I was created to be a weapon. One used in a war that most thought would never end as it did. I wish someday I could understand why I was given life. I can think for myself more than most robotic creatures. I think it’s because of what the hero did for me. I am unsure I could never understand the reason. But I am a protector who will fight and never end that battle.

Written by Diamond Cutter

__________________________

The hero returns

I stood guard with the others on this strange island. This island has been here for so long but I never knew. I look back at the desert not far from this little island. A large base and an army have been built under it. They’re waiting for the moment when the hero attacks or we attack. Something is going to happen with that significant battle of fire floating and sometimes screaming over there.

I stood beside the one known as Cozy Glow. The poor pony she thought the Storm King and Wheel Tread knew what they were doing. She learned the hard way she learned she was programmed.

“I am unhappy with myself Diamond. I mean I used to be evil I still feel I am. But what they wished to do bothers me. I wanted to follow Grogar but it turned out to be Discord. That moment you helped me notice what happened. What am I to do?”

I couldn’t show emotions I could show them through my voice. My one eye given that I am an Assultron diamond dog. Someday we'll know how to show emotions but for now, I can’t. That second I am told there will be a way but it won’t be simple.

“I wish I could be honest with you Cozy. I cannot show emotions but I can show them through my voice. I thank the hero for helping me understand the emotions when she saved me from the one that led you.”

Cozy is about to speak.

“Here they come!!”

All of us robotic beings look towards the water of the dock. We saw the ship returning. I had never seen this ship before. From what I can tell though it wasn’t kept together very well. Parts of the hull are missing and it’s smoking. I wonder what caused them to have this problem. I feel that someday that will be a museum piece to show the end of the hero. The hero will go and I will be one of them to end her.

I know what is to come. I heard the whispers from the others. It’s not the best. I look over at Silver Gunner who is with the crowd. He brought over another named RA proto, a large robot. One who helped defend Tiria’s heart. I feel that someday I will regret what is to come. But now I look back in my memory of the last three years.

_____________________________

Hard Rock three years before the return.

I have been doing what my job is protecting the young of Hard Rock. It hasn’t been easy since the fall of the Enclave. But they still work on saving this poor little town. I know someday I will lose myself. When I do I hope it’s not around these young foals and young camels, with the death of the hero or the end in a way that is not known. The hero waits for it's her.

I watch while Beezen tries to hide the poor bug in a cart. She is carried and brought up the steps Beezen turns around to look at me. My robotic eyes stare into his. He knew I would have called the others to get her back. But from what I have seen I knew full well that someday I should have ended her there.

“Guardian of the future I need you to tell no one she was here.”

I figured he would ask me to lie. Of course, I can lie and it’s not what bothered me at the time about this. What bothered me more was that I could have stopped the male of her species from destroying her life.

“I see what are your plans, old judge, are you trying to tell me you’re working with the hero now? I am sure it’s not something you wish to do. You and I both know sooner or later you will turn on her.”

Beezen chuckles.

“There will be a time I do so, yes. But it won’t be until Grogar returns. When he returns you will have to deal with either me or him. The order of mimic is already getting ready for his return. They know full well from Mimic’s horseshoes.”

I knew what he meant by the order of Mimic. I met them after the hero saved my life and showed me another way instead of murder. I look at the hero again, the poor creature. It's been so long since we all have seen her. Three years and then she will leave again. To find Dream Valley to find a weapon to deal with whatever is to come.

“Well then Beezen there have been whispers from other leaders of the desert in this town. They wish to fight the Storm King. Why are we having her leave when we could use her to fight this war?”

Beezen looks down at the bug in his arms and sighs.

“She is not ready to fight. She has to bring the stars of hope and peace back. It’s not going to be as simple as that. The final time those stars even existed was around the time of Dream Valley’s death. The death of the hero Williams. I know her path and the location of her. Those friends she makes on the way. Will have to break from her and follow their journey. They all will have to work to get the stars to return.”

No matter what, she and her new friends are going to follow their paths when they get on their journey. I worry about what will happen when the battle comes. I am just a simple Assultron. I know someday I will be destroyed.

“Beezen what will happen when this battle goes wrong and the stars return as you said? Are we going to see the path get worse?”

Beezen sighs.

“We will see the path become more bloody. I know when it comes down to it, Diamond. You will be joining with the others in condemning Ruby. None of us are going to want to defend her at all. I worry when that day comes we will see her cry and then she will end up like the monster she is.”

My scanning eyes stare down at Ruby. I let him leave and after an hour I watch as the male magic eater flies up to the Research building after a while Beezen comes back down and he sighs.

“Beezen, did you just leave Ruby with that male?”

Beezen nods.

“He told me that he is her mate. I worry he may have lied to me. But I need her at her lowest to be able to do this journey. Someday she will learn this and I know he doesn’t even love her and just wants to use her to expand his brood.”

I don’t even have a mouth he could tell from my body movement. I wasn't happy with him. I gave a deep robotic growl and wished my weapons worked. But I have to be repaired before I can even fire.

“Beezen you’re going to destroy your idea of love. You’re going to make her heart be broken. Are you doing this to make her angry enough to follow through with her journey? Are you sure this is the wisest idea if she learns what you did?”

Beezen sighs, shrugging his shoulders, then after a while the male comes back down and he looks at Beezen nodding.

“I did what you told me to. Beezen I just gave a female I don’t even love to my brood. Why are you doing this to her? She is already broken enough being enemy number one of this desert. I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Beezen nods.

“I am sorry my friend. Now I need to get her ready for her journey. I hope you understand you might not even see her again. She could die on this journey and all this would be for nothing. Suppose we don’t come back in two to three years. Get ready to start the war without us. You will know her journey is going well if we send allies back to you.”

I didn’t care he knew full well I was programmed to protect and I will always protect those of the future. I am nothing but a monster to those who knew me in the past. I was created to protect the sewers from the zebras.

“Then do what you can. I will try to remember to come and see you off.”

After those words, I just went back on my patrol and I watched those two talk about what they just did. Destroying the life of the hero I never told anyone what happened. In this book of Beezen’s I am writing in now I can now tell others. But who knows?

___________

The day Ruby leaves.

I found myself on the island to protect Cranberry and her adopted children. I never thought I would see them return. The ship lifts into the air. It would take time for me to understand what will happen.

“Diamond, do you think they will return?”

I just kept on my task guarding Cranberry. I had no idea what to say. I worry though what will happen to everyone if the hero never returns. I look over to the storm to keep everyone in. It doesn’t work like most thought it would. It’s slowly vanishing the Storm King from the sounds of it turning over a new leaf.

“If they do return we must be ready for a battle. The issue is though who is the real villain here? You know full well what the Storm King wants. It is to bring peace back to this land. It may not be the type of peace everyone wants. But who is in the right here?’

Cranberry looks up at me. I looked down at her and we both knew who was in the wrong and the right here. None of us.

“I never wanted this Diamond. I never wanted to say goodbye again to my adoptive daughter and now my wife. I never wanted it to end like this. I worry when they return Ruby is going to be hateful. She is going to be so hateful to the point that I may never see her again like she was.”

I just watched while the airship vanished as it got farther away. I worry about poor Cranberry. I look down at her again. Before I even get ready to leave standing beside us and I just noticed this. We both see the Storm King standing beside us. He looks at me.

“She is alive ain’t she?’

Cranberry sighs nodding.

“I see Wheel Tread will not know till it’s too late. The howling dance is helping me understand the part I have failed in.”

I just have no idea why he is even here. I found it very strange that he is here. I learned over time is not a monster anymore. He is now a simple creature. He used to be a monster that orb in his chest. He is gaining the knowledge of those who held it before.

“What is giving us a reason not to just kill you right here?”

The Storm King glares at me and smirks.

“If you killed me now I would be considered a figurehead for those who want my type of progress in life.”

He is not wrong he has many followers even in the cities and towns even in some parts of Equestria. Many of these followers came to him. He is now their master. I hope though when both sides fight the children will be kept safe.

“Storm King.”

The large creature stares at me.

“When the war starts can you please tell that idiot Wheel Tread to keep the children out of the fight? I don’t want the innocent to be harmed. I will do everything I can to defend them and they will never be victims of your war.”

The Storm King just smiles. He puts his hand on the howling dance closing his eyes. The cracked orb glows. Cranberry and I swear we heard whispers and voices talking to him. I hear one of the voices I have been told about Tiria.

“I agree with you, Diamond Cutter. Before you go, how did you know my name?! I have people around these areas telling me about everyone. They’re telling me not everyone trusts me and they don’t understand why. I told them honestly because of my past there are many reasons not to trust me and I understand perfectly. The young and the future will be protected from Wheel Tread.”

Just hearing those words makes me feel better. Of course, sadly I need to be powered down for at least a year soon. They want to upgrade me to be ready for the war to come. After that, I can do much to be remembered.

_______________

The year of the shutdown

It’s been at least a month or so since the hero left for Dream Valley. As for me, I have to be shut down for at least a year to be ready for the battle ahead. It took me at least a month to get myself to the mountain of the coast. One of the scientists or robotics experts is the husband of Hawk. I learned through him he can do everything to bring my emotions out through my voice.

“Are you telling me you can update my entire system? It will take a year for the entire downtime? Are you sure this is wise? I know I haven’t been serviced since the war. Who will protect the future of Hard Rock?”

The robot laughs.

“Like I told my wife she will defend your future. Doing this will help me build a body for her. So she can finally be happy again. Place her brain inside as I did with myself. I knew sooner or later I would be able to do this.”

I was turning my eyes to look at what I will be given. I will give a heavy armored body and my new head is just one laser eye like the old Assultrons of the past. I guess I will become stronger and I know full well the time will come.

“If you feel this is unwise for us to shut you down. I know you feel if you’re shut down the guards won’t be able to stop the future from being harmed. The only way that will be stopped there is no heroes. The resistance is not even trying to gain a foothold yet. They’re doing it wisely with the help of the Storm King.”

I didn’t understand why the Storm King was even helping us.

'The Storm King tried to enslave your race so long ago what changed?’

The robotic hippogriff shrugs his shoulders.

“Hawk asked me the same thing honestly I am not too sure. But our new queen has been doing what she can to make sure the war is not started early. We need to make sure we are ready for the hero and whatever allies she brings back with her.”

The argument is sound: I need to be ready for the future and the warhead. I am going to be shut down for a year and given upgrades to get me ready. I just hope I will be ready before she returns. There will be issues I am sure I can’t just allow myself to be shut down. The children need me.

“I will do it.”

The hippogriff nods.

“Then be prepared we don’t dream. If you did dream it would mean we have more than they told us. I am sorry if I am about to destroy you and bring you back to normal. Most never enjoy being used like this.”

“I didn’t even dream during the end of the war. I just kept following my programming. Then when the hero helped me I just started feeling things. I don’t get it. I don't understand at all it’s that idea of being robotic and able to feel.”

It took me a while to accept what was about to happen. He shut me down like I allowed him to. I felt a dream I am sure. But It was the year of Ruby’s journey. I don’t know why I felt it but she went through so much. Poor creature, how am I feeling this? It took her a year just to get to her journey. It’s going to take a year through Dream Valley and I feel that this journey is going to destroy her. If it hasn’t already.

I felt myself waking up. I don't know what happened but my true story comes soon.

____________

A year passes

I felt myself waking up or how to say coming back online. It was strange. I don't know what happens. But when I came back online I felt my power coming back very quickly. I haven’t felt this much energy in my system since the old days. It hasn't been the best for me since all that. I felt that something is a miss when I woke up I see the Storm King standing over me.

“Why…are you here?!”

The Storm King chuckles.

“I am helping you get ready to take on the army Wheel Tread is forming. He hasn't been himself the last few days. I worry about what he is going to do in the years ahead. He found a very old book of summons. I worry that he is going to summon something that is going to cause a stir, So please let me help you.”

I noticed I am not even fully together yet and he just begins helping me. The orb I see glows more and I hear the voices. I finally hear them and they sound beautiful and pleasant. The strangeness of that lovely sound.

“Help them win. Ole king.”

“Make sure they have a fighting chance.”

Then I hear a voice I have heard before: it's the voice of the wolf Tiria. Like part of her is in that orb. This orb the Howling dance seems to hold many souls and journeys within it. I start to wonder though what will happen when the orb shatters will all those whispers be for not?

“When the war is over, who will take that orb?”

The king laughs softly

“I expect Ruby to take it when the war is over. I expect her to hide it or destroy it. This orb started a journey called the Silver Trial. It didn’t start the journey for heroes to finally come out of the woodwork and save the world. It was heroes who aren’t even that important to the grand scheme of things.”

The silver trail? I have never heard of this before. Maybe sooner or later this journey will end. But even if the journey ends the lives touched by the journey will not end. After everything was said and done. I learned what happened while I was asleep. The resistance gained some footholds in the graces of Wheel Tread he doesn’t seem to know or care.

I came back to Hard Rock. It's peaceful at least for now as the others took up the guard of protecting the future. The brothel mares made sure the young ones were heavily protected. Because most of them are former slaves.

My life wasn't that impressive as the years went on. There were some wars and some powerful issues that happened. What mainly happened was the meeting of the Desert Dwellers I didn’t show up in because they didn’t need me. The biggest thing that happens is that a strange fiery orb near Project Rainfall keeps hearing sounds of singing and death and roars.

_______________

The return of the hero

Most never know what is to come. I watch as the hero gets off the ship and I stay back with the others including Cozy. I helped her with her journey. But she should write it when it comes to her journey in this book. Most would never know that time is here.

“Do you think she will attack me on sight for what I did to her in the past Diamond?”

I shrug my robotic shoulders.

“We are just the defenders of those who need us. She doesn’t need us right now. But at this moment we have no idea what happens to her. Just look up in the sky there are more stars than there ever have been. We have to accept we are just fodder to those around us. But I am sure when the NCA comes it will be even worse. They might destroy you and you have to be ready for that.”

I hope that I was wrong. But at the time I felt it was fully true. We are just fodder to those around us. Even though to this land I am a friend to them. But to outsiders, I would be treated as such. I look over at Silver Gunner who just walks by us.

“Silver, is there any hope for the hero?”

Silver stops looking back at me and he robotically chuckles.

“Heros are not the leaders of their stories. Those who are the leaders of their stories. Are the ones who are around them. A hero will not know their true path. It’s those who gather around them. A leader will never know their true friends till one dies around them. A commander is always there for their family to say. But in the grand scheme of the world. The commander will always fail. The friend will always fail. It's a matter of how the world writes history. I think this is the end of the history of this war. It will be the children of the future who see it come and fully understand the real story. We are just pens writing the hero's journey. In the commander's journey, those around them help them on their journey. They can’t always rely on those around them. They must act if a war starts they must be ready to call.”

Silver Gunner goes silent for a moment looking back at the hero Ruby. She is no hero to this land. She is but a means to an end. The idea that she is a hero to us has never been fully there. She is not a leader, she is not a commander. She is a former commander of a Queen named Majesty she was used to breaking those around her. She was controlled and she was broken. She watched as her brood was killed. She is the last of the Glides. She did things on that island.

“Like the rest of her kind the Magic eaters. They were created to be a weapon. A weapon for a monster named Majesty. She used them to be loved. She wanted to be loved by those on the island of Devil's Due. But she used Ruby Glide to break those around her. Someday though she will let the past go. She did things and she did things in Niark, a creation to be used to eat magic. To become a General of endless war. It’s all you can do to see the end. I hope that helps you two understand.”

I look back at Cozy nodding my robotic servos in my neck, creaking he is right we can’t judge her for her past. She is not the creation of Majesty anymore. She is Ruby Glide, the guardian of Widowmaker Desert. We must let her be and she will guide those or she will fight and end this war her way. Silver leaves with the others to get ready as I watch those cheer for the hero they’re about to put on trial for just bringing hope.

Max level

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