplies. They heard the rumors and the stories of a guardian from the outside world coming here to try to free them from their hell and bring them succor.”

I am confused by these old-timey words. I have been hearing it a lot on my journey with the others. One of the ship's crew even uses these words. I wish I could remember her name. She told us she was raised in an old kingdom. A kingdom that is engulfed in mist to keep it safe.

“I am Wicker. I have come in the stead of the guardian since she is pregnant and needs rest. The necromantic magic affects her in ways it wouldn’t affect the lost.”

The jokle stares at me with its cold eyes I can tell fully now this creature is female. I notice other jokles around her. Some are as big as she is and others smaller I wonder if the males are the smaller ones I take a deep breath.

“Please let us pass. I want to help the best I can and the only way I can is to take the task of the hero or guardian as you put it. I shall move anon quickly out of your way to give thy friends succor and bring forth the heart.”

The jokle rolls her eyes.

“You can stop.”

I laugh weakly.

“Is there anything you can tell us?”

The jokle sings sitting on her ass looking down at me.

“The other leaders came here hours ago. They’re waiting for you and the lost children will be coming with us. We defend them from the manticores the wolves made of rock and stone. There is hope here but hope hasn't done much for us as of late my friends.”

A young male comes out from behind the creature bowing his head. He is wearing a strange skull mask.

“I am the leader of the lost children. We work together in each area. The reporter hires most of us and pays what he can to help us. I heard you became friends with him. If you’re friends with him we can trust them Anuey.”

I glance at the little male who looks to be in their teens and at the jokle who from what I gather is named Anuey.

“I see good then. We will come with you then with all the faction leaders but Gearshift things will be tense there will keep them from going too crazy. My queen will want to speak with your leader about this little bug when she has a chance.”

I nod quickly.

“Ruby would be glad to speak to your queen. Why did Gearshift tell me we would have to go from place to place to talk to the other factions.”

The little teen laughs.

“It’s because she may act as if she trusts you but she doesn’t. We need to make sure you and your friends don’t want to steal our land from us. No offense to you of course Gearshift may trust you but we don’t either do the others. Bumble the friend of the north has said many things to make sure we don’t outright trust you.”

I don’t blame them for acting this way. The jokle and the teen-led us the rest of the way. I take a deep breath looking over to the children staring at us and the other jokles while this large one and the teen lead us. There are so many lost children. I move my gaze away from them, putting my hat down to hide the fact I am crying.

_____________________

The other leaders.

It took us about an hour to get to the north area of the city. We entered an arena and I look up at the old words. It’s an old sports arena and it only looks like it’s used for these meetings. The others turn to look at me including the large Jokle.

“We will ask you to stay here till you’re called. We need to let them know it’s not your friend Ruby. I wish I could tell you otherwise Wicker but again we have to make sure. I am sorry.”

Nova smiles weakly.

“I understand Nova perfectly. I am sure I will just listen and try to understand your community just by being within these old halls.”

The jokle nods.

“I will be staying to keep an eye on you, Miss Wicker. Maybe we could get to know each other if you’re willing to talk to a large creature like me.”

A soft smirk forms across my face. I lay down beside the large jackal-like creature. I take a deep breath relaxing as I should. Closing my eyes to relax and to think. Opening to watch the Teen and the others I came here with to head into the meeting.

“What should I expect?’

The jokle shrugs her shoulders.

“No Idea I am mostly here because the lost children asked me to be. My species used to be pets of the Upholi and the necromantic magic mixed with the end of the world which happened and the ley lines caused us to mutate. We are connected to the magic of the world and always have been.”

I am amazed at this. I have been told there are many creatures connected to the magic of the very planet of Equus. I have met a few of them before. It’s rare to see these creatures and sometimes these creatures are created by Grogar.

“Are you Grogar’s creation?”

The jokle shakes her head.

“No, we are creations of the Alicorns. We still don’t know why they created us and we still don’t know if we could talk back in the day. I just know from history, from queen to queen, from king to king. So it’s hard to understand if it;’s the truth or not.”

I smirk.

“I’m just a simple kirin born on an island called junk island. We learned over the years junk island was built on an old Alicorn laboratory and we did what we could from what I remember to defend it. Since a powerful weapon had been sealed down there. I didn’t have the heart to tell Ruby the reason the sick was placed down there is for a reason to protect it. She wouldn’t have accepted it.”

The creature chuckles.

“In my specific tongue, I am called something you wouldn’t be able to say very easily. So my name is Akia. I am just a simple guardian of the queen and I have my own family myself.”

It’s rare to learn the names and I listen closely to the sounds out in the arena. I can hear Nova speaking and most things are muffled.

“A friend of hers. Came in her place since Ruby herself is pregnant and is resting. The one who came with us will speak with us and then she will either be the one to fight in Ruby’s place or we will have to wait.”

I hear another voice I haven’t heard before I hear buzzing while the voice speaks.

“Like my friend, Catrina said I am a judge like she is. Catrina has been following this hero to Dream Valley. In the stories, I have been told Ruby is searching for the stars of hope and peace. I for one don’t understand her views.”

I hear a laugh.

“Thank you Bumble. I would have spoken myself but even so we creatures of old have been to Dream Valley and destroyed it in the name of the stars. I don’t blame Ruby for wanting to fight us judges and then show she is not a hero or a guardian but one who does what is right.”

I groan, stroking my head. Great two of the judges are here. I am worried now if I use Beezens name to explain to them both that he is here.

“Alright, then we will speak to this Kirin please bring her out.”

I stood up on my hooves looking over to Akia worried I would not get a fair time to talk.

“Will they give me the time to defend Ruby and why we are here?’

Akia looks down at me with a smirk forming on her face.

“Oh, I will make sure you get to speak. These leaders have lost their manners for the many years they have been leading. I will make sure they allow you to speak and I will be the one speaking first.”

Akia leads me out; she stares at the guards of each faction backing away. I notice we aren’t even around the Gearshift faction anymore. They’re normally dressed with cast iron and gears. One is full of red armor with spikes, the other is orange with fuel on them, and the other looks like power armor. I get into the middle of the arena with my new friend and I stare up at the leaders in their chairs.

Metal-beak looks down at me. He has a metal beak and half his body is made from metal. I have never seen a creature like this before. He sits on a heavy metal throne. I notice there are four thrones. His heavy metal beside him is a throne made of metal flamethrowers and fuel tanks. The leader is wearing a flame thrower outfit and she smirks down at me her feathers are singed and blacked. Her beak has a shine of orange. She winks at me. I just chuckle and I see the one known as Venom-Rose on her throne. It's made of old bed frames and she is leaning back on an old heavily used mattress she is wearing a very showy armor suit. She is heavily dolled up and seems relaxed.

“Ah, you must be Wicker before we allow..”

Akia stood up fully on her paws staring at the leaders.

“You will show manners and allow Wicker to speak her peace before you. Or so help me in the name of the lost children. I will make sure you understand not to piss off a female larger than you.”

Venom snickers.

“You barely know this Kirin Akia and you just defended her. What did she sleep with you or something?”

Akia laughs.

“She spent time talking with me and getting to know me while she waited. Now I know you three without Gear Shift you will not let her get any word in. Let her speak her peace and you already have two outsiders advising you.”

She stares at the large fat bumble bee in an old queen outfit and the Abyssinian Catrina. I take a deep breath.

“Before I speak my peace for Ruby. To the two who call themselves judges Beezen says hello.”

Bumble quickly stood up from her chair staring down at me.

“Bzzz how dare you.”

I smirk

“How dare I? Beezen warned us about you and told us to tell you his name. He would have been here himself but he is in the castle. Of course, he never told us about Catrina I am sure Dust would have a few words for her.”

Catrina twitches hearing the name of Dust. I can tell from the look on her face and eyes she knows Dust and I have a feeling there is more to Dust than he will tell us. Bumble sits back down in her chair groaning.

“I know you don’t trust Ruby or the others who came with her. I know it well. I am a former sea raider and Ruby risked her life to get me out of the water. By every right, since we attacked them I should have drowned with my crew. But she gave me a choice to die or be free.”

I look around at the many faces staring at me. I see the Upholi are all looking at me, one is even writing on a pad of paper. I think they work with Sterling and I worry when Sterling comes with us, who is going to keep the idea of news going?

“I made a blood pact with her. Ruby is family to me now. Listen closely to me Ruby has proven herself just by risking her life to bring the water back. Yes, we learned she could speak and talk with the mirelurks and didn’t even have to do anything. Now you wish for her to fight your strongest warriors?”

I sigh looking at the warriors they want Ruby to fight and maybe I look back at the leaders.

“I am going to say this and say this once. You want your kingdom back, why risk the lives of your best to fight us? While you could just simply take our world, we want to help your land. I am sure Bumble has told you many things. I am sure Catrina has warned you. But we aren’t here to conquer. We aren’t even here as liberators but we will help you get your home back.”

Akia pats my shoulder to silence me for a moment.

“I am going to add something to this. If we had to wait for a little bug and her friends to take back our kingdom then you fools dropped the ball. You keep saying you want this land back but you keep acting like it’s not the right time. We all know sooner or later the court will get brave to cleanse this city.”

She lets me speak again and I smirk weakly.

“Before I came here with Ruby. The king put us aside and told us he wanted us to find bunkers. We don’t know what he wants. But Ruby found necromantic magic through the city. If necromantic magic is in one of these bunkers then we know what he wants.”

Metal-Beak lifts his claw to stop me and he stands looking down at me and Akia. He paces looking at the others. He wants to speak but he is not saying a word. He just keeps pacing looking down at me.

“I am going to be bluntly honest with you. Akia is right, we have been doing nothing but trying to get our lives back. What we should be doing is surviving and taking the blade to the king. Most who come here don’t know what’s in that basement. I will tell you what is in that basement.”

Venom stands, stopping him from speaking, shaking her head. Metal-Beak sighs. I have a feeling whatever is in the basement of the castle it’s something they don’t want to speak about Metal-Beak weakly smirks.

“We know where all the bunkers are but the only way to open them is the city needs power. It has its internal power. There are five bunkers the keepers of time have one under their clock tower. That is the one which was given to the old king. Many of his treasures and weapons are down there.”

Brimstone smirks.

“Listen, we will go into the back office here. We will talk about what we will do. It may take a while. I am sorry but we have a lot to think about.”

I sigh taken back into the building part of the arena and I lay on the old cold floor Akia laying beside me she growls softly shaking her head.

“Those fools will never listen.”

I chuckle. I am about to answer her. I notice Bumble and Catrina coming toward me and I stare up at them both.

“Bzzzz I will speak to Beezen but you need to not tell him or the others Catrina is here. She told me why she is going the same path as you but we don’t need a race to Dream Valley and cause more problems in the shipping lanes.”

Catrina nods.

“We may haven’t been to the Metal Ring or the other shipping lanes getting attacked. The world is slowly getting back to normal and it’s time to let the world heal. There are too many in this world who refuse to accept it.”

I chuckle

“I won’t tell a soul. I may be friends with all of them but I am still a pirate. Some white lies are needed of course.”

I let out a soft giggle. The walk here took at least almost ten hours since it’s a big city and I yawn wanting to sleep but before I could do anything I heard a bell ringing Akia’s ears perked and Bumble noticed the lights come on and our eyes were blinded by the bright lights.

“Oh…the power is back”

We hear a voice come over the old PA system and it does nasty feedback for a moment.

“The power has returned to us, my friends. We would celebrate but it means the bunkers are open and now it’s time for us to accept what Wicker said to us. When Ruby is awake we will take her to the bunkers. The keepers may have trouble remembering the password for the king's bunker.”

Akia swings her head leading me to an office used as her bedroom. She opens the door for me and closes it. I noticed Bumble and Catrina didn’t follow after they said their peace. I think Bumble understands Beezen will talk to her later. I take a deep breath and Akia lets me rest in her bed.

“I will lead you back to your friends tomorrow Wicker. The leaders are too excited right now to give a real answer. They have said yes but they might change their minds tomorrow. I will speak to them while you sleep.”

I chuckle yawning.

“Hmm, thank you. I don't know why it took so long to get here. It's a big city bigger than I thought it was.”

Akia laughs.

“Yes, it’s a normal feeling. Now there is a lock on this door if you’re worried about anyone trying to harm you. I will make sure to knock.”

I yawn and then I notice a bee-like Bumble coming over. He has an eye patch and he looks very old like he has seen much. He stares at me and then at Akia and then looks back at me he smirks showing his aging face.

“I am Sting. I am the queen's bodyguard but she asked me out of respect for you to guard you. She doesn’t trust some of the minions of the leaders. She is worried they may try something with you. Of course, I am sure they won't. I said I would do it for her anyway. Like I did it for Willam and Morning Glory.”

I tilt my head. Who the hell is Willams and Morning Glory?

“Forgive me I don’t know who those two are.”

Sting smirks.

“Well, then I got a story for you.”

Akia leaves, closing the door and Sting tells me the story of old. About a young girl named Williams and a Flutter pony named Morning Glory. He told me he did all he could for them and went on about their adventures. The story went from hope to dread. I learned how and why the judges became so powerful, something Beezen refused to speak of and I closed my eyes to sleep remembering the past.

____________

Amandla many hours before the power returns.

I woke up in bed thankfully I didn’t drink any of the hard stuff. I notice Ruby is asleep beside me and she is sleeping soundly. I shake my head. I feel she needs more sleep. I lean over to listen to her stomach and I don’t hear anything, I just feel a strong bump. I then hear her stomach grumble. She is hungry. I look over Sterling who is fast to sleep in a chair and then Wicker who is asleep on a couch.

I get off the bed looking over at my armor. I must have brought it up or someone else did. I leave the room to try to not make a sound. My long ears flop while I walk through the room opening the door and closing it with a click. I head down to the main area of the inn noticing the bar is open.

“Excuse me, Keeper, are you doing breakfast now?”

The keeper smirks weakly.

“We mostly have meat, nothing for one like you unless you eat meat?”

I chuckle weakly, shaking my head.

“If I need food I can use the rations I got with me. Ruby needs heavy magic food. If you can make her some food and enough to help her through his pregnancy, it would be wonderful.”

The keeper stares at me.

“Wait, she is pregnant and she risked her life for us? Why would she do something like that?!”

I nod frowning.

“I wish I could stop her but I am still kind of new to her family and crew. She accepted but I doubt she will listen to me. I am going to force her to eat and then force her to stay in the room you gave us. I am going to make sure she gets enough sleep and rest.”

The keeper nods.

“I will do what I can. I have a question though, aren't you the one who wore the strange armor? You’re so small, how in the world do you wear it?”

I laugh

“It’s not very easy but I have found the parts so I just get into the body of it. Some ponies can wear it because some ponies are huge, some mares can't, they need to have connectors for me. I made it so a donkey like me can wear it. I also made it so it can be powered by either a power core or if there is too much trash around I use that. It’s what we use on Trash island, trash-powered energy stinks though.”

The keeper smirks.

“Since you will be here awhile and willing to help us. I am Daisy. I have been running this inn with my family even without the power. It’s the only place most of us can escape if there is a manticore or other things out there. I don’t know why but they avoid places like this.”

I have been wanting to ask this question for a while.

“This place is kind of like an island but a big island with a castle and such in the middle. How in the world did these creatures like Manticores and so forth get here?”

Daisy sighs, laughing weakly.

“There is an old zoo. The zoo is located on the east side of the city. There are more creatures in the zoo than you see here; most of them are left though. Be happy that you don’t have the Hydras or other creatures the east side has to deal with. The hydras can’t get through the buildings they’re built in a way it’s not easy to break through them. I should know the hard way since I grew up here.”

I am a bit cornered about what she means by that.

“What do you mean you know that the hard way?”

Daisy smirks

“I was a wild kid when I was younger my brother and I tried to break through these walls as a game. These walls are built from wood you get from zebra lands. It’s a hard, powerful enchanted wood the entire town is built from. The castle we don’t know what it’s built on. But there is something weird going on in that castle.”

I shake my head

“There is something very strange going on in that castle. At least it’s how I felt and the upholi there don’t seem friendly.”

Daisy sighs

“There is an old story that the king of old made a deal with some devil. We don’t know what the deal was but it was enough to cause a civil war. Before the civil war of course there is a rumor many of the Upholi including a hero of ours went missing before it started. Including the ponies and zebras, the king brought here. They think he either killed them or someone in the castle saved them.”

I tilt my head confused and my ears flop to the side.

“Hmm I see I hope we can help you and yours. I don’t know fully why we are here. I just know the one named Silver wants Ruby to help with something. I worry the only way to help it’s going to end in a battle.”

Daisy frowns, nodding.

“Yes, many want the king and the court gone or dead. They need to understand that though we need a king it’s the only way we are going to be able to survive. Now if you excuse me I am going to tell the chef your order. Do you want anything yourself?”

I think for a second.

“Do you have any tea?”

Daisy smirks.

“I grow my own so I will surprise you with what kind of tea we have. Now go ahead and wait and maybe you can talk to Gearshift about sleeping in one of the booths.”

Daisy points her claw towards the booth and Gearshift is asleep in there. I sigh heading over to both and Daisy heads into the kitchen. I sit on the other side of the booth and reach over to shake Gearshift awake. She opens her eyes looking toward me groaning and sitting up.

“You’re lucky I remember you’re here Amandla. So is everyone else awake or is it just you?”

A gentle smile forms across my face.

“It’s just me. I noticed Ruby is asleep and she is hungry. I don’t know if the rations the king gave us are enough for a pregnant magic eater.”

Gearshift sighs.

“If I knew she was pregnant before going in there. I would have stopped her from doing anything. I didn’t know till Sterling told me and I am now upset I didn’t stop her. I have a feeling though I wouldn’t have been able to stop her.”

I laugh softly no I doubt GearShift would have been able to stop her. Melody told me Ruby will do a lot on her own even risk her life to help those in need. Melody learned this before she even got married to Ruby. I remember the stories Melody told me about kind of pushing Ruby into a relationship and didn’t expect to fall in love with her as she did.

“Ruby is a strange little bug. I don’t know much about her but she is a great wonderful wife to Melody. She may lose her temper sometimes. I think it’s more the fact she has eggs in her. I also think it’s because she is stressed worrying about the friends she left.”

Gearshift nods.

“Is it true she was shot by the Storm King and thought to be dead? Is this also why in case news spreads about her being here we are meant to lie and say that just a traveling hero came here to help?”

I nod.

“Yes, my home is doing the same. Even though my home has an issue with Guardians or heroes you could say. They made an expectation for her since she helped kill one of the worst criminals we had. Even though she almost lost the battle the king slipped her a poisoned knife and she used it on the criminal.”

Gearshift smirks weakly.

“I worry she may have to fight the other leaders' best. I am sure Wicker will find a way to make sure she doesn’t. I am sure I can even convince them just to let Ruby help and trust her. She did enough already to bring the water back. All we have been doing is trying to live and survive. What we should be doing is doing. Instead of expecting someone else to fight our battles.”

I nod yes I agree Junk island is the same way sadly. They used to let others fight their battles for them. Then the hero came before I was even born. I know it from my grandparents. They told me about this hero and how he tried to cause an uprising. They never told me what happened to the hero.

“I don’t trust heroes myself when it comes down to it. I don’t see Ruby as a hero though. She doesn’t act like one. She even asked me to not call her one. A hero to her will get backstabbed by those she cares about. She feels her old friends just abandoned her. She has already been told it’s not true but she doesn’t buy it.”

Gearshift sighs, stroking her head.

“I can understand what it’s like to be betrayed and backstabbed. It happens here a lot. We made a rule after I became the leader of the west side. That we never betray one another. Even the other leaders agree. We have been at each other's throats for too long and we let the royals win. How bad it was before a lot of us were born the king and royals used the gangs to fight each other. To keep them from attacking them.”

I tilt my head to the other side, my ears flopping.

“What happened?”

Gearshift smirks

“We killed the royal's spies and the court is now very upset they don’t know our movements. It wouldn’t surprise me if they think they can use you and Ruby to tell them everything about us. I doubt Ruby will do it though. After how Ruby acted towards me when I called her a puppet, I swear she was going to attack me if Wicker didn’t stop her.”

I laugh

“Yes, it was bound to happen. Ruby is a prideful gal she has been used as a murderer by her creator on her island. Recently she was used by her again to unleash some alicorn creation named Omega, the same weird robotic creature. “

Gearshift blinks looking at me confused

“Wait, we saw something flying not far off from the island like a month ago. Could that have been Omega or something else?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know, I just know it’s heading to Dream Valley to kill someone called Rosedust. I have no idea who Clover told me who is a Flutter Pony that is the Queen of the Flutter Ponies. She even said she is surprised she is still alive after Flutter valley's death.”

Gearshift strokes her head groaning.

“I deserve the hangover I have right now. It’s been so long since we had any hope and drinking ourselves like we did last night was the worst idea I ever had.”

Daisy comes over with the plate of food and my tea.

“Here is your order. I hope Ruby eats it.”

I smile while putting the plate on my back along with the teacup. I head back upstairs and get back into the room. I notice Ruby is awake. I put the food on the bed and get on the bed. She looks up at me.

“Um. Amandla what are you doing?”

I stare at the bug because she knows what I am doing.

“Ruby, you need to eat something.”

After all this Sterling and Wicker woke up. Wicker put a spell on the room so Ruby can’t leave but we can go in. I learned a while ago that Gearshift and Sterling used to be married. Wicker left to deal with the other gangs so Ruby can rest. I was left behind to relax and make sure to keep an eye on Ruby.

After a while, I went downstairs since I was a bit hungry myself. I didn’t want to go into the room to wake Ruby up to get into my bags. When I went downstairs it was like a few hours later. I see Mellow and many from the ship here. Mellow lifts her since she is helping Daisy.

“Oh Amandla you must be hungry. I brought enough supplies from the ship to get everyone the food they need without the meat. How is Ruby doing?”

I sigh while sitting at the bar.

“It took her ages to fall asleep and she is having nightmares. Nightmares about the stars demanding her to draw blood. If things are going to happen like the gangs think it’s going to happen. They will get a lot of blood.”

I was tired and I didn’t sleep very well.

“Just give me a good veggie meal Mellow and then I am going to get some sleep myself.”

Mellow nods while she goes back to help the other chef and Daisy to make enough decent food for the other Upholi and the guards who came from the ship. The guards I guess are defending this inn because more creatures have been showing up since the ship got closer to the island.

After I eat I stand up heading upstairs. I have lost track of time and lay on the bed to relax and sleep. I close my eyes. I don't know how long I slept. I get a rude awakening seeing lights in my eyes opening and seeing the power of hearing cheering and bells ringing. Ruby woke up after I did and she looked outside. She opens the window since the spell is broken and she looks at me.

“I have a feeling Gizmo did this. Amandla I worry a war might be about to start.”

I glance at Ruby.

“Is that why you have been having those dreams?”

Ruby looks at me, her mandibles clacking together.

“Maybe if this is true I am going to go back to sleep. I am not hungry anymore thanks to you.”

I am confused because she hasn’t eaten for about ten hours. I think it’s been ten hours. I have no idea what is going on anymore.

“Ruby you ate like about ten hours or so ago. Shouldn’t you be hungry?”

Ruby chuckles.

“Magic eaters can last at least many weeks without food. If we eat enough magic from the food. We can last longer. I might get hungry later. I just know I am going to need more rest. Amandla you need more yourself from the look in your eyes. Come on, let's get some rest. I am sure the time is about to come.”

Ruby closes the curtain and turns off the light. She gets back into the bed getting under the covers to fall asleep. I sigh deeply, shaking my head. I get back on the couch to fall asleep myself. Even though the cheering and the bell are ringing I can fall asleep worrying we are about to start a war just for being here.

Footnote:

Max level

No new perk

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