It’s been at least a day since Inyanga and I met with Crunch the RockDog. Inyanga told Cranberry but only Cranberry about what happened. Cranberry put me into a room with just her and Inyanga. I could still see the lukewarm look in Inyangas eyes. They both look at me as they whisper to each other.

“Are you two just going to keep giving me the silent treatment?”

Cranberry sighs

“Ruby, you did the right thing. You just Inyanga needs some time away from you.”

I buzz very pathetically. Are more of those I consider friends just going to stop caring about me? What am I going to do? Am I going to have to go on my own? Going my own way for a while I head to the door.

“Then I will give you two the time.”

Inyanga sighs.

“Ruby, you don’t need to leave, I just want to talk with you.”

My anger is finally bursting for the first time since I got here. I buzz like I am an angry bee. My stinger even comes out dripping venom.

“What so you can tell me that I need to be at my lowest like Tick Tock told me? That I need to say I am sorry to everyone that I am a failure?! Is that what you want from me?!”

Inyanga’s ears pin to the side of her head. Cranberry looks to Inyanga and then back at me. They both seem very unsure of what to say. I head to the door to open it. Inyanga puts her hoof on my shoulder and I turn to look up at the zebra mare.

“I don’t need you at your lowest Ruby. I don’t need you at your highest. I just want you to be you. A little sweet bug who always smiles and never lets the pain and negative emotions. Ruby, I may have lost my temper with you. I may have been upset with you. But I am not Tick Tock. I am the one who will support whatever you do.”

Inaynga holds my face tightly with her two hooves.

“I will never forsake you, Ruby, I promise I do.”

Cranberry smiles. I just stare into her eyes, backing away. I see the lukewarm look. I see the anger in her eyes. At least in my mental mind, I see it. I doubt I will ever not unsee it. I need some time to myself. I got a lot to think about.

“Then why do your eyes tell me otherwise?”

Inyanga stares at me.

“What do you mean?”

I smile weakly.

“The zebras of the island always told me you can see the truth in the eyes. The truth of how someone feels is how you see them deep within their soul. If they have hatred in their eyes or are lukewarm when they see you. Then they aren’t telling you the full truth.”

Cranberry sighs.

“Ruby, the eyes of some zebras and ponies are the windows to the truth. You can’t be upset about that. Is Inyanga yelling at you right now? Is she being unreasonable and not wanting to work out this issue between you two like Tick Tock? If Tick Tock did say that to you then maybe you need to give her space.”

My buzz is becoming more apparent. I am angry. I get it do I have to give everyone space because I do some stupid things? I am not perfect. I am a simple creation of a bug that makes mistakes easily. I know I made a mistake with the stone dust and those rock creatures.

“No, Inyanga is not yelling at me right now. She is doing her best to reason with me and I am not allowing her to say what you’re about to say. Am I being correct?”

Cranberry stares at me.

“Ruby please…”

I stare at Cranberry then at Inyanga a weak smile comes over my face.

“Fine, I will let this go and I promise we will talk about this. When I had some time on my own.”

I grab the doorknob looking back at the two.

“Oh wait, is that okay?”

I stare at Cranberry. She seemed a bit hurt so I had to ask her this. I sighed, shaking my head.

“Look Cranberry Inyanga I am sorry if I am coming off as unreasonable and being an ass. I can barely talk to a friend of mine she gets so upset with me. Inyanga you’re a new friend and I do one little thing and you lose your temper with me.”

Inyanga smiles, pulling me into a hug. I am confused at the hug.

“I know I said I didn’t mean any of the words I said. I just was pretty upset with you. I couldn’t control my anger. Please forgive me, Ruby?”

I groan, shaking my head.

“Okay, look, we will talk more about this after I have some time. I need to speak to someone anyway. I hope the cure works after you two are done testing it.”

I put my helmet on and head out and I fly outside of town sitting on one of the big rocks not far out of town. I open the hud on the visor and call the number Watcher gave me. I am hoping he is there at least. It took a few seconds for it to go through. After a while, I finally hear a voice on the other side.

“Hello, who is this?”

I try to think of what to say. I have never talked to anyone I have never seen face to face before so this is new.

“I am sorry if I am bothering you, Watcher, this is Ruby.”

It took a second for Watcher to speak again. All I heard was static and some weird music and suddenly he was there again.

“Oh hello Ruby, I was kind of asleep don’t worry I needed to wake up anyway. So how may I help you?”

I explained to him what I went through and about Crunch and the strange drug dust. I told him I am searching for my friends but I wanted to save the best thing for the last.

“I don’t know what is up but I have been seeing strange red mist and a strange goat from time to time. I know who the goat is since the zebras told me that but have you ever heard of this red mist that causes hate?”

Watcher took a second to answer.

“Well, Ruby I will be honest our world is strange. The world we live in used to have the magic of friendship so it wouldn’t surprise me that without that magic older darker magic has returned. LIttle pip and her friends have been trying to bring back friendship. It’s going to take longer than ten years or even twenty years.”

I sigh, nodding.

“Some lands don’t even seem to have the peace the mainland of Equestria does. I have noticed this the past few days since I have been here. Even on the island, I am from this magic of friendship that hasn't taken hold.”

Watcher sighs

“I have seen the old world. I grew up in the old world. I saw things which made me feel that our world never had the magic of friendship.”

Wait, he has been around that long?

“Watcher, what was the old world like? I tried to ask Bulk about it but he didn’t want to talk about it.”

Watcher went silent for a while.

“Ruby I can’t tell you this I wish I could because memories of old would start coming back and I don’t think I could handle crying again. I promise you if we ever meet face to face. I will sit down with you and explain the old world. Don’t hold me to this promise, please. Now I need to get back to the grindstone, take care, Ruby.”

Watcher goes silent and it goes back to gentle violin music. Why in the world is this type of music playing? I inhale deeply, feeling my lungs fill with stale air since I am wearing the helmet. Then I release the air. I need to get back to the others.

Flapping my wings to hover into the air. I flew towards the hospital. A metal arm or a shovel smacks me and I land on the ground. Thankfully the helm helped me but damn that hurt. I was held down by dragon ponies? One of them removed my helm. I saw that robot again, the one that beat me the first time. I wonder if he is still crazy.

“Brothers and sisters he is rising. You’re his chief damned soul that will lead the way. He praised the storm king and praised my friends. Cheer my brothers!!!”

I heard hymns and hallelujahs from the other robots.

“Tell me...crazy ones, who the hell are you?”

I struggle trying to move but the dragon ponies hold me down tightly. The preacher grabs the dagger from my scabbard. Lifting it in the air and the robots praise it.

“Behold!!! The eyes of the truth!! Praise it my children the only thing able to bring back the water. But it’s thirsty my children, it hungers for blood. But it’s chosen by its minion to get the blood. Brothers and sisters, our masters, our leaders. Demands that we keep this one alive for his vision. Do we do that brothers and sisters?!”

“No NO!!! Kill her!! Destroy her!! She is not worthy of his light!! Free her damned soul!!! Give it back to the goddess and their filth!”

So many screams for my death. The preacher laughs.

“Why are you doing this?! Who the hell are you and what gives you the right?”

I tried struggling again. It got harder from the weight of the ponies. Even brought out my stinger to now try to sting one of them by bending myself. Of course, they have unicorn-type magic to hold me down to keep me from doing so.

“You wish to know my name? Do you wish to know the one who has damned your very soul? Cozy Glow. What gives me the right to do this?! The fact I woke up so long with my brain in this shell. How dare I?! How dare they?!”

Cozy went silent looking at her minions

I just stare up at the robot. I have no idea who that is.

“I’m sorry but is that meant to scare me? I have no idea who or what you are.”

“Of course, you don’t. You have no idea at all and just have that damned soul of yours.”

The robot lifted the dagger to stab me. Before the stab could hit me though a strange cat woman grabs the arm. I stare right at something I have never seen before.

“Purrr Cozy it’s not her time yet.”

The cat purrs every word she says.

“The master wishes her to follow the path. Do what he sent you to do.”

The robot's eyestalks stare at the cat. Then back down at me. Placed the knife back into the scabbard. The robot turns back to its followers and lifts its arms.

“Brothers and sisters followers of the Storm king. Our cleansing of her soul will have to wait. But we must damn this soul even more. The chip my brothers jam it in with the others. If Doc did the deal for the master.”

Cozy turns to the cat.

“Catrina the dust shall give you enough magic. To see within her head to see if Doc himself kept his end of the deal.”

The cat laughs.

“No need I found another version of my witchweed potion, of course, the planets used in its make take too long to grow but if this is needed for the master then I will.”

The cat reaches into her pocket bringing out a vial of fluid she opens it to drink it but a lizard holds her arm at bay before she drinks it.

“No Catrina you promised them…”

Catrina stares into the eyes of the lizard she snarls. Grabbing his neck tightly.

“You’re lucky Rep that I still need you after all these years. I am going to say once to you that the deal I made years ago is null and void at least it should be. Only bring it up if I am at my lowest.”

Rep coughs and I notice him shapeshift to get out of the grip of the cat he sighs turning into a crow landing on her shoulder.

“Yes, Catrina can you promise me though this is the only time you will use it?”

Catrina stares at him, and she sighs.

“Alright, and it will just be a drop. I just need to check in her head to see if the deal has been fulfilled.”

She takes a drop and my eyes shift to see what it does to her body. I see the strange fluid go through her system and magic explodes through her. I don’t understand what is going on? I have never seen magic like this before and she needs to use a potion to get the magic?

The cat leans down putting her hand on my head. Her hand glows. I strangely don’t feel any pain. I notice her sliding the hand around like it’s scanning for something.

“They’re in there they’re also very deep so you would have to almost basically force it in like a nail.”

Cozy laughs

“He kept his end of the deal, yes move cat!!”

Catrina growls moving away. Cozy comes closer lifting the chip to my head. I don't know what to expect.

“What’s wrong Cozy is too scared to harm the bug? Come on, just jam it in there!!”

Cozy turns to the cat she robotically grows.

“Don’t rush me. You don’t rush perfection!!

Catrina snorts laughing.

“Oh come on child you couldn’t even steal the magic right.”

Cozy drop the chip into the sand turning to the cat. The two look at each other like they’re about to fight. Rep gets off the cat's shoulder and lands beside me. He leans down to look at me, his eyes full of sadness.

“At least I didn’t try to force ponies to be my slaves by asking them nicely!!”

The two starts arguing and I swear all I am hearing from them is blah blah blah. I stare into the eyes of the one known as Rep.

“I wish there was another way. I want you to know Catrina is normally not so bad. She just lost right now. I promise you if you ever meet her again. She is a kind sweet gentle soul. But this needs to happen little one if we ever meet again. I want you to know I am sorry for what is about to happen.”

Rep changes to his true form grabbing the chip. I notice he turns his fingers into drills with the chip on the end and drills into my head. I scream feeling the pain in my head. He gets deep inside my head and the pain is so immense that I pass out.

__________

Hard Hardshell Hospital.

Opening my eyes I notice I am in the hospital again. I stroked my head. I don't remember much about what happened but I feel a nasty bump on my head like something healed. I notice Iinaygan and Cranberry talking. I lay back down, closing my eyes so I can listen.

“I don’t understand why Cranberry was telling the truth. When I say Ruby’s name my eyes turn from gentle and soft to lukewarm and hateful. Maybe deep down I have a problem with her and I can’t pinpoint it in my heart.”

Cranberry sighs.

“Who knows, maybe we will learn what is causing this. I just wish she wouldn’t get hurt again and then be carried in by someone saying oh she got hit by a shovel and that the mark on her head is more than just a shovel. I don’t dare dig in there to see what happened because it could cause damage to her.”

Inyanga smiles.

“I don’t blame her for wanting to save me from being stone till you found a cure. I don’t know why I got so angry about it. I might be angry at something else, maybe at how she gave up so easily. I am not sure I have any right though to be upset with her. I care deeply for her even though we haven’t known each other that long.”

Cranberry chuckles

“She has that type of personality you either love or you hate. I have learned to accept both. I love her as my daughter and I need to accept I won’t be able to raise her like my daughter. I have no idea how to raise one like her.”

I groan, opening my eyes.

“Ooh, what happened, how did I get here?”

Cranberry turns to look at me; she looks pretty upset and trots off. I watch her go off. I chuckled to myself about how sweet she was so kind one me before I woke up. I wonder if something else is bothering her.

“Okay, what did I do now?”

Inyanga stares at me and smirks

“You were carried in here by a Kirin Ruby. She said that you went to the bar to get drunk. Then you went on a spree of debauchery.”

I smirk. I am sure I could have so much fun with this by joking around.

“Really how much sex did I have?”

I wink at the zebra. She looks at me surprised and a smirk forms across her face and she laughs.

“Oh, Ruby I would say don’t joke about something like that. But it was funny at least. No, a kirin mistook you for something called a Cazador, some giant monster of a bug. She understood what you are after hearing about you on the radio. I think what is upsetting Cranberry is how much you get hurt.”

I chuckle weakly. She is correct. I tend to get hurt alot. I don’t even remember what happened this time I just remember the shovel and then blackness. I stroke my head and it still hurts. I grunt feeling the bump on my head.

“Should I give Cranberry some space?”

Inyanga nods while sitting on the bed beside me. I lean into the zebra nuzzling her. I feel safe around her just as safe as I feel around Cranberry. Even Tick Tock I feel safe near her when she allows me to cuddle into her. I hear the stomp of a metal foot and I see Dunewalker.

“So you went into the devil's den all by yourself and Inyanga turned to stone but you were still able to get her back to flesh and got the drug to get a cure made. I don’t know if you were lucky or if you had some help.”

I glance up at Inyanga and she nods.

“Well, I failed in a way if the town thinks I am some hero. I am not. I had to choose whether it was Inyanga the creatures or the town. I let them go, I got the cure and Inyanga was fully stone. I wanted to use the cure on her. She said that she is not worth the entire town. I broke down and he walked in.”

I glance up at Inyanga if I should go on. She nods, stroking my back with her hoof to relax me a bit.

“Crunch the RockDog came to see me himself and said some master of his wanted to throw me a bone. So he turned Inyanga back to flesh and it looked like it just pissed him off doing that.”

Dunewlker stares at me she smirks

“I see so you didn’t want to keep this lie that you did this so easily am I right? Look I won’t tell the town none of us will I am sure. Let them keep thinking you didn’t make a deal. At least you did what you could. No one is perfect Ruby and you had some hard choices there.”

Inyanga smiles.

“I wasn’t even going to tell Cranberry but Ruby insisted on the way back. I am guessing she is trying to stop more random bouts of anger like what happened with me. Listen, I am going to take Cranberry out to eat so she can relax and then I think we will be going on our way, correct?’

Dunewalker nods.

“We need to find the trail and they don’t know where they went.”

Inyanga nods, getting off the bed waving goodbye to me, and trotting out the door. Dunealker watches her and she turns to me.

“Dunewalker I have a question. You have been in this desert your whole life. Have you ever seen a strange red mist that causes creatures and such to get very upset?”

Duneawlker shifts a bit.

“Hmm yes, I know of some old magic in these lands. There is an old sickness I don’t fully remember the name of that caused hatred. What it did though was unlock those who held such hate inside their hearts. It would be released if they held it in for too long.”

Dune sighs.

“Dune why did you lie to me about the heroes being stone themselves?”

Dunewalker smirks.

“Where is your sense of learning things yourself Ruby? Do I need to tell you everything? I am sure you have been told camels don’t trust outsiders and you have seen this from me. I am never going to tell the full truth.”

I sigh deeply, shaking my head.

“Do you think the cure could be used to bring back those heroes from their prison?”

Dunewalker looks away looking towards the door. She leads me to the door, locks it, and then comes back to me.

“I need to be truthful to you Ruby. Dunewalker is not my real name. You will learn sooner or later about the failure of the dune walkers. I am one in a long line of them. I told you before that camels have a genetic memory of what happened. I will tell you the truth of long ago with these heroes. If any of them ever wake.”

She takes a deep breath looking back to the door hoping no one knocks on it.

“The camels only know the truth of what happened that day. Thanks to our memory the creator of Crunch the rock dog. Died because of these heroes. A living mountain, a living mountain with a heart called the heart stone. They call him his elevated eminence. They used the heart stone on him and weakened him enough but they turned to stone themself and then the stone was never seen again. Some say he destroyed it, some say he left it behind to regain his power.”

I sigh stroking my head so I was told the truth camels don’t tell the entire truth. It’s making me wonder if I can even trust Dunewalker then. Maybe she can tell me about this strange pony in a wheelChair I keep seeing.

“Dunewalker who is this pony in a Wheelchair I keep seeing you with from time to time. I have seen you with him a few times. Is there something I should know about him?”

Dunewalker shrugs her shoulders.

“He is just a simple citizen of this desert land. He is very unsure about outsiders so each time I talk to him. I make sure for him you’re not a problem or causing more problems than other outsiders do. I am sure you can understand correctly?”

I nod, I understand and I worry. Dunewalker walks to the window to look out she sighs softly

“Dunewalker is a curse of a name. I wish again I could tell you why Ruby but again camels care more about their secrets and their deals behind the backs of others than telling their friends the truth. It’s a sad thing about us and we will never get away from it.”

I wonder if I should ask this question

“You remember all the sex those before you had?”

Dunewalker turns, staring at me. She rolls her eyes and gives me a hard slap on the back of my head. She then grabs my face with her cybernetic foot staring right into my eyes. I could tell the question upset her a bit.

“I remember everything about those before me. including the crimes they committed or the backstabbers they did. It’s not fun to remember every single broken bone, every single heartbreak. It’s like you have so many voices in one head. You learn to live with it but later it will never be the same it will be a part of you.”

I think I struck a nerve when we both hear a knock on the door and Dunewalker goes to open it. Tick Tock and Waterspout come into the room. Tick Tock nods to Dunewalker and Dunewalker sighs looking back at me.

“I am going to get our next caravan ready, Ruby. I will try to convince some of my friends to come if they can't. I will tell Cranberry.”

Dunewalker leaves the room and I look at Tick Tock. The lukewarm look is gone, same with the hateful look. She seems to have gotten over whatever happened. For now, she sits down in front of me and Waterspout closes the door.

“Ruby Waterspout told me we need to talk. I told her what has been going on between you and me. She told me how this world is. We might regret that we never got a chance to talk things through. Inyanga told us what you did and I am going to say this first you did the right thing.”

I get off the bed landing beside Tick Tock looking up at her and Waterspout sits on the side staring at the two of us. I look at Waterspout. I have a feeling she is here to keep Tick Tock from losing her temper.

“Ruby, I still want to see you at your lowest. I feel for now though all I can do is this.”

She pulls me close, hugging me tightly.

“Forgive me for how I have been acting my little friend. Waterspout is correct and I thought about it. I worry that if I don’t do this now and a bullet or something else kills you I will never be able to forgive myself if you died and I still hated you.”

I hug Tick Tock and I hear the door opening up. I look to seeing Inyanga and Cranberry. They notice both Tick Tock and me hugging and Waterspout swings her head for them to come in. Inyanga shrugs her shoulders, joining in the hug. So did Cranberry and then Waterspout. I couldn't breathe too much.

“Girls I can’t breathe..”

Tick Tock laughs we release ourselves from the hug I feel so much better after this and I sigh deeply shaking my head.

“I am not used to having hugs like that. So Dunewalker told me she has some friends coming?”

Cranberry shakes her head.

“She just told us on the way back here. It wouldn’t be easy to convince her friends to come. So we found someone at the bar who will join us. Two who will join us.”

Two kind souls who are willing to come with us on this trip? I yawn deeply though finding it strange I am so tired. I shake my head grunting a bit. The shovel hurt a lot and I went back to bed.

“Wake me up when it’s time to leave.”

The four mares nodded and walked out of the room. I lay my head back feeling my world drifting as my tired brain makes me fall asleep.

_____________

The warden

I look around in a pure world of darkness and I sigh I have a feeling I know why I am here. I know this place in my mind only happens when the warden wishes to speak and I know the new warden is still getting used to these ways to communicate with me.

I notice the ghoul griffin showing up in the middle of my head like the old dragon warden used to do when he needed to talk to me or others of my kind. It’s kind of a weird way to talk and I wonder what he wishes to talk about.

“Ruby, I had to contact you because I noticed every time I see your life signs on these old magic-tech computers it keeps saying you got hit in the head you got a claw in the side you're close to death what is going on that ship?”

I keep forgetting my body has a tracker like many others of my species. It’s not easy to remove it. The only way to remove it is to take out at least one of our hearts. I think it’s the left heart. We can live without three hearts.

“Well let me put it this way. It was going to take a month to get to Equestria. We found a faster way to get there. We found an old-world creation in the middle of the water. It was sucking up water and I don’t know what else it does and it tossed me and the others into desert land. We are very far away from Equestria.”

Glendo stares at me.

“I see that makes sense but why are you always getting hurt? Ruby, what are doing over there to get hurt so much? I keep seeing a loss of blood alert body over exertion alert this bug is an idiot.”

I sometimes hate Glendo and his jokes. I get it he is now the warden and he had to give up a lot to connect himself to the old warden machines since the dragon died helping the resistance take on Majesty.

“Glendo I mean it I am trying to make sure I take care of myself. You don’t need to talk to me about it.”

Glendo sighs, stroking his head.

“I guess I don't. I know many of your kind don’t trust me as warden. At least I am trying to fulfill the job as warden since the old dragon died during the war.”

I nod and look around the area of darkness. Maybe I can ask him. Maybe he knows what this strange red mist is. Ever since I have seen it. I don’t know why it’s not affecting me. Maybe it will just right now I have nothing to be upset about.

“Glendo, I have a question for you. Did you ever see a strange red mist and a strange blue goat? At random times when someone is extremely upset, I notice this goat showing up and releasing the mist.”

Glendo stares at me for a moment. It takes him a while to answer since I know it’s not going to be easy for him to answer since he is still kind of new as a warden.

“I would have to study this in old files if I can open them up. A lot of the files got lost back during the war. Since most of these memories were connected to the warden himself and when he died most of the files went with him.”

I sigh, I feel defeated. I was hoping he could find something about this mist. I am sure I will be seeing it a lot on this journey. I wonder if It has something to do with the curse of this broken land itself.

“I need to wake up, Glendo, and get ready to look for Hawk and Rol Roll.”

Glendo nods.

“Ruby, I have been meaning to ask. Would you like me to turn off the chip inside you? Unless you still want me to be able to contact you.”

I am confused if it can be turned off?

“When my journey is over in Glendo then maybe I will ask for it. So I can be at peace for once and then I can go enjoy my life.”

Glendo looks down at me confused and shakes his head.

“Alright take care Ruby, have a wonderful time.”

Glendo vanishes from the darkness of my mind. I close my eyes, sighing I forgot he can look and see what I am going through. Someday I am going to take him up on what is going on and I am hoping it will work.

________________

A few hours later Hard Shell Hospital

I open my eyes looking around. I get up from the bed and I see Inyanga sitting in a chair. She is brewing some potions in a small pot. I fly in the air and hover over her shoulder to check what she is working on.

“Ruby if you want to sneak up on me you need to learn to quiet down your buzzing. Other than that good to see you awake you kind of worried Cranberry.”

I chuckle weakly.

“I guess I needed the rest. So Inyanga what are you making?”

Inyanga glances up at me. Her gentle eyes no longer have the lukewarm or the hateful look. I wrap my many legs around her neck gently hugging her. I give a buzzing purr as she giggles stroking my back with her hoof.

“Ruby, please you’re hugging me a bit too hard. I will be able to answer your question when you stop the hug. Even though I am happy you’re feeling better and not worried if I still have some personal problems with you.”

I chuckle weakly, stopping the hug.

“I can understand having personal problems, it's more the look in your eyes. So what are you making it smells good to me like something I can eat.”

Inyanga laughs.

“No, this would make you sick. A weather pegasus warned us we are going to travel through a bunch of sand storms. So these brews are to shield everyone's eyes from it. Cranberry went to buy everyone protective eyewear but this is to keep the eyes wet and from drying.”

I sigh softly.

“Do you need me to do anything?”

Inyanga removes her mouth from the mixing spoon looking up at me.

“Why not go take your weapons to the blacksmith here. Maybe they will help you and help you find some good ammo for your gun and sharpen your blades.”

There is a blacksmith here? I don’t remember seeing one I head out of the room. I stop and turn around to look at Inyanga again.

“Uh, do you know how to find this blacksmith?”

Inyanga rolls her eyes.

“Ruby, it's pretty simple just look for the sign which looks like an anvil. They aren’t hard to find and we have been told there is one here. Oh and Ruby, your armor is in the main doctor's office, it's unlocked.”

I head to the office head inside looking around the office. Shouldn’t there be a doctor here? On the table, I find my armor and all my weapons. I look at my helm closely to see it’s been at least fixed up a bit.

I make sure everything is good. I am grabbed from behind. I jump, grabbing the dagger, turning around quickly, holding it tightly, my buggy hands shaking and I see it’s the doctor of the office.

“Whoa whoa whoa!!”

My hand keeps shaking shakily and puts the knife back on my armor. I smile weakly rubbing my hands.

“I’m sorry I have been very jumpy lately.”

The doc nods.

“I can understand perfectly. I can take a look at the bump on your head if you wish. Go lay on my couch and I will get my instruments.”

I sigh softly laying on the couch waiting for the pony doctor to get everything he needs and his horn glows looking into my head. I am not sure what he is looking for. While his horn glows he pulls out a strange needle

I stare at the needle. I feel magic holding me down. I try to fight it. I am held down by too much groaning, shaking my mouth covered by the magic. The needle gets closer and closer and I don’t know what to do.

I feel the needle stick into my head. I feel the fluid go into my head and I feel dizzy and scared. The doctor shifts to a swan-looking bird. Oh, it’s a Panna wait, the Panna should be extinct. The bird holds my face tightly.

“I need you to focus and tell me the full truth. Are you from the island Devil’s Due?”

I grunt nodding despite how floaty my vision and head feel.

“Alright, I need to know the truth, did the monster Squint escape his prison?’

I nod again, grunting, wanting to speak.

“Why do you want to know?

The shapeshifting swan creature sighs

“I see he is going to want to try to find the rest of us to take his revenge on what Ruff and Looma did to him.”

The Panna looks up to hear hoof steps. They were coming closer and Panna looked back at me.

“Listen and listen closely, don't trust.”

The Panna notices the steps are getting closer and he flies out of the window and I still feel fuzzy and dizzy. I groan, still dizzy. Coming into the room is the real doctor he sees me and trots to me looking me over.

“Miss, are you okay?”

I just stare at the pony and shake my head.

“I will be fine, I just need to move around.”

I grunt getting up feeling very dizzy still getting my armor and helm on flying around like I am very drunk. I turn around and look at the doctor.

“Sorry!!”

The doctor sighs lifting the needle from the floor looking at me and then just tosses it into the waste box. I fly out of the hospital as much in a straight line as I can. I groan as I feel my stomach lurching around.

I quickly take my helmet off, find a corner near a building and vomit everything in my stomach onto the sand coughing feeling whatever was in my system coming with it. Vomited twice and rubbed my mouth coughing. I feel better but now my stomach hates me.

“Are you okay, miss?”

I turn my head a bit glancing at a filly. A weak smile forms on my face.

“I am fine. I think I ate something which didn’t agree with my stomach. I am sorry if a young one like you saw something like this.”

The filly giggles.

“No, it's fine. I have seen worse and one for my young age. I shouldn't be saying that but this is the world we are living in. Will you be okay though?”

I nod.

“I will thank you.”

The filly smiles, waving, walking off to meet up with others I am sure. I just stare at her. She has a pure soul, a pure heart. The pure of hearts are the ones who need the most protection in this world. The little young hearts who deserve to live in a world of peace. Tears rolled down my cheeks. It's not fair these little ones live in a world so full of hatred and a world so broken. I put my helmet on remembering the little ones from the island and what they had to go through.

I look up seeing the anvil waiting. Did I just vomit on the side of the blacksmith wall? I look over to the hospital which is next door. I groan so hard how can I be so dumb?! I head inside and look around. This is not a blacksmith. I head back outside looking at the sign again and then going back in.

“Excuse me, is this the blacksmith?”

The mare turns from what she is doing.

“Oh no we sell herbs here.”

I sigh great.

“Is there a blacksmith in this town then?”

The mare chuckles.

“Of course but we switched buildings like a month ago. We just haven’t had time to change the signs yet. If you look for my old sign you will find his forge.”

I get ready to leave but I stop looking back at the mare.

“Do you give gifts?”

The mare smiles.

“What kind?”

“I would like a bundle of flowers, two mares, a zebra mare named Inyanga, and a pegasus mare named Cranberry. One of them is in the hospital.”

The mare giggles

“Are you trying to butter them up or just being kind to them to say you're sorry for something?”

I let out a stressful sigh. I am very unsure of what I should say.

“To say I am sorry for being such a failure in their eyes. I know I am not just writing a note to both of them for me. Tell Inyanga thank you for everything and thank you for your wisdom. For Cranberry, thank you for adopting me as your daughter. Can you do all that please also do I need to pay for it?”

The mare chuckles.

“No, you’re the one who calls herself Ruby correct?”

I nod, taking my helmet off. To show her who I am I don’t know why I won’t have to pay for it.

“After what you did, Truly asked us for just a day to let you get things for free. Only one day so don’t take advantage of this alright?”

I don’t deserve this. I take a deep breath okay I will accept this at least once. I don’t deserve it. All I did was deal with a drug problem. Why would they make it so I can get stuff for free makes little sense.

“I won’t thank you so much. You have a wonderful day, miss.”

I bow my head to her, putting my helm back on and flying out to find the forge. It took a while but I finally found the old planet shop sign. I try to open the door and it saids closed. I sigh deeply. I think I will just wait till we are ready to leave.

It took a while for the others to gather supplies got the carts ready and Dunewalker was the first one I saw. She was helping a turtle creature like Yanari to get the carts to hitch them both on him. The next to come was what white minotaur ghost she helped.

After a while everything was all set up Inyanga and Cranberry set their flower gifts in the carts. They both looked at me.

“I hope you liked them.”

Cranberry chuckles.

“You didn’t have to do that Ruby, it was a kind gesture though.”

Inyanga smiles

“Yes, it was thank you very much.”

After that everything was ready. Cranberry gave everyone eyewear for the dust storms and Inyanga poured the brew in their eyes to make their eyes protected while they wore them. The storm was going to happen soon and it wasn’t going to be pretty.

___________

The walk in the sand storm.

Four hours later, like clockwork, a heavy sand storm hit us. I had to get on Dunewalkers back to get through the sandstorm, the others had to cover their noses and mouths and Tick Tock had to be put into the cart with a tarp over her so she could run after all this.

“Well, who saids sand is not fun.”

I laugh weakly.

“Oi, we need to keep going so we don’t end up in any Tunnelers mating tunnels with us unable to see it’s like we might fall into one.”

Tunnels? I lean up to Dunewalkers ear to talk into it since it's hard to hear.

“What are tunnelers?”

Dunewalker takes a second to answer and looks around to make sure she can see what she is walking into. The sand storm seems to be getting worse and blowing so hard it makes me almost fall off Dunewalker. I grab onto her fur tightly.

“Tunnelers are ant creatures who have been part of the desert dwellers for years. I don’t know much about their queen since the only time she is seen is when something in this desert is a threat to everything.”

Dunewalker keeps an eye on the ground.

“It’s their mating season I believe so we need to be careful where we step since vibrations on the sand can alert them. The way to know this is if the sand below us is very soft.”

I groan trying harder to see I am happy I got the helm. I use my hud to see if I can see anything through the sand. I get an error ‘Too much sand to see through alert too much sand to see through.’

Cranberry coughs she flew ahead she finally came back a few minutes after.

“There is a set of stones we can hide in and put up the tents to keep us safe till the storm is gone. Come with me, grab the tail on the one in front of you.”

Dunewalker grabs Cranberry's tail. Putting a hoof on Dunewalkers leg, Waterspout used her magic to hold Inyangas tail. The turtle creature and ghost stayed close and I made sure I could see them both. Ghost held a large mini-gun just in case. It took us another hour just to get everything set up and made it in such a way so we could be protected.

I sit in the tent looking around and see the wind blowing the sides of the tent hard. The others finally made it in. I took off my armor and shook the armor sand pouring out of every part of the armor.

Ghost sat beside me and she coughs.

“Ugh it’s been years since I walked into a sand storm I will never again.”

Inyanga gets fully in and every inch of her white body is now brown dust. She doesn’t seem to mind and works on brews to keep her mind off of things. Cranberry’s red fur is dusty as Waterspout drags Tick Tock out of the cart bringing her inside.

She coughs and opens a compartment to force all kinds of sand out of her body. She closes it and she looks at me. I look at her. I still see the lukewarm look she sits down behind me pulling me close to her.

“I saw you got flowers for Cranberry and Inyanga Flowers. You’re thinking of others yourself, that is my bigger issue with you. I know you don’t notice it but I am sure you understand.”

I smile at Tick Tock.

“I am trying.”

I looked over at Cranberry and she relaxed. I can tell something is bothering her though. I look up to Tick Tock whispering to her.

“I think something is bothering Cranberry. I am going to go talk to her, is that okay?”

Tick Tock nods.

“If we are going to find our friends we need to be of strong mind and heart. So go ahead and do it.”

I give Tick Tock my armor.

“Can you fix this for me please?”

Tick laughs.

“Wow…this won't be easy to fix.”

I smirk flying over to Cranberry. We can talk low enough for it to just be us. When I land near Cranberry she looks at me.

“Cranberry, something is bothering you.”

Cranberry coughs looking over at me. Her emotions tell me otherwise. She is smiling but her eyes are full of pain and sadness. I don't know how I learned how to read emotions through the eyes. It could be how my kind is.

“Nothing is bothering me, sweetheart. I am fine, I am just tired of all this sand in my lovely fur.”

I don’t know why she is lying to me. I sigh deeply trying to not pressure her. I feel I need to pressure her though. I take a deep breath filling my lungs full of the sandy air. I look outside seeing the sand storm getting worse. Looking back at Cranberry.

“Cranberry please don’t hide how you feel. I can tell in your eyes you’re not fine. You have something bothering you badly. You can show me I won’t show anyone else.”

Cranberry sighs as she opens her bags and sets down a letter. It’s in an open folder. I opened the folder. Is it a note? I read the note. ‘Dear sister father has been getting worse. He refuses to say you’re his daughter. He feels you have become an embarrassment to him. To me, though I feel it was great you adopted this little creature. I wish I could meet her but you know the store needs me. To honor our mother and her dream. Anyway, Streak, Flick, Thunderstrike, Ozzie, And me Tornado. We all love you and miss you. We will try to get our father to change his mind. Tell your new daughter we love her bye sister.’

I set down the letter looking up at Cranberry. I smile weakly.

“Your father sounds like a wonderful stallion.”

Cranberry nods. I see tears forming in her eyes. What should I do? She is about to cry. I look around to make sure the red dust and the blue goat are not around. Oh, thank you finally for peace. I lean into her, hugging her.

“Ruby. I can’t make him happy for me ever.”

Tears fall down her cheeks and she sobs softly. I try my best to help her.

“Cranberry you try so hard to be strong. You shouldn’t hide your feelings about how you feel.”

I find it sad it’s me saying this. I am the one who can barely tell others how I feel. Cranberry tries to keep her crying from being too loud. The one who comes over though is one I never expected.

“Cranberry?”

Cranberry looks up at Dunewalker. Dunewalker lays down in front of the mare.

“I know you don’t trust me but do you wish to tell me what is bothering you?”

Cranberry points her hoof to the note. Dunealker lifts the note with her metal paw turning into fingers reading it through.

“Huh sounds like a real Jackass eh?”

Cranberry sobs hard and Dunewalker pulls her into a large hug stroking her back and putting her two paws on her face.

“Do you know what I see when you cry? I see a strong mare showing the side of a mother of a scored daughter who tried all her life to please their father, am I correct.”

Cranberry sniffs nodding

“Yes, correct.”

Dunewalker smiles.

“I am going to say this look at you’re a doctor, a strong mare in a position of power over some leaders. Leaders will listen to you when you say doctor's orders. You will have to force some to admit you’re not only stronger than your father. Do you remember what your mother used to look like?”

Cranberry sighs weakly.

“She looks like me, her eyes were as beautiful as mine but blue.”

Dunealker nods.

“Then maybe he looks at you and feels he failed your mother. I know it’s hard to say things such as this and admit it might be right.”

Cranberry smiles.

“Thank you Dunewalker.”

Dunewalker laughs.

“Eh, one of those who came before me was a counselor. It's easy to remember some of the stuff they learned. I just kept the part on how to help one who is crying. She was a marriage counselor so I can tell you how that went”

Dunewalker stands up patting her back.

“If you need to talk more I can try to help you. Say a lot about us camels. We hate giving our secrets but we have a lifetime of skills even if sometimes those skills get us into trouble.”

Dunewalker winks at me heading back to help the others Ghost walks over to us sitting down by me.

“You did a good thing, Cranberry adopting this bug.”

I glance at Ghost.

“I felt It was the right thing to do, yes. I can tell maturity-wise she is a young teen. Body wise she is twenty. So I have learned that if she gets upset I need to remember she is not fully an adult mind yet.”

Ghost chuckles.

“Yes, it’s true. I never understood why Majesty created her species. Then when Majesty started to get more hateful I saw why. They were her enforcers; it was the only way to enforce her rules and try to force others to love her.”

I sigh.

“Yes, it’s what caused the hero to start the uprising.”

Ghost nods.

“I wish I could have joined the fight. I would have fought to the point I would try to break Majesty herself.”

The large turtle came over to us.

“Hey, it seems the storm is dying down. Oh hello, I am Gama. Nice to meet you, Ruby. I would have talked to you sooner but sand storms and desert and trying to not get captured by the tunnelers.”

It took us a while to get everything ready again when we got on the road again I turned around noticing the rocks one of them had a code on the rock. It’s half missing and looks like it has been eaten away by the sand storms.

“Oi buggy what do you see?”

I turn to Dunewalker.

“Some code on this stone.”

Duneawlker stares at the code.

“Hmm looks like a code to open a lab from the war. There could still be a few that haven't even been open here. I will say well keep them locked and closed. The old war labs are something no one wants to go into.”

I nod looking towards the code again.

“How bad did these experiments get?”

Dunewalker shrugs.

“Don’t ask me I wasn’t there even if I was I wouldn’t tell you. Come on, let's go before another storm starts up.”

I sigh, turning to look at the ground seeing we sat on an old metal door. I notice it’s been ripped off something and left here. I quickly fly after the others, not allowing something like this to keep me from moving.

___________

The desert early morning

We stopped for a time when we got away from the stones and slept at least for four hours and the sun came up and we got ourselves ready to go again. Even though there have been sandstorms, somehow we see Hawks prints in the sand.

“Huh, your friend is pretty heavy.”

I glance at Gama laughing.

“Well, she is pretty much a brain in a dome. That is all she is a mech walking with a brain.”

Inyanga sighs.

“I hope she respects zebras.”

Cranberry chuckles

“I haven’t met her either so I don’t know what to expect.”

Tick Tock laughs.

“Oh, she will like you two. She told me she never had issues with zebras during the war. She wanted to join the zebra side at least how she looked at it. But tests just left her brain and then placed in that mech body.”

Gama looks at Waterspout and she waves at him. He looks at me and I notice Ghost starts up the mini-gun a few times. I think she is worried something is about to happen. I can tell Ghost is a lot like Skull Crusher. She is always on edge and ready to fight.

“Excuse me, Ruby, how did you make friends with a water hunter? They tend to be pretty violent and always attack others on sight for their way.”

I was about to answer but Tick Tock beat me to it.

"They're part of an old group of ponies known as the children of the night. They have been here since before Luna turned into Nightmare Moon. From what Waterspout told me. The females normally don't do anything but are bearers of foals and the stallions do the hunting. She tried to break tradition so she could be free from only being pregnant the rest of her life."

Waterspout knew they were talking about her. But she still didn't know how to speak Equestrian that well. But funny enough I never learned equestrian either. So It might be that I was born to know all ways of speaking or eating the magic most of our lives. It did something to our ability to understand the words of others.

"I never understood how I could understand Equestrian. But I am starting to wonder if the magic I absorbed helped me with that. Maybe I will understand how it works. But I never got the chance to ask Majesty before she went crazy and expected all to love her and fall in line."

Gama stares at me and Tick Tock has a very surprised look on his face.

"So you mean to tell me that this island you are from. Had a mare named Majesty? There are old tomes that were brought here to be hidden so long ago. But they spoke of a former Ailcorn named Majesty. Who took offense to what Star Swirl the bearded passed her over. She wanted power but of course, it didn't work as she wished."

Wait Majesty has been alive that long? How could she be? She was just a pony when I first met her. Unless when she turned into an alicorn she already was an alicorn I am starting to worry and wonder if something is going to happen later.

“Hey, I found the area everyone.”

I glanced up at the flying red mare who went on ahead again. It took us a few minutes to get there and when we got there we saw many shattered stone bodies. We see parts of Hawk all over the place. I lift one of the parts of her off the sand looking at it. It’s one of her cameras.

“Oh no.”

I glance at Tick Tock and she has no emotions on her face. She looks at me though I could see her hatred when she frowns. It’s come back. I wonder if I am going to be blamed for this.

“They knew how to destroy the repair magic in her body. I have no idea where they went.”

Gama looks at Ghost and they nod to each other.

“I know it's the forest. We try to avoid the forest as much as we can. Something has woken up there and caused many creatures to leave the forest. I am sure some of them are still in the forest. But this forest is what the ponies used before the big 52 was made."

I look at Gama

“How do you know all this?”

Ghost laughs loudly.

“Girl, do you have any idea how old Gama’s species can get?”

Gama snickers.

"My species can live on for many years. I'm 400 years old. I know I don't look that old. But I have been around that long and watched the world fall as it did. Now we didn't enjoy the fact that the ponies tried to force their war here. We welcomed ponies to save us from Crunch the rock dog. We even welcomed them to take care of some villains that they created themselves. But these villains are still out and about along with Crunch.”

I stare at the turtle shaking my head. How are these creatures so old? We gather all the parts of Hawk. The sand has done some deteriorating to her metal and parts of her body. I worry about them. We need to get to the forest as quickly as we can.

"OI the walk to the forest is going to take many days. We would have to go through the nest of many deadly creatures. Now it might be best to pick up what you can from your friend. I doubt you want to find her and not everything is repaired."

I sighed deeply and it took about an hour to find everything. We placed it all in the caravan wagon. It took time to repair. The sand went into many places of the metal and it looked like it was ripped apart by magic. The magic I could taste. I felt upset at the fact that magic had been used to hurt Hawk.

“I hope she is okay. I am worried about her.”

I look over to Tick Tock. I agree with her. I am worried too.

“I feel guilty about what happened to them.”

I say loud enough for Tick Tock to hear. After I say this Tick Tock stomps over to me her eyes glowing bright red. I stare into her eyes. I knew it would happen. I feel it was going to get worse if I can’t calm her down.

“You feel guilty? You’re a fucking idiot you asked us to come here and now Hawk or Roll Roll could be dead because of you.”

That hit me hard.

“Now you don’t need to blame her for it all.”

Cranberry came to my defense.

“Oh fuck off Enclave you have no idea about anything. You adopt the worthless bug and you think oh you're the most expert with her.”

Cranberries eyes glow bright red I see her anger growing I think Tick Tock struck a nerve she gets into Tick Tock's face.

“At least I took the time to get to know Ruby instead of hating her because she makes a few mistakes.”

Inyanga sighs.

“Hey, there is no need to.”

Cranberry cuts her off.

“Shut it zebra. Because of your species this fucking world is dead!!”

I am now panicking. I am watching my friends fall apart. Why is this happening? Inyangas eyes glow bright red.

“My species are the reason for the dead world? Have you ever thought you ponies should have left it alone?!”

My three friends argue I can hear every hateful word. Duneawlker comes over and tries to break them up

“Hey, we are trying to find your friends here. Come on, you can stop accusing each other and stop blaming the bug.”

All three of them yell at her.

“SHUT UP!!”

Gama, Ghost, and Waterspout stay silent watching this. I look around seeing the mist. It's intense. I notice the mist is not only coming from them it’s coming from their eyes. I didn't see the goat this time. This sickness is coming from them itself?! He just needs to spread the sickness and that's it?!

I take off my helmet and smash it into the ground hard enough to make vibrations.

“STOP!!”

They stop arguing looking at me I see the hate I see their anger why is not affecting me why is not affecting Gama or Ghost? I was about to speak and I suddenly heard the ground caving in around us and ants coming up from the ground.

“They attack, protect the queen, protect the queen, protect the queen.”

I look around remembering I am a bug myself like they are. I take a deep breath trying to relax looking over at my friends who still have their hateful red eyes.

“As a bug like you, I can tell you we come…I peace please let us through peacefully.”

The bug chitters and many others chitter around me. I am trying to make out what they’re saying.. Then I realize they’re wanting to come and get me. I can't move fast enough and I am grabbed from below.

“RUBY!!”

_______

Ant Tunnels

I was carried deep into the ant colony. I was given different ants. I didn't know what was going on. They wrapped me in a strange fluid like a web that didn't allow me to break free or move. Each time I was moved by these creatures I saw many different chambers. But I didn't see them since I was taken from place to place so fast. Then I was dropped in front of a very large giant ant.

The queen looks at me. She has the beauty of many queens I have seen before. She is so beautiful I want to be one of her drones and feed her my food from my stomach. I shake my head. Why the hell?

“Ah, a magic eater wishes to grace me?”

How does this queen know my species? I feel bad that I am here. I am sure my visit has ruined her ability to lay good eggs with no sickness in them. I try to back out and her guards keep me inside.

“Now little one I am not going to harm you. My guards won’t harm you either. We heard you and your friends above if those arguing with each other are your friends.”

I nod

“Yes they are and you know my species?”

The queen laughs softly, her eyes are not only full of wisdom but the beauty of one who has been alive longer than most beautiful beings. My worker's heart makes me want to become part of her colony and just stay here forever.

"There are many magic eaters that have come to this land before. But they found a way to escape the island and found their way here. They stayed down here and integrated into my children. Now none of them are alive anymore. But what brings you here?"

I didn’t know what to think but I wanted to find my friends.

"I'm trying to find my friends."

I sighed.

"My friends got kidnapped while they were trying to find water."

The queen nods while listening.

"I see you're the buzzer creature we have heard about. I never thought I would hear of you killing my followers. But it doesn't help of course that they felt you were attacking them. Not many of them know how to speak like me. But I could send a group of them up there to get your friends. Because I have a feeling you're heading to the forest?"

"Yes, I am heading to the forest, what of it?"

The queen looks at her tunnels. I can tell she has a great deal of fear of some of her tunnels. I notice some of them are blocked off.

"The creature's in there are creations of the ponies. There is also a robot that came through here yelling he is rising. It killed some of my followers when it came through here. But since the ponies ended themselves. They had some strange creations in those buildings. They have woken up and released themselves. But It might be wise for you to stay here and allow us to take you to the forest through our tunnels."

"Why are you being so kind and respectful to me? I killed some of your followers. I am with ponies and other creatures of this land. I'm sure they consider you a problem."

The queen looks at me. She can’t smile or show emotions easily. She is a lot like me. It takes various parts of my face and using my body for her it’s harder to see how big she is.

“They don’t consider us a problem, we are a very peaceful race. We don’t need to prove anything to them but just live. One second one of my guards is coming to talk to me. She is worried about something.”

The guard comes in and chittering. I can understand it’s about my friends and about a sickness they’re carrying. The queen looks at me.

“Your friends will be allowed in here but they will be forced to stay in a closed-off tunnel. Don’t worry they will be given food and you can talk to them through a hole. But it will be till the hate sickness vanishes from their bodies.”

I sighed after a while my friends were brought down to the colony and were all placed inside a large chamber. The chamber from what I was told was meant to be used to hatch the eggs but they moved the eggs and placed them in another chamber. After they get in the tunnel is in place and big enough for food and air and the ability to talk to get through. Waterspout didn’t have to be in there with them but she wanted to be in there. Ghost and Gama stood like guards just in case.

I hover by the hole.

“Are you all okay in there?”

I see Cranberry her eyes are no longer she doesn’t have the lukewarm or hateful looks she is just upset that she is in here.

“I am okay with the others too. We are trying to work things out. What about you sweetheart?’

I smile.

“I am going to be sleeping in the queen's chambers tonight. She wants to talk to me.”

Tick Tock comes to the hole and I see her vision has turned to normal again.

“Hey, Ruby I am sorry I didn’t mean.”

I lift my hand to stop her.

“No it’s fine I deserve it after feeling guilty you get better I will let you out when they feel the sickness is gone.”

Gama and Ghost nod to me.

“Sigma and I will let you know when the sickness is gone.”

I sigh, taking off my armor and giving it to Ghost.

“Can you take this for me?”

Ghost smiles.

“Don’t expect too much Ruby. But for now, I will be your armor holder. Don’t expect it too much in the future. I expect to be paid or at least buy me dinner.”

She winks and I chuckle

“It’s a deal I will be back”

Slowly lifted my wings to fly around the tunnels. This place was so peaceful I never thought I would ever be in an ant colony and I found myself back in the Queen's chamber. She turned around and stared at me. I could see a strange look in her eyes. I have no idea why she was staring at me like this.

“You look like one of my sisters, Ruby."

She softly added looking towards me with her pure pupil-less eyes. I stared at the queen because I would look like one of her sisters. Then it hit me hard.

“What is your brood name Ruby?”

I smile weakly

“Glide.”

The queen goes silent for a while.

“How is she doing?”

I smile weakly.

“Majesty killed her and the rest of her brood in front of me to make a point then forced me in her army to take control of the entire island.”

"You have been to the island.."

She looks away from me. I can tell the queen one of her sisters is long dead hurt her a lot.

"Yes, I was one of the first generations that Majesty created. Glide was too and she convinced me to leave. I couldn't handle being on that island any longer. So I found my way here with some friends of my own. My mate died recently but thanks to him we have a giant colony. But after being here for so long. I doubt I could be called a magic eater anymore. But you look like a newer generation. A generation that will never change to a normal creature."

My heartbeat quickly. Another species of mine that found their way here?

"Is that why you wish to help me?"

The Queen chuckled weakly.

"There are more reasons I wish to help you, Ruby. I see that you're so lost. I see that you might fall someday. You also seem to need to rest."

She wrapped her large legs around me pulling me into her body. Like she is my mother.

"Rest with me... Allow yourself to be ready for the future ahead."

I didn't know what to do but she started to sing to me in the words of a magic eater. She released the magic and made a song that was used for us. She is not controlling me. Some would think that. But the magic she released is full of peace. It made my eyes close. While I heard her sing.

“Oh, the little soul of the island. Oh, the little soul of the endless waltz of the world to come. Under the sky of the Misty moon and our lives.Oh, little creature of the world. Allow the moon of Luna and her wisdom to wrap you in her embrace. Let our hearts beat for you to join in the anthem of the song. Our songs shall sing to you all through the night.”

I felt myself falling asleep. I feel like I am back in my brood mother's legs when I was little and just born I lay back in her legs feeling myself fall asleep and all I can do is feel every inch of my stress leaving me the pain I had over the last few days vanishing at least for now just for this moment. A moment of pure peace.

Footnote: Level Up

Perk added: Ant whisperer: The fact you’re an insect yourself. You can speak to others. The only ones that won’t speak to you are spiders. Their hunger keeps them from listening. But becoming friends with the tunnelers faction they will join you and tell other insect factions about you.

Next Chapter: Chapter Eight: The forest Estimated time remaining: 46 Hours, 13 Minutes