The curse of the Dunewlker. Most always needed to understand why it was created, to begin with. That time we learned too late we couldn’t allow anyone else to become a Dunewalker. The first Dunewalker used to be called the great warrior Gentle Storm. He worked so hard with the princess and Princess Luna. But we learned too late he lied to the other camels to help Luna. The lie caused the camels to curse the Dunewalker. Every time the seed or egg of the Dunewalker would be spread. Any fourth child would be called the Dunewalker. Jewel was the only child of the one before her. She became the Dunewalker when her mother vanished into the forest and she became what she is now. But the curse has been lifted and she has returned now; she wishes to rebuild the family name. The Dune Seekers.

Written and Signed by the keeper of lore.

_____________________

The hero returns

I stood by the other of my friends. I had another write for me in my bag before I went on my journey of the sand dream. When Ruby reads it she will understand. There are stories from what I have heard from allies she made. Ruby is writing a letter she hides from everyone. A letter I am told she refuses even to let her wife see. I wonder if she will have the judge read it when the time comes.

“I am sure she will be happy to see you.”

Looking down at the red mare with a smirk on my face. I chuckle softly. I doubt Ruby will be happy to see me. It’s not a pleasant thought when it comes down to it. I know full well that time will come and I won’t be able to stop Ruby from doing what must be done. I look over to the NCA judge and I worry about what he is going to say and do to her. I look over at my wife and our children. We thoroughly got married for real after I returned. Anys wasn’t happy with me being here. She didn’t want Ruby to attack me. I told her she wouldn’t.

“Here they come!!”

We all follow the hoof of the mare. We could see the airship coming over the water. I had a lot of worry inside me. It got even worse when I saw how the airship looked. The poor ship looks like it’s been through hell and back. I glanced over at Majesty who offered to bring them with her. When she showed up I was confused why she did. She told us it’s because Ruby is her daughter and she owes it to her. We all know later we will take her on or whatever takes over for us will take her on.

After the airship lands on the water, the entire system that kept it flying from what I see falls apart into the water. Parts of it catch on fire and it’s put out soon after. The poor ship has been through so much. I wonder if it will ever fly again and if they will ever try to get it flying again

I notice one of Ruby’s new friends, a strange turtle, and jump into the water to gather what is left of the junk. The door opens up and we are told they have to wait. Most of them haven’t slept since they ran into some nasty attack from Grogar and the others. It’s been so long since I have seen the little bug. I wish I could go back and say I am sorry about everything but I can’t anymore.

I glance down looking at Cranberry who looks up at me again. We both know how Ruby will act seeing me. I close my eyes thinking of the last three years. Oh, my story of the last three years.

_____________________

The real you three years before

I don’t remember much of my early years. I just remember waking up. It was kind of a strange time waking up and remembering who I used to be. Rose told me I was fighting myself like I was fighting my spirit and the Dunewalker curse. I remember the day I opened my eyes. It was just another calm morning.

It took a while to open my eyes. My vision is extremely fuzzy and I turn my head weakly. It took a while for my cybernetic eye to connect and turn back on. Looking around I was just in a simple camp. Looking over to the side I see June guarding me with her cybernetic horns and all I could think of is what is going on?

“Oh, you’re awake!!”

June quickly trots outside. I groan oh please don’t all rush in here. I just need one person at a time. I took a deep breath exhaling. Finally, I can sit up and feel my body in pain. I shudder in deep pain. After a while, Rose walks into the tent looking at me and we have known each other since Detrot.

“Rose… I see that the curse you and the others have been forced into has almost taken over your entire body.”.

Rose let out a sigh giving a quick nod. She went to go back for some tea for me. While she did she explained about a war she and the others had been forced into. I couldn’t talk much about it mostly because of reasons and Beezen asked me while writing this not to talk too much about the stories of another. After the story was over I just stayed there staring at her. So she allowed herself and the others to do the same to become these monsters or robotic creations.

“So we are here now because we heard of the creations of Wheel Tread and the black hooves got mostly built here. I do hope you understand Dunewalker. We never came here to save you. I didn’t even know you were here. When I saw you before you left to allow yourself to die, it was the only way to see the end through. We heard you over the radio and now you need to understand. I am unsure how your kin are going to treat you after everything you have done. Do you feel you deserve another chance?”

I took a deep breath exhaling again and got out of bed.

“I do feel I deserve a chance. I am no longer the Dunewalker. I am now my real name and remember the other real names of those who came before me. It’s going to be hard to get used to the fact that most of us have lost our way.”

Rose sighs it’s been a while since most of us have been together since the old days. I didn’t know at the time but my wife knew I was alive. Everyone knew I was still alive. I wish they didn’t know I was because of how endless the walk of my life has been.

“Did it work?”

Rose turns back to look at me.

“Did what work Dunewalker?”

I chuckle weakly.

“My gambit. I know fully that Crunch, the wizard of shadows, and others are weakened. When the final battle comes we will be ready for this journey to end.”

Rose turns to leave the tent before looking back at me. I couldn’t tell her emotions. The zebras always did their best to hide their emotions and the idea she didn’t have any emotions was going to be simple

“It did work, Dunewalker. The issue though you destroyed a source of water. A source of water we will never get back. I hope you understand it caused a great deal of problems with the community of the desert. Since many of the underground desert dwellers used that source of water.”

I wanted to argue but she was correct. I forgot Desert dwellers from the underground used that source of water. I wonder why they didn’t warn me about it. Water sources are so scarce and it’s going to be harder for the Alliances that have been formed over this war to stay going. I am more worried now about the NCA showing up and trying to take over forcibly.

“Rose… do we know if this is going to cause a war after this battle with the King is over?”

Rose snorts.

“You should have thought of that before you destroyed a needed source. When many learn what you did they’re going to call the NCA to come and try to take care of this issue and we know when that happens they will try to force this land under the Alliance.”

Again I had no way to argue about this. It took me at least a month to get back on my paws. Rose and the others helped me gather my old gear before returning to Hard Rock to follow my family's journey. We go back to the place of the exiles and there are many dead eels. It got to the point where we have been trying to clean them out. But we will never get the water source back.

I stood in what was left of the caverns looking down at the water. It’s now so toxic I am the cause of this issue and now another source is destroyed. I had to make sure this was something I couldn’t fix before moving on.

I reach my paw down to the water below to check the water itself. There is too much eel blood and something has gotten into the water to kill the eggs of the eels. So someone has been down here to harm this water source. Inside the pool, there are many minions of the Storm King. I wonder if he tried to clean out this place. I heard steps behind me turning around quickly and seeing the Storm King himself.

“Whoa relax Dunewalker. I have come to speak with you since my spies told me you’re down here.”

After he told me about his spies I was confused about who his spies were. Then it hit me hard. Rose and the others are his spies. They have been all along since they have been here. I let out an exasperated exhale feeling uneasy about all this. I look back down to the water seeing more bodies of the Storm King's minions. They float in the water below many of them even have bombs on them. They wished to destroy this source.

“Rose and her friends have been your spy since after the craziness in Detrot. What did you offer them or what did your minions offer them?”

Storm King sighs

“Wheel Tread is the reason they’re my spies. He offered them freedom from their upgrades. He lied to them and they knew ahead of time. They wanted to live their lives free of problems and he let them. When they met me though I knew full well they would join me in stopping Wheel Tread. Dunewalker. I need to be blunt with you and understand this. The real threat to this land is the.”

I silence him before he speaks looking around.

“I know you mean the order. I know they’re able to spy on us without even being here. But before you go on. Storm King, you know Ruby is alive?”

The Storm King gives a quick nod

“Yes, I knew she would survive the attack. Wheel Tread forgot what species she has always been. She is a magic eater. One death if able to cacoon could come back. I am hoping she finishes her journey and frees us from the will of the stars. I have been following the wisdom of the stars since the first time I attacked Equestria and the staff is from the stars. It was dropped so long ago.”

I shake my head. I doubt he knew she would survive. I have a feeling he is remembering memories of those in the orb.

“Majesty touched that orb, didn’t she? If the rumors I heard are true—each one who touched that orb. A part of them is left inside the orb. Meaning those who died ages ago would still be able to give others knowledge. Like the one known as Tiria.”

The Storm King laughs

“To be honest, Tiria was in the right place at the right time. The journey that she went on would have gone on without her. The only reason she was exiled is because of who her mother was. She wouldn’t have been exiled if she stayed with her pack. If she just sat and accepted her role.”

I let out a weak sigh. The stories about her I have heard are correct then. She didn’t care about the world outside her own. The bigger story is that she hated ponies and did everything she could to ignore their plights. It took her friends to make her care for them, including the one known as Star Shooter.

“Tell me something.”

The King takes a moment to look at me. He stares mostly at the water. I know what he is thinking: more water to help this dying land. This land has been dying since the days of Nightmare Moon. It’s never going to end. The story will end here someday and those who can leave and those who can’t will stay and die. Turns his vision to look at me, his eyes full of sadness and pain. Those within that orb are talking to him.

“I read old information about the Rainfall project. Ruby did everything right but there was one thing Wheel Tread never thought of. We didn’t know each other long enough like the Lightbringer and her friends. Ruby did so many things to ruin how we see each other. There is no longer a friendship between me and the others. I doubt they even care about Ruby. We will betray her after the war. Heroes aren’t something you should strive for. To start Project Rainfall you need friendship or magic. But the words I have read.. It’s not the heroes who will bring it back. It’s those who know the truth.”

The Storm King stares at me. His eyes show the minds of all those in the Howling dance. Then there is a roar we can hear. I look down at my walkie talkie and Rose speaks to me.

“Dunewalker we need to get going. That strange orb near Rainfall is growing. It’s starting to spread strange things that look like swords.”

Before I could speak I got a flash of groaning loudly. I am not the only one who gets this flash. The Storm King gasped while the others near this orb. I hear what sounds like music. I try to listen to it while I see a flash of the battle ahead. But the song. The song itself is what I need to hear.

“I close my eyes, why must we suffer?”

The next flash is of the battle of the Storm King's minions and the orb near Project Rainfall and it’s starting to crack. I hear a whisper in my ears. Wheel Tread's voice is in my head and I hear him I hear loudly.

“Those of pure hearts. Of pure souls. Of pure friendship. Those who understand the truth. Those. Who are pure.”

He says it again and a bolt of fire aims right for now the children of the land. The Assaultron Diamond cutter comes out to protect the children of the land. But before it hits it explodes and then It focuses on the children. The children they’re the key. Then a roar sounds again and a laugh. I see the eyes of a great undead goat Grogar..

“You see it now, don’t you? The Order of MImic had it correct. There are pure ones in this land of broken hearts and corruption and curses. The children but you won’t remember this. Not till it’s too late. The hero must die into legend. Her friends must toss her aside and let the guns roar to destroy the threat of the world. I am just a humble creature. The father of monsters, the father of dragons. The father of the camels. For you are my monsters.”

We are the creations of Gorgar?! No, I can’t allow this to be true. I stood up to speak. A hand breaks through the image and I wake up seeing the Storm King grabbing me and the caverns are starting to fall apart and cave in. The Eels screech when they come out of the ground roaring at us.

“Storm King, we need to get out of here and bring Dunewalker if she refuses to answer.”

The Storm King stares at me and we look at the eels. I nodded to him and we began to run out. I grab my sword and slice into one of the eels. The eels did their best to stop us. But the King had a good way to fight. The orb gave him strange power. My sword sliced into the eels themselves.

The two of us quickly get through the caverns and the way into the water source caves in. When we get out the others are fighting the eels. June rams into them with her horns. Rose uses her metal hooves to fight them off. Drift flies into them. With how powerful Bowser is now he is using his claws and his eyes to fire strange laser-like attacks from them. The entry area is now falling apart. A strange beam comes from the summon orb. We quickly run out and with a large boom, we all fly into the desert. I quickly stood up and looked back at my old home; it was now fully gone.

The Storm King stood up and turned to look at me at the others. I look at the ones behind me who are his spies. I never figured those I met back in Detrot would allow themselves to be part of this like this. The Storm King fixed his fur or what fur he had left.

“Rose, please take Jewel back to her family. Let her enjoy her time with everything that will happen when Ruby finally returns. But before I do so.. Dunewalker…I am sorry I mean Jewel. Rose here is the reason Ruby is forced to do this with the stars. It was her task but she requested the issue to be given to another.”

June and the others of Rose’s friends look at Rose. They never knew she did this June snorts loudly. I think she knew but the rumors and Rose herself. I think they all felt Rose would turn on the others. So instead her task was forced on a magic eater.

“I am now starting to see why she is always forced to the judges' will. I am now seeing why Wheel Tread asked me to keep an eye on her. Somehow he knew how he was connected to the stars themselves. I feel when her task is complete the stars will never have power over this world again.”

I look towards Rose and the others. I didn’t want to agree with him but I have to this time. The stars caused us many issues in our lives. It got to the point where I was unsure of how most things happen. Someday I will understand why the stars have such a problem with our world and why the zebras are so connected to them.

“So now what then?”

The Storm King smiles.

“Well, Jewel, you're free of the Dunewalker. You freed your coming children and your grandchildren or any other camel from getting the Dunewalker curse ever again. So you did your task and now it’s time for you to at least try to rest when you return to your family.”

Rest? The word went through my head over and over again. The fact is I have never just rested and never allowed myself to give myself the moment of doubt. Even though the Dunewalker is gone. Most of what I did still affects me. If Pinda allows me to go free after almost killing Inyanga and the moment of killing Goldie. I am not even one who should be allowed to be near others or even my wife. But I must do what is needed.

“Rest I don’t think any of the Dunewalkers even took time to rest. I am no longer Dunewalker. I am now able to try to get my friends back. I am hoping sooner or later my friends will accept me back.”

Storm King frowns.

“Even if you’re able to get back into the good graces of your friends. Ruby on the other hand will never get back into their graces. She may try when she returns but we all know what will happen. The NCA is coming with a judge. Not a judge of the stars mind you. But he understands the issues many have with the idea of the stars. But the leadership of the NCA wants Ruby put down because of what she did.”

I let out a deep sigh. I should be taking the place of Ruby on that tree. I know full well how her court case is going to end. I have sadly seen it and I think she knows when the time comes we won’t only just turn on her. We will turn our backs on her.

“I guess it’s time to return home. If what I learned from the others is true. Ruby will return in three years. Even if she returns at all.”

The King laughs.

“She was able to survive my judgment of her. So she will return and thanks to you the judges are now weaker. She will meet judges in Dream Valley though. There are many there who never left the old land of Dream Valley.”

Rose and the others wave to the King when he leaves after his words. I follow them back to Hard Rock. I knew full well that when I show my face many would have questions. So before they even allowed me inside. Rose went into the city to get Pinda. It took many days to get here through the desert. I saw so many Desert dwellers ready for the battle to come. Many of them trained together to fight the minions of Wheel Tread. I have no idea why Wheel Tread doesn’t just attack now. Then I look back at the orb floating by Project Rainfall he is waiting for that I am sure.

It took at least an hour Pinda came out to see us and he stared at me. His eyes are full of kindness and respect for me. Tears fall from his eyes and he comes up to me with no questions asked and just hugs me.

“You did it, Dunewalker. You freed yourself and your entire family line from the curse. You’re now free of what you did as Dunewalker.”

I shudder to hear those words. No, I am not free from what I did. I was never mind-controlled. I willingly went along with a lot of what Wheel Tread did. I never countered him. I did everything as he asked me to.

“Pinda.. I can’t just be free. You know what you need to do. I did everything Wheel Tread asked of me willingly. I also killed Goldie. You can’t just let me be free here. You can’t just allow me to go right to my family.”

Pinda releases me from the hug staring into my eyes. He knows I am right. I want to see my family. I want to be there with them.

“Then how long do you feel you need to be in a cell for?”

I exhale and sigh.

“When will my child hatch from Anys egg, do we know?”

Pinda smiles weakly.

“It should hatch pretty soon. Would you like to see it hatch before you’re put in a cell for a while?”

I nod slowly

“I would like to be placed in a cell for at least a year and a half. I want to be forced to help any way I can to get into the good graces of this land and city again.”

Then it hit me that I needed to warn him about the order of MImic. But I can’t because I told him not to trust them. He won’t buy it. No one will ever buy the order of mimic is an issue and we all knew this for so long. But we started getting used to them.

“Alright Dunewalker.. I mean Jewel I will accept this. I figured I would bring this cloak and hood to hide you till you get into your home.”

Pinda offers a hood and cloak to hide me. I place it on nodding to him with a smirk. I look back to Rose and the others.

“What are you all going to do?”

Rose smiles

“We are going to find the upgrades we have left here. Then we will stay till the end of the war and then continue on our journey to figure out why the robotic creatures want Maria. So our journey won’t end till we get our final upgrades and fight whatever is chasing the Frozen clock.”

I just give a nod and follow Pinda into Hard Rock.

_______________

Hard Rock three years before Ruby’s return.

The gate fully opens and when I walk inside the wall of the new forted city. They have worked hard to make sure this place is safe from Wheel Tread and his minions. I turn to look and see Diamond Cutter and the old mare I never got the name of who used to help Cranberry. The poor mare looks like she is falling apart.

Heading through the road following Pinda. None of Ruby’s friends are even living here. But I stopped seeing Roll Roll and his wives here in town. They’re ordering supplies from the new bar with Goldie's name on it. Roll turns to look at me. He knows full well who I am. He just gave a nod. The two females look at me.

“Is that the camel you told us about love?”

The silverfish magic eater asked him. He just nodded and swung his head to them so they could get their supplies. The zebra stares at me with a lot of mistrust in her eyes. I knew he had two females in his life but I never met them. We finally get to my home and Pinda knocks on the door.

“Who is it?”

I freeze hearing Anys voice.

“Anys it’s Pinda I got someone who wants to see you.”

Anys opens the door and a gentle smile forms across her maw.

“I am happy to see you Pinda who…”

She goes silent, staring at me.

“Dune…walker?”

She softly speaks. I take off my hood, tears falling down her eyes and she quickly runs and pulls me into a hug. She knew full well it was me just from how I stood. I stood with the power of who I was.

“Anys… I am now known as Jewel. I am here to be for our children. I love you my dragon, I love you with all my heart.”

Pinda sighs.

“Anys she will be free to see the birth of your child. But after that, she will be put in a cell for at least a year and a half. I am sorry if such a thing bothers you.”

Anys shakes her head.

“No, I can understand after everything she did. After all the stuff she told me she did when she came to us. I feel it’s deserved but will I be able to see her?”

Pinda nods.

“Yes, you will be able to see her freely. She is no longer the Dunewalker. She is no longer the outcast or the problem of our species. She is now a free soul. She will be able to talk to the souls before her who became Dunewalker. She will be able to learn why they never wished to show their real name. But the Dunewalker will never return and we will make sure it never does again.”

I head inside my own home and I see my adoptive children and after Pinda leaves to give us time to catch up. It’s been so long since I left on my great sand dream. I had another one recently which I didn’t write in this book. I don’t wish others to know just the dream is of Ruby. Of what Ruby will do when the time comes.

I spend the next few days holding Anys while she holds our egg. The next few days I just love her and love our children. We talk about everything, even Ruby. She has been told stories of the NCA coming to this land because of the Storm King. I told her I was more worried about them trying to take over this land.

She agreed they may try and we both know the citizens of this land and desert won’t accept them. They will fight them and fight them hard. The day will come when we take down these walls and gates. It will be a great time when it happens. I hope someday we will see it. I want to see it and a day comes. I see the egg hatch and what comes out are twins. Twins in one egg I am told it’s rare and we give them names. One is pure red with glowing silver eyes.

“Silverian I softly say.”

The next one is a gentle blue with my eye color.

“Dunewalker is her name. It’s no longer a curse. But she will be a strong dragoness strong like a camel.”

Anys smiles I am using the name my people found as scorn. I am going to train them both to understand what it’s like to be a camel. I hold the two little ones close to me and someday I will understand why I did such a thing. But for now, I need to hold them and never let them go.

I hold the two new hatchlings close to me. I hear the door open up behind me feeling a paw on my shoulder. I turn to look over my shoulder. I see the guards with Pinda here to take me away. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to leave. I had to be there for my new children. Pinda knows how I feel right now. But they need to do what we camels do. I need to be dragged through the streets again like before I let the Dunewalker go. But this time I won’t have rocks tossed at me. The others will regret how they treat me.

“I am sorry Jewel.. But it’s time. We need to give those you harmed the justice they deserve. You may have killed you have lied. But you’re no longer the Dunewalker. You’re now treated better than all of us will treat you.”

I give the little ones to my wife. I lean down to kiss my dragon wife. I stare into her eyes while she uses her hand to stroke my face. I just look into her eyes with my eyes even if one of my eyes is cybernetic.

“I love you my Jewel. I will be waiting for you when you get out in a year.”

Pinda sighs.

“No Anys.. It will be two years. The judge from the NCA said to me it might be wise to do this. He is also going to try hard to make sure the NCA doesn’t try to take over this land. He will be fighting with us too in the final battle.”

I follow Pinda and the guards I trained when I was Dunewalker. They tied me up by my front legs and began to drag me through the streets. The ponies and camels this time aren’t tossing anything at me. I see Subria and her mate watching. The two snakes have done wonders being here. Their children even watch this. I smile seeing those two have finally gained the life they wanted.

They dragged me to the podium which was used last time. I feel my heart break knowing the last time I was here. I stood up onto my paws and Pinda stood at the podium. Looking around to see the judge.

“Everyone welcome again to place justice upon the one formally known as Dunewalker. She is Dunewalker no longer. But she is willing to accept what she used to be. She will be jailed for two years. She will deal with everything she did for those two years. Those who wish to be trained by her when she gets out step forward.”

All of the guards including many of the citizens of the city stand forward. The judge smirks as I look at him. I know him. I remember him from stories. His ancestors worked with Hawk when she was a pony. He is very anti-war and he is here. I am sure to make sure the NCA doesn’t bring their war here.

“Jewel, how do you plead?”

I lower my head letting out a sigh.

“I accept all the guilt for what I did under the name Dunewalker. The fact I did everything to destroy Ruby’s life and destroy her reputation. I was even there to help with Nirk and to make sure she failed. So I accept the two years in a cell.”

Pinda smiles.

“Every camel, do we accept her guilty pleas?’

The camels just give a nod. I am led to the cell. The cell they put me in the first time before I left. They open the door and I would be stuck in this cell on my own for two years. It was made for the Storm King if he ever came here and we jailed him. Or Wheel Tread before I was placed under his sway. I hope the years go by quickly.

_______________

Two years later.

I spent the better part of two years in that cell. Even though I was there I was able to train and keep my body up to snuff. I got to see my two little twins and my adopted children. Anys came in many times to check on me. I was the only one in the cells. Subaria and her mate did a lot for me as they watched me.

I was told that the orb was getting brighter and I had a few come and visit me since they were told I am alive. The first ones to come were Roll Roll and Inyanga. Roll was the first to see me. He stood there and he was a lot more gentle than he used to be.

“It’s good to see you, Jewel. I hope they have been treating you well.”

I let off a chuckle.

“Yes, they have been treating me well. I saw you and your two wives. How are you enjoying your life being married to two lovely ladies?”

Roll laughs

“They’re both lovely ladies. They’re very active so am I thanks to ladies wanting to be with me. I have spread my seed a bit with some of my kind. Since many haven’t been able to find a mate I offer my seed to them so they can get their brood.”

I laugh softly, loving the fact he is trying so hard to keep his species going. But hopefully, the brood finds a new family to take care of them. The guard comes up to Roll Roll taps his side and smiles at him.

“It’s time to go Roll. Your wives are waiting for you and Inyanga wants to come in and visit before visiting hours are over.”

Roll Roll smiles at me and leaves after a while Inyanga walks into the cell to see me and smiles at me. I could tell she had become a lovely mare. She has grown so lovely over time. I have been told stories of how many of the mares of our friends have grown so lovely including Cranberry.

“Hello Inyanga I am happy you’re here. I am sorry for everything I did and the insult to you. I also hope you and Rex have a happy life. I hope Water Spout and Cranberry are having a wonderful life as well.”

Inyanga sighs.

“No…she has been in a coma for the last two years. They think she will wake soon though. I am hoping at least. But the hospital needs help and we need to keep her safe. Since the enclave is searching for her.”

I am now fully worried about her. I wonder what I can do when I get out of here.

“What can I do to help when I get out of here?”

Inyanga smirks

“Well with tomorrow being the two years you will be able to visit your family before we ask you to come with me to defend the island from the Enclave. Then if we can keep them alive we will try to convince them to help us defend this land from Wheel Tread and his minions.”

Inyanga nods leaving after she says these words. I got some sleep and the next day I was let out and I had to spend some time with my family. I hold all of them close to me and we don’t say anything. I lay in bed with Anys after we put our children to bed.

“I found a male dragon that is willing to be with us both Jewel. Are you still willing to accept this?”

I chuckle softly

“Yes, I am willing to accept it. Just let me get to know him first before you fully get close to him.”

I am fully ready to sleep. It’s been so long since I have slept in a good soft bed. Anys holds me in her arms and I just let out a sigh. I can hear her crying and I look over to her and I weakly smile.

“Anys you never cry. Are you worried I will vanish again because of the Enclave?”

Anys shakes her head.

“No you’re finally here and I am just going to lose you again. She hired you for a year and now I can’t be with you.”

I weakly smile.

“Anys… You can come to see me every time. You can come and always be with me to join me in the battle. Must find someone to take care of the little ones. I hope someday you will understand what is to come.”

Anys shakes her head.

“No, I will stay here with the kids. You better survive that is all I am saying.”

I held her in my legs as we slept. I promised her we would see each other again. Inyanga led me to a jet or something called Eagle inside from what I could tell it was a former zebra who gave her life from what I learned. I got into the vessel and I worried soon we would get there and a battle had already started.

_________________

The battle that never was

We got to the island but something weird was going on. An Enclave medic was waiting for us by the door. I walk up to the enclave doctor Inyanga not far behind me. She smiles and laughs softly shaking her head.

“I am sorry miss Dunewalker. I am sure you were expecting a battle. To be honest we all came here expecting to fight to get Cranberry back. But we had a former Enclave member come in and keep us from doing something stupid with two friends of hers.”

My eyebrow rises as I follow them in. Inside I see three ponies wearing strange outfits, one that is a ghoul in a detective outfit and two mares. One mare looks like a pegasus. Then I get a good look at the detective. Oh, no shit it’s Smoke Pipe. One of those who came before me met him so long ago. I didn’t think he was still alive.

“So, you wish to force her to suffer for killing her father? Are you sure she is the one who murdered her father? Like Smoke Pipe has said Grogar’s prison is starting to break and many have seen him even during the battle of the Hardliners. So I wonder is this to save face or are you one of those who don’t believe that he even existed.”

The pony blinks and she looks very confused.

“So wait, why would Grogar want to show us something else and the cameras so differently?”

I softly speak

“It’s because he wanted her to break. To break to the point that she screams she even told us this so long ago. None of us took her seriously. I wish we did then and now she is in a coma and why was I told you were going to attack?”

The commander looks up at me and she sighs.

“We were going to but Blossom convinced me to stop. I know Smoke Pipe through my grandmother and told me if I ever met him listen to him. If he ever has any friends with him at the time, always listen to them. So there will be no blood.”

A smile forms across my muzzle.

“Then I got an idea for you. There is going to be a battle to get control of Rainfall. We will need some of your Enclave to help us with this. Are you willing to join this Alliance? I have been told stories of many creatures Ruby has met slowly coming this way. Then we should be ready for the judges and whatever minions Wheel Tread hasn’t even unleashed yet.”

The commander stood up staring at me.

“I am just one commander of one platoon. I can't just give you my troops. I will have to talk to the ones above me. I will go do this and they will be even angrier if we don't come back with Cranberry.”

I watched them leave and the last and final year before Ruby returned wasn’t very eventful. I learned though the Desert Dwellers are having another meeting with Dwellers who haven’t talked to the others in many years. These Dwellers I have never met before, even some of the ones before I have seen them.

I was told though we will know if they join us or not. But Emerald will tell us when Cranberry wakes up and I am told it’s going to be soon from one of her seers. So I waited in her room while she lay there hooked up. After a few days, the seer comes in and Emerald follows her and as clockwork, Cranberry wakes up. I look over to Emerald the leader of the Naga.

“You have all of us. Every single Desert Dweller we will end this war. Even if it leads to all of us dying and destroying our clans and communities”

Emerald leaves with her seer not far behind her. The seer turns back to look at me and a frown forms on her face.

“The war is not going to be pleasant. But it’s going to end worse for the hero. You’re going to lead the way of betraying her and tossing her aside. I am sorry to say you can’t stop the future I wish you could.”

I take a deep breath exhaling after.

“Will she forgive me?”

The seer frowns more.

“No.. her final words to you are.”

I was told these words and it hit me hard and I didn’t wish to hear these words. I help Cranberry get ready and help her. They kept her body from getting worse and made sure she would be able to stand. Thanks to various methods of the desert dwellers and magic. They made sure her body would be ready for it. Then we finally get to the docks to wait for the ship to land.

___________

The hero returns.

I came out of the memory and I saw Ruby coming down the ramp. She has changed so much. She looks so much stronger and happier in her life. Many surround her but I hear guns cocking and Pinda standing in front of her.

“Ruby… I am happy to see you. But I need you to come with me”

Ruby’s new friends look ready to attack and I lift my paw to stop the guards from firing. I come out of the crowd taking off my hood and looking down at Ruby. Ruby stares up at me. I could see everything she had been through in those eyes.

“Ruby. Please listen to Pinda, you're not in trouble not yet. Your judgment is not till the end of the war. I need you to listen and your friends will be okay, do you understand?”

What she said next bothered me but that will be written when the story goes back to her and she returns.

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