My people, my friends. I am having these bunkers built to protect the citizens if the pony war reaches its peak and comes down here. I will be working to save all those who will keep our community when they return. I warn you my friends I made a deal with the devil and it will come back to bite us. Please my friends when you see this message played again you will know what the deal was. Destroy the deal and never look back.

Old recorded speech from the old king.

__________________

Morning tavern room.

“Hey, Ruby, it's time to wake up.”

I groan, opening my buggy eyes and staring into the eyes of our donkey friend. I sit up groaning feeling my body is a bit stiff. I flap my wings and get out of bed and look around. No one is waiting for me to wake. I look over to Amandla. The beauty in her eyes and the motherly look of a mother scorned. I think she is worried about the children or these children of the lost.

“Amandla What’s up?”

The donkey smirks

“I was asked to wake you up, Ruby.

I chuckle weakly grabbing my armor and placing it on keeping my helm off looking over to Amandla and I make sure I heard everything. I head downstairs and notice Mellow behind the bar she singles me over. I sit on the stool and she places down some food.

“Ruby I have been told you haven’t had enough magic in your food so eat this before you go out please.”

I give Mellow a happy buzz.

“Thank you Mellow.”

I lift the plate in my many buggy hands using the cybernetic hands to hold the plate and the others to eat. I watch many of Gearshifts gang members rushing around like they’re getting ready for something.

“What is going on?”

Mellow frowns

“Things are going crazy after Wicker went to go meet the leaders. They want you to go to the royal bunker. Sterling is going to go with you Wicker and Amandla are going to go to the one on the west side here. They worry if they go into all of them it might cause the court and the king to lose it. So they will just go into two of them. The royal bunker has an alarm and the keepers of the bell turned it off and every other alarm in the system. They hope nothing bad will happen.”

I stroke my head, sighing.

“I see, do they know what to expect with the royal bunker?”

Mellow frowns

“They don’t know the keepers of the bell have no idea what to think. There is old information they found about many Upholi ponies and zebras being sent down there during the civil war and most of the information was destroyed during the war.”

Great, they don’t know what they will find in the bunker. I stroke my face. I miss the touch of Melody and it’s just been I think at least a week. I close my eyes tightly wanting to be near my wife. I miss her so much.

“Mellow how do you do it? How do you stand being away from your husband for so long?”

Mellow smiles

“It’s not easy but over the years I grew used to it. I have done many jobs without him or him around. I told him when I get back and this war is over I will give him the brood he wants. I will do what I can no matter who wins. I have no idea what side will win.”

I smile weakly

“Even if I lose I will try everything to ask the Storm King to let me and Melody live somewhere in peace. I don’t want to lose. I don't want to win this battle either. I will do what I have to and then I will be punished for helping.”

Mellow frowns.

“Yes, you will be punished like you were before. I am guessing the age of heroes is coming to an end. It’s the age the citizens of the world need to fight for their rights.”

I nod I wish I never called myself a hero from the start. I am now thought to be a guardian and guardians are better than the idea of a hero. Soon though, even a guardian will be outdated and it will cause the citizens to protect the lands.

“I am going to stay where I feel when the time comes. I will fight what I can do but I can’t fight the army like the others. I know what I will be doing heading right to Rainfall. Do me a favor Mellow when the battle starts. Hide please don’t fight to go to your family and whatever happens, happens.”

Mellow smiles.

“I will do what I can Ruby.”

I ate the rest of my food, setting the plate down. I stroke my face feeling the stress leaving my body after eating the magic. Mellow puts down a large cup of steaming tea. I look down at the tea notching with my magic vision. The necromantic magic is not in this inn.

“How in the world did you all remove the necromantic magic?”

Mellow chuckles.

“Gem noticed something when she came on shore. She said some buildings have a large magic defense from magic such as this. It’s sadly not a place she even sent others to the other inns around the city. They all have the defense, it's starting to decay.”

I closed my eyes, sighing. I figured it makes sense someone would defend places like this. I don’t get why everything is not defended then it hits me. I am sure this defense was in every building and it took the inn's defenses to decay longer.

“Then I must find what is causing this issue. I am guessing it’s time to get ready after I drink or will they come for me?”

Mellow nods.

“They will come for you. Gem is asking Amandla to keep a close eye on you. After how you acted and what you did in the water treatment plant Gem is unsure letting you be on your own is a good idea. Upholi Sterling talked with Gem and, amazingly, Sterling told her ``you need others to watch you.”

I sigh, stroking my head. I used to be able to do what I felt was right. Now, anything I do often feels like I am going to hurt myself. I look down at my stomach and there are eggs in me. Now I need to remember I am holding a brood in my body and I need to care more about them than acting insane. I know I am going to lay them down when I am in Dream Valley. I worry I may be asked to leave some of them there.

The young don’t need their mother after they’re born. It’s sad to feel this way but it’s the truth. Now, this could have changed since I am not a queen and the magic eaters not born from a queen might be a lot weaker.

“Mellow, I wonder if our species would be weaker without a queen giving birth to young? Now I was born to a queen. I don’t remember who my father was. I doubt it was the same father as my brothers and sisters.”

Mellow takes a moment to speak, and she sighs.

“I don’t know if I will say I was born from a queen myself. She is heavily protected on the island Gem is from. Our brood home is under the hospital where your adopted mother lives. We have been there for years even before Gem and Cranberry took care of the issues. It took the coasting of Gem who knew we were down there to get us out.”

A smile forms across my buggy face. Cranberry got her dream to become a full-fledged doctor again. Gem hasn’t told me much about what happened to Cranberry. I took a deep breath unsure if I should ask.

“Mellow you have seen Cranberry what happened to her?”

Mellow frowns.

“I am sure you see some of the paintings and much of her. But they hide the truth about her. Half her body is covered in scars on one of her flanks, her cutie mark is missing and she is missing a hoof. Gem told me before she got married to Cranberry. That Cranberry saw a strange goat and he said to her. There will be a time when she is so broken she will cry and scream and he said it will be soon.”

I stroke my head oh no Grogar has spoken to her. I remember when he spoke to me it caused my friendship with Tick Tock to be strained. Even before then my friendship with her and the others got very strained. I took a deep breath sighing. I take a deep drink from my tea feeling my stress leave my body.

“I feel my friends betrayed me. I feel they just left me on my journey and never spoke to me. I am sure when I try to go see them again they won’t want anything to do with me at all.”

Mellow frowns

“I didn’t want to tell you but it might be true. Your friends have their own lives now Cranberry may miss you but the others may not. Hawk from what I learned is married. Roll Roll got married and mated to a creature like us and a zebra mare. Tock Tock is married to a mare who has been to Dream valley before. Inyanga is married to the one known as Rex and Waterspout, a camel. Dunewalker a dragoness.”

I felt upset about my friends moving on without me. I was locked in time in a cocoon. There is no way I would have been able to do anything even if I tried to hatch early. I am sure they still would have moved on without me. I am sure the entire island forgot about me. I haven’t even heard from Glendo. I haven’t even tried to talk to him. I am sure soon I will try to break through to him if I can.

“Ruby, they didn’t betray you. You know full well they couldn’t be seen together or seen with you. Things could have gotten worse or better since you left. The land has a rebellion forming but some are loving what the Storm King has brought. Before we fully left he removed the bounty on your friends. I fear the one to cause more problems though is Wheel Tread.”

I tilt my head so many are loving what he has brought? Then why are they even fighting? Maybe Wheel Tread is going to cause something to get it all crashing down. I remember the words the Flame of truth and what I saw.

I hear the door open looking over to see Wicker and Sterling walk into the inn. Amandla comes in behind them. She looks over to me, trotting over to me and noses by my side. I just stroked the head of the donkey.

“So I will be going with you. Sterling and Wicker will be going to another bunker? I'm going to ask, ``What are we expecting to find?”

Sterling shrugs his shoulders.

“I am unsure what we are expecting to find. Just you will be going with a heavily armed group with Gearshift and Amandla. We worry about what we might find in the royal bunker. I am surprised the king of old showed the keepers how to turn off all the alarms and maybe even the security. We aren't fully sure if it’s fully off.”

I drink the rest of the tea I was about to leave but before I do Mellow grabs me with one of her buggy hands and I turn to look at her. She sets down a large metal thermos of tea. She then sets down a bunch of wrapped food.

“You will be taking this for you and Amandla but the tea is for you. Amandla you know what to do if she doesn’t eat remove the magic from her system it’s not hard just make sure the weapon is not too powerful.”

I frown, shaking my head.

“Come on, there is no need for that.”

Mellow stares at me grabbing my bags and putting the thermos in one of the ammo and the food in the other. I take a deep angry breath. I am unhappy that I can't choose my own. I know full well that being married though I will never be able to make my own choices since Melody is my wife and she will do everything to keep me protected.

“I am sorry Ruby but your wife is like a sister to me. I will do everything to make sure her wife is safe. Also, I am the reason for her greeting you when you two first met. I said ``buck Ruby, she will love that.”

I turn my eyes to stare in anger at Mellow. Mellow winks at me and I just laugh rolling my eyes. If she and I hadn't met that way I would have never known the male I keep forgetting his name now since I want to forget him. I would have never learned he used me to get a brood inside me as a way to spread his legacy at my expense.

“Come on Ruby let's get going Gearshift is going to explain what is going to happen. The other gangs are going around culling the manticores or training them to help with the battle. They’re getting ready to go to war and it’s all because of you and I know full well you didn’t want to hear that.”

I put my helmet on to ignore how I feel. I put the seal on and Amandla heads upstairs to get her armor. After at least six minutes the large armor with the donkey inside comes down the stairs. She takes the helm off a moment to set it down.

“I am all ready and I made sure just in case we find security down there and knowing places like in Equestria from stories I heard it will be robots. Hopefully, it will be robots and not living creatures. I don't want to kill anything if I don’t have to.”

Sterling smiles.

“Gearshift will be with you, including one of her champions; they will make sure you don’t have to kill anyone. I doubt Gearshift wants living Upholi on her mind of course. Soon we will be attacking our military and our own royal family and court.”

Amandla nods, putting the helm back on and setting the seal she makes sure everything moves and runs in place. The wooden floor under her groans and settles. Then she slowly moves to the door looking back at me.

“Come on, let's go.”

It was one of the first times I heard her speak in the suit. She still has a female-sounding voice but it’s like me but I sound more feminine with the helm on at least it’s what I was told. I doubt it’s true at least to me it’s not true

“Alright.”

I turn back to Mellow.

“When the battle starts will you go back to the airship?”

Mellow shakes her head.

“Gem and the others will do what they can to guard the west side and while the gangs go through they will take up the defense of small areas of each area just in case the battle goes bad and they have to retreat.”

I worry big time though if this attack fails the royal family and the court are going to do what they can to crush them. Crush them to the point they will think twice before even doing stuff like this again. I worry it will be because of me all that happens. If it happens I will do what I can to get into the castle to get my wife and the others out of there.

I follow Amandla and the others out Wicker and Sterling wait by a group of Gearshifts warriors while another group is going through getting weapons they have been stockpiling over the years to get ready for the battle. Gearshift turns to look at me and she is wearing heavy gear armor.

“Alright, this is how we will be doing this. You will listen to me and if you don’t listen to me Ruby you will be forced to stay behind and if you back talk to me I will shoot you got it?”

I chuckle weakly.

“Gearshift I respect you and I will listen I promise. If something needs my small body.”

I am not that small anymore but I can get into some size vents. Strangely, I may be a warrior but I am smaller than most. I wonder if Glendo had a reason for this. It makes me feel unsure. Gearshift clicks her claws and the others go. Wicker and Sterling went with them to that bunker.

I don’t know anything about these bunkers; there is no history of them. Just old history talked about from generation to generation. Gearshift and her greatest champions lead the way. There are so many Upholi coming out of hiding; some are carving up Manticores and other creatures I haven’t seen. I heard there are hydras on the east side. I wonder if the east knows how to tame creatures because I see some manticores who have been tamed and trained.

The upholi looks at me waving at me and the lost children come out of their hiding walking with us offering us food and other items. I shake my head and the champions take the food and water from the children.

“Excuse me?”

I stop looking around. I don't see anyone then I look down seeing a little female Upholi one that looks to be the age of at least five. Her large eyes full of innocents no… please don’t make this war make her die goddess no. I land flapping my wings to keep myself at least ready to fly. I look back while the others walk off and Amandla is trying to ignore the children knowing her motherly heart.

I turn back to the little one.

“Are you here to free us?”

I weakly smile. I wish I could show her my emotions. I took a deep breath exhaling soon after and just nodded.

“I will do my best but it’s the choice of your people to free yourselves. You can’t rely on me no matter what you think. I am no hero.”

The little one stares at me with her large eyes. I think she understands what I mean. I look around for the little one's parents.

“Do you have any parents?”

She shakes her head.

“They died protecting me. I don't even remember them and the other lost children took me in and raised me. I just was told what killed my parents, the army that comes through now and then trying to break any rebellion. We haven’t seen them in so long like they gave up on us.”

I doubt they gave up on them. I think the royals and the court felt they had won. I have a feeling Silver knew there were many more out here than normal. I have a feeling she knew full well what was going to happen and worry she is going to die.

“Do me a favor little one when the battle starts you and the lost children go into hiding, please. I don’t want any of you getting hurt. Can you do that for me please?”

The female gives a quick nod and turns her head to look at the others. I doubt they will all listen and then I flap my wings hard to get back into the air. I bow my head to the little one and she waves at me.

I get back to the others sighing.

“Gearshift do you try to help the lost children?”

Gearshift nods.

“It’s not easy. Some of them have been on their own for so long they hate the fact the gangs never took the time to help them. Most of us forgot they were even alive. I feel bad for how I treated them in the past.”

Amandla stays silent. I can't tell her emotions and it’s not easy to tell how she is carrying herself. I wonder if she is trying to ignore all the children around her and we notice a large clock tower. I notice fully how far away and easy to bypass the castle in the middle. I glance at the castle so far from there. We are close to the shore and I wonder if some of this bunker is underwater.

“Ruby I got a request for you and Amandla it will take a while for the keepers to agree. So I want you and Amandla to stay outside. The keepers don’t care for outsiders and they know you want to help. But when it comes to the bunkers of the old royal family. They will be very defensive so please will you listen?”

I nod, sighing deeply. I sit down by the wall of the clock tower and Amandla gets out of the armor. She works on it while we wait. I take a deep breath, close my eyes and relax and take my helmet off reaching into my bag to take out the thermos drinking from it after I open it. I took a deep drink, noticing it was a big thermos and I found it amazing. It's so good.

“Amandla are you worried when this battle starts to free themselves the children get in the middle of it and get killed in the way of the battle?”

Amandla shudders, tears streaming down her face. She sobs softly. I look over at her sighing. I knew I shouldn't have brought it up but I have a feeling she has been holding it back for a while. I put the thermos back into my bag hugging the donkey

“I am sorry I didn’t mean to bring it up.”

Amandla chuckles.

“No, it’s fine Ruby. I am always going to break when it comes to children. I worry more about what we are about to find down there. I have heard of bunkers like this on Equestria; some turn out to be stables. Some turn out to be full of weapons and some might be the bones of the dead.”

I worry about what we are about to find as well. I am more worried I will find this thing the king wants. I am going to do whatever I can to destroy whatever it is. I ain’t going to let the king have it and I won’t let any of the royals have it. The door opens and Gearshift comes out sitting by us sighing.

“Nova is talking with them. I am not needed right now. You two look bothered by something though what's up?”

I glance at the lost children looking back to Gearshift.

“Will they go and hide when the battle starts?”

Gearshift looks to the children of the lost. I can tell by the look on her face they won’t. She shakes her head. She strokes her head groaning, taking her helmet off and I worry she might be very stressed. I can’t do anything to help her.

“No, they won’t most of them feel that the royal family stole everything from them, even their futures. They feel they have every right to take back their home. They don't want to harm any of the servants in the castle, thankfully. They just want to get rid of the army, wanting to harm everyone and the court.”

I wonder if the royal family has spies out here. I wonder if they take information back to the castle. I doubt it though I have been told they killed the spies a while ago. I do wonder if we will ever learn what happened

Nova opens the door poking her head out.

“It’s going to take a while for them to agree. But if you don’t mind waiting they want to make sure Ruby understands there could be many things in the bunker the keepers want to protect. I hope you understand this Ruby.”

I nod quickly.

“I understand. I want to do what I can for you and then move on. I have been here long enough, almost one week out here and that is long enough.”

Nova chuckles weakly.

“Oh come on Ruby I barely know you and I want to know if you want to help us or just going to leave when all is said and done.”

I sigh deeply.

“Nova I can’t stay after everything is said and done. I will stay long enough to at least help you do what you need to. I can’t stay and help you get your lives back together and get your city back and going. You’re going to have to do that without me. I am sure we will come back down here after we get done with Dream Valley.”

Nova smiles sweetly. I haven't gotten to know her yet as Wicker did. When Wicker came back she told me it didn’t take much for other gangs to trust us. Whoever brought the power back did the easy thing. Bumble and Catrina I have seen Catrina before but not Bumble. Catrina will stay and help with this battle.

One of the judges or two of them will stay and help with this battle. Do we have a right to have the judges of the stars help us with the battle ahead? Maybe we are too lucky and the stars of pain will demand more blood. I am sure they will start screaming at me for their blood again soon.

“I figured I do understand you can’t stay and do everything in your power to help us. You can only do so much. You’re risking your lives even helping us now. Like you said the king asked you to come out here to find a bunker? I wonder why he didn’t even know the location of the bunker. Unless the bunker has been lost to history.”

I have an idea that confuses me. I use my magic vision and this entire area is covered in necromantic magic. I then notice it’s coming out of the door. I know the keepers don’t want me inside. I go inside the keepers looking at me. One of the keepers comes over. I am sure she is their leader.

“You see it too don’t you?”

I glance up at the heavy-robed female Upholi, her gentle green eyes stare down at me. She looks old and I wonder if this upholi keeper has been living here for two hundred years. I wonder how she lived for so long?

“You mean necromantic magic? It’s coming out of this bunker.”

The Upholi female nods. I think the keepers knew the magic was coming from here for so long. They just couldn’t do anything about it. She smiles weakly. I could tell the poor creature is old and I doubt she will live much longer.

“All the keepers know about this magic. I am the oldest of them. I have been kept alive by old spells and I was there during the civil war. But… I don’t remember what is down there. I don’t remember much, everything I knew in the past is gone from me. I just remember some things but the magic. The magic has been pouring out of here for years ever since the shields broke.”

I tilt my head.

“When did the magic shields break?”

The upholi sighs looking at the bunker door and then back down at me.

“It broke at least fifty years ago. It already did enough damage to the citizens of this city. If the magic is removed though some could heal and get their ability to have children back again. But if we don’t do something soon it may never happen.”

I sighed, shaking my head.

“Now little bug, could you go back outside? It will take us a while for all of us to agree to let you in there. I may agree but not the rest of us. The one known as Nova is going to take a while and please I know you want to be on your way. But there are stories out there of heroes and guardians losing their way rushing through their paths.”

I shift my vision back to normal. I am upset that I have to go back outside because I didn't want to. It’s the only way to help the others to get us in. I take a deep breath exhaling and buzzing deeply. I turn back to leave and head outside, setting down Gearshift stares at me. I could tell she is not happy with me. I open the thermos again while drinking from it to relax.

“I am sorry Gearshift. I learned necromantic magic is coming from the bunker here. So whatever is causing the issues here. I am starting to learn what magic is too. My zebra friend told me all zebra magic has a mark to it. She told me zebra necromancer magic has the symbol of the stars all over it.”

Gearshift chuckles.

“It wouldn't surprise me if whatever is down there the zebras are guarding something in the name of the king. But how can you tell?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I have no idea Inyanga said only farseers like her can see the magic. She has trained all her life to see it and she said there is a reason many zebra tribes ban necromantic magic. It causes many problems to the tribe and sometimes can cause the soul to wither and die on the user.”

I close my eyes remembering what she told me. I am amazed she told me so much even after the zebra got upset at me for what I did with the stone drugs. I remember the look of hate in her eyes for so long and then after everything was said and done it got to the point I was worried she would never speak to me again.

“Ruby, are you alright? Tears are falling from your eyes are you alright? I understand it’s not easy for you to remember your friends.”

I look at Amandla and Gearshift. I wish I could tell them how I felt without breaking down and sobbing. I can't so I have to tell them how I think I put down the thermos. I don't want to toss it and break it. I want to drink as much as I can. I don’t want to hurt anyone, I just want to talk. I take a deep breath taking a while to exhale and buzz deeply.

“Forgive me for what I am about to say. I am not in my right mind when it comes to my friends and the ones who put the brood in my body. I will do what I can to speak and not break down please don’t stop me alright?”

Gearshift nods looking over to Amandla they both agreed. I relax, buzzing angrily remembering everything. I pace a bit. It's taking me a while to do what I can to think of what to say. I am unhappy with everything these days and I am very unhappy with so much these days. It’s gotten to the point I will never understand.

“Many don’t know this but I was a mind-controlled minion of our creator Majesty. An Alicorn had a chip on her shoulder and she wanted to be loved. At first, though, she didn’t need to mind controlling us to love her and treat her like our creator. When the hero of legend made it to our shores. We then learned after the legend was fake and faults.”

I remember learning the hero of legend was the one known as Mimic and her friends that had shown years before. But she turned around and betrayed her friends. I then explain to them about all that my emotions are in check at the moment at least.

“Then Star Shooter made it to the shores and at first Majesty didn’t do much to care. She did try to help the pony get back to Equestria but so many wanted her to stay. She found love in a salamander named Blaze.”

I went on about everything and about the year war that would make Majesty control most of the land. The hero waited for the legend to take full effect again. I remember fully how the zebras did so much to help those running away from the fighting.

“I killed many, including children if I remember right. I wasn’t happy and what caused me to get this way again mind controlled. At first, I thought it was a crown mind controlling me. Then I learned she had the power all along. She stopped herself from controlling us again like showing she wanted us to lose.”

I then explained what happened to the hero herself. I have tears falling from my eyes hating what I did and hating everything for what I did. I took a deep breath, upset and worried about what the island thought of me now when It came out I helped the Storm King return and I took a deep breath trying to relax.

Amandla comes over stroking my back. She smiles at me and I feel better relaxing and chuckle weakly.

“It’s okay to relax. Keep going the best you can.”

I smirk weakly. I am happy Amandla is here and she has been so helpful since we met her. I know we haven’t known her long but she has done so much to help me and to help Melody. When Melody is upset from my mood changes she does her best to help her.

“Alright, where was I? Oh yes.”

I tell them about the ten years after everything. It took us at least ten years to get most of the stuff rebuilt. It wasn’t easy to rebuild a lot of the places because it took so long for us to all agree on how to rebuild them. The exiles did their best to help us and the salamander got their home back to normal. Thankfully it doesn’t take long for the Salamanders to become strong again.

“I wanted to see our hero. But the others didn’t care. It took a lot of convincing and then it was all said and done.”

I told them about how long it took to get the trade ship to agree to get us there. I then told them that there weren’t many caring about us leaving. It was just those who knew us and I was still kind of hated for what I did. I took a deep breath again trying to not cry at how I was treated and then I told them about everything.

I told them about how my friends started turning on me and the thing I brought up that got them to worry is when I brought up Grogar. Gearshift lifts her claw to stop me and she looks at me closely.

“Have you seen him for real? If you have seen Grogar that means the seals in his prison are getting weaker.”

I tilt my head.

“How do you know about Grogar?”

Gearshift smiles.

“Our old history tells us about him and how he created a lot of our enemies. Like the MIrelurks they have been an issue for us longer than most think. Some even think he is the reason for the creation of the Storm King. I am unsure though but we have all known about him. Some have even seen him from time to time when the gangs argue.”

I see that others have seen him and it’s gotten to the point his prison is getting weaker and weaker. I wonder what is going to happen when he fully shows up and it gets worse. I hope someday we will never know what will happen. I hope I won’t know what happens. Because I don’t see myself ever starting to fight again.

“He showed up to me many times. At first, I thought he was just a figment of my mind. Then his showing up started straining my friendship with others. Without him though I am sure Tick Tock and I would have strained our friendship on our own.”

Gearshift chuckles.

“I see.”

Gearshift was about to say something when Nova came out again.

“They agreed to let you all inside. Ruby, they want you to focus on finding what is causing the necromantic magic. Anything else you find please ignore it unless it’s something you consider very important.”

I put my helmet back on and Amandla got back into her armor. I glance at Gearshift and she puts her helm back on. I made sure I got my bags full of medical supplies and ammo. I made sure I got all my food. I am already taking a deep breath in the helm letting the air fill my lungs, breathing out and feeling relaxed.

I head inside the building and when we get inside the building the keepers are working on getting the code into the bunker. The locks sound so old when they start moving and groaning. This door hasn't been opened in so long.

When the door fully opens the lights turn on inside stairs heading deeper inside. I am happy I am wearing a helmet. I am sure our donkey friend is very happy she is in that armor. Gearshift heads to the door and she groans holding her nose.

“The air is extremely stale here. I think the vent system broke down years ago and new fresh air hasn’t come into the area for a long time.”

I chuckle weakly.

“I have been into areas like that before. I know full well how unpleasant old stale air is. It’s gotten to the point once where I refused to go into places like this. Now I will try to locate the creation of the magic. Do you want me to call you all down if I find something?”

The leader of the keepers of the bell nods.

“If you find anything which would interest us you tell us to come down.”

I nod looking towards Gearshift and the others who are coming with us. We head inside the royal bunker. I am unsure what we will find.

__________

Royal Bunker.

We finally make it downstairs and we find ourselves in what is thought to be a lobby. Gearshift looks at the words on the wall and I know none of these champions or her know how to read. I go over to Gearshift.

“This one is for stasis? Amandla.”

The donkey turns to look at me.

“What does stasis chamber mean?”

Amandla goes silent for a moment looking at the words on the sign she quickly trots to the room. It’s locked. She smashes the lock hard and it doesn’t give way but she keeps smashing it and when the door opens the light turns on.

She goes inside and I follow her there is a row of tubes and I remove the frost gasping seeing Upholi frozen. I look at the others and they’re all here and then I hear a loud gasp from Gearshift and when I fly to her I see her and the others crying.

“Captain Celano.”

I stare into the tube seeing what I have been told is their old hero. I rub away the frost of the others. It’s the elements and I look over at a golden tube rubbing the frost away and Gearshift gasp.

“The missing Princess. The reason the civil war started! Nova go get the keepers quickly!!”

After a while, the keepers come down looking at all this. They stare at the tubes full of at least one of their heroes, the princess of old, and two more of their heroes. I see the names of the other two tubes.

Zephrya and another female named Ocypete. There is another name Prince Aellio but the seal must have broken years ago. The poor prince is nothing but bones and dead. I don’t see any of the other royal families here.

The leader of the keepers goes to the tube of captain Celanos and she clicks the code into it to start the defrosting process. Before I could do anything else I heard a scream and a roar. I quickly fly outside of the room seeing a creature dead on the ground with a recent burn on its body. I look at the creature staring at it.

“What in the world are these?”

I look at them closely and Amandla comes over to look. The creature looks like a zebra creation, like something to defend the inside of the bunker. I look closer seeing these creatures are made of nothing but magic and bones.

“Ruby, do you see magic in this?”

I nod.

“Yes, I do.”

The keeper leader and the others carry out Celano placing her on the ground to let her fully thaw. The leader turns to look at me. I could see she had a lot of stress on her face and she shook her head.

“Most of the tubes are intact, many of them have cracked over the years, and we don't have enough supplies to feed all of them but we can’t leave them there. We also found the zebras who came to the island years ago. Even the ponies somehow forced them into these tubes.”

I sigh deeply, shaking my head unsure what to think. I never expected to see any of the Upholi of old alive. I swing my head to Amandla to tell her to go ahead and clear the way. She nods trotting off. She heads down deeper into the bunker. I hear her weapons go off and the roaring and screaming of these creatures.

“We will let her take care of them.”

I hear groaning. I look over to Celano and the other Upholi help her onto a bench and Gearshift sits beside her. Celano opens her eyes, red eyes staring at Gearshift like she is confused at what the creature is wearing. She then looks at the others and then at me she bawks like she is very surprised to see me.

“Am I fucking dreaming I see a bug in armor?”

Gearshift laughs.

“No, it’s not a dream. I am..”

The keeper shakes her head.

“Celano, what do you remember before coming down here?”

Celano takes a while to think of what to say. It's like it’s coming back to her slowly. She groans, finally it all comes back to her.

“King Thaumas and Queen Ozomene had to deal with the court and family of theirs backstabbing them. I remember the King brought ponies and zebras to help him take back the castle from his brother. One of the zebras betrayed us and caused the brother of the king to live forever and..wait how long has it been?”

All that hit me at once then I finally had said it.

“You mean the king on the throne now is the son of this brother?”

Celano looks up at me.

“The king on the throne now? I wouldn’t know if his family is still the king on the throne. Then it’s a faulted king on the throne. Now again how long has it been?”

Gearshift sighs.

“Two hundred and thirty years.”

The feathers which I am sure are ears on Celano’s head wilt. She stares at me and then at Gearshift. She hears the gunshots again and soon after Amandla comes back looking at me and the others. She takes off her armored helmet and sets it down.

“I cleared out what I could find. There might be more in there. It might be wise to wake up one of the zebras so we can find this necromantic magic. Ruby something is bothering me about this place though. Why would this bunker be built for a civil war?”

Celano clears this up.

“All the bunkers were built just in case the pony war came here. Speaking of the witch, how did that war end?”

I frown, taking my helm off and setting it down.

“Before I go on, I am Ruby Glide. I am of a race of species known as magic eaters. My race was created many years ago before the war. Some came to Equestria and other lands during or after the wars ended. But I shall say it, the world ended in fire. Both sides unleashed Balefire bombs destroying the world. It took a hero named Little Pip to fix some of the problems in Equestria but sadly only there.”

Celano frowns, stroking her head.

“It would mean everyone I knew including Twilight and her friends are all dead.”

I explain to her Fluttershy is still alive including Scootaloo and told her what happened the last few years from what Star Shooter told me Celano didn’t enjoy hearing any of it and soon after the keepers carry out one of the zebras she is dressed like a necromancer she has skulls adorning everywhere she is wearing weird furs and wearing a skull helmet. After a while, she opens her eyes and stands on her hooves. She stares at me hissing.

“One touched by the stars!!”

I roll my eyes

“Yes yes, the stars want their blood and all but this is important. Are you the one who betrayed the Upholi and then betrayed their king?”

The zebra stares at me looking at Celano and then me.

“If you mean by placing a necromantic spell on their king and not telling him it’s a curse. Then yes, what of it?”

I explain to her what the necromantic spell has done to the Upholi and how the king's grandson or son wants me to find it and I told her I have been asked to destroy it and she sighs deeply shaking her head.

“Then what I warned would come to pass. All you see in that court and royal family they’re not his grandchildren and the court is not real they’re him. If you say there are those Upholi in there who are innocent creatures then they could be lost. They might have an immunity to the king's power and no matter how many times they abuse them he won’t gain control of them.”

Gain control of them? Oh no…I grab my helm speaking in it.

“Gizmo, are you there?!”

I hear static shit shit shit no.

“Gizmo, are you there?!”

Static and then I panic.

“Relax Ruby.”

I glance at Amandla and I am panicking. How can I relax?

“The alarms are turned off. I doubt the king even knows we are down here. It might be a bad idea to even warn others. Someone could listen in and cause you more problems than you know. Now let this zebra lead you to the book or the spell.”

I glance at the zebra. I feel I need to speak in her better nature. I look back on what Hunter told me about zebra Langues Sometimes using their words will help them trust you more. I took a deep breath.

“Ngiyacela, Zebra enkulu ngidinga usizo lwakho kulokhu phakade ngikunikeza ukusekela nokuhlonipha uma lokhu kwenziwa. Ngizoqinisekisa ukuthi ukhululekile futhi uyingxenye yalo mphakathi uma usuqedile.”

I cough, it's hard to speak like this, and the zebra smirks.

“I see you learned how to speak like my species tell me how did you learn that?”

I chuckle weakly.

“When I was in a community called Peace Rock. I found many zebras including a zebra named Hunter. She and her griffin husband helped me. She helped me learn what I could and told me it will take a while to practice. I had a lot of time on this trek so I touched up on my learning. I am still not good at it.”

The zebra laughs.

“I am Ubusuku obungapheli or in the words of a pony Endless Night. I will help you destroy the spell and I am sorry for what I did. I thought I was helping them but I didn't realize it. He would turn around and kill the real King and Queen. “

Celano sighs.

“What about the others of my friends?”

I frown telling her about the prince she frowns nodding.

“I see that the elements we had won’t work but I think I can help get the castle back if you don’t mind waking up the others.”

The keeper nods.

“We will wake them up and let Ruby go with the zebra.”

Gearshift sighs and shifts on the bench.

“Ruby you might have to eat the magic if you don’t be careful.”

I glance at the others and they go wake the others. I follow the zebra with the donkey behind me. I look back at Celano. She is taking this so much better than I thought. I was worried she wouldn’t and it would cause her to lose her mind.

“So one touched by the stars how did the war end?”

I stay silent following the zebra and I sigh while she leads me to Amandla though we notice many more creatures. They seem to avoid her because she is their mother, their creator. She looks at them and sneers.

“This is not good at all; these creatures were never meant to form. The spell was just meant to make sure the king who took over would be punished for what he did. I didn’t think he would take advantage of the spell like this. Tell me what was the king you met like?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“He was respectful, he told me he regrets what happened to this great city and he warned him the court will try to harm my wife. So I am guessing he is not like his grandfather. But I need to destroy this spell. It will be the only way.”

Endless Night leads me through the halls and the creatures leave me and Amandla alone since we are with her and she stares at the creatures. Each time she does her eyes glow and they scream and die.

“This spell wasn’t meant to get this bad. I am wondering if someone came down here to make it worse.”

I sigh deeply

“Endless before we fully go on can you tell me why the war started, do you even remember why it started?”

Endless stops turning to look at me from the look in her eyes when she sits down on her ass to stare at me. I can tell she is not wishing to speak about it and all she has to say is she doesn’t wish to speak about it but I am sure it’s been on her mind for so long now.

“To be honest there are many reasons for the war. The biggest reason when Luna took over was we felt the mistress of the stars took over. It was our foolishness and it was also the fools of the elites in the land of ponies.”

I want to lose my temper with what I am hearing. But losing my temper is not the best idea. Then I finally wonder what is causing all these issues and I notice I haven’t seen Grogar show up in this area.

“Tell me Endless, do you know who Grogar is?”

Endless looks up at me and she looks confused.

“Grogar the father of all monsters and the creature who has caused so much over the years? The one who has been imprisoned for many years?”

I sigh deeply.

“He is coming back. I have seen him, I have spoken to him and it’s gotten to the point he unless his hate sickness around and it causes more problems than it helps. Someday I know full well he will break free and we will have to fight.”

Endless sighs shaking her head.

“I see then it means the war ended badly. Can you tell me how it ended?” Please little bug I need to know how the war ended. I need to know if it ended the way it should have and not the way the stars wanted it to end.”

I frown a bit, nodding.

“It ended in fire and death. It took many years for a hero to show up and try to get the sky to return.”

I told her about the story of Little pip, Blackjack, The little ghost, and many other stories about heroes. It’s gotten to the point she had tears falling down her face. From the looks on her face, it’s pure grief at how the world ended from the war. If the war ended the best way it could have ended things would have never ended up how they did.

“I see it means our leadership failed. It means we fell into the pit the ponies fell into. There is no way we could have had anyone else telling us what to do. I am sure many blamed Discord for what happened during the war or Grogars' hate sickness, am I correct?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I wouldn’t know I just know many feel there was no way to stop it. The only way to stop it would have been to kill all the leaders of each side including the leadership of the dragons. I don’t know fully who joined what side. I am sure most of it is what caused the war to get worse.”

Endless sighs shaking her head and standing on her hooves. She looks back at me and then back at the door. The leader is leading to the magic causing all this. I am starting to understand what is going on here. The king is from a long line of kings touched by necromantic magic and part of the king who has been touched by it controls him. I wonder if some of the control broke off for a moment to tell us about the item.

“Endless before we go on. Tell me about this book and what I should expect?”

Endless sighs.

“It’s just a simple necromantic book. There was another darker book but it’s nothing that powerful. It just has one use to bring forth the dead and not hold the souls in soul jars. I would never bring something that powerful. Whatever happened over the years the spell must have gotten powerful and the only way now to make things right is to destroy it. So what are you?”

I chuckle weakly. I think I know where this is going.

“I am a magic eater. I can eat magic. I have a feeling you’re going to ask me to eat the magic right?”

She nods.

“I have eggs in my womb. Do you have any spells which could defend them from the spell?”

Endless put her hoof on my stomach and she feels them closing her eyes and chanting a strange spell. I feel magic going inside me and I feel a defense added with my own to protect the eggs and I feel a bit light-headed since wow it’s powerful magic she just used.

“It won’t last forever so you need to find a way to get rid of the magic soon after. Do you think you can do that?”

The only way I can think of is going far out to sea and forcing the magic out and then trying to destroy the magic. It wouldn’t be easy and thankfully magic can’t blow on the wind so it would just stay in that area till it slowly vanished from growing weaker.

“I will do what I can and it won’t be pretty. Necromantic magic has the effect of making me feel like I am on drugs. So I am not looking forward to dealing with this and I know full well when it comes to it I will have to rush out of here quickly.”

Endless nods and heads to the door she puts in the code and when it opens up on a pedestal around many bones and old decayed bodies of animals and many creatures guarding it. I see the book. The book has been open for so long it’s starting to fall apart and the spell is so strong. I feel it’s magic and see it without the magic sight.

“Oh, it shouldn’t be this powerful. If someone stayed and watched it over the years it wouldn’t have gotten like this. How long has it been?”

I chuckle weakly.

“Two hundred and thirty years.”

She stares at me wide-eyed. I could tell that floored her and it did so literally she fell on her ass on the floor she was amazed at what I said. I should have started with that earlier. I wonder if she will ever wonder what happened to everything and her homeland. She takes a deep breath and recovers.

“Even if we had someone here watching they wouldn’t have survived that long so yes. No wonder why it has so much power. I can use a spell to keep it at bay. All you need to do is eat the magic and then I can close it and destroy the book.”

I glance at Amandla nodding to her.

“Stay here Amandla and defend us just in case these creatures take offense to what we are doing. Alright, Endless do what you need and get me there. I could fly there but I want to do whatever I can to minimize the effects on my eggs.”

Amandla switches her gun to the mini-gun on her back and it begins to spin to get ready to fire on whatever comes. The barrel heats up and smokes like it’s been going for days. I am amazed at how fast it takes for things like this to heat up. I close my eyes sighing knowing this is not going to be very easy.

Endless chants another spell in zebra. These spells I can somewhat understand but many of the words escape me. I can only make out a few and some of them I am still confused about. I take a deep breath to relax trying not to let my stress get the best of me.

The spell finally takes effect and a bright green shield forms around Endless and me. I take a deep breath feeling the stress leave me. She leads while I stay behind not grabbing any of my weapons just in case the creatures take me as attacking her. When the magic moves around us. It has been soaked into everything in this room and it would have to destroy every object in this room.

She finally gets me to the book while the creatures growl and hiss. She turns to look at them and then at me. She frowns, holding her breath a moment. I am unsure how zebras can do these spells without horns and brews. I am wondering if she has a natural ability to do magic like this. I notice her mane moves a second while she is hiding a unicorn horn. She is half zebra half unicorn?! How I wonder then it hit me why would one who was in the war now hit me. She was born before the war even started.

“You see my horn, don’t you? You see my shame or what I thought was shame in the past. I forsake my pony family. I thought they were all to blame for what happened. Now I see fully it’s not the case. They wanted everything that was best for me and I hurt them and now they’re long gone. This is the only redemption I have to do what you must do Ruby quickly.”

As I get closer to the book I start to absorb the magic into my body eating every bit of it near the book. I just need to remove enough to make sure she can stop the spell and destroy the book. I groan cracks through my body. I scream in pain and I finally get enough so Endless can close the book and destroy it.

“Do it…”

I groan.

“Now!”

Endless quickly chants a spell and tries to close the book it fights back as Amandla comes over quickly and helps by forcing her weight on the book with her armor when it closes the creatures scream and slowly fall apart and then Endless turns to the donkey tossing the book into the air and she fires at it blowing it to cinders.

I fall to the ground groaning. I scream in pain as more green cracks form around my body. I need to get out of here. I need to quickly get out of here before I explode. I get on my wings and quickly fly out of the hall. I fly past the others as I am sure they have questions about why I am glowing green. I feel the spell protecting my eggs beginning to fail.

I quickly fly out of the bunker into the city and I scream in pain feeling my body hurting so much I finally make it over the water and when I get over the water away enough from the others I force out the magic and when I do it explodes dissipating but I groan falling into the water and slowly sink. Before my vision goes dark I swear I see Mirelurks coming to help me. I am unsure.

_________

Wicker

It’s been at least a while since Ruby and the others left. I watch the magic eater I call a sister now after all this. I wish she would let somepony else go and let herself relax. I doubt she will ever relax till everything is said and done.

“Ready Wicker?”

I turn my eyes not noticing I have watched them leave and kept watching when they went out of sight. I look up at Sterling, a weak smile creeping over my face. I felt worried about them. I take a deep breath nodding.

“Good I don’t know what we will find Wicker. But if we find any weapons they might be used to help fight our final battle. A battle I will be calling nor the battle to the strong. I will be hanging back writing the story.”

I laugh softly.

“I look forward to reading it, Sterling. Come on, let's get this over with and see what we find. I am hoping we don’t find anything.”

Sterling nods. I followed him to the bunker located on the west side. Outside a strange building, I look up at the name of the building. It’s called the candle-making factory. I am wondering if this is a real factory or a hidden place. Joken turns looking down at me. I smirk at him and he looks at the factory.

“This building has been a home for many for so long. The entire time we knew the bunker was here. We ignored it as something of the past and something never to be opened. Now we have hope, we have hope.”

Tears fell down the faces of all the Upholi around me. It’s been so long since these creatures have had hope. I glance over at Joken getting a closer look at him. I am finally noticing they’re so different from most. Some look like parrots Joken though he looks like an eagle. They all call themselves Upholi though it’s been years since then.

“I wrote a paper a few years ago asking this question. If there are many species of bird, why do we call ourselves Upholi? The question I told myself it’s the only thing that kept hope in our hearts. Hope is hard for us to find now and it’s gotten harder so much harder to keep it.”

Joken nods.

“I feel after this war is done getting the island back from the royal blood. We call ourselves something different, something which is us.”

I sigh deeply knowing how it is to want hope in your heart and never get the want of it. I thought hard about how to help and it hit me. Upholi to them is now a broken people and with them in their city. I think the only way to help them is to call them what they should be.

“I got an idea for a name if you would hear me.”

Joken and Sterling turn to look at me. A large smile formed across my kirin face. I felt my stress leaving my body. I am worried so much about the one I am in love with. I didn’t think I would fall for Gizmo as I did. Including Oil, I have never felt love in my heart. I have had a lot of sex but it never felt right.

“The Orthians call yourselves that name. It will show how you have come a long way and all your species of bird will be represented.”

Sterling looks at the others when they hear that name the only one to cheer for is Dancer. The former slave of Joken. They turn to look at her and Sterling shrugs his shoulders and he smirks.

“Then it shall be so we will tell the others when the battle comes. The Orthians will fight for our freedom, we will fight for the rights now let's get inside.”

Joken the eagle nods and Dancer the Seagull both head to the door putting in the old code. The old codes have been kept in old books in these factories. I bring out my flintlock pistol along with my club. I only bring out the musket when things are bad. The two weapons floating in my magic. Dancer opens the door with bright lights and stale air comes out from the door.

Joken and Dancer go first. I follow behind Sterling the door stays open just in case we need to get out as quickly as we can. I follow them down the stairs and around us is robotic security but when they turn to look at the upholi they ignore them. When they looked at me at first I thought I would get attacked.

“She is with us. We are here in the name of the Upholi people to free our land.”

The robots just stare at Dancer Joken was about to speak and heavy steps come up from behind the robots. I gulped seeing the large metal robot that stood over us. I gulp more feeling something is wrong with this creature.

“Forgive me they haven’t seen others like them in years. Before you ask what you mean by this. I am well once like you. We lived in this place for too long while the others we defended slept. We fused our bodies and souls into these bodies.”

Sterling’s eyes open wide, staring at the robots.

“Are you the lost guards of the old king?”

The large robot turns to Sterling and the robot laughs weakly.

“The failed guard yes before he and his wife left to confront his brother. I and the others used these bunkers to hope the future will win. My group wasn’t the only ones doing this; others were asked to use the other bunkers to hold the past.”

I was confused and I noticed the word stasis above. I tap Sterling's leg. He turns to look and I point my hoof up to the words. He stares at the words and the robot laughs weakly again.

“Forgive me, I am known as Guard Captain Singer. At least it’s who I used to be. I still consider that it’s the only way to keep my mind from losing itself. The rest you see here my charges or what is left of them a lot of them couldn’t handle the change.”

Sterling just keeps staring at the words as he quickly charges into the door. I and the others follow me and I gasp deeply seeing so many of their species frozen even though we look through some of the tubes that are broken.

“What is left of the guards I brought? There were only at least twenty tubes and from what we saw ten of them broke only ten souls left. The other bunkers have more to tell me about what happened to the city. How long has it been since the war finally ended?”

I sigh deeply turning to look at Singer and we all explain to him and the others what happened. How the Equestrian war ended with the world ending. I explain to him about the heroes who helped the land and then Sterling tells him about the king and the court. A second after Singer growls robotically

“So the real king and queen are dead or under the sway of that monster. If what you said is true and the others are going to the royal bunker they will find more broken souls which were brought there before the start of the war.”

Sterling sighs.

“So this royal bunker has more tubes like this?”

Singer’s robotic head nods.

“Yes, it was made to hold the entire court and royal family. But the other guard captains used it to put in our heroes the zebra's ponies and many others of the past. It was all we could do if the civil war ended with both sides being fully dead. If I had my emotions still”

He was cut off by a upholi rushing in from upstairs she pants to catch her breath. It takes her a while to speak a few words.

“They found Captain Celano and the princess. The prince himself is dead.”

Sterling and the others gasp the princess is alive the reason this entire war started? The prince though is dead. I wonder if the tube he was in broke. I close my eyes, shaking my head. It’s time to get their home back.

“There is more though Ruby absorbed the book doing so she flew into the water and released the magic. She is now in the inn thanks to the Mirelurks and heavily guarded just in case the king's minions learn of this.”

I closed my eyes so much is going on and I am now worried about Ruby. I take a deep breath and head over to an old bed to rest my head and maybe get some rest. Sterling follows me. I have a feeling he is worried.

“Too much is going to wake me up Sterling if anything happens.”

Sterling nods.

“We will do what we can to wake these guards up and hope we find more.”

I nod weakly laying my head on the bed and falling asleep.\

_____________

Beezen many hours after the spell is broken and bunkers open.

The king himself asked me to come to his room. When I come in one of his guards closes the door and he lifts his hand to tell the guard to leave him. The guard nods leaving the poor king has been drinking alot. He turns to look at me smirking as he is sitting down in a chair.

“Forgive me Beezen for not standing. I had so much to drink. It’s the only way to keep the king from waking.”

He comes into the light and a strange parasite on his chest and he smirks.

“The old king, well the fake king uses these to control me and the court and the army. Thankfully though the servants and many others are immune to this. When he finally wakes he is going to go to war on the citizens outside to get your heroes including you and the others.”

I sigh deeply, shaking my head.

“I see you’re not his children are you?”

The king laughs weakly.

“No, the court and my queen are creations of his. Many of us have been around for so long we may be a part of him. We have gained our minds, hearts, and souls. I found out the truth many years ago. It’s why I sent Silver out years ago to find help. When he wakes up he is going to want to make an example of you and the others. Before I am taken over by him can you get out the innocent souls including your friends?”

I nod coming over to him to kneel him and hold his hand. I glance at the creature and I can tell it’s a creation of necromancy.

“The reason I wanted Ruby to find the book was to either bring it to me. So the king could do his final gambit and fully take over the island, killing everyone or destroying it. I knew she would destroy the magic and the book. Now get out quickly, get as many out of here as you can before we come after you.”

I nod quickly, standing grabbing my wand, and chanting a spell bringing every creation including the chair the king is in alive to keep him here for now. The chair grabs the king holding him there.

“Forgive me, sir. I don’t want to do this but it’s the only way.”

The king smirks.

“Thank you Beezen, get out help them bring the real souls back to this castle, and give them back their home. Promise me because when we fight again I won’t be myself.”

I nod.

“I promise.”

I quickly leave the room sighing looking at the guard. I notice he doesn't have the parasite on his shoulder.

“The king asked me to help get the non-touched out of the castle.”

I nod and the guard gets other guards who aren’t taken by this force. I go get the others. I find Melody in the doctor's office. She looks up from her writing. She tilts her head and I explain to her what is going on.

“I already know my new nurse told me what has been happening here.”

I glance at the nurse and I notice her name is Needle. Melody nods to Needle and the nurse quickly runs out of the doctor's office to leave. Melody and I go find the others Rhyolite was in her room asleep and when I opened the door she woke up groaning.

“Come on, we need to go.”

I explain to her and she quickly gets her armor and weapons. The creations I brought to life come out with us. It is all we could do because I notice many are coming towards us who have these. I knew we are going to be trapped.

“Go Beezen run.”

I look at the creations I brought to life. They charge helping us get away. A couple of untouched guards got who they could who want to come out. Things were getting bad. I quickly followed the guards with Rhyolite behind me. I told Melody to use a window to get out and she swiftly found one for a pegasus. It's not hard for her to get out.

But it was all for naught. The guards and Rhyolite did what we could but we were now surrounded by the touched and they didn’t even gloat or speak. They went to attack and all I could do was get ready to fight. Out of the blue though a bull rushes in with Dust on its back-breaking through. Dust jumps off the back of the bull slicing into the bodies of these creatures getting some of the parasites and they scream in pain. The bodies they controlled fall to the ground dying and rotting.

“Dust, have you seen Joona?”

The bull shifts to the lizard Rep.

“She hasn't come back. I am sure Gem told her to stay in the airship.”

I stare at Rep.

“I take it Catrina is outside?”

Rep nods.

“Yes.”

“Guys!!”

I turn to see Gizmo and Silver.

“Silver and the guards did what they could to get the others out of a secret way. We need to go ourselves.”

Silver sighs.

“I wish I could have told you all about what the king was. I promised him though I couldn’t come let's..”

I hear gunshots and I get hit in the arm. I groan loudly holding it in pain. I groan Gizmo lifting me. I feel so much pain and poison in my system. I hear screams and fighting while Gizmo carries me. I can't see anything. After a while, I notice we are near the way out to the secret door.

“Take him. I will fight to save you all.”

“Gizmo no you need to come with us.”

I heard Dust argue.

“No, I am the only one that can keep them from getting you and taking control. Now please get out, I will not argue.”

I pass out unsure of what is going on.

________

Gizmo

“I don’t have time to argue, Dust and Rhyolite get out don’t worry about me I will be fine.”

Rep sighs heading into the secret door. Rhyolite looks back at me. I could tell she wanted to fight. But I didn’t want her to because this is my choice, my chance to prove myself to this group. I am too slow. I have fallen in love but I still feel useless for how slow I am.

Dust carries off Beezen and Rhyolite leave quickly as the guards leave. I look back at Silver who closes the door and stands beside me while our backs face the door and coming towards us are controlled.

“You didn’t have to stay Silver.”

Silver smirks.

“No, I have to. I could have done something years ago but I was too focused on pleasures then rather than caring about my people. So this is my hope to bring hope back.”

I chuckle when my cybernetic arm turns into a mini-gun. I look at how much ammo I have with me I don’t have a lot but enough to get out myself

“Silver, I don't plan on getting out of here. I have no way to fight all these. So don’t risk your life please.”

Silver laughs.

“Well then let's make our last battle a song!!”

I laugh and Silver grabs her blades charging at the touched and controlled. I fire on the touched and controlled Upholi. With each bullet, I aim for the parasites. I don't know what they are but they scream and the bodies turn to pools of decay and stink.

Silver did her best to fight off whatever came. But some of them have been trained for years longer than she did her arm gets sliced off and she screams in pain holding the wound. I quickly grab her pulling her from the controlled opening of the door.

“Go follow them.”

There are gunshots behind us and they hit my cybernetic shell. Thankfully I am very well protected and it’s hard for them to break through. I open my cybernetic arm and bring out some bandages

“When you get to them, find them, use them and burn the wound to make sure you don’t bleed out and don’t look back.”

Silver didn’t argue; she held her wound and quickly ran down the stairs. I close the door feeling the creatures stop attacking me and I turn to see them standing there for some reason. They move to let their king and Queen come out of the crowd.

“You did what you could for them, Gizmo. I wish I could say I am sorry for what needs to happen. It would ring hollow to you. I am sorry Gizmo but I can’t let you get back to the others.”

I was about to attack the king but he quickly tosses a strange bomb onto the floor and it releases a strange smoke and when it hits me. I cough falling to the ground below feeling my entire body turning hard and weak. I tried to stay awake but I couldn't. I fell to the ground feeling my mind drift to sleep.

Footnote: max Level

No new perk

Next Chapter: Chapter: Fifity-Seven Nor the battle to the strong [Taking back Ornithia] Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 54 Minutes