The book opens up and there is a sound outside. The minotaur hears guns going off and screaming outside a rock tossed into his window as he moves out of the way. He sees the citizens of Hard Rock getting more upset by the day. He sighs hearing the door opening and closing turns. He watches the leader of Hard Rock sit down.

“I am sorry if I am troubling you Pinda. Where is your co-leader, is she going to join us?”

Pinda stays silent for a while.

“She has nothing to do with the NCR; she is doing what she can though to stop the violence outside. I came in here to tell you once get out of our land before the camels do what we did to the ponies and zebras. Fought them and forced them to listen to us.”

He sighs sitting down in the chair.

“Look I just want to talk to you about parts of this land if you allow me to.”

Pinda snorts.

“I can tell you that we have regrets now. This is mostly because we have the NCR here trying to force their views on us.”

The minotaur nods.

“Look I don’t agree with the NCRs methods. I told them already that trying to force this here is not going to end well. I know full well what the camels can do.”

Pinda nods.

“Now what do you wish to know?”

The Minotaur smiles, picking up his pen to write.

“What can you tell me about the forest?”

Pinda takes a second to talk.

“The forest it’s been cursed for a long time now. The war cursed it the creations of the ponies cursed it. It’s just a forest of very deadly creatures. Some creatures in the forest have calmed down since the war ended and went back to sleep.”

The minotaur writes nodding.

“I see.”

The minotaur keeps writing, setting down the pen.

“Do you think the queen of the tunnelers would come and talk with me or the queen of the Nagas?”

Pinda shakes his head.

“No, they don’t trust outsiders.”

The minotaur sighs.

“I see, is it because it’s the NCR?”

Pinda nods

“They feel the NCR wants to destroy their way of life. I Want to force them under the NCR and I have an issue with this too. I hope the NCR understands we will get them out of here and if they ever try to return. We will all wise up and make sure they know who’s home this is.”

The minotaur sighs, stroking his head.

“I get it, I know. I had a love of home back before the war. I went with Fleur on a cruise ship. A ship we used to get away from the endless war. When the bombs fell we somehow ended up in the middle of the land. We have no idea what happened to me though I knew what happened I just couldn’t tell the others. It just wasn’t in the stars.”

He stands up looking out the window.

“You can go now, Pinda. I want to thank you for taking your time with me. I want to let you know when the time comes I will be here and maybe join.”

He glances at Pinda. Pinda stands from the seat and heads out the door. The minotaur closes the door. He opens a cane-shaped box pulling out a black cane with a golden top and a golden bottom.

“They will know we are again my friend. They will know full well.”

He goes to the closet and looks in and there is a top hat and a black suit and pants. He chuckles stroking the cane.

“The NCR will learn the hard way who controls this land. The Camels and those souls who are here. Time for this will happen when the stars will. We shall wait for the right time to stroke.”

He closes the closet putting the cane back into the box and closing it. He sets it back down looking back out the window.

“The time will come again. I wonder what they will think of us. When they learn who I am and what I did.”

________________

Early morning

I woke up in the many arms of the queen. She held me tightly and didn’t let me go. I didn't complain, I let her hold me, and maybe I can ask her a few questions. I just think she needs to learn more about the island.

“I have a few questions for you.”

The Queen was about to leave to head to the main chamber and she turned to look at me again. I could tell in her eyes that she had wisdom beyond her years. I am sure she will know my question and what I want to know.

“What was Majesty like?”

The queen sighs looking away. I am sure this question hit her hard and it’s getting harder for her to answer. Majesty from what I learned ages ago from others she was a sweet gentle mare. A mare that tried to be there for all.

“She was a loving mother. I didn’t care that she tried to kill all the Panna I didn’t like what she did with them. I didn’t care how she felt she had to laugh and tease the squid in the middle of the prison. It was made just for him.”

I nod remembering him.

“Yes he is freed now and we have no idea what happened to him. Do you have the power to see the future? Some of the queens could see the future unless you’re not able to see the future anymore.”

The queen chuckles.

“I can at times it’s rare when I look at you Ruby I see nothing. Your future is like a closed book. It normally means your history is locked tight by fate. The fates and the gods or if you wish Goddess will do what they can to make you their plaything it’s sadly normal in a cosmic sense.”

Cosmic sense? I have never heard of it in such a way. Many keep telling me the stars. On how there are sometimes three sets of stars even four sets. But the three sets are a question in themselves.

“I am going to go check on my friends. Thank you for the talk.”

The Queen nods, smiling.

“You’re welcome, Ruby. I hope the sickness has left them.”

I went to go see them when the dirt was removed. Cranberry leans down to me looking at me with a gentle smile.

“I am sorry for how I acted towards the others, Ruby. I have no idea why I was so upset.

I glance up at Tick Tock who shrugs her shoulders.

“I find it strange there is such a thing called hate sickness huh the more you learn.”

Waterspout comes over to Tick Tick.

“Vicistine pugnam irae odisse et saevientem ?”

Tick Tick smirks

“Ego semper canis et equa irae.”

Waterspout laughs softly.

“Videre possumne adhuc perturbatus es cum Ruby vel aliis?”

Tick Tick thinks a moment looking at me and then the others she shrugs her shoulders.

“Eos amo ut sorores meae camelum includunt.”

Waterspout giggles, nodding as she looks at Dunewalker who walks past them.

‘Illa est canis”

Dunewalker turns to look at them with a smirk

“Gratias tibi”

The two look at each other and look at her. Waterspout smirks laughing.

“Potesne ergo me intelligere?”

Duneawlker nods laughing.

“Ego semper potui tantum numquam satis curare de te ut nunc tecum loqui. Nunc te respicio.”

Waterspout smiles.

“Possumne vocare te soror et AMPLEXUS te?”

Dunewalker nods and the Water hunter mare hugs the camel tightly. The camel strokes her back gently looking at the mark on her back. She frowns but does not let that bother her as the mare moves on from the hug.

Inyanga tilts her head looking at me.

“So where did you sleep?”

A smile comes across my buggy face.

“I slept in the queen's chambers. I learned she is from the same island as I am.”

Inyanga smirks

“So still tired?”

I am confused.

“No, she just sang to me and held me in her legs. Like she was my brood mother. I feel bad for her though she is alone right now and her mate she came here with died many years ago.”

I look up at Cranberry.

“Are you angry or jealous mom?”

Cranberry wraps her wings around me pulling me close.

“I am a little jealous. I have no right to be. I don’t know what makes you happy. I don’t know how your species works yet. I am trying at least even though. What I hate more is being locked behind a sand wall because of some sickness I didn’t know I have.”

A male ant chitters as I look at him. I chitter at him asking him if he is correct. He chitters back. I learn he is correct and he is trying to tell me Grogar made the hate sickness and it’s in every area of this world but in some parts, it's muted here it’s soaked in almost everything.

“What did he say?’

I look at the others.

“It sounds like this sickness has been in this world since Grogar ruled it. Like Equestria and other areas, it’s muted because of love and friendship. Here it sounds like the magic of friendship, love, and so on is very weak to keep the sickness back. So it’s soaked into almost everything.”

Tick Tock sighs as the clockwork mare tilts her head. She looks at me and a smile forms on her robotic face. I can tell Tick Tock is trying to have emotions again. It's been a while since the last time she tried was before we left. She kept to herself the last many years and I am starting to wonder if something hurt her on the island.

“Ruby, can I talk to you alone?”

I am confused why Tick Tock wishes to talk to me. I followed back into the room which was closed off. She sits down looking at me with a weak smile on her synthetic face. Something is bothering her a lot.

“Ruby, I need to be honest with you. Something happened to me on the island a month before we left. It’s why I came with you. I haven't talked to you or the others about it. Because I am very private about my life.”

I know she is very private about her life. It worries me that a month before we left she changed so much, got harder, and got more unwilling to smile even if it’s hard for her to smile with that cybernetic body. She used to have strong emotions.

“Remember the clockwork stallion you saw me with a lot?”

I nod.

“I was in love with him, he didn't share the love for me. The month before he told me bluntly he can’t feel anything. His last words to me were to become a true clockwork pony and remove your emotions. I see how I have treated you. I need to bring my emotions back.”

I remember her being open. I didn't notice her not having emotions. I may have known her for ten years but she kept to herself a lot of the time. Of course, she would show a set of emotions, smile, laugh, and try to be the most friendly she can be. But after asking her to leave with me for a month then this happened. I wonder if there is more she is not telling me.

“Alright Tick Tock I am sorry if I am causing you to be angry as well. You’re being a bit of an ass hole. I don’t blame you though I haven’t been very kind of a friend and caused you more stress.”

Tick Tock smiles hugging me tightly.

“It's okay, I just need to treat you better. I need to stop acting like everything going on is your fault. I think more of my issue is that everyone I knew before the war ended is long dead and I am here so far away from Equestria. I'm also in an ant tunnel with you. What is up with that?”

I laugh

“Tick Tock, have you just closed yourself off completely?”

Tick Tock shakes her head.

“Others I show my emotions, others I am very open with you though it was harder to do so. I am going to try my best to be that way again with you. If you allow me to, of course.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“You don’t need my okay for it. I just want you to be you, Tick Tock.”

Tick Tock chuckles

“So smart as it. I am going to help the others get ready to go. We need to make sure we find Hawk and Roll Roll before things get too bad for them.”

I nod heading back to the others. I hear a chitter turning to the ant male tilting my head. He keeps chattering and my cheeks turn bright red. I chitter back he is wanting to mate with me. He is a bit turned on for some reason. He chitters back and nuzzles into me I try to back away chittering very upset. Inyanga comes over smacking the male with her staff.

“SHOO Shoo if you want her don’t force yourself on her Shoo!”

She smacks the wall away and the male chitters insultingly. I buzz angrily, chittering, calling him a big baby and he walks off pissed.

“Did you understand Inyanga?”

She shakes her head.

“No, how he was pushing himself on you I figured it’s what he wanted. Can you go ask the queen if she can get us anything to eat before we leave? Cranberry. Ghost has been getting ready to go is Gama.”

Giving a nod flying to the egg chamber. The queen had many eggs in this chamber and she loved all her children. Her eyes focus on me while she looks at her drones that gather food and the eggs to place them in the chamber.

“Forgive me I don’t mean to invade this chamber of the future. My friends and I would like something to eat and some supplies as well if you don’t mind giving us some.”

The Queen nodded looking at her drones pointing with her claws. They followed and I stayed to talk with her. On the walls of the tunnel, I noticed old photos of how she used to look.

I had to ask because I didn't know what to think. But I had to ask.

"Listen, why did you leave the island?"

The Queen turned back to look at her former life. She had photos of herself. I finally saw her name Gold wings. She looked to be a warrior type. The warrior type is what came before the soldier type. But they were forced out of the DNA after many years.

“I left the island many years ago before the one known as Mimic showed up. I made friends and picked a mate in the name of the Queen. I left because I stopped believing Majesty was in her right mind. She allowed me to leave for myself and never came to say goodbye to me. It still hurts me to this day.”

I stared at the old life she had. She looked so much like me. But a little bit larger. It must have been hell for her to live there. Maybe she doesn't know.

"Majesty has been removed from the island. We had a hero come and rescue us. But she had her life ruined for saving us after all that happened."

Gold wing turned to look at me.

"So she finally has been beaten. I wish I could have been there to help you. But I can tell from a scar on your head. Did someone give her a device to control you? Since I know full well that she didn’t have the magic or power to do so. She told me that if she still had alicorn powers she would have power over us.”

I sigh deeply.

“Yes, some strange merchant. I have no idea who he was. He had the device and it was given to him by someone. I also learned he used to be part of the order of Mimic. I wish I could understand this order. I can't. I don't understand religion.”

I shifted a bit while I did my body cracked a bit removing dead skin from the body. It caused my wings to sound louder than normal. I feel my body changing just a bit being here. I switch my eyes to look for magic I can still see and feel. So I am not fully changed yet I do feel I will change if I stay around this colony for months.

“Tell me was it normal for the older broods to make families? The newer generations aren’t even born with genders most of the time. It only happens now if the queen has friends or emotions. So now that I know my brood mother was one of the older generations I see why now.”

Gold wing sighed.

"Yes, the older versions wished to make families. I made my family here with my mate that came with me. Every part of my old life is no longer in my brood. I had every part of my magic eater ability vanish from me. I can no longer taste magic. I can no longer see it.”

She went silent for a second after the words magic eaters aren’t born with genders anymore. It’s rare if it happens.

“I see that is a downgrade if you can’t have your emotions then you’re nothing. You need emotions to live. It doesn't matter what gender you are, you need emotions. If you can’t have those then there is no reason to smile. You might as well be a robot.”

I agree with her closing my eyes and looking back on what I did on the island. I hate everything I did and now many of my friends with me remember all I did. I look at Golden Wings. I don't know what to tell her but It’s hard.

“Well, it’s my fault my friends are here. I kind of pushed them into coming. Some strange magic wind changed our course and we ended up on the path of an old creation known as Project rainfall. It looks like it was made to bring back the rain to this land. It must be harder said than done for water to work here.”

"I understand."

Golden wing looked towards the old photos of herself and then back to me.

"This land is never going to heal until we find a way to free it from the curse. Luna placed a curse on this land. But I was not here during this time. It's something I wish I could help with. Wait I can."

The large ant went through her old gear. She opened a bag and in the bag was a horn. An old horn that we used to use to get others to fight with us. She brought it to me.

"I have kept this old horn for years. If you blow on it. It will call my followers to help you. I feel you deserve this because well. This land you need all the help you can get. So I wish to help you the best I can. I may no longer be a species like you Ruby. But you will always remind me of the island that made me so happy. I wish I could go back. I miss it. I miss the castle, I miss the warden. I miss it all."

There is so much I could tell her. I didn't know what to tell her. But I had to find a way to tell her.

"The warden died during the battle. He was replaced with another warden. A warden that is trying his best to help the island."

I went silent. It was getting depressing.

"I see that the warden had been there for years. To the point, the island formed. I may be part of the first version of the magic eater's made. But we didn't have the powerful abilities the new ones had. It made us weaker in many different things. I wish I could explain but it's hard to understand how to explain. I will have to explain another day. It's time to get some food for you and your friends. Then get you to the forest. The forest is not going to be an easy trek. The trek is going to be very hard to deal with."

One of the worker ants came in chittering. She said they brought some good clean food for the visitors and pointed her leg to me, chittering again. I look at the queen who has a surprised look in her eyes. She stares at me.

“Did one of my males make a pass at you and you insulted him?”

I weakly smile stroking the back of my head.

“I didn’t mean he was pushing himself on me. I didn’t care for it, sorry if I caused a problem.”

Gold sighs, shaking her head. She chitters back to the worker and the worker nods. She said she is not used to our ways. She chitters again to the worker. Tell him to come back to Ruby and say he is sorry and maybe if he is kind she will at least kiss him and that is understood? The worker nods, heading off.

“Sooo um…why do I have to kiss him?”

She chuckles.

“Your punishment and it will be in front of your friends. Now go get to them and make sure you eat enough for your trip.”

I fly off to the area the others are in. Tick Tock is talking to one of the ants. This ant knows how to speak pony or whatever they call it. He has a strange device on his leg. I can’t get a good look at it. Cranberry comes over setting a plate of meat and a big bowl of cooked soup.

“Eat you might not get a chance till we camp sweetheart.”

I smile nodding.

“Thank you. Oh. I see Inyanga used some of the flowers I gave you.”

Cranberry chuckles

“Yes, she hopes you like the taste of them.”

Dunewalker sits beside Ghost and Gama as the three eat and they talk among themselves. Waterspout is trying to speak like us. I can hear her talking to Inyanga.

“I.. try to..speak normally. It’s hard.”

Inyanga smiles, the soft exotic voice from the zebra seems to put the water hunter mare at ease.

“Don’t force yourself. It took me ages to learn how to speak pony. I was raised on how my kind talks like you.”

I relax laying down to eat using my second mouth to spit a strange substance on the plated food letting it melt so I can eat it down. It’s rare for us to do this but I feel it makes it easier than chewing. The worker comes over to me with the male in tow she chitters. ‘He is sorry he didn’t mean to come off as an ass.’

I chitter back. ‘I understand that I am not ready to mate yet. I don’t even know if I can have another set of eggs yet. I haven’t tried since my first batch back on the island.’

The warrior chitters. ‘Can you at least give me the kiss I want? Then I will leave you alone.’

My cheeks turn bright red. Inyanga taps Cranberries shoulder. I can tell they’re looking at me. I glance over at Tick Tock who is looking at me as well. I need to do this. I lean in and we both touch mandibles and kiss. It wasn’t a very long kiss and the warrior left with a happy stride.

I just stood there blushing deep red. I feel like a damn fool. Tick Tock comes over to me and smirks

“Oh, you’re a player of hearts aren't you little bug?”

She laughs. Her eyes are full of happiness since she allowed herself to feel emotions again. I laugh weakly when Inyanga comes over and smirks.

“You kiss someone in front of your mother?! How dare you little one how dare you?”

Inyanga giggles and Cranberry rolls her eyes coming over to me and stroking my head.

“Is my daughter done making a fool of herself now and making her mother smile.”

Cranberry smiles sweetly

“Or are you going to kiss all the males here to prove a point?’

I backed up.

“NO!! One is enough!”

They all laugh going back to what they’re doing and I sit down groaning. I hate being the butt of a joke. My second mouth comes out again for the soup and I just relax my mind while I eat. I am surprised I didn’t hear Dunewalker. I can hear her laugh at me though.

“Oi, that bug is the craziest creature I have ever seen. Eh, she makes this journey less boring.”

__________

The tunnels

It was at least an hour later after our meal. We checked everything in our supplies. The one leading us stopped near a strange tunnel.

“If you need to go to the bathroom, go now and ignore the smell in there.”

Cranberry heads into the tunnel

“OH, GODDESS!”

The bug laughs.

“I warned you.”

She comes back a little later and is led to another tunnel that has clean water running from a stream they dug into. The others went first. Inyanga didn’t look to have an issue with the smell. I noticed she even took a sample of some of it. I have a feeling it will be used in her brews. I was the last one to go in. I look around it’s a makeshift bathroom made for visitors

Looking down into the hole I see a lot of well crap and yellow fluid. I notice a strange amount of water comes through pushing it through the tunnel. I get over the hole and do my business. I haven't gone to the bathroom for a few days. Our kind can wait for a while before we need to go again. I get out there heading back to the caravan after I clean my hands. I get my armor on and reach into the bag to bring out the horn

I tap Crane's shoulder.

“Mother, can you keep this please?”

Cranberry nods, placing it in one of her bags. We head back to the tunnels and the bug is waiting for us. I noticed his pip-buck the last time I saw one of those Star Shooter had it on her leg. It didn’t work from what I remember right.

"How did you get that?"

The drone looked at me and then at the pip buck.

"Oh, we found them in a dead stable. We felt they would be useful to us. So it's helped us a great many time's that creatures tried to attack us. You kind of already has one with that armor you have on. I am sure that visor shows you if enemies are near or map.”

Wait, does that?

“I see you speak Equestrian”

The ant looks at Cranberry nodding.

"Of course, all of us know it. We don't always talk to ponies since most of them don't wish us to be around. I am sure you understand your Enclave after all. Many of your kind have tried to remove us from around this land. Most of us are from Equestria where they tried to clean us away from the land. But after the battle was over. We came here as quickly as we could. We didn't wish to do it anyway. We had to tunnel our way here. That's how we found the stable."

I am confused

“I am sorry I didn’t ask your name sir.”

The bug laughs.

“Oh, I am sorry I normally say my name It's Drone. Just a plain and simple Drone.”

We continue with the journey through the tunnels. Drone leads us through various tunnels some of them seem to have been caved in years ago. He looks over his shoulder, stopping real quick turning around, and pointing down this tunnel.

"Now listen to me closely, stay near me. These creature's that the ponies made are known as anteaters to us. But to you pony eaters. They were created to stop zebras from digging inside their compounds here. But that's the thing: the war never got that bad here. The war only got bad around Kludgetown and that town is still in the middle of a battle as we speak. Right now least there is at least a ceasefire but how long will that last? I have no idea."

I look down the tunnel I feel horror in my heart I take a deep breath trying to get air. I get air if I can but of course, I have my helm on so my lungs fill with fresh air and I feel released and we move on.

The tunnels were pretty large and open for ones like us. Gama can move the caravan through. The rest of us followed the ant through the tunnel. Ghost holds her hammer ready to protect us

"These tunnels were made years ago. The tunnel that we made for the forest was made way before the war ended. Since we helped ponies and zebras escape from Equestria many didn't wish to be there any longer. I don't blame them, the war did turn out worse than it was."

"Yes yes, it was.."

Duneawalker added and then added more.

"I may have not been there myself. But my family was. I don't always enjoy the fact that I remember everything that my family has seen. I even remember every wedding night. Of their pleasure and each time they had sex to make children. I have a feeling that my way of getting a little one wouldn't be as clean and wholesome as my family. But maybe it's wise for me to do it how I wish to do it."

Cranberry sighs it takes a while for her to speak.

"But sex during the wedding night is so amazing. I miss it with my late husband. He was an amazing stallion and always sat there and listened to me. He is even the one that told me to go into being a doctor. But I wish little pip would have thought it through rather than setting off that balefire bomb. I will never forgive her because she is the reason I have never seen my husband again." She sighed looking down. I wish I knew him. Maybe she will tell me sometime when she is not so upset about it. I have never seen her so upset though.

Inyanga had her eyes closed. She was breathing deeply.

"I have issues with closed spaces but I will be fine I promise you all" Oh great a zebra that is claustrophobic. Looked over to Tick tock who was shut down and Waterspout had her weapon hovering in her magic. She looked at me and in the wood, she was able to write in Equestrian. 'Nasty creatures in these tunnels. We have been in these tunnels before.'

I turned the eye forward sparkle on my helm. Grabbing Spitfire to be ready to fight. Just in case. But all I have seen were a few red dots not bothering us but going the other way.

"Careful, don't make too many sounds. if you do, they will come and try to attack."

The ant warned us

"What are they?"

As if it was an answer to my question the ant stopped coming through in front of a giant naked mole-rat. It had very sharp teeth and it turned to look at us but it couldn't see anything. It kept going on and following behind it were small little ones. The ant turned back to look at me.

"These creatures have been like this ever since the curse Luna placed on the land. They never turned this way because of a balefire bomb. Just a spell and of course balefire is like a spell as well. it's something that is not always happy or wise to even try to understand. Some have tried to find these creatures and rip them apart to see what makes them tick. But that will never happen."

I sighed.

"I agree.."

I feel concerned about what is going on here I am trying so hard not to do anything dumb and cause some of these creatures pain.

" I know it's not wise to even try to understand what has happened to this land. Most of this land is this way either because of magic or because of a spell that has caused it. I know that your race is an offshoot of mine, the magic eaters. But I doubt your Queen would be happy if you knew about that."

The ant chuckled.

"We already know about that. Since she told every single little one that has been born and has shown us how it works. But she doesn't know how to eat magic anymore. But she still has the magic blood. She showed us that. But many of us have been worried that this blood of hers might be her undoing."

But before we could do anything besides us a naked mole rat broke through the wall beside us. I quickly grabbed spitfire charging at the creature slicing through its body.

"NO! Don't"

The ant tried to say. But I sliced deep into the mole rat and it screamed in deep pain falling dead. Then I heard a roar of anger and pain.

I quickly look around and look at the ant.

“Run?”

"RUN!!"

I got back into the caravan while we started to run through the tunnel. The creatures may be blind but they could follow the sounds. Now we had to run and it made more sounds than normal. But I kept my sword ready. "I told you to listen to these things and don't wish to harm any of us. But if you kill one they will attack you till you leave the tunnels. They have your scent now thankfully they don’t have my scent.

My choices are now coming to affect those around me more. Gama had an issue with running so much. Ghost held her hammer tightly to help Gama help to keep him going. I feel stressed seeing my friends Ghost and Gama feeling so stressed. The minotaur holds the hammer tightly in her hands. Then in front of us, a large naked mole-rat roared and stopped us. I was concerned very concerned

"Who...dares murder my children?!"

The creature yelled in anger. How are all these things talking? The same thing didn't happen here as it did in Equestria. Is it like an island? The island had magic that changed creatures that happened here. That...would. Oh. I went forward bowing to them. The creature opened its eyes. I could tell they didn't seem fully blind.

"Ah, so it was you...But... wait.. why are you bowing?"

I took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for what I did. I didn't mean to harm your child. I'm not from this land. I'm from an island. But.. before you judge me. How can you speak like the ants here?"

The naked mole rats stared at each other. It took a while for the leader to speak to us as she talked to her followers. I could tell in her eyes she was a powerful creature and willing to do what she could.

"This land has been tainted by that balefire bomb that hit near here. Now lucky for us we just got hit by one. But mixed with the curse that Luna placed on this land. The land didn't take it well. So thanks to all that we got changed. Now maybe you could do something for me. Since you seem to want to fix what you did to one of my children you could be of great help."

I am so unsure what is going to happen. I need to do what they wish me to do. I take a deep breath to ask my question.

"I will do whatever you wish me to do."

"Good good. When you enter the forest. You will notice many old bunkers made by the ponies. Those bunkers as of late have been housed by strange robots that act like a cult. As a way for others to join the cult. They come to kill my followers or my children you could say. I wish you would clean at least one of those bunkers. Leave none of these robots alive or well you know. I'm tired of them coming for my kind in the name of some fool named the Storm King or thunder king whatever. I have never heard of him since. He never had a city made of slaves maybe?"

I sighed. "Alright deal. Now I have a question for you."

"Questions questions. You have been hanging around ponies for too long. Now again what is your question? This is the last one I will answer."

I felt upset that this creature felt better than me. I hated this so much that this creature pissed me off. But It was the only safe way to get back. So I need to do this so they don't kill me on sight. "My question: two of my friends have been taken. One looks like a mech and another looks like a bug. Have any of your followers see them?"

The creature thought for a moment. Yes I know she is not a creature but a mole-rat. But she seemed too high and might not tell me her name.

"Deep in the forest is another bunker. But this bunker is bigger than most. It was made before the war even started. It was built after the storm king did what he did to Equestria.”

The mole queen went silent, taking a breath before speaking again.

“They built it just in case another threat like him shows up again. Now, this bunker is bigger than the others they made in the forest. It was made to house an entire group of ponies if the worse things came to pass. But now something there has taken up home. So I don't doubt your friends are there. Now go deal with what I asked. Take your ant and then let him take you there. Then he will be welcomed to head back to his Queen."

I felt I caused a bit of a stir. I am happy it’s over now. I look at my friend's Tick Tock and look at me smirking. I can tell she wanted to be ruthless with what I just did. I look at Cranberry and she stares at me with a very disappointed look. Dunewalker seems indifferent. I look at Gama and he shrugs his shoulders. Ghost sharks her head I can tell I am disappointing my new friend.

Inyanga is very relaxed. She is making sure our Waterhunter friend is very relaxed. Waterspout looks over at me. She smiles sweetly at me. I can tell she knows how I feel. Inyanga nods to her whispering to her. It seems Waterspout can understand some words.

“Ruby..sister.”

Waterspout said those words for me. I feel touched one the guards get beside the tunnel as the others leave.

"Move along."

We head into the tunnels and I can tell my friends are about to be mouthy to me for what I did. Tick Tick walks beside me stroking my back with her hoof. I look up at her. I can see her emotions again but she is still good at hiding them.

“Ruby, you need to remember to listen. Remember is somepony tells you not to attack, don't attack remember this okay?”

I nod as Cranberry comes close to me, slapping the back of my head. I stare up at Cranberry. She doesn’t look very happy to me.

"Now I see why you two friend's got upset at you Ruby. Your determination that you have will destroy you if you allow it to."

She sighed."

But I can't stay disappointed with you forever Ruby. But you need to learn to talk to us first before you allow this to happen. So again before we do anything we talk about it as a group."

Dunewalker laughed behind us. I could tell she was having fun being with us.

"I agree with your adoptive mother buggy. We need to be ready to talk about what we do. Without talking to the rest of us is going to be a bad idea. If I'm going to follow you like these others. Then We have to work together and if we don't. I will make sure you know how stupid you are." She said, smirking.

"That is the best idea of logic. I will make sure she remembers we are all here.”

Tick Tock stares at me winking at me leaning in to whisper to me. ‘Don’t worry I won’t be too harsh about it unless you deserve it.’

"G...ood."

Waterspout tried to speak Equestrian. But it upset her more than she couldn't speak it. But at least she is learning how. I feel better for her learning just in case she needs to help us talk to the other water hunters. So hopefully it will be easy for her to learn. I would love to have a conversation with her.

"Remember I am here as well." Gama butted in.

"I will be with you for a while. So I will be part of these conversations. I'm sure even though she is silent right now. That your Zebra friend is willing to do the same."

Ghost laughs.

“Remember I am here too Ruby since I am part of your journey for the time being. I will demand we talk about everything before you do it. So don’t get me killed buggy, I will come back and haunt you forever.”

Inyanga chuckled.

“Sorry I was thinking of how Rex is going to court me. I look forward to being courted by a stallion who will do. I am very happy Cranberry Introduced me to him and convinced me to go to the dance so I can have at least a life of happiness.”

Cranberry smiles

“You’re welcome Inyanga.”

I sighed and I didn't know what to say taking off the helm to look at them. I didn't know what to think at all.

"Fine, I will do this for all of you. Maybe it will save me from getting hurt again by that robot."

Closing my eyes, I feel very angry with myself for not thinking.

"I already feel bad enough about losing the others. I do hope that we find them and they won't be hurt at all."

I look away from my friends. remembering what the robot did to me. Then I look back at what the Panna wanted to tell me and why they attacked me. I don’t know if I should tell them about the Panna. Maybe there is a good reason to not tell them.

We head on to get to the forest.

_____________

The Forest

We come out of the tunnel. The forest that the six mares of the past came through to find help to fight the Storm king. From what I have been told. But now the forest is dead with deadly-looking trees. Some of the trees look alive and they even scream in pain when the wind blows. I could smell the decay of the land. Seeing large creatures slowly moving around and some dying. The creature cries in pain. When I hear the wind again. It sounds like screaming of pain and death.

"This... Land...It's.."

Inyanga took a deep breath. This land hurt her so much. She puts a hoof to her chest. It hurts her so much and I don’t know why.

"It's in such pain. What caused this?"

Gama looked to Inyanga

"Trust me if I told you. You wouldn't be happy about it. But It was the zebras with a potion they dumped into the soil here. During the war, they hated Luna so much. They did so much to the land just to get to her. But so much was going on that Luna didn't even care. How do I know this? I have been to Equestria during the time of the war. Now, most think the big 52 was made because of that forest. No. It wasn't. It was just another way to get through the desert. A safer way."

Ghost sighs.

“I came through here once. I didn’t go inside the forest, I had to see what this was all about. This was like when I first came to this land. I wanted to journey explore and after what I saw in here I changed my job from exploring to a bouncer for the brothel.”

DuneWalker sighed and nodded.

"Yes, this is the problem with war. The zebras hated Luna. But not all of the zebras wanted to be part of the war. But they had no choice since. It was all about religion to most of your kind." Inyagana stayed silent, not sure what to think. Gama put up a camp placing torches around that had a magic fire being used. I looked at them and saw that these torches had been created by a pony named Kipkipe.

I heard that ponies name before. I turn to look at Gama. " So you have been to Tiria's heart?"

He nodded. "Yes, I heard stories of a creature that saved a large group. But there is something odd about that. They had a Minotaur with them named Little Hoof but he vanished. I heard rumors that he is in this forest. I was asked by the one known as Fleur to find them. But I highly doubt I will be able to find them. But there is another thing. I saw a pony named Star Shooter along with her friends."

He looked away, sighing.

"How was she?" I softly asked.

"I was told by her wife. That she will not wake for another few years. She was forced to relive an entire lifetime of memories from what I was told. I feel so bad for her. I saw her wife and the fact that one of her friends. Skull Crusher can't even go see her. Without losing it and trying to break everything."

I buzzed feeling depression take over. "I wanted to go see her. But I am happy to know that she is fine and alive. But what do these do exactly?" I took a good hard look at the torches. They had strange magic in them that made me. Feel alive and energized. I didn't know how that would work. But I enjoyed being near them because it felt like pure magic.

"These flames are magic. They keep most things at bay. They won't keep raiders at bay, some raiders feel sick by them. But from what Kip told me since she was a former daughter of former raiders. They helped her learn how to make these torches. But not only that she kept me from dying from a sickness." He said with a weak smile.

"Hmm, she sounds like a powerful healer. I wish I could go meet her myself and I can learn how she works. The last time I was there she was way too busy.”

Cranberry added it seemed she was a bit unsure about herself.

"I agree. Maybe she can teach me how to use this type of healing magic with my brews."

Inyanga chuckled at the thought. "

I used to think I knew everything about healing and wounds. But It seems I still have much to learn and more to learn is not a bad thing. A far-seer needs to learn everything so yes learning more."

"Hmm, maybe I should go check if there is any food in the forest."

Putting my helm on looking at the others.

"Is it okay?"

The others looked at each other.

Well, we could use some meat for you Ruby. But should we let her go alone?"

"Oi no. I will go with her. If that damn robot is here. I wish to take him out for what he did to her."

"Oh, Dune I didn't know you cared," I said with a cocky buzz.

"Oh shut up buggy. Don’t make fun of the fact I care about you even though I find it hard to show it. So you want to get something to eat and for the others? Then you come with me right now. Oh and consider this more training.”

I signed up for more training and I am not looking forward to it. When we go in I look back at Ghost guarding the way into the forest she waves at me.

“Get going Ruby so you can get some food for us.”

I nod quickly flying after Dunewalker

________________________

The dead forest

Dune Walker and I go into the forest alone. We took one of the torches. it was attached to Dune's side. It even touched her fur. But it didn't burn. It must have been a fire that is there magically but doesn't harm her. Now we got to see the forest. The trees looked deformed and some looked alive even screaming. The creatures of this land looked even more dead. I doubt I would find any food here. Deeper inside I could see one of the bunkers. But it looked like the trees tried to tear it apart.

"I am sure we will find some healthy creature's here. There is one spot in this forest that is healthy. But that would mean a long walk through some deadly forest. Are you willing to come along?"

I nodded. Dune Walker smirked.

"Well then let's go." The two of us went through the forest. I had my sword in my little legs. I didn't wish to grab the knife. I felt Spitfire did a better job.

Going through the forest we noticed the trees slowly moving and groaning from the wind. The creatures moving around the land looked so weak and the blood drained from their mouths. They stank as well but I am so happy I had my helm on so I didn't have to worry about the smell of it any longer.

"This is what the curse did to the land. Most said it was a potion. But the zebras did more than just a potion they cursed this forest. But there is one spot in this forest where it's pure. The six mare's along with another made a camp to hide from the Storm king. That part of the forest is protected because of that campfire. But be ready you could get attacked at any time.."

I nodded but what would attack me. Then I got my answer when a bear walked in front of us. The bear had tumors all over it. They bled puss and blood. The teeth looked gnarled, hooked, and bloody. The eye's fused shut and growled in pain and anger. The heart of the creature hung out of its chest while it beat slowly. I felt bad for this creature but it shot a strange vomit at us. Dune quickly got out of the way so did I and it hit a tree causing it to melt and scream in pain.

"Alright, a little buggy. I'm not going to help you with this. Fight it. If you wish to learn to protect this land you need to fight things yourself so go have fun.”

Why the hell would she have me fight this thing on my own? I didn't have a chance to argue as the creature charged at me and Dune. She got out of the way quickly, the same as me. I swing my sword at the bear. I was able to cut it but when I did it sprayed acid blood. It coated the blade. But it didn't harm the blade, it glued to the blade and made it steam.

I didn't know what to do. But it quickly turns to smack me with its clawless paw causing me to fly into one of the trees. Vines come from the tree and they start to speak.

"Trust in me.... Trust in me...Oh please trust in me."

Quickly I turned to slice the vine. While DuneWalker sat on a rock smoking from a strange cigar in her mouth that had black smoke coming out.

"You could help me here!!"

I yelled at her.

"Oh, you got it, just keep swinging.."

I buzzed in anger with my sword charging the bear and slicing into it again. The acid-coated the blade again. But why didn't it melt the blade? I have no idea but it looked like it was made to take on anything. The bear roared in pain. The heartbeat was harder and it sprayed blood all over the place. I didn't want to kill this poor thing. But before I could swing, a large sword sliced the bear's head off and I turned to see Dune Walker pulling the sword away and placing it back onto her back.

"Listen if you can't do what is needed then you will never be a hero. If you can't take it out. Oof."

She is tossed away by a bigger bear that roars in anger. She is hit by a tree and vines wrap around her to hold her there. I am sure she didn't wish to have that. But I had to fight the bear.

"Don't worry about me Buggy fighting the bear!!"

She just allowed the vines to wrap around her as they did. I turned to the bear holding my sword in my little legs. I felt my body burning from all the battles I did with the other bear. This one being larger I didn't know what to do then I thought of it. Since this helmet is connected to my brain. I felt maybe I should look for weak points. So I thought of finding its weak points.

The visor of the helm showed many spots that could work. But getting to them would be an issue. I charged while the bear charged. I was able to get one of the weak points in the joint of the foot. Slicing through it causes the bear to growl in anger. I didn't wish to kill this thing but it was time not to allow this thing to get the best of me. So to do this best I needed speed. Quickly placing Spitfire back into the holster. Pulling out the knife the blade shined brightly so did the gem on the hilt.

The bear charged again and with now the extra speed of using the blade. I sliced another weak point, the blood is attracted to the gem. Causing it to go into it and glow a bit. But of course, I did something stupid after the attack. It turned around quickly and smacked me with its claws digging into my armor. But it didn't get me. The armor slowly repaired itself. The next weak point is its eyes. Quickly I tried to aim for the eye but I missed gelding the poor bear. While it is, I have no idea what they called it. Male hood? I think it fell to the ground.

The bear backed up groaning in pain and it looked defeated slowly it limped away trying to get away from me. I was about to charge again but Dune Walker yelled out.

"NO!!"

I stopped and the bear just went on its way.

“ You may be trying to help this land without being called a hero. You still need to understand there is no need to murder. If you murdered any of these I would make sure I break every single rule in your ass.”

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that.

“Then what does it take to be a protector or in other words a hero do you even know? Even though I am not trying to be a hero I still want to protect this land.”

Dunewalker thinks for a second she chuckles.

“Being a protector or hero or whatever it takes guts it takes time and a heart to understand all those around you. Remember your choices will always affect others around you. It may not affect the cities or the world around you. It takes being a big rock in a small garden.”

"Now come along quickly. If we stand here too long, Even worse will come and try to harm us." I looked at my knife but I didn't see the blood at all so I didn't have to clean it. Place it back in the scabbard. Following my friend along the path. Seeing some bones of ponies and zebras. They looked ripped apart by the tree but some look still alive even. I went closer to one of the body's eyes opening up, staring at me.

"He...lp me..." I didn't think I could help them. All I could do was ask.

" How long... have you been trapped here?"

"200 or more years...I think. I lost...track.Please help me!!" The mare's hooves reach for me. DuneWalker pulled me away from the tree. She looked back to the tree and sighed.

"Don't let them be. There is no way to help them, believe me, we have tried so many times to help them." I looked back and saw a Camel.

"DuneWalker." She softly said. Dune Walker turned her head to see the Camel and her normal eye turned sad-looking away from her. "Please don't leave your mother behind!!" Dune Walker grabbed me, pulling me away from this group of trees they all screamed for us to help them. Reaching with their hooves paws and one was even a dragon.

"Help us...Help us."

Finally, after a while, we found the area that Dune Walker talked about. The grass was pure green, there were carnivores here. But they looked healthy. The tree's full of fruit and in the middle of it all is a campfire that has glowing stones. On the stones is the name of Twilight and her friends.

"The names of the six mares that left this magic spell with the rocks they brought over. Of course, they never returned here after this. But just because of their touch they protected this land without them even knowing. Since this happened it made this part of the forest protected from the curse and potion."

I was unsure of how to take this. This entire land cursed over a war? "So the ones that tried to win the war. But also caused many of the issues."

"That's the issue of many war's Buggy. You do what you feel you have to. To win but to even win the battle. It would cause the war to get worse. But that's the bigger issue. The bigger issue is the fact that most never know what they want. They might want peace. But deep down some are selfish as I looked at what Twilight did. She made me think she is selfish."

"Maybe wanting to win a war is selfish. But why not just move away from it?"

DuneWalker laughed at the words I just said.

"Listen, Buggy, most of the past is full of a selfish heart. But look at this.. look at the green beauty of the land. It almost wants to see the innocence of the land. Like the little pink ghost of 52. The beauty of that little filly shows how the past was.

" She groaned, stroking her head. She didn't wish to go on, I could tell.

"DunWalker... was that your mother?"

DuneWalker didn't look towards me, sighing and nodding. It hurt her to think about it from what I noticed. She stayed silent. Using her foot to start the fire in the campfire. It started to make the land glow brightly. Infusing the tree's into glowing beauty.

“Yes, she was my mother. I am going to be truthful to you little one. I had siblings and I was the lucky one and got called Dunewalker. Other camels went through and killed the rest of my family. Look, it is not safe here, let's get back.”

Dunewalker goes on ahead. I follow her hearing something behind me. I see Majesty, Mouse, and Cricket. They all stand there watching like they’re there. I try to move away while Majesty shows up in front of me.

'Trying to run from your mother, my little creation?”

She smirks.

“OI Ruby come on.”

I look around, they're gone and I follow Duneawlker back to the camp. I hear her voice again turning to see them all again.

"So...'' I

turned to hear the voice and see Her Majesty.

"My little minion is wishing to be a hero like the one that dethroned me."

My eyes went wide. I grabbed my sword and she laughed, spreading her wings and laughing softly.

"Awww poor little bug thinking that she can hurt me. But I created you. I made your race."

She came closer to me. I didn't know what to think. I was full of fear and she got closer and then I closed my eyes. The nightmare vanished when I opened them. It shook me up seeing Majesty.

___________

The camp

The nightmare I had made me feel scared. But I had to get back to the others. It felt real though when I got back they already had dinner ready. But I stayed away from the others watching them. I knew that I would either lose them during this journey or fail.

"Something wrong, little bug?"

I turned my head to look at Inyanga.

"Have you ever felt that there is no hope for the past and the future?" I was asking a Zebra about hope. Maybe they didn't believe in hope or fate. Maybe they did but the hope is all I can think about at this very moment. She looked at me and I couldn't lie to her.

"You saw something in those woods didn't you?"

Inyanga asked like she knew what I was thinking. I looked away and I didn't know what to think. Being a bug with little legs able to carry guns and swords.

"yes yes, I did... I saw Majesty. But I think it's either my brain feeling unsure about what I am doing or the guilt has fully hit me. I feel so worried about my friends. I don't think they will be okay, maybe they won't be."

The gentle old Zebra wrapped her forelegs around me. I was confused about this gesture.

"You don't need to be guilty my little friend. We won't be going to the bunker till you're ready. From what Gama told us while you were gone. There are two keys to the bunker we need to go in. To get those two keys we need to go through the bunkers full of the robots. Are you ready to deal with whatever we find in there?"

I wasn’t sure what to think.

"I doubt I will be ready for whatever is coming."

"I doubt no pony or creature will be ready for what is coming, Ruby. Heck, I am going to give myself to a stallion named Rex who I barely know but.. after being stuck in that cave most of my life do you blame me for wanting to enjoy a stallion?"

I stare at the middle-aged zebra.

"What do...sex and well your love life got to do with how I feel at the moment?"

I didn't understand this at all maybe because. My kind normally doesn't understand the pleasures of the flesh. But that's the thing we don't have. We don't even understand the idea of dating but just mating once and eating the mate. But maybe sooner or later we have to do a different thing.

Inyanga laughed softly.

"I'm just keeping you on your wing little Ruby. You don't need to keep feeling sorry for yourself. If you keep feeling sorry for yourself. I will smack you over your head with my staff here. Are you willing to keep feeling sorry for yourself?"

I shook my head.

" No no, I don't need my head to hurt after being smacked by a staff. So thank you for caring Inyanga. I am very sorry if how I am acting is making you feel bad."

The old zebra laughed softly.

"Don't worry about it, little Ruby. Now go to the others. I am going to go inside the forest and gather some herbs and whatever I can to make brews."

I nodded. I didn't want her to do it. But maybe she could take care of herself. Of course, she could. She is a farseer after all. I don't know much about them but she seems to be able to handle herself. Slowly I flew to the others and a bowl of steaming food was waiting for me.

"Ah, there you are. Get out of your armor and sit down and eat with us."

Cranberry demanded. I just smiled getting out of the armor and sitting by the others and slowly started to eat the food. Look around seeing those I care about even if one of them is Dune Walker. But I am starting to see what Star Shooter meant. Don't allow yourself to be worried about the future or the past. Focus on the present. Even though every time she made a mistake. She always looked back on the one that helped her through part of her life.

So this is what I am seeing. This is the family I want. The family I love. Thank you Star Shooter thank you for everything. I shall honor your memory.

Footnote: Level up

New perk added: Acid sword. Thanks for coating your sword Spitfire in acid blood. The blade if it touches the skin will burn the wound. But it doesn't work on robotic creatures or ghouls.

Next Chapter: Chapter Nine: Bunkers of hell Part one Estimated time remaining: 45 Hours, 28 Minutes