The writer of the NCR book opens it up and writes on the page.

“NCR when you fucking read this fuck you! You need to stop acting like you need to force your point of view and politics in this desert they don’t care. I am going to say again stop trying to be worse than the monster we just killed for them.”

He sighs, turning the page.

“There was a protest and the leadership of every town joined in. Ruby’s former friends didn’t even come to protect us when we called for them. All of them said the same thing: our friendship is already strained enough. Without Ruby, the fire to be friends is gone completely. Did this war destroy a group of friends?”

He groans, stroking his head.

“Grogar is already winning and here we are forcing our view on land who fought a tyrant. What are we next one because they’re too free for us? Now I am sure you will ask what kind of protest? The kind that made many NCR wounded now if you don’t pull us out of here now we all will die.”

He snorts turning the page.

“Now to write what I was going to tell you about. Since we still don’t know how to turn on project Rainfall. Something about the purist of friendship. We learned the citizens of this land know what that means but they don’t trust us enough to tell us. I don’t blame them anyway”

He growls sighing.

“There is a crazy phenomenon in this desert called Sun sickness. We believe it’s from the curse Luna placed on this land. If you’re in the sun for too long you will get a version of sunstroke that will destroy your brain for a time and if you don’t get water quickly you will fragment your mind and it will take either being knocked out or water forced down your system to get your mind back.”

He turns the page.

“We have lost many contractors because they don’t listen and make sure to take water. This is not Caledonia. This may be a desert but the water here is more scarce than it is there. Now I will be sending this report off if I get another but we have to keep a presence here again. You have no fucking idea what is going on here. Signed your very pissed off Ghoul minotaur.”

He closes the book sighing angrily and stands up, looks out the window, and sees the lovely town of Hard Rock rebuilding. He glances at Pigeon who picks up the book.

“Make sure they get the message this time.”

Pigeon sighs.

“I am starting to agree with the citizens here that we have no right to be here.”

The minotaur chuckles.

“Trust me I know full well. We will talk later.”

Pigeon nods and she flies out of the room. The minotaur looks back outside seeing the statues of those who helped save this land. They even have one of Ruby. They still honored her but they turned around and killed her. He sits in the chair stroking his head feeling his pain has just begun.

______________

Cranberry

I watch Ruby sleep in her room and I worry about her. I close my eyes, sighing I haven’t been a mother in so long. I stare at the little bug and I feel she is so lost that she needs somepony like me to keep her on the right path.

Tick Tock taps my shoulder. I glance at her over my shoulder.

“Tick Tock, I got a question for you. What do you think of me adopting the little one?”

Tick Tock snorts her eyes glowing bright red showing her anger for the little bug.

“That fucking worthless piece of shit goes..”

She shakes her head. I turn seeing a strange mist coming through the room looking over to a strange portal. Wait, why is this not affecting me? I feel my anger growing though about Littepipe and Scootaloo and the alliance.

“Don’t fall into that hole!!”

I yell loud enough. The goat laughs and I stare at the goat while Tick Tock seethes with anger for Ruby. She stares at the bug. I am worried they're going to hurt each other.

“Oh, so you have the mental power to see me.”

I glare at the goat. I look closely at the goat. He is missing a bell. His black horns glow bright red, his eyes blood red. I heard stories about him Grogar.

“I know how to control my anger. Tell me is it just this land you force your mist in?”

Grogar laughs loudly.

“Not at all of course this land and some others have weak seals to keep me at bay. The Hoof I still can’t break through. Equestria itself I can’t break through at all. So you should be happy hmm?”

I close my eyes, breathing deeply quickly flying over to close the door leading to Ruby’s room and Tick Tock cusses heading into her room and slamming the door. I snort slowly going to the portal to stare into the eyes of the goat.

“Why are you doing this?”

The goat just stares back at me, he laughs.

“I am going to put this simple with you. Now I am going to say this once you are ready?”

I snorted while waiting for his reason.

“I am mother fucking evil mare. I have glee seeing everyone beg at my hooves and scream in pain and agony as I rip every single bit of flesh off their weak bodies. Is that enough or do I have to break through your peaceful mind? You seem to forget I am just downright evil. I want this land under my hoof.”

I snort laughing

“Are you sure you’re not trying to overcompensate for having a small cock?”

He stares at me, the hate in his eyes could kill. I am sure he could if he wanted to. He smirks, leaning out of the portal just a bit we can’t touch and we can’t hurt each other. At least I think we can’t hurt each other. I gulp softly hoping we can’t.

“When we meet again you will be at your lowest. It could be three years or four years from now. When we meet again I will make sure you cry so hard you scream. When you scream you will know full well I have won. Put this in the back of your mind and tell anyone what you saw. I will not hesitate to start this early. Now be a good girl and keep your mouth shut that you saw me.”

His horns glow and I feel going through my body, every nerve screaming in pain. I feel endless pain and I can’t scream. When his horns dim and I feel the pain subside I pant hard.

“If you tell anyone you saw me that will be double. Remember my promise we will meet again and I will see those tears fall.”

The portal closes and I cough in pain feeling tears forming and I fight the urge to cry. I am not going to let him win. I hold my hooves to my chest trying to fight the want to cry. I can’t let him win. I stand back up snorting feeling my eyes drain some tears but not enough to break down screaming and sobbing like he said I will.

Now to focus on what I was going to do grunting feeling a little amount of pain still coursing through my body finally subsiding. I fly to the hospital and I trot into Sunny’s office since she is on the night shift tonight.

She is writing something looking up removing her glasses.

“Oh, Cranberry, are you here for the papers?”

I smile nodding.

“Was it hard for you to get them?”

Sunny shakes her head.

“Not really, I just told them you wanted to adopt an orphan. They didn’t ask the species because they were too busy because of all the other orphans from the Hardliners war getting adopted.”

I sighed, shaking my head.

“I see so many died during it and some tried so hard not to kill anypony. But it will happen no matter how hard you try.”

I take the paper and place it inside my bag. I turn back to leave. I turn around to look at Sunny.

“Sunny, I got a question. Do you think I am making a mistake?”

Sunny chuckles.

“As long as you allow me to be her Godmother I will tell you you’re not making a mistake.”

The older mare sighs.

“You need to understand anything she does out of line, anything you know is bad. You know what will happen to you right?”

I nod knowing full well that she sugar-coated it a bit too much there. I feel she could have bluntly said it. I think she is trying to spare my feelings.

“Thank you Sunny, I will let you know what he saids. I hope he is not in private in his words talk with River again.”

Sunny laughs.

“I have no room to judge really. I used to be a heartbreaker myself a lot worse than him. But these days are behind me. I had my fill of sex and had my children and had a husband die. I lived a full life and now I can be at peace.”

I smile hoping to become just like Sunny. Live a full life and just wait for the end of my life to take me while I am in so much peace. I head out of the hospital and fly off to the Enclave base. I salute the guards when I get there and head inside to speak to the commander and I knock on the door.

“It’s open”

I walk in and notice River is asleep on his bed. I look at him while he is at his desk.

“Before you ask, she drank too much at the party. I had to bring her here so she wouldn’t get jumped by some of the stallion ground pounders.”

I smirk

“At least you’re not being too insane with her. Since you both are still getting over losing your various spouses.”

He nods

“Now Doctor, is there something you need?”

I open my bag bringing out the adoption papers. I set them on the desk and he stares down at them.

“You want to adopt the pink little bug?”

I nod

“She is on her own and some of her friends don’t trust and I feel I can keep her on the right path. I hope I can keep her on the right path at least.”

He sighs looking at the paper again before writing his name down.

“Cranberry you know full well if she does anything. Anything the Enclave sees as immoral could be not only your job, your status and being banished from the Enclave itself. Thankfully we don’t do the Dashite brand anymore.”

I take a deep breath exhaling, yes he is correct. I could lose my doctorship, I could lose my family's estate, everything they got over the years. I could lose it all, I could even lose my good name and be tossed out because the one I adopted did questionable things.

“Yes I know and I will take full responsibility for whatever she does.”

He signs it, setting down the pen.

“Okay I will send it to the government but you’re her adopted mother from this point on. Again if she does anything we consider you know. We will go after you most of all. I know it’s not fair but it’s the only way.”

I nod wondering if I made a mistake. It’s too late now I look at the commander saluting him and he salutes back.

“Get some sleep, Cranberry. You have a long day and a long search for her missing friends. I hope you find them. It’s not easy to find lost water expeditions in this desert, some just vanish and some you find the bones off. Take care.”

I fly off. It took me at least ten minutes to get back to Hard Rock since the sun wasn’t even in the sky. I got into my office in the hospital and lay on the cot I had to bring so I could be on call when I am needed. I lay on the cot while it groaned. I think back on my family. I wish I could have been there.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I close my eyes, falling fast asleep.

_______

Desert Path to Hard Shell Village

We are now ten hours along the path to Hard Shell village. It's going to take time, maybe a day or two depending on how fast we go to get to Hard Shell village. I don’t know why so many of these cities are called Hard Shell or hard anything. I remember the map I saw of the places in this desert and know some are hidden from sight.

I cough because the inside of my suit is getting hot. On my visor, a warning comes up that shows I am getting dehydrated. It saids seek fluid soon I open my visor to try to get a drink and I get at least some closing my visor up it says it’s enough, for now, get more soon.

I glance along the slides seeing older roads leading to other towns. Seeing bones everywhere and I swear I must be losing it. A few of them are holding signs. The first sign I see. ‘The disc world is coming for us!!. We must fight the four elephants and the turtle!!’ I shake my head, what the hell? I see the next sign. ‘Things just happen what the hell? It’s time for Hogswatch’ I close my eyes, shaking my head harder. What the hell is going on?! Why are these signs so strange?

I see the next sign. ‘I am Zardoz!!! I am dead!!’ Finally, I had enough of looking away from the bones and coughing. I turn to look over at Dunewalker. I see her drinking from her canteen and she looks over at me.

“Is the sun getting to you buggy?”

I shake my head coming to my senses for a bit.

“I have been seeing strange signs and they say weird things.”

Dunewalker laughs.

Cranberries fly beside me offering me some of her water. I take off my helmet, the sun beating down on my buggy body and I take a very long drink. I cough from how dry my throat is. I give it back to her. Putting my helmet back on. I look behind to see Tick Tock is having some trouble herself. The sand is getting in her gears and WaterSpout is fine I guess since she was born here it doesn’t bother her as much.

“You need to be careful buggy. You could get desert madness. Desert madness is when the heat of the desert and the sun gets to you. It’s a tamed version of heatstroke. It will still kill you if you don’t get treatment for it. Which is rest, pure rest.”

Cranberry lands beside Inyanga after she gave me her water. They go back to their private conversation. Waterspout has her knife out holding it in her magic. I am guessing she is worried about getting attacked by those of her tribe. Tick Tock and her have gotten close as friends or sisters, not sure.

A few minutes later the road vanished into a dune of sand. I see many different tracks, some strange snake-like tracks, weird bug tracks and I turn my head noticing a giant praying mantis walking beside a snake?

“Dunewalker, what are those creatures?”

Dunewalker glances over at what I am looking at. She smirks.

“Don’t worry as long as we don’t anger them we will be fine. One wrong move though most of the dwellers of this desert will kill you. Naga is easy to get along with but even then they will kill you. Those seem to be traders for one second.”

Dune suddenly speaks in a whole different tongue.

“Hissss sssssss hisssss. Chitter chitter reeech.”

The two turn their heads looking at us. The naga slithers over and she is pure white and the Ferrum comes over a teal green. I stare at Dunewalker and we stop allowing the two to come closer to us.

“Ah hello, great camel Emerald gives her regards. I am Salt Scales, one of the traders of this lovely dessert. This is my companion Prying. She is not a woman of many words but if you speak business she will listen.”

I flap my wings flying up to the naga so we can talk.

“Hello, there I have never seen any of your species before Miss Salt Scales.”

Salt Scales smiles, folding her arms.

“You must be a magic eater. I have seen a few of your species. I have seen many ponies since fifteen years ago when I returned from a mountain called Wymarenic. It was interesting. I met a detective pony who called himself Smoke Pipe.”

I tilt my head. I have never heard of this pony.

“Now enough of the past are any of you wishing to buy anything from or trade?’

Dunewalker opens her bag and brings out a few gems, setting them down in the sand for the two to look at. Ferrum uses her scythe claws to hold one close to the face she chitters in pleasure.

“Hmm, I will take one of these. What do you want for it?”

Dunewalker looks through her bags.

“Hmm, since I am the pack mule.”

She glares at me since I convinced her to be one. I gulp hoping I didn’t insult her or anyone close to her.

“I will give you two of those gems for some fresh food and good clean water.”

The Ferrum chitters again.

“Salt Scales be a dear and get the food and such out of my bags for me.”

Salt Scales laughs.

“I keep saying you should get the arm cybernetics, it will make it so much easier for you to do this yourself.”

She brings out a bag of food and water and sets it down. DuneWalkers takes it while Ferrum takes the gems and eats one of them as pure pleasure.

“Wait won’t you use those for something?”

Salt Scales giggles.

“You never met her species before, have you? Gems are like drugs to her species. Her species and others were created by ponies during the war. I don’t know much else about how they tend to stay silent.”

Prying snickers

“My queen and the others of her court are the oldest of all of us. I am kind of the newer generation so I don’t know much about our past.”

Salt Scales brings down her bags to show what she has. There are old books, a few weapons, and some healing potions? Some bandages and I notice a strange attachment to the armor. I pick it up to look at it.

“What is this?”

The naga chuckles

“It will turn your urine into the water you can drink. I warn you it’s not wise to use it. It overheats quickly and with this heat, it will overheat faster than anything.”

“I got some I can trade for all the medical items.”

I glance at Cranberry and she comes up setting down a strange metal.

“It belonged to my husband but I feel I need to move on and accept his death. So is this enough to trade?’

Salt picks it up looking it over.

“It’s enough.”

Cranberry takes all the medical items and places them into her bags. I look at the books closely One of the books talks about the sexual habits of ponies and other species. The next book I find is about the best way to garden and the last is about the history of Equestria. I open it and notice this doesn’t have those stamps I have been seeing. Something Ministry of Image.

“What can I give you for this?”

The naga looks down at me.

“To me, you can have it for free just this once Buzzer.”

I blink confused and I forgot I put the name on my helmet before we left.

“Anyone willing to help this dead land is good in my book. As long as you don’t call yourself a hero. I had a long talk with the detective I met. He said heroes are the reason for the end of the world. So I tended to agree with him after seeing his point.”

I gulp nodding I will try my best not to let the name hero get to me. I take the book and place it in my bag. Salt Scales picks up all her items, puts them back in her bag and she helps Prying get her bag back on her back.

“Is that all?”

Dunewalker nods.

“Thank you and please remember to give my love to your queen.”

Salt chuckles

“Dunewalker you know you’re always welcomed down in our community you could come yourself.”

Dune laughs.

“Eh, you know me always worried about my curse.”

Curse? I tilt my head looking at Dunewalker. What does she mean by a curse? The Naga laughs and they wave to us heading another way. I watch them vanish into the heated desert like they never existed.

We began to walk again. I let it go an hour later. The sun's heat started beating down on me. I noticed the others kept to themselves. I open my visor to try to get some air. When I close it I turn around and see Tick Tick looking like a gear rolling through the land. I shake my head and I stare at Cranberry. She is a chicken walking around. Water Spout looks like a strange creature on two legs and a strange hair and she looks at me.

“HUGS!!! I am Marik!!”

I shake my head. Waterspout goes back to normal. I grunt looking around seeing the sand itself come alive and dance.

“We are your mind, we are your mind while you’re losing your mind. We are in your mind losing our minds. Now you’re losing your mind.”

I shake my head again and the sand is finally back to normal Dunewalker taps on my shoulder. She is moving like a dung heap with eyes and corn for teeth. I just stare at her. I am so amazed at how crazy this is.

“I am the great and mighty poo and I will throw my shit at you.”

The dung pile throws its shit at me and I stop blocking myself and everything is back to normal.

“AH!! don’t throw your shit at me.”

I quickly hide behind Cranberry, my body shaking and I feel cold Cranberry looks at me worried she takes my helm off feeling my temp and gasp.

“Oh my, she is burning up. How do we handle this?”

Dunewalker shrugs.

“Get her into the cart. I doubt the one carrying our gear will care.”

I am carried in Cranberries wings and she lays me on the cart. I shake and feel cold as she covers me with her wings. The other camel who is hitched to the cart stayed to herself looking back at me.

“Will she be okay?”

Cranberry nods.

“I hope Ruby you can understand me?”

I buzz weakly nodding. I feel pitiful that I have to be cared for so much by her. I wish I didn’t have to be right now though I have no choice.

“I wanted to tell you and now officially your mother. I adopted you as my own.”

I heard what she just said and it didn't register in my head. It took me a while to get it into my head. The camel pulling the cart tosses some water to Cranberry forcing me to drink as much as I can. I cough and shake my head.

“You…adopted me? You’re my mother?”

I look up at my new mother and tears well up in my eyes. I feel so touched she did this behind my back. I wished she would have talked to me about it. First tears fall from my cheeks. It hit me harder than this should. I don’t know if it just touched me so much.

“I lost my family and my queen so long ago. Why?”

Cranberry kisses my forehead gently

“Well, Ruby you’re young at least to my species. You need to be raised correctly and. Well, you’re going to be part of the Enclave if you wish to be a citizen.”

A citizen of the Enclave? Wouldn’t that mean anything I do as a citizen or as her daughter would affect her badly? If I hurt the wrong creature or do the wrong thing in the eyes of the Enclave I could cause her to lose her job.

“I may not want to become a citizen Cran…I mean mother. I am happy you wish to do this for me though. I am looking forward to learning more about you over time Cranberry and to learning how to be your daughter if I can be a good one.”

She nodded. I put my helmet back on flapping my wings this time to keep myself cooled and I flew near the others as we went on through the desert of madness. Above there are many Enclave vessels and strange other vessels from a faction I know nothing about. Along the path we other desert dwellers.

We see a zebra tribe known as the Sand hooves Inyanga just tell me not to bother them if they don’t wish to be bothered. We see one of the sand lions coming out of the ground and walking past us it waves its large leg.

“Greetings.”

The large creature saids and keeps going on ahead. I watch the big creature go into another part of the sand to see if it can get another meal. I have been told these creatures may eat unexpected travelers but some have been shown how to speak and learn how to be reasoned with.

We finally find a good spot around a bunch of rocks to make camp and we work to get the camp up while the sun slowly goes down and makes the desert calmer and cooler. Before we fully get the camp going. I turn back and I see the road we have gone. It's been a long road and it’s going to be even longer.

_____________

Camp and night in the desert.

It’s a lovely night in the desert. We hear the gentle wind blow through the sand. It blows some of the sand farther from us, sometimes closer to us. I took my armor off and put it in my tent. I noticed Cranberry gathered some vegetables from Hard Rock. She sets them on the sand pouring fluid on them.

Those strange parasites screech and come out of the food. They just keep slithering away into the sand to get away from whatever Cranberry just poured on me. She cuts them up with a knife and tosses them into the pot.

“We found a way to counter those creatures. It’s easy to saline in the hospital and from the supplies, I worry though these creatures will gain immunity if we don’t get fresh water and fresh food growing soon. We need to find a way to grow this food and kill these parasites.”

Cranberry yawns she has been busier than most I have ever seen. I nuzzle into her since she is my mother now. I feel I have to do at least something to make her happy enough. I worry though this journey is going to end badly at least I hope not.

“Since you adopted me I will act like your daughter. But only when you need it for your mental health. I am sure you understand.”

Cranberry giggles putting her wing on me. I groan in pain from the wounds I still have from fighting those villains earlier and well the day before and that wound from the claw. I am a big mess of how lovely it is. Inyanga comes over pulling a strange fluid from her staff and rubs it on my wound.

I shiver in pain from all this and she then pours it all into the pot to cleanse the food and remove anything those creatures left behind.

“We had to deal with those creatures years ago. We found this fluid from the hydra’s venom sacs. We found out it wasn’t only good for healing if you mixed it with herbs and other plants. It also makes good at cleansing the food of these creatures. We are starting to wonder if some of the larger creatures eat them.”

I lean sniffing into the pot. The food smells amazing to me for some reason. I switch my eyes to the magic sight and I see a great deal of magic in the food. Why would Cranberry add that it makes no sense to me unless she wants me to eat? My eyes go back to normal vision.

“Can I have some that smell so good and I can see a little bit of magic in it?’

Cranberry chuckles smirking, holding a spoon in her wing to mix the fluid and the food. She tastes and cleans the spoon after. She places the spoon back into the pot to mix it and put in some salt pepper and other various herbs and spices.

“Yes, I add a hint of magic to the food. It won't harm us and it will help you heal faster.”

Cranberry gives me a bowl and the bowl to the others. The camel who pulled the cart gives Cranberry a friendly bow. I sit to eat and my small mouth comes out of my larger mouth and I shove it into the food. I eat it like I am sucking it through a straw feeling the magic working. Cranberry sits by me watching me eat.

“Do you normally always eat like this?’

I pull the mouth out of the bowl of soup pulling it back into my normal mouth. I glance up at her smirking.

“Normally no unless those we fight to draw a lot of blood and sometimes we have to do it to get every inch of magic in our prayers. From the look on your face, it’s odd to you. Well, half the stuff you do is odd to me as well.”

Tick Tock sighs as she stays away from me looking at the others.

“Does anypony have any stories?”

I go back to eat stories? I haven’t been around a living pony for long. Tick Tock doesn't care to talk about her past. I wouldn’t mind hearing stories of those around me. I would like to understand more about Cranberry.

Dunewalker eats from the bowl getting a second helping after she is done with her first sitting back down.

“Well, I got one. Way before the war the town of Hard Shell used to be called Glowworm. It was because Glow worms used to show up there at night. A dire omen killed all the Glow worms. The one who caused this has a statue of him and the heroes that took him down.”

Dunewalker drinks from the bowl.

“1000 years ago before Twilight did her shit causing more problems. There was a group of powerful heroes who took on the creature who caused all this. His name is Crunch the Rock dog. They may have defeated him but he didn’t stay defeated long and despite everything they went through there are statues of them in town as well while they’re buried somewhere in the desert. At least that is how the story goes. Some camels know otherwise because those before them were there.”

I am confused. I know that name from somewhere on the recording I heard recently on Project Storm watch. I am impressed I remembered that and didn’t lose a memory because of my stupidity.

“I could tell my story if you wish me to.”

I glance at Tick Tock and she looks at me. She and I used to be so close together and Now I just see the sadness in her eyes each time she looks at me. She takes a deep breath like she has air filling her lungs.

“Alright to keep my mind off my disappointment for our buggy friend there.”

I buzzy angrily.

“Oh come on I didn’t mean to be rude to you last night.”

Tick Tick stares at me.

“Really? I will give you the benefit of the doubt.”

I felt hurt and angry. Why won’t she let me try to fix the issues between us? I have to try when the others fall asleep. Tick Tock strokes her hoof in the sand.

“Years ago I was known as a mare named Tickie. I was just a simple cog in the life of Equestria. I went on with life one day at a time working out of my own business as a whittler and I did many objects like birds made of wood.”

She takes a moment to think.

“When the war started It was getting hard to sell what I was doing and I had to close down. So what I did was I became part of the Military and that is how I met the good doctor who changed me into this. It’s how I met Dr. Slice. So he told many of us what he wanted to do and many of us fell for it. I was one of those. I changed my name, my soul, and my heart for this. It has its uses.”

Some sand blows at her and she bzzzt and coughs out the sand.

“Excuse me.”

Tick tock went silent and went on.

“When we got to the island we did what we could to help the island as long as Majesty allowed it. I met Ruby Hawk and Roll Roll after Star Shooter began the fake legend. I will just add we all learned everything was said and done the legend was fake some crazy insane nut made it up. Then here we are.”

Waterspout comes over and sits beside us. She whispers into Tick Tock's ear. She whispers back nodding.

“Waterspout is going to tell us about herself. I will do my best to translate.”

Waterspout took off her scarf so we could see her face and her emotions. She used her hooves and sand to show it.

“Natus sum ut iustus simplex et pauper plene. Multi sumus, numquam satis ullius cum nascimur. Solet turpiter mihi similem esse fossuram equae foecundam.”

She uses the sand to explain what Tick Tock will be talking about.

“I was born as just a simple poor filly. Many of us never have enough of anything when we are born. It's sadly normal for one's like me to be scooped up to be a breeder mare.”

She shifts the sand to show her being born into a poor family and how they never had enough and had to beg for food. She shifts the sand to show a stallion mounting a mare and making them have sex.

“Ungula non curavi mihi data est ut aliquas quaestiones et difficultates feci et bellator esse coactus sum ut mori possem. Multos annos per hanc ambulavi et vita mea vacua erat et quasi vilia tractata quod me deflorari non sino.”

Tick Tick stares at her trying her best to translate it’s not going to be easy I am sure.

“I didn't care for the hoof I was given so I caused some issues and problems and I was forced to be a warrior so I could die. For many years I went through this and my life was empty and treated like trash for not allowing myself to be deflowered.”

I stare at Waterspout. I didn't care for this. How dare they treat her this way just because she didn’t want to live with the hoof she was given. Cranberry trotted over to the water hunter hugging her tightly

“Familia”

Tick Tock smiles

“Despite how I feel about Ruby she considers us her family.”

I buzz angrily. I was being singled out again. I let myself calm down so I don’t cause a scene. We all look at Dunewalker.

“What?”

Dunewalker looks at us.

“What about you? You must have a story about yourself.”

Duneawlker laughs

“You’re going to learn another thing about camels. We like to keep our stories and histories to ourselves. If you ask why they call me a betrayer I am going to say fuck you till I learn to trust you and before you say you already trust us because you’re following us. I am going to say fuck you.”

Cranberry laughs Inaynga does too.

“We get it, sand eater.”

Inyanga smiles at the camel, and Dunewalker smirks at the zebra.

“What about your stripes? I am sure you have a lot of amazing stories being a far-seer.”

Inyanga smiles.

“I do. Now when I was young I was born from two different tribes. My mother is a sand hoof. She stayed as long as she could. But she missed the sand and wanted to take me with her. But my father asked her to let him keep me so he could raise me to be a far-seer.”

She sighs.

“She agreed since becoming a far-seer is one of the greatest honors ever. So I learned from others and learned how to make potions, learned how to become a doctor in a way and to fully become a far-seer.”

She stands up on her back hooves showing a scar on her stomach. She uses her staff to stay on it.

“I had to go prove myself when I became of age and then I could become a mother. But I didn’t care for the idea of marrying a stallion I didn’t love. So I told them this and I had to do a harder test. I had to live in the desert for a year alone and it wasn’t as hard as many says. During that year I followed the stories to a place called Peace Rock and after I found it. I had lived there and learned many things. Then I went back.”

Dunewalker shifts.

“Can you tell us how you found it?”

Inyanga glances at Dunewalker.

“Don’t trust you enough to tell you and I have been asked before I left not to tell anyone. So when I got back they did the ceremony and cut me to take some of my blood and part of the blood and wood made this staff.”

She leans on the staff.

“I can see some parts of the future but I don’t act on them because I don’t know if they’re real and I can sense odd magics in the air. It’s how I was able to sense those two who attacked the hospital. It’s not easy to sense sometimes it is an issue if it’s real or not.”

Inaynga leans on the staff. I can tell from her show she leans on the staff she has power in those legs. I take a look closer to her hooves I don't want to be near those hooves I worry they are stronger than I am.

“Like I said, becoming a far-seer is an honor. It can get to the point though you lead a very lonely life. Being what you are, some are scared to approach you because you can read the stars and some think you can tell their fate.”

Inyanga sits back down grabbing and leaning down to eat from the bowl.

“What about you Cranberry?”

I turn my head looking at Cranberry after Dunewalkers question.

“I am sure you got a lot of stories from being part of the Enclave”

Cranberry takes a few pregnant moments to speak. She closed her eyes and I could see tears rolling down her cheeks.

“If you don’t want to speak Cranberry you don’t have to.”

She looks over to Inyanga smiling weakly.

“No, it’s about time to finally let this go.”

She took a while. I could tell it was hard for her to speak about this. I try my best to let her speak on her own. She takes a deep breath shuddering from the pain of letting this release from her soul.

“When I was born I was in a simple military family. My father didn’t want life for me and my brothers. I was the only filly born from ten foals. It wasn’t easy to live in a family of nine brothers. But being the only female in the family next to my mother. My brothers treated me like one of them but when it came to me growing up they got very proactive.”

She smiles remembering everything.

“When I became nineteen years old my father got me into doctors training in the military. He asked me very bluntly do you want to do this? You could be like your mother and be a simple business owner with no military background and run her business. Her business was selling books.”

She sighs deeply.

“But I wanted to make a difference. During my training, my mother passed away from sickness and one of my younger brothers left the military to take up the business as my mother would have wanted. We still don’t know what type of sickness it was that killed her. My heart did break and it was hard. But I got through my training and then met my husband. He gave me two beautiful foals.”

Tears began to roll down her cheeks soft sobs coming from her. Inyanga comes over stroking her back and giving her a tight hug.

“You can do it.”

Cranberry smiles at the zebra.

“Thank you. My children were close to five years old. Then the enclave landed back down on the ground. My husband told me had a mission to infiltrate an old Ministry of magic facility and then I heard soon after he died. I blamed Little Pip the entire time thinking she was at fault. It wasn’t till many began reading about her life that I learned it wasn’t the case.”

She sighs, closing her eyes tightly.

“After all this, a civil war broke out and I moved with my children to Thunder Head. I felt it would be safe for them. When the issue with Winter Breeze, Scootaloo, and the hardliners I worked on both sides. I may have followed the words of Winter Breeze but. I am a doctor. I heal both sides, no side should be above the other.. Then the Alliance used Celestia one.”

Dunewalker covers her mouth to hide her sorrow. I can tell from the look in Dunewalkers eyes she knows what the pegasus is talking about. I wish I understood but I heard some things and I wished I knew what Celestia one was.

“I learned my little ones were missing and later I found out they were in a pile of bodies unrecognizable from the attack. Then five out of my nine brothers were alive after everything. I had to get away so it’s why I am here. Despite how my remaining brothers felt, the oldest one told me to go and told my father to let me.”

Cranberry shudders trying to stop herself from crying

“My father turned his back on me after I told him what I was going to do. It’s been at least two years since then and we haven’t spoken since. I feel he will never speak to me again and I still keep in contact with my brothers.”

She takes a deep breath exhaling.

“During this time I was asked by a small group of Enclave before I came out here. To go to Tiria’s heart and learn to live on the ground by being with them. There I met the salamander named Blaze and the other heroes of legend. Including the one named Star Shooter. It took the one named Silver Gunner, a robotic pony, a wise robotic pony to let me see her.”

She smiles weakly.

“It took months of learning what happened to Tiria’s heart and listening to every single broken detail. I was shown the graves of those who died during the Enclave invasion and I learned many of them were children fighting back. Silver gave me one chance to prove myself. I helped to rescue a pregnant mother from a sickness she got in the bog. The bog of time is still an issue there.”

She shudders more.

“When I saw the broken young mare in a coma from getting a lifetime of memories in her head it was heartbreaking. I was told she will randomly wake up and be able to talk to them. It was very rare and I knew I properly wouldn’t be around for it to happen. It was time for me to leave and before I did Silver told me these words.”

She tries her best to mimic him.

“All logical reasons I should be wanting to kill you, Cranberry. But I can’t because you remind me of the one who created me. He said if we ever meet again he will see me as a friend and not a threat. Then I came here and you met me.”

I take a deep breath exhaling myself. I felt stressed and I needed to explain myself.

“I shall be next. I was born in a very peaceful brood known as the Glide brood. My life was pretty simple as a worker of species. Expand the brooding nest and if I was able to make friends outside of the brood nest I could. I followed a simple logic to make the queen's life as unstressed as I can. So again a very simple life.”

I took a deep breath.

“When Majesty herself wants something from us we drop everything and we go to her since she is our creator. Like I told Cranberry I was born seventy years ago. To my race, I am just twenty but over the years Majesty got more and more unhinged.”

I didn’t want to think of this again.

“One day I was held down by the guards and some lizard Merchant who I learned recently was part of the order of Mimic and I don’t know why he worked for the queen as the monster he was. He gave Majesty the crown which controlled me. I learned the crown was given to her because she lost the power to control us. So the crown was one of the ways.”

I look down remembering everything.

“I killed I murdered I forced other creatures under my heel and it took the hero to beat my ass to get me to break from the mind control. It’s my main reason I am here to get away from that island. When I saw those from the island look at me I saw their hatred for me. I know they moved on but the hatred in those eyes.”

Tick Tock snorts. She stays silent and I look up at her seeing the same hatred in her eyes. I don’t know what happened and what caused us to get this way. Maybe I can talk to her while the rest are asleep.

“I am going to get some rest.”

I head to lay down and close my eyes. I wake up an hour later and I see Tick Tock sitting near a ten and the campfire slowly dimmed. I got up and landed beside her and Tick Tock just stares at the way out.

“Tick can we please talk?’

Tick looks down at me.

“We don’t have anything to talk about Ruby.”

I buzz softly.

“I want to try to fix the issues between us.”

Tick Tock snorts.

“Ruby I told you before this has been building for a while between us. Hawk and Roll Roll feel the same way. You pushed us into coming but I agree it was wise for us to leave the island. Hawk wanted to yell at you a while ago to lose her temper with you.”

I chuckle weakly knowing if Hawk lost her temper with me it wouldn’t be easy to talk to her since there is no way to reason with her.

“Ruby I love you like a sister I always will. There are times you can’t fix issues like this. You got to let them run their course. Pushing the issue will only make it worse.”

I sigh

“What do I need to fix to make it easier for you to get over this?”

Tick Tock turns her head to look down at me.

“You want to know? I need to see you at your lowest. I need to see you say to all those around you you’re sorry for them and you just cry everything out and when I see you broken as such. Then I will forgive you.”

I shudder because she wants to see me at my lowest and broken sobbing and crying loud enough for forgiveness. I wonder if I will ever get that far down.

“But why do I need to go and break so much?”

Tick Tock sighs.

“I will tell you the truth, it has a lot to do with what happened ten years ago. You and those who followed you killed many close to me. Then after everything, I was asked by Star Shooter to accept you and I wanted to tell her to go to hell. But I saw you trying so hard to redeem yourself. I couldn’t just let everyone hate you for something you didn’t control.”

Tick Tick looks down at me again.

“After knowing you for ten years I started to see the true you. A gentle loving creature wanting to try so hard to tell those around you. You’re sorry and trying to work on it. But some can’t let the past go and it takes a little bit of a push. What caused it finally to break are you pushing me Hawk and Roll Roll into wishing to help this land. The three of us don’t care much for this land. We are only doing this for your sake and again when the journey is done we will leave.”

I look away sniffing a bit of tears rolling down my cheeks.

“Don’t cry Ruby I love you and I always will no matter how much I hate you you’re again my sister. Just right now we are having family issues and the only way is to do what I said. I am sorry.”

Tick Tock stands up and heads into one of the tents to shut herself down. I just sit there wanting to scream but all I can feel I can do is express my sorrow through a song. I close my eyes and then open them hearing the strange magic music. I look at my buggy hands,

“I see the blood soaking my hands. Oh whoa… My soul is so empty and I feel I need to prove myself to be happy with myself. I wonder if I will ever be able to forgive myself.”

I try to sing more and rock hits me in the back of the head the music ends.

“GO TO BED!!”

I turn to see Dunewlker snorting.

“Oi fucking singing fucking music”

The camel keeps cursing and I stroke the back of my head heading to the tent. I cuddle up to Cranberry and feel calm against her, closing my eyes and tears slowly roll down my face. Cranberry opens her eyes and strokes my back.

“It will be okay Ruby I promise.”

She kisses my head and I fall dead asleep.

_______________

Glow Worm [AKA Hard Shell]

We got to the town six hours after sunrise. It didn’t take us very long to get our entire camp back together. I look around noticing this town is more built-up than Hard Rock. Noticing hard turtle shells like Yanaris making the walls. Dunewalker leans to speak to me.

“Those shells are placed there when one of them dies. Those shells are protected because they hold memories of them. This town is peaceful; it's rare for outsiders to come here. So I will say this once keep your nose clean”

I glance at Dunewalker. I make sure my weapons are locked to my armor using a setting. I hear the locks go in place. I want to make sure they don’t get lost and some of the guards find them. When we get close to the gates an earth pony mare walks down the path.

“Hello, Dunewalker. He is expecting you and your friends can do whatever they wish. As long as they follow our laws they will be fine.”

Dunealker nods, saluting us. The pony mare stares at us. I don’t know why she stares at us like she is. Dunewalker shakes her head at her. Leaning down to whisper. I can make out at least a word. ‘Wheels.’

“Later I will find you all later.”

Dunewalker leaves with the Earth pony walking beside her. I don’t let the odd looks from the mare come to me. I notice Tick Tock and Waterspout counting the gold coins they collected nodding to each other. Tick Tock looks at me. Today though I don’t see the hatred in her eyes. I see her lukewarm emotions in her eyes.

“Waterspout and I are going to go shopping for some new clothing for her and maybe a new weapon so many won’t look at her like she is a threat.”

Tick stares at me, her eyes grow cold.

“If I have to bail your ass out we are going to have a long talk.”

I gulp nodding

Cranberry notices a hospital and she turns to Inyanga looking at each other.

“Shall we see if they need us there Inyanga?”

Inyanga smiles

“Yes, let's see if they need some good healers.”

Cranberry laughs.

“I wouldn’t say we are good healers, we are good enough. Let's see what they can use.”

They both turn to look at me. I could see them both judging me with their eyes. I sigh when Cranberry comes over, taking off my helmet with her wings and looking into my eyes. She was being motherly and kind but her eyes also had a stern look.

“Can we count on you to not get yourself in trouble Ruby?”

Inyanga smirks

“Oh come on Cranberry there is nothing here that could attack her. I am sure she will be a well-behaved little bug.”

Cranberry giggles.

“Are you sure Inyanga? Should we force her to come with us so we can keep an eye on her?”

I buzz angrily. I am about to lose my temper. I try my best to be reasonable.

“Look Cranberry I mean mother I will be fine I promise. I don’t need to always be watched or looked after.”

Cranberry stares at me.

“Really? Shall we count the ways ahem?”

I cover her mouth with my armored buggy hand. She gives me a very upset look Inyanga comes over patting her back and shaking her head.

“Let her be her. If she does get hurt then we will say to her we told you so agree?”

Cranberry nods as she grabs me looking into my eyes.

“Please don’t get hurt.”

She kisses my head and puts my helmet back on and the two mares trot off to get to the hospital. I buzz angrily and a guard looks at me after the two mares walk away. She smiles as I look up at the Kirin mare.

“I would let them do what they want to you little bug. I am guessing she adopted you?”

I nod

“Then when it comes to mothers you let them be mothers. She may have not given birth to you. She is still your mother. Treat her with respect because in this world she could easily be taken from you from sickness or a stray bullet understand?”

I sigh deeply

“Yeah I know I am just not used to someone caring about me. I am used to having friends who see me like family but just walk away from me when they get tired of me. It’s something I wish I could understand why.”

The kirin nods.

“It is normal that this world is empty and broken. No matter how much you try to bring life to it. It takes those wanting to bring the magic of friendship back. The magic of friendship hasn't been in the hearts of this world since the war. I doubt it will be anytime before the magic of friendship returns.”

The magic of friendship. I sighed, shaking my head.

“I was told there are statues of the heroes who took on Crunch the Rock dog?”

The kirin tilts her head.

“There are many rumors of the heroes. Like they have been buried in the desert they’re buried in town. No, come with me I will show you.”

I follow the kirin as she nods to the camel guard who nods to her. I look around noticing the town looks like a storm went through here. Many of the buildings are broken and burning and they’re rebuilding.

“What caused all this destruction?”

The kirin chuckles

“Some weird creatures destroyed the town looking for a water expedition that had outsiders with them. So we had to tell them where they went so they would leave us alone. Before they left though they told us sorry. They wanted to make sure they didn’t kill anyone or cause more problems. Some did get hurt but those tried fighting back.”

A great fear came over me. So someone was after my friends. I am worried they might have been hurt or killed. We finally got to the middle of town. I find the old heroes who took on Crunch The RockDog. They made a statue of Crunch the rock dog and the heroes are there fighting him. But right beside the statue itself are the heroes standing there in a row there are six of them.

“Read.”

I read the sign ‘Here are the heroes of old. They took on the hound and one. Before they fully defeated the hound he cursed each of them to turn to stone like many of those who fought him’ Dunewalker lied or of course I have learned camels never tell the full truth. I look at the six heroes. The one who looks like a leader is a Pegasus stallion. I glance at the one behind him on his left. A unicorn mare with an eye patch on his right side is a buffalo female. The last three are parrot species. Looks like a male the next behind him is a cat? Then one next to him is a zebra in heavy tribal gear who all look ready to take on the Crunch.

“Dunewalker didn’t tell me the full truth then.”:

The kirin laughs.

“What you need to learn a camel will never tell you the full truth. When it comes to a camel they have their secrets and their deals. They will even backstab you if they see you weak and not able to follow your morals.”

I sigh deeply and I notice something though. I see one of the horns of the buffalo has been filed down. It's strange. It's happened a few times on the horn. I didn't understand why and noticed some strange powder falling to the ground. I pay no mind to it. I don't see what is wrong.

“I am sorry I need to be led to one more place. Can you please show me how to get there?”

The kirin chuckles.

“Tell me your name first bug. I ain’t going to take that name on your helmet for your name.”

I take my helmet off.

“I am Ruby.”

The mare smiles.

“Was that too hard? I am Papaver”

She takes off her helmet so I can get a good look at her. She has an orange look. I am amazed I didn’t notice maybe I was too focused on her than what her color was. I put my helmet back on and she giggled.

“Ruby come on let's go and I heard about you in the news.”

Papaver led me through the broken town. I notice many of the buildings are still standing and when we get to what’s called a saloon? I see the name and my eyes open wide and I blush very hard at what I see. A mare is on her back in a very sexual pose. ‘The spreading Mare’

“What?”

She notices I am staring up at the mare. She laughs loudly.

“Oh come on can’t handle a brothel?”

I shake my head.

“A brothel connected to a bar?”

She chuckles.

“What is wrong with that?’

I sigh

“Not used to seeing something like this. I have seen brothels but never in the bar.”

She smirks

“Eh, it oddly goes well the brothel is deep in the back so everyone can ignore the moans and screams. Heavy padding a very kind gentle owner he treats all his girls and stallions who work for him like family.”

I look back at Papaver and she bows her head.

“I need to get back to my post later, Ruby.”

She waves at me as I flew inside and I look around hoof steps come up to me and I turn to see a mare in a sexual feathered outfit. She is pure black and she had purple eyeshadow and gentle blush on her cheeks.

“Oh hello, little buzzer. We don’t normally get a soul trying to be a hero or helper of this land here. Here let me find you a place to sit and I can get you something to eat if you wish.”

I was about to speak and my stomach growled and she laughed.

“Okay at the bar please.”

The mare nods leading me to the bar. I took my helmet off and the mare giggled.

“You’re a cutie.”

I blush gently, my buggy cheeks glowing brightly. I try to ignore her flirting. It's not easy but I am doing the best I can right now.

“I would like some green tea and…Do you have any food one like me can have?”

I notice in the kitchen which is part of the bar the chef who works at the bar turns to look at me. The stallion is bright red with some red stripes on his body. He smirks coming over to the bar.

“Hello, I am Kgomotso. The owner of this brothel bar.”

I smile weakly.

“I um nice place you have very respectful and kind help and beautiful too.”

The mare giggles.

“Ah yes, everypony here is a stallion mare. Pony or zebra are runways from slavers like the ones in Hard Rock. I work with that lovely mare there. We share our workers and try our best to keep the need for pleasure of the flesh going. To make this land just a little bit happier even if it’s messy.”

The mare waitress wraps her forehooves around nuzzling on me.

“You look, stressed sweetheart.”

I blush deeply

“While your food is being cooked, want to come in the back and I can massage your body?”

I couldn’t even speak. I blush so deep red on my face. I chuckle weakly.

“As long as it doesn’t lead to sex.”

She giggles.

“No offense sweetie you aren’t my type I am into stallions. Even though you need pleasure and it’s pleasure of the body not the sexual type order your food and I am taking you into the back.”

Kgomotso smiles

“You’re a magic eater, it's going to take a while to make food that will be good for you. So I need to read my old magic-infused food recipe. It will take at least thirty minutes to get that done. With your tea as well, is that okay with you?”

I nod blushing softly and follow the mare to the back. I noticed I left my helmet at the bar. She mare keeps giggling

“Oh, you’re so cute and shy. Don’t worry I will ask one of our bouncers to keep you protected as I work on you so no pony gets some sexual ideas with you.”

When we get to the back I notice a minotaur crossing her arms. She stares at me with a smirk forming on her face. I get a good look at her body. It is pure white and her horns are stained with blood. She takes off her cowboy hat nodding to me. I follow the feathered dressed mare to one of the empty rooms and she closes the door.

“Get your armor off.”

I take my armor off, setting it down on the table near the bed. She looks at me noticing some of my scars and healing wounds. She frowns heading out of the room to get something. The female minotaur comes in leaning on the wall.

“So has Majesty been removed from the island then?”

I stare at the Minotaur.

“You’re from the island?”

She nods.

“I left fifty years ago. I am known as Ghost. I left when I got a chance and I wasn’t the only one. So is Majesty still in control?”

I shake my head.

“She hasn't been in control since the heroes of legend beat her back and removed her from her throne.”

The minotaur smiles.

“So the rumors are true then. You must be the one known as Ruby. I have heard about you on the radio. Do you want me to be blunt to you little bug?”

I sigh, nodding.

“Go ahead.”

She smiles leaning fully back on the wall.

“Call yourself the buzzer still but say you’re not trying to be a hero but trying to be one having common sense. Some don’t understand when it comes to heroes. Some think they’re the end all be all and some just can’t stand them. I feel the best way to keep yourself in that category is just to say you’re doing what should be common sense, understand?”

I smile weakly

“I will try. I doubt I will remember but if I do I will try to do what you say.”

Ghost nods

“That is all you can do. Chocolate should be back soon.”

The mare comes holding a tray of many oils and lotions. She sets it on the table and looks at me with a gentle smile showing her makeup-covered face.

“Get on the bed and I will make you beautiful and feel the best you ever have.”

Ghost closes the door. I get on the bed on my front, laying my head on the pillow. I am not sure what to expect. I feel the mare's hard hooves in my back. I gasp in pain feeling her massage every part of my back up to my head to my ass part.

“Oh my, you’re so tense. I understand a bug has an exoskeleton but I doubt it should have this many knots.”

I feel her use of many fluids and lotions on the back part of my body up to my head. She giggles, feeling that I am not used to this.

“Come on sweet little bug, when you find someone to love you they’re going to do a lot of things to make you feel good you need to get used to stuff like this.”

I smile weakly.

“I doubt I would ever find what you call love. My species don’t understand it. Also, it’s very rare for a male of my species to say he loves me and not just fill me with his brood.”

The mare sighs.

“Sounds like a sad life.”

I think more on it she is right to others it would be a very sad life. I don’t see myself ever finding love and if I do It will be because the one who gives me this love doesn’t mind every single little shortcoming every single little flaw.

“Yes, it’s a very sad life.”

I am pushed on my back and she does the same treatment to every part of me. I grunt my cheeks burning red when she gets to the very sensitive parts.

“Now I want you to lay here a while and let it soak in your body. I will be back with everything else.”

The mare trots back out and I sit up sighing looking at Ghost.

“How long have you been here?”

Ghost chuckles.

“I found my way here as you did. A machine in the middle of the water sucking it up and tossing me. I sadly was one of the only survivors; the others who were with me died when we crashed down.”

I nod project Rainfall is a very strange old war creation. I wonder why it was built in the first place. It confuses me. I stroke the back of my feeling the oil drying into my buggy body. It makes it feel smooth and shiny and I feel a little better after the beating she gave me.

Chocolate finally returned and forced me back down. She rubs some strange perfume on me and powders me a bit to make me look beautiful. After a while, she was finished and she giggled.

“There you go you look like you could be a heartbreaker.”

She gives me a mirror and I notice she added makeup to my face. I closed my eyelids a bit and she gave me a gentle blue eyeshadow? I don’t know what to think. I smile, giving the mare a tight hug.

'Thank you, do you owe you anything?’

Chocolate smiles.

“No, you don't, it's in the house. Anything for one wishing to help this broken land. Now you better go back and get your food.”

I flew back to the bar sitting back on the stool my helmet was on. I put the helmet on the bar and when I sat on the stool Kgomotso gave me the food and whistles.

“You look nice Ruby. Now go ahead and eat.”

I nod, taking the tea, shipping it, and then eating the soup. It felt wonderful going through my system. I felt my body go back to a bit of normal when I had the magic go into my system to make my core feel stronger.

“Do you have any money to pay for this?”

I look through my bags sighing.

“No, I sadly don't. Is there any way I can get a job to make money so I can pay you back?”

Kgomotso smirks

“Well you’re in luck, they're looking for some help to rebuild parts of the town and clean up what is left. I will go with you to make sure they know they need to give me at least ten gold coins and give you the rest.”

I nod following the half zebra? Out of the bar and in the area the rebuilding and cleaning effort is happening at.

___________

Cleaning the town

I am led to the middle of the rubble. A lot of it has been moved so it could be cleaned and help with the rebuilding effort. The one standing in the middle of it all is a centaur wearing a business suit and a hat.

Kgomotso stops me before we fully go to talk to him.

“That is Thrake is a very important figure of the town. He spent years making a name for himself and becoming the richest creature of this town. He doesn’t own this town and is making sure it keeps running and he keeps his money out of elections. He just does what he felt his grandfather should have.”

I was confused.

“Who is his grandfather?”

The stallion chuckles.

“He is like the evil centaur Tirek that is his evil grandfather and a creature he has never met. If he has, he doesn't remember him at all.”

I nod while I am led to him and Thrake laughs.

“I heard everything Kgomotso don’t you think you’re being a bit overprotective of others knowing my great grandfather is a former monster?”

Kgomotso laughs

“Anyway this is Ruby, she ordered some food and tea and now she needs this job to pay me back. So if you could give me at least ten of the gold coins you owe her then give her the rest. Is that a fair trade?’

Thrake nods.

“Yes, it works.”

I wave goodbye to the half stallion and I look at all the ponies and other creatures getting ready to work. I look up to Thrake and he chuckles.

“Be prepared, a song might happen and it will be a little strange to you I am sure.”

For one I wasn't the only one cleaning the town. A couple of ponies cleaned the town as well. I haven't seen my friends in a while. But I found it interesting. I was told ponies normally broke into song. I am starting to wonder what they did. Music played in the speakers of my helm. Why did music play at my helm? But while I was working the ponies sang.

"We shall clean our town. We shall clean our hearts. We shall sing to our souls filled with happiness." The ponies sang together. With me, I just lifted the rubble I could get a hold of. Thrake even started to sing. I didn't even think he would.

"Oh clean up this town. Bring us back to normal. Bring back the magic. So we can all eat. The army that came to destroy our town..does not stop us from having our peace. So come on and sing!!" The ponies joined in. I just stared at them, the music getting on my nerves that was playing in the speakers of my helm.

"Use your tail like a broom to clean up the dust."

A young mare sang while she used her tail to clean the dust and try to clean every part of the road to remove debris and particles.

"Oh come and dance with our hearts. While we clean up and dance!!" A stallion sang and held a hammer in his magic. While a group of stallions started to repair the buildings. Now after that verse they just started to hum the music still beating hard in my helm. I didn't know what to do but worked lifting the planks and giving them to the ponies but a group of them grabbed me and they started to dance.

"Come on and dance with our hearts. Come on and sing with us." Another young mare sang to me. I gulped trying to fight the urge to sing and dance. But I lost myself to it.

"Shake our... Bodies to the music never fail to clean up the town. Dance. " Starting to feel less nervous looking at the ponies around me as I sang. They had smiles on their faces. Lyrics for the song showed up on the visor of the helm. How did this suit know these ponies were singing? But I didn't know how good my voice was but I suddenly allowed all my nervousness to leave me.

"Shake our bodies and dance to the music. As we clean up the town."

I started to dance in the air while the ponies did what they could to clean up.

"Clean dance and smile, be happy just because we can be.."

All I did was mostly since my body was too small to lift any of this big stuff. Even if I am a worker. But I wasn't made to lift a lot of this rubble. But since I stopped singing the music kept beating in the helms speakers.

I grab a broom joining in with the song.

“We clean to be happy, we clean to dance. We let the music fill our hearts and we let cleaning tell a story.”

I am grabbed by one of the mares and we get into the middle of the rubble in the town and we do a dance number?! I watch the steps they do and it’s amazing how these creatures dance and one of the mares sings.

“This song brings the music of happiness to our hearts so come on and dance come on and clean.

We all start singing together and cleaning up.

“Come on and dance, come on and sing. Dance like we have no tomorrow and dance. So come on and come on and dance and clean!!”

After the song ends most of the area has been cleaned up and I keep dancing and humming to myself after I got paid by Thrake and he just laughed watching me as he went to help the others.

“Come and dance and sweep to the music.”

The music is no longer in my helmet but it’s still amazing to me. I can hear it and I feel a tap on my shoulder.

“OI buggy stop, it’s embarrassing to see that.”

I stop setting down the broom looking at Dunewalker. She has a white mare standing beside her wearing a cowboy hat. The mare lifts the hat to be respectful and I smile bowing to her and the mare chuckles

“This is Truly she is a descendant of one of the heroes; they think it’s one of the stallions or the mares. History has been lost over time. So no one knows.”

"Thank you.. for your help."

Her voice sounded soft. She had pure white fur and a cowboy hat. It must have been whoever is her ancestor. I doubt there is a name in the hat. It looks very beat up and I doubt it could be easily looked at without running it.

"Now we saw your two friends leave with the other's not too long ago. I'm sorry we couldn't stop the army that was searching for them."

I sigh deeply

“I know they were upset with me but you did what you could and I thank you for that. I don’t want anyone hurt on the account of two of my friends just trying to help.”

Truly smiles.

"I can understand. But your friends that came with you have been very helpful. The Water hunter you brought did an amazing thing. She found some water for us not far from the town. From what her friend Tick Tock said she has been trained all her life to find water. But they don't trust outsiders because of old teachings."

I smile happy to hear that Waterspout is making herself useful but I frown when I hear Tick Tock's name. I feel hurt every time her name is said. I don’t know why and I feel a little pain in my heart. I let it leave for a time.

“What about Cranberry and Inyanga have they been helpful?

Truly smiles

“Oh very much so they have done so much and helped our doctors here catch those parasites we heard Hard Rock has to deal with now we don’t have a big issue with them here it’s very rare but thank you.”

I suddenly notice something a mare walks by with a stone leg?

“Huh?”

Truly notices what I see and she sighs.

“That is why I came to see you. I am told your species can’t get affected very easily by magic creations. Lately, some ponies have gone missing. Stone body parts show up later when the rest of the body filed into nothing. We have no idea what is causing it and it turns out whoever does this only goes after the weak or the homeless.”

I shake my head. Wow, that is awful. I wonder how I can help.

“Is there any way I can help?”

Truly smirks

“Well, what we have learned about what causes the stoning is a new drug a gang has been pushing. They call it stoning. Come with me I will have you meet a mare who is helping us with this.”

I look at Dunewalker and she nods. I follow the mare to her office.

______

The stoning

We walk into Truly’s office. There is a mare sitting in a chair and she turns to look at us. I notice this mare has a stone ear and she is having a little trouble breathing. She has to have oxygen in her nose to keep her lungs going.

“This is Winter Green. She is the one that brought this to us about the stoning. Here Winter this little bug wants to help.”

I sit in the chair beside Winter Green. She gives a weak smile.

“The stoning is what you wish to learn about? Alright, it’s very addictive and it makes you feel like you have powerful magic in your system. If you use it too much though, well.”

She points to her ear and her left leg.

“This happens. I also used to be a unicorn so I lost my horn. Most of my insides are stone, thankfully I stopped before any of my organs turned to stone.”

I glance at Dunewalker.

“Why are you looking at me? I can’t even be near this stuff or I will turn to stone. I won’t even try to help with this. I need to go anyway and get a drink. This is too much honest work and it’s tiring.”

Dunewalker leaves patting the white mare's shoulder as she goes off by herself. I sigh deeply hating how Duneawlker just suddenly will vanish and I have no idea why. Winter Green gets off the chair.

“I am willing to help you with this. I hear you have some doctor friends. Maybe I can explain it to them?”

I nod heading off with her to the Hospital before I bow my head to the white mare who gives me a bow.

__________

Glow-worm Hospital

We came in a few minutes after. We explained to the two mares what is going on and how it works and then I said something I shouldn’t have.

“I am going to go help find who is selling this drug.”

Inyanga stands between me and Cranberry. The anger on the face of the red mare and I am happy Inyanga is keeping the mare at bay for now.

“No, you will not!!"

I sigh, taking my helm off and the two mares look at me.

“Are you wearing make-up?”

I forgot I had that on. I laugh.

“Well I went to the saloon and one of the mares from the brothel pushed me in the back and made me feel amazing.”

Inyanga chuckles.

“So my little buggy had sex?”

Cranberry smirks

“NO!! NO!!! She just messaged me and dressed me up like this and tried to get the knots out of my body.”

“Um excuse me.”

We look back at WinterGreen and realize we are being a bit silly around her. Cranberry’s cheeks have a blush form over them.

“Sorry, tell me do you know how this drug works?’

While we wait for Winter Green to answer again Inyanga uses the fluid from her various pouches to see if she can break the spell. It doesn’t work but it makes the mare feel less pain like her insides are at least healing.

“Before we go any further Winter, what did your fur used to look like?”

The mare looks over at Cranberry and sees a weak smile forming on her lips. A pregnant pause comes over there for a moment like she is trying to say the right thing and not make it harder to learn how to handle this.

“My fur used to be green, this is what the drug does to you. If you use it too much you lose some things. Like I told Ruby I used to be a unicorn. I do have a question: will it be helpful if I go home and get the drug?”

Cranberry nods and she looks over at me.

“Ruby, do you think you could find who is selling this drug without getting hurt yourself?”

I smile weakly

“I will go with her Cranberry and I will make sure she stays out of trouble. So we let WinterGreen get the drug and then Ruby and I find who is causing all this.”

Cranberry sighs.

“Go ahead.”

Winter Green left and after at least thirty minutes she came back with the drug in her mouth and we noticed it was a powder. Like we were told it was but I learn there is more.

“Oh my..this is bad if there is too much of this in one area it could become a pandemic. It’s like fine dust if it’s in the air supply of a city it could. Turn the entire town high and into stone.”

Inyanga sighs, shaking her head.

“Not good Ruby, could you test it to see if it will affect you?”

Cranberry nods.

“I agree, let's test it on you Ruby.”

I sigh deeply. I go over to the powder, taking at least a little and putting it into my mouth. I feel it working soon after but I don’t feel myself turning into stone. It just tastes like an everyday treat to me. Maybe it doesn’t affect ones like me. Then all the sudden I felt a great burst of energy and it fills my core to brimming

“WHOOOO!! That is a rush.”

I shake my head finally coming quickly down from the high I don’t feel my body stoning or anything, my body turning into stone.

“Yeah it’s a drug for me, a real drug thankfully it didn’t last long and I doubt it will turn me to stone but I don’t dare try to take a bigger dose.”

Cranberry smirks

“Alright, I will test this Winter. Can you show them where they sell this and then come back and I will run some tests on you?”

Winter Green nods. I put my helm back and left with Inyanga not far behind us.

___________

The old Military warehouse

Before we fully left Inyanga got herself an old battery-powered mask to keep herself from turning to stone. We get to the warehouse and I look at Inyanga who nods at me as we are getting ready to go in. I grab my machine gun to get ready.

“Be careful please.”

Winter Green trots off and we go inside, closing the door silently. We notice the dust has engulfed this building. We see many stone bodies of ponies and other creatures. Some of them

We get to a large room that holds a large gun. It looks like one of those old weapons used during the war and around the area is a ton of ammo. But that is not all I see these strange rock creatures wearing various gang clothing. My guess is the leader of them is the one in the fancy suit and hat.

I nod to Inyanga and she sneaks with me inside the room. She taps my shoulder pointing up to the catwalk leading into a room where I see a pony outline like he's on some chair. I look at the gun it’s aiming up there. I grab a magic bullet or ammo they call it that has the blue strip and arm it. I cock my SGM shooting into the air and getting the attention of the creatures. They just turn to look up at me.

“I am here to stop you don’t move”

The one I am sure is the leader smirks at me

“I got a better deal for you.”

I was confused and I heard Inyanga fighting and struggling but these creatures have the upper hoof and they pull her to the leader forcing her to the ground. They remove her mask and the leader chuckles. I buzzy angrily seeing all this.

“Stop if you don’t let her go I will fire this big gun up into the room.”

I put my buggy hand on the trigger. I can tell this got the attention of the leader. He chuckles weakly.

“You got moxie kid but I am going to be blunt with you. You don’t want to fire in there. See the cure is in there and you want to help this town, am I correct?”

The cure is in there and I look back the pony is already gone. It’s like he knew I was here and I growl angrily

“Who the fuck are you working with?”

The creature chuckles, smoking his cigar.

“I can’t tell you that but I can tell you what the master wants. Now are you going to be a good little bug or do we have to be mean?”

I growl softly again

“I want to talk to this leader!!”

The leader nods and one of the rock creatures tosses me a walkie talkie

“You’re the one I have been watching. I see I am going to ask this once will you get out of my way and if you want to help with my plans join me.”

I buzz angrily

“No deal.”

The voice laughs.

“See as you have been sitting here talking with me and them. You may have noticed what one of them has been doing to your friend.”

I watch and I notice while they have been holding her down they have been making her breathe in the dust from the building. I stare at her watching her slowly turn to stone and I see one of them hold a file to get ready to file her body down.

“See if you don’t let them go they will do what they did to the others you just saw. So yes that is the only cure there and I am sorry it could be years before they find a cure to help your friend.”

The voice laughs.

“I would be telling you about my plans and all that and what I want to do with the water and so forth but I will let you stew like the dumb bug you are. Now do we have a deal or will you just attack these rock demons and let your friend die?”

I fly down to Inyanga. She is still able to move a bit and breathe. I try to help her by stroking all the dust off her and the rock creature sighs after the leader stops speaking to me.

“Let them go…Ruby, I am not worth it. I am just one life compared to so many.”

I look at Inyanga then the weapon I look at the catwalk leading up to the cure. I try to find many ways I can do this in my head. I could wait, can I kill these things? Can I be that one to kill and go get the cure?

“Kid let me make this easier on you.”

I turn my head to the leader of these rock creatures.

“Let us go and you may have a chance to save your friend. If not, she will make a big paperweight and the time is running out. What will you choose?”

I look at Inyanga and then back to the creature's cure. I sigh, taking my helmet and offsetting it down I kneel to them.

“I surrender, go.”

The others laugh charging out as the leader stays behind and he leans over to me looking into my eyes.

“I don’t like to do stuff like this kid. But a job is a job and life is not going to be simple for everyone. Plans will hurt others' lives and will be ruined but that's how progress works. Expanding life for everyone even if it means you need to break a few eggs. I am Geode and if we meet again I hope under better circumstances.”

I head quickly up to get the cure. I notice a computer and get into it. It’s already been hacked into and I notice the fan blowing to blow the air outside is off. I wonder if I can clear the air up then I notice another set has a filter? What in the world is that? Oh, wait I remember them I turn it on to get the dust out of the air and quickly head back down with the cure. I was too late.

I look at the cure and Inyanga is still able to talk. I lean to her to look into her eyes.

“Inyanga I am going to give you this.”

She smiles weakly

“No Ruby, they will find a cure for me someday. Go please give it to those who can help.”

She fully turns to stone and I try to shake her. Tears streaming down my face I wrap around the stone zebra crying hard.

“Inyanga please don’t go, I don't want to lose any more friends.”

I sob like a pathetic bug and while I do I hear heavy stomps coming in and I look up to see Crunch the Rock dog. He has an earpiece attached to his ear and he is talking to someone as he walks in.

“I don’t think this is a good idea, master. I mean come on you won you beat her let's just kill her and be done with it.”

He growls

“Yeah I know but…but we had a good thing going here. I know oh come on that was a mistake I lost my temper.”

He growls deeply

“I see you want to give a chance like this is a game of chees? Seriously she has already lost a pawn let her lose another. Okay I get it you want to make this a big deal and a moment of glory for yourself correct?”

I hear very angry talking on the other side. Crunch grabs the earpiece and crushes it he looks down at me with a smirk.

“Well, you’re in luck, my master wants to give you a bone. Now this will be the only bone I give you. Because if we meet again I will kill you. I hate heroes, I hate being nice. I hate peace, I hate friendship.”

The big dog puts his paw on Inyanga and she goes back to flesh and he even removes her high. She stands up shaking looking at the dog.

“If you say thank you I am going to kill you and turn you back to stone.”

She smirks

“Good dog.”

He roars angrily growling, heading back out cussing.

“Fucking worthless pieces of shit Dream Valley and cutesy pink ponies and stupid zebras what a fucking worthless shit.”

I turn to look at Inyanga. The look on her face makes me scared. The anger in her eyes I have never seen her so angry. Her eyes glow bright red and I see the mist look around but I don’t see the goat this time. After a while, it subsides and she sighs.

“I had to fight my anger for you, Ruby. I told you I wasn’t worth it and now they know they can control you just by using your friends. I promise I won’t tell the others but my trust for you has been lost.”

She starts walking out and I sit there sobbing buzzing sadly she turns to look at me and I see the anger from her eyes subside she comes over to me and hugs me tightly

“Oh, I am sorry I am so sorry I didn’t mean it you’re a wonderful little bug please stop crying.”

I don’t feel any better. The crying finally lets up and she smiles leaning into giving me a gentle nuzzle.

“It was just my anger speaking. Come, let's give the cure to Cranberry and see what she can do with it.”

I sigh weakly putting my helm back on and we head out I look up watching the dust from inside get blown away far away and I smile weakly we head back to the hospital to give the cure to Cranberry I look over to Inyanga again and she turns to me I see the same lukewarm eyes Tick Tock gave me. I feel heartbroken knowing another will walk away after all this.

Footnote: Level up

Perk added: Friend of Hard Shell: Since you did what you could to help the town you’re now considered an ally with the town. All the stuff you buy is at a discount and they will do whatever they can to be there to help you. As long as you keep your nose clean and not have the DJ mixer speak badly of you.

Next Chapter: Chapter Seven: The search Estimated time remaining: 47 Hours