The one known as Water Spout has changed so much since her days as a water hunter. Those days of hers are now long gone. She has given her heart to a camel and wishes to become part of the ordinary everyday world. She still worships Nightmare Moon like the others of her kind. But she still felt Ruby would bring back the water. She learned later it was never the truth. She felt Ruby lied to her after the war was over. She then learned the real story and when she learned it. She thought she used Ruby for her ends. The friends will never return to respecting each other again.

Written by Sterling.

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Ruby returns

It’s been three years since Ruby left. The other water hunters like me learned we had been hoping for the wrong creature. She wasn’t the one to bring back the water. So she will never be treated kindly by my kind again. Even so, I feel she betrayed us for what she did by bringing the stars back. But she is Ruby, just the simple bug who gave me a chance. I adore the fact she gave me a chance.

Soft Paw and my children stood beside me. He knew how I felt about Ruby after it came to light she wasn’t the hero to bring back the water. We had no idea who would bring back the water during this time. She didn’t even lie to us; she was given the knife which held the two eyes of the queen.

“Water Spout? Are you worried she may ask you to join her in the final battle?”

I turn my head to look up at my husband and a weak smile forms across my face. I knew I would go fight with her one last time. I can’t allow my children to grow up in a land that would never let ones like them be free. Wheel Tread wants to take over this land and force them under his rule just for water.

“Honestly Soft Paw I need to join this final battle. If I don’t Nightmare Moon herself will look down upon me and I will never see the truth of what will come. A truth of what is for me to see. I need to see this through to understand who will bring us back the water. The days will come soon and we will never know. The days the water returns. But it won’t be heroes who bring it back or monsters..”

Soft Paw looks at me confused. He knows full well I am a creature of habit. I will see what is to come and I have seen it. I have had a vision with the other water hunters. We will face the final fight of this land and destroy the hero by turning on her. I feel my heart break deep inside me. I wish it weren’t true when I saw this vision I just couldn’t bear to face the little bug. Someday I will be able to face her but it will be her grave.

I look down at my two children. I know more will come and they will know I betrayed the hero. I crossed the hero because of the call for peace. I close my eyes looking up at the Rainfall and seeing the orb of the summoned creature. I know what is in there, and so do the others of the water hunters. We haven’t told them yet it’s something that will destroy this land. It will destroy every part of this land and continue without stopping. I look down on my left foreleg seeing my old knives made for this wear. They haven't been used since the three years of gathering the friendship.

“Here they come!!”

I shift my vision toward the horizon of the water. The hero is returning. I look towards those of my former tribe. They still treat me as one of them. We all look at each other and nod. We know when the time comes. We will break her, we will destroy her. She will never be welcomed in this land again. We will mark her as a traitor before the time comes to see her end. I don’t have the heart to tell the others what this NCA judge will do to her. He will use us all to kill her and she will be another of the sand and dust.

The airship gets closer. It's seen better days when there are many scorch marks on the side. It’s been through hell and back just to return. We have been told stories from those who Ruby helped. What she did, what she killed. Those sins she holds, those stories I have been told of everything she did, including the ones of Dream Valley who came to our aid. I look over to all those allies she made. Including her creator Majesty, she came over before they returned. She told us she offered to bring Ruby and the others back by magic.

From what Majesty said she refused. Ruby needed to regain her senses after everything that happened to her and her friends. They all needed to return Cranberry wanted her wife back. Gem needed time to regain her heart. The power heroes who left three years ago never knew what would come.

I look over to Cranberry. She hasn’t taken the suit off since I went to see her a few months ago. She takes it off only to shower and then puts it back on. Her heart is broken, everything about her is broken. She is considered a monster by the Enclave. Her father from the sounds of it disowned her before his death and Grogar forced her to watch him use her to get what he wanted. The scream he told her he wanted. She screamed and he would tell Gem what he did to Cranberry.

I finally came back to my senses and I watched while the Airship landed on the water and it smoked and steamed up. The poor ship has been through so much and they tried everything to keep it together. I glance over at Majesty again. Many don’t understand how Ruby even got her to join in this fight. But we all know Grogar will force her to turn on us during the final battle with him.

The end of the story is coming soon and the end of this story will be with the death of Ruby. The death of a gentle bug that I deeply cared about. I would never be able to see her again and we all know full well when the story ends. The trial will come to an end. I know full well the journey is about to end with the final battle and we go on our ways again. We will forget each other or never care whether either of us existed.

The door from the airship opens up. It will take time for them to come out since many of them need to get used to the land again. I don’t know how to break it to Ruby. She is not the hero of this land. She never was the hero of this Land. There will be a hero. I look back at the three years and I wonder why I am still fighting like I am.

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The first year

Inyagna and Cranberry called me to watch while Ruby and the others left. I am still trying to learn if she is the one to bring back the water. I focus too much on my Water hunter-like ways and my children are still like me even if they’re half camels. I turn my eyes over to Cranberry. She is still in the suit. I worry about what will happen to her if she never comes out of it.

Soft Paw and I went back to our home after the airship left. I worry soon about what is to come. Thankfully the first year wasn’t much going on for me as most could tell. I did my best to try to write about what happened to me in this book during the first year. The first year she was gone things got pretty dull. The resistance didn’t even fight the Storm King and his minions; they just stopped waiting for their chance.

During this year I helped my children learn the ways of a water hunter. My husband wasn’t around much because the camels went to do their things during this and I didn’t see him for about two years. Since he was helping the others get ready for the battle head.

“Now children the first method of water hunting is using the magic you have within you. Since you’re half camel and you’re able to use sand magic. You will be able to use the water inside the blood of your enemy to make it out of them and it won’t kill them, it will make them give enough water for the others of the desert.”

My son looked at me and he had many questions.

“It’s strange how this magic works Mom. I get it we are a mix between a camel and a water hunter. But how does it work to be a water hunter? From what I see in your memories you never used this magic why?”

I forgot they knew everything from my memories even if a water hunter or ponies don’t have the genetic memory the camels do. But since they’re half and half. I know full well it’s going to cause an issue if ponies' secrets are stolen because of this genetic memory.

“I never used magic mainly because it was forbidden to steal water this way. It wasn’t the best way to handle the removal of water. But my kind went to the point of killing to get the water from those who had it taken from them. I wasn’t happy with this idea either. But it was the only way to know fully.”

I know it was a lie and my son knew I was lying. He didn’t push through. My daughter didn't even push. But I had to teach them how to use their father's magic. He showed me how and I won’t see him for two years. Since the camels are doing another meeting it’s never going to be so simple for one like me.

“Now allow me to put the runes of the spell in the sand. Watch closely and when I speak the words it will cause the spell to be used. Just remember some spells can cause great pain or even death.”

I use my magic to pull one of my knives from its holster and with the blade, I put the runes into the sand. A deep sigh released from my mouth. I feel I am going to fail when it comes to this. I heard stories of a group of raiders on the mainland taking advantage of what Wheel Tread has been doing with this land. The Storm King's minions have been searching for them because they have harmed caravan paths.

“Now listen closely.”

I close my eyes after I place the knife back into the holster. I began to chant,

“ya raml almawt walhayat aleazimi. 'ahdur li dire al'amla. dire almawt faqat faliakun ya ramil eazimu.”

My horn glows and the sand around the runes begins to glow. The sand slowly drifts up my body forming an armor of sand. It turns hard like sandstone and I look at my children. A smile forms across my face and I chuckle weakly. I knew full well I was not going to be as good as my children would be.

“This is a method of using the sand and the dust we come from. Your father and the rest of his family and others use magic like this. They feel it’s easier to use than always using metal and then someday ponies will learn it.”

My two children look at each other and put runes on the ground. My daughter looks up to me and a smile forms across her face. They will have no issue with this. Since they have all their father's spell knowledge it will be a moment of how this works. I am not sure I will ever be as good as them or their father.

“Okay, I know you two will have no problems with this.”

Truthfully they did have issues with them. The spells weren’t as strong for them because I learned later that they’re half-breeds. They would need to go to the camel's lore keepers to be accepted entirely as camels. It’s not going to be easy for them. I learned this from their father even before he left.

“Why can’t we do it as good as Dad?”

My son asked

“Because we are half-breeds. We need to get approved by the elders. It’s not going to be easy either. Since Half-breeds are looked down on like trash, hopefully, we can prove ourselves worthy to be seen.”

I feel bad for my two children. They would never be treated like camels till after their father returns. He said while he is there with the lore-keepers he will set up what he can for our children. I spent the last few months gathering a group to help me fight the raiders who showed up from outside of the land. The raiders from Narik wish to destroy them as well. So I gathered Hawk and Roll Roll.

“So these raiders came out from outside of the land? I wonder what is causing them to wish to come here. Raiders shouldn’t even be coming to this land; it's not even worth coming here at all. It’s pointless. Could it be those rumors of a hero causing a great stir out there?”

I look over at Roll Roll who just spoke. Hawk stays silent. She usually used to speak a lot but I never know what is on her mind. She used to say many things when Ruby was around. But since Ruby is gone she no longer speaks her mind to treat Ruby even worse.

“How do we know it’s even raiders? All we know it could be a group of anti-government like I used to be.”

I sigh, shaking my head. I knew Hawk would think like this. I got to know her over the last few years.

“Hawk I doubt they’re anti-government from what I have been told by some of the desert dwellers they've seen bodies destroyed like raiders do.”

Hawk turns her cams to look at me.

“Not even the raiders in this land would do this. There are even raiders in this land Water Spout; they would have killed these raiders if they were raiders. If you two go in expecting to kill then they will feel your emotions if they have a unicorn with them.”

I groan. I keep forgetting some unicorns are trained to sense the emotions of others. I follow Roll Roll and Hawk. It's just the three of us because Hawk felt if there are too many and they’re on the run because of the government or something else then they will think we are part of who they ran from.

It took at least a few hours for us to walk through the desert to get to the base these so-called raiders built. It was hot and I never had issues with the heat of this land before. Roll Roll has gotten used to it and Hawk never had an issue.

When we get to a location we can see from far away like a small little hill above it.

Hawk takes a look first with her cams. From what she sees is just a group of ponies on the run. She turns to look at us and we follow her as she heads down to the group in the new base. The leader of them looks at us as we hear weapons cocking.

“Wait wait…”

We hear the leader of them say. A middle-aged mare comes out of the group. She looks at me and then to the other two a smile forms across her old withered face. She has been through hell and back.

“The friends of the one named Ruby, am I correct?”

I nod.

“I see I am SnowBreeze. I am sure you have been told a group of raiders are here, am I correct?’

Roll and Hawk look at each other and I chuckle.

“Yes and frankly if it was true the raiders of this land would have killed you by now. But from the looks of you all you are on the run what’s gotten you so spooked?”

Snow Breeze frowns

“Right to the point I see. Honestly, we have been on the run for so long many of us forgot. We are the descendants of a group of nomadic ponies who survived the end of the war. We had help every step of the way with the order of Mimic. The order of Mimic to many is one you shouldn’t trust. But we have had no choice over the many years. The reason why we are here? The truth is the order of Mimic in the land we are from told us Grogar is returning. They said this land will be the most protected when the war comes.”

When I was told about this group of ponies they had bodies they cut up with them. I wonder if the truth is they had a run-in with one of the desert dwellers and they took offense to them. I look towards Hawk and Roll.

“Then I will ask the question.”

The mare looks up to Hawk. I could tell from her old eyes she stared at the brain. Like she knows her.

“You’re running from something aren’t you?”

Roll and I look up to Hawk confused.

“What do you mean?”

Hawk lowered her other cam down at me and with the other kept looking at the old mare. It was hard to tell the emotions of Hawk and when we finally learn what is going on I get even more worried about this.

“I can tell when a group is on the run. I have been there since the old days. They have done things they aren’t proud of. Those bodies those who saw them saw. It’s the bodies of their old. Ones they can’t allow to be with them anymore. Soon you’re going to be one of those they cut up and what will they use you for?”

Snow Breeze sighs.

“They will use me to grow crops. Then we will have to move again because we can’t stay in one spot for too long. We can’t do anything about the fact and we will kill each other in the end. We can’t keep this going and we all know this. But what are we on the run from? Oh, that's a very awful story to tell.”

Snow Breeze tells the others to head inside and she closes the door coming towards us and sitting down.

“Some of us are descendants from banished or forced exile by the rich ponies of Wymarnic. A pony known as Smoke Pipe helped us over the years. Those rich ponies from what we have been told have been forced to exile themselves. Our ancestors lived in a town called Antler. Things have changed so much since Smoke Pipe did what he did from what we have been told. But we refuse to return since… Since... Grogar returns and no matter what they do he will be able to attack them.”

I sigh looking at the others we knew who Smoke Pipe was. I met him a few times and we know what he has gone through and he went back to his home. I wonder if he will return here during the final battle.

“I know Smoke Pipe. He is one of the reasons I was forced into the experiment that turned me into this. I never knew he was still alive till I saw him recently. I wanted to kill him for what did to me and the others. But after what he has been through I feel he got punished enough.”

I sigh, shaking my head I knew Hawk would feel this way. But at least Hawk is getting better. But she will always destroy those above her or try to help her. She almost killed some of the leaders of this land because she felt they would turn on the ponies here.

“Then we will tell the others of this land you’re not raiders. Do you wish to keep living like this though or find a place to be accepted?”

Snow Breeze shakes her head.

“No, we are going to try to become part of the Desert Dwellers. I have been told if it doesn’t work we will be killed. If we are killed it’s our last moment to try to change the future for us. We will never give up on any help. We will work to become part of the Desert Dwellers but again like I said if we don’t become part of them we will try to live alone or if we anger them they will kill us.”

After all that we left them to their own devices. We learned a year later they were not only not given the position of the desert dwellers but Snow Breeze had to tell them to go back to Wymarnic and accept their fates. Then she allowed herself to be put to death. But funny enough we did all we could to save her and she was told she could go follow her ponies back to Wymarnic and be given peace.

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The hero returns

I heard stories about Ruby returning. I have watched the zebras change their tune over the years when the stars changed. I even noticed it myself. I remember being told by one of the zebras’s Ruby was not the one to bring back the water. She never was the one to bring back the water. I glanced over at the camel who hid herself and during all this time we watched while new allies showed up.

These allies are ponies and creatures Ruby helped on her journey. So many of them are so respectful. I then looked to my husband who came back and did his best to make sure our children could become part of the camel tribes. I sigh, allowing myself to relax. I am pregnant again and I know full well when the battle comes. I will have to fight for this little one's future. I can’t allow myself to be stopped just because of my little one.

I hear the door open up and I see the friends Ruby made on her journey. She made new friends. She even got married from what I was told. I was even told by one of the dragonslayers she gave birth to her eggs. I watch while their friends come out one by one and they get cheered but the one who doesn’t care about the cheers runs to find her wife. The dragon Gem focuses on finding her wife.

There is a large cheer when Gem finds her wife and they kiss after so long. I want to go speak to Ruby as many cheer for her but before I could even get close to her. I see she is stopped by Pinda.

“Ruby, we need to talk.”

Ruby just looks up at Pinda and looks over to me and the others. I could see the look of sorrow and disappointment for not being there for her. But I think she knows her fate and what is going to happen to her.

She finally speaks. She sounds like she has been through so much and her voice is gentle still. But the others of our friends could sense the tiredness like she wanted this all to end and end soon.

“Then we should talk.”

Pinda and her leave to head into a building with the judge following and I know what is going to happen. I close my eyes and lean into Soft Paw who strokes my head and he knows full well what is going to happen as well we all know. Because the future of this land depends on her winning this war. But the cost of our friendship with her and our betrayal.

Max level

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