All stories have the start of the story, the middle of the story, and the story's ending. All stories talk about all lives within. Sometimes though there are stories of those in the background who are forgotten. The ones in the background are normally always there, just their story is never told. It’s rare when a story tells the full truth.

Written by Crosser

Mellow

Three years before Ruby wakes up

It’s been an eventful year in Peace Rock. My husband and I normally work on trading vessels going through the old shipping lanes. It’s been so long since I have been a landlubber. In Peace Rock, I built a cafe in one of the old buildings. It took a while for me and my husband to be accepted into this community. I heard stories of a female magic eater like me named Ruby Glide.

She made a pretty big name for herself here. She also is heavily loved here by what I learned about her though I wasn’t very kind about her. So I upset some friends of hers and it took my husband to tell them she doesn't mean it.

It’s just a normal every day I make food for the one known as Lotus and Hunter. Two of the zebras who live in Peace Rock. I made friends with them even though my view of their friends Ruby Glide is not the best.

“So Lotus, how is that husband of yours?’

Lotus chuckles

“He is a good boy. He misses Ruby though he loved making her blush when he hit on her. I miss the kind gentle soul too.”

I keep silent about how I feel about her. I am just a simple drone or worker to others. I have been this way all my life and to make myself feel useful I trained myself to cook and my husband Rockey. Trained himself to be a speaker to help me get those who wish to eat my food.

“What about you Hunter?’

Hunter shrugs her shoulders.

“Hunting is not the best right now with the Storm king's minions around. They’re making the best game run away or they kill them. So it’s not going to be easy to find the best meat.”

I don’t care for the fact I am here. I am here because my brood queen asked me to leave the island with my husband. So we can show ourselves to others. So we worked on various trade ships and then I came here. A large soldier magic eater comes over to me.

“Hey, love Gem is looking for you.”

I glance up at Rocky.

“What does she need of me now?”

Rocky shrugs his shoulders.

“She is gathering many from the island. She got many of your brood sisters to join her.”

I am confused why my brood sisters follow Gem. I notice Gem is not alone when she comes. A strange troll creature I heard who resided in Dream Valley. Comes with her, his name is Beezen.

“So you got married a few days ago and now you’re bugging me about something else Gem? What do you need?”

Gem shifts looking at Beezen.

“Let him talk.”

Beezen comes to me, opening his book to read.

“I am a judge of the stars. The ones who went after Ruby and I know from what I learned about you from Gem. You have an issue with her new adoptive daughter.”

I buzz angrily.

“Of course, I have issues with Ruby. She is weak and many of us can’t be controlled by Majesty anymore. She hasn’t evolved the change in her system to block the ability to stop the mind control.”

Beezen sighs.

“Listen, you know the airship collecting sand and dust outside of Peace Rock?”

I nod when I got here I saw the airship. I have been told by Mrs.Slice the airship will take a lot of work to even fly. It was never finished and it would take many times to get it to work.

“Listen I came to you Mellow because we need a cook for the airship. It would mean you have to take apart your cafe here. Put all you own in that airship and then learn to live it for our trip to Dream Valley.”

I am confused.

“Why would I even agree to this?”

Gem smirks

“Because I know you from the time we knew each other before I got married to Cranberry. You miss going on the trade vessels in the dangerous trade lanes.”

I buzz flapping my wings showing my anger.

“Okay Gem you win this time. But when are we leaving?”

Gem sighs.

“We are leaving when Ruby wakes up from her cocoon.”

I grunt and I don’t argue it took a few months to take apart my cafe and I found myself a very nice kitchen. It was going to be a kitchen back when this place was being worked on. With the help of Rocky and some from Peace Rock, we work to get it all set up.

“Hey, I found a doctor.”

I glance up at Gem.

“Oh someone I know?”

Gem shook her head.

“All I know about her. Her name is Melody and she is in a relationship with two stallions she is leaving behind.”

Yeesh, I go back to work after Gem leaves and when things are finally set up. I make myself a place to sleep and a place to rest in the back like a small room. I don’t need much room really and I hear a hoof knock on the counter.

“Excuse me, is the kitchen ready?”

I glance up and see a yellow mare. A mare who has the same color as me. She has purple eyeshadow and a lot of makeup on her face. I don’t understand why ponies do this to themselves. They have so much beauty they don’t need to cover it up.

“Not fully I am Mellow you are?”

The mare smiles.

“I am Melody, the new doctor of this place.”

I nod I didn’t care about this mare. I have a feeling though I will get used to her later.

“Are you what is called a magic eater?”

I glance up at Melody again.

“Yes, I am what is called a drone or a worker to a brood queen. I am sorry if the kitchen is not fully in service yet.”

Melody chuckles.

“Don’t worry about it. I mostly came here because Gem wanted me to meet the crew.”

I was about to speak when I hear one of the cannons go off up in the weapons area of the airship.

“FUCK!! These cannons are fucking worthless Gem how dare you force me to work on these?!”

Gem laughs.

“Oh, hush Gunpowder I told you this wasn’t going to be like the base you protect by yourself.”

I sigh deeply

“Are you okay Mellow?”

I sit by Melody on one of the stools.

“No, not really, I lived on the island for so long and got to know Gem before she got married. I am older than I look. My egg was laid seventy years ago. But my magic eater is twenty years old. We age slower than your kind do. I have known her ever since then. The island was full of strife and pain. I left my husband to work in trading and other things. I didn't wish to get in, so I went back to the island and learned she got married. Then my queen and Gem told me to go to Peace Rock and wait.”

Melody smirks

“So you feel you’re being pushed all over the place and who is this Ruby?”

I explain to her who Ruby is.

“Hmm, this Ruby sounds like someone who is very lost. What should I do if I meet her?”

I smirk

“Buck her.”

Melody chuckles

“Hmm I may love to sleep with my sex but I won’t do it unless I am asked.”

My eyes open wide.

“Wow, you’re a very open mare.”

Melody laughs.

“Well I used to work in brothels before becoming a doctor so this way of acting is pretty normal for me.”

I laugh

“So have you ever thought of getting married?”

Melody shrugs her shoulders.

“Maybe I need to go find the sickbay and get everything ready. Take care, Mellow.”

After that meeting, I felt maybe we would become family. I helped the other workers to get the wood and use it to add to this airship. It was just going to be metal and now it’s a flying boat. Things changed, I became calmer and I got to know my new family. Three years passed and not much changed. I was just the cook and then that fateful day Melody and Ruby met.

I was leading Ruby to the kitchen to get some food. Ruby and Melody bumped into each other. Melody bucks Ruby into the wall and I stare at what just happened. I didn’t want it to happen. I learned later after everything she was used by the male magic eater to just give her little ones. Who will be born after she is long gone? I felt damn now I regret how I thought about her. After all this, I talked with Melody.

“So are you seriously going to pursue this with Ruby or is she going to be another one of your toys like you had over the last three years I have known you.”

Melody chuckles.

“I guess I do deserve having this talk since every male or female you saw me with was just a fling.”

I nod

“Ruby is not a fling. She is a gentle creature who needs someone to be there for her to even marry her.”

Melody stares at me

“I don't, I could be that one. I am too used to living my life like a brothel.”

I notice Beezen come up behind Melody patting her shoulder.

“I see more in you than just that Melody. I see a gentle soul who is willing to become a girlfriend to wife with her. She needs someone to be there for her.”

I stare at Beezen and so does Melody.

“No offense Beezen I barely know her. She is so cute though and I claimed her as one of my flings. But…if she needs more than that I could try.”

Beezen chuckles.

“You two will be locked in this ship together for a year to Dream valley and a year back from it. So much could happen.”

I take a deep breath and many months pass we fight a battle to get a city back for Rassie. I bring out my kitchen to make food for those fighting. I hear the battle is going well till we all see a big beam going into the sky.

“Oh no..”

I glance at Rassie.

“What?”

He stares at me calling his troops

“That is not Equestrian magic, that is old Witch magic. Get there Ruby was there.”

I am just a simple cook. I am no warrior. I got help from some of my sisters to get the kitchen back into the airship. Because I have a feeling we are close to ending this battle. The battle didn’t only finish but we left again.

We go through a green acid cloud and I can’t use the water in the airship because it’s been contaminated from the acid seeping in. So I need to find a way to boil the water to remove the acid and then make a good dinner.

We make it out and get to junk island. I finally get my entire kitchen updated and go to the wedding of Melody and Ruby. As one of Melody’s bridesmaids. A day later after all is said and done.

“What is going on?”

Gunpowder looks at me shrugging.

“I don’t know Ruby was found guilty of something and now is in their arena. I think we better go and support her.”

I do just that, tell her to fight and then I go back to being a simple cook.

I give the journal back to Beezen

“Is that enough?”

Beezen chuckles.

“Yes, I might ask you to do more since this is just the start of the journey.”

I smile.

“I thank you for giving me the chance to express my mind.”

Beezen chuckles

“Of course. Who should I give this journal to next?”

I think a moment

“I know why not Melody.”

Beezen nods.

“I feel it might be best to do those who are here first. I will go see who is willing to write in this.”

I nod

“Thank you for giving me the chance.”

Beezen nods.

_______

Beezen

I look at my journal and leave Mellow to her work. I think of those who are just in the background of this vessel who may speak their minds but never really expressed themselves. We have so many souls within here. They just go back and forth but are pretty much family.

I head to the gunner room seeing Gunpowder clean her new guns and get them ready to go. The camel looks at me. Her red eyes glow while her fur burns from the fire from her guns. She smells of the powder.

“What can I do for you Beezen?”

I walk up to her offering my journal.

_____________

Gunpowder

I stare at the book. I am confused about what he wants with this book.

“What do you want from me, judge?”

Beezen smirks.

“Write your life story.”

I take the book looking at the title Rainfall. I open it up and see writings from many here. Including Ruby. This is like the story Little Pip wrote and others. Is this what Beezen is doing, taking the writings and making a book out of them?

“How long have you been doing this and how did you get stuff from Majesty?”

Beezen smirks

“I asked her kindly to write about her life.”

I just stare at the troll

“So even though she is evil, same with the Storm King they wrote in here for you?”

Beezen chuckles

“It’s in the stars if they’re evil or not, my friend, same with Wheel Tread. What you see is just now only being written by the future of the story, the middle of the story, and the end of the story.”

I groan not this shit again.

“Okay I get it I will write my life story down in it.”

I take the book going to my powder desk pushing it out of the way. It started a hundred years ago. I was born in an old camel fort near the Equestrian Crystal Empire border. We build the base so long ago during the attack of Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon told my family and others who resided in the base before she was sent to the moon to wait for her return.

I was born after everything was said and done with the war. Only a few remained so many remain loyal to Nightmare Moon or Luna. I was twenty and the last camel alive in the base. I was found maybe a few months after by ponies exploring the dead world. I stood above the walkway above the gate.

“Halt!! Who do you serve, the princess of the Moon or the princess of the Sun?’

The group of ponies looked at each other.

“We serve neither there is no princess. There was a war to end all wars and the world ended in fire.”

I was confused. I was told it was just yesterday when the princess herself returned from the moon.

“What do you mean by ending in the fire?”

The leader of the ponies explained to me about the war between the zebras and the ponies. How bad it got and the release of balefire bombs. I was horrified that I spent the first twenty years of my life stuck in this base alone. Because of a lie.

“Look, we don’t want to cause any problems. We just saw this empty base and thought no one was living here. Do you mind opening the doors and maybe we can help you?”

I didn’t argue with the ponies. I opened the door for them. The leader told me don’t trust every pony I see and don’t trust those who would take advantage of me.

“I do have a question for you.”

“Gunpowder.”

The stallion cocks his eyebrow

“Excuse me?”

I chuckle.

“Sorry, my name. I was never named because I was just born and my mother died of sickness. My father raised me and just said hey camel!! Since my kind has a genetic memory I know what my mother wanted to call me.”

The leader tilts his head.

“Gunpowder?”

I shook my head

“No mistake. My father and mother weren't even in love I was just a baby of well random sex and that’s it.”

The stallion whistles.

“So why Gunpowder then?”

I chuckle showing the tips of my fur on fire just a bit.

“Because I tend to play around with guns and powder and then boom. It’s what happens when you’re alone for so long. Now mind telling me why you’re here?”

The stallion chuckles.

“A group of ponies found an old list of what could be in this base. Ammo medicine supplies a powerful weapon?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“None of that here and I have been here all my life all that is here is food and the dead. I used up the medical supplies and the only powerful weapon is an aged cannon which is now frozen over.”

The ponies look at each other. I can tell one of them is laughing.

“How do we know she is telling the truth?”

I smirk

“If I wasn’t I would have killed you right now and used your skull to drink my tea and drink your water.”

The pony gulps.

“Now before you open your mouth again. Remember I let you in here instead of following the orders of Nightmare moon and just killing you. Now are you willing to be a smart ass more or are you going to be a good boy?”

The others look at the young stallion he nods.

Many days later I gather what I have left of food and supplies. I grab my weapons. I heard stories of an island called the island of exiles far off the coast of the land my kind are from. I know it’s going to take me like five to ten years just to walk the entire way.

I let the ponies do what they wanted to the base and the leader gave me a path to walk and warned me to at least keep weapons ready. They also warned me about a Silver pony walking the paths calling himself the Silver Gunner.

“Any other advice?”

The stallion smirks

“Make sure you look through everything you pass. If you see a station, a factory, or a trash can, look through them. Make sure you do whatever you can.”

I start my walk the day after. Not much went on. I met traders and even some raiders who just left me alone. I made friends with a group of raiders a month along the road.

“Are you sure you won’t run with us Gunpowder?”

I chuckle

“Na your way of living is not for me. Thank you for not killing me on the spot but I got a question for you before you get high on drugs.”

A raider mare glances at me.

“Oh, what do you need?”

I bring out a map and show them where I am heading.

“Do you know a safe path so I don’t run into raiders who will attack me on sight and try to kill me or rape me as you tried with me?”

The stallion sighs

“Look drugs do a lot of things to your head and I have a feeling we would have if you didn’t kick our asses.”

I chuckle

“Anyway, do you know the best path?”

The mare takes a knife covered in blood and draws a line.

“Take these paths to avoid the Hoof as much as you can. Then head down this way you should be there in at least five years. Being raiders we aren’t always welcomed in areas of living. So you might be able to go into areas we can. So take care and If we do see each other again. Please don’t kill us.”

I smile nodding.

I headed down the road they told me to and I was told by a survivor that a Silver pony killed them all and she is the only one left alive. I met her after she found a way to a checkpoint camp. This was like a month later I found her and I felt awful about this fact. I couldn’t take her with me and I walked my path again.

The first three years were just a simple walk. I didn’t do much of anything but I traded and met ponies and zebras who didn’t do much to me. I got to the final stretch of Equestria and all I had to do is walk a path through an old forest. I was told this forest is full of old monsters and creations of the war.

I walk through the forest. There is another way I could take the big 59 but I don’t see myself doing that long road in a desert. I walked through the forest and I didn’t have to deal with anything. From what I learned no monsters are in this forest yet anyway.

I made it to the desert I wanted to be in. I walked through the desert to get to the path I wish to go and I made sure I had enough water with me. I follow the path and I get lost making it to a place called Hard Rock and that is when I met them. I get into the Hard Rock and I stop by what looks like a church.

“Greetings child, how may the order help you?”

I turn to stare at the camel wearing a cloak like a priest. I just stare at the female camel.

“You are?”

The camel chuckles.

“Why just a simple daughter of the order of MImic.”

I snort

“Okay so? I am trying to find Kludgtown so I can find a boat. Can you lead me there before I laugh at you?”

The camel sighs, shaking her head.

“Just follow the road to the west and you will find the port town. Are you sure you don’t want it?”

I cut her off.

“Shut up and tell your fake religion to someone else and say goodbye.”

I walk out of the town walking down the path.

I finally made it to Kludgetown it was just another boring walk. Around this time when I walked through the land it. I make it and many years follow I meet Gem and again nothing happens to me.

Then I get a job 100 or so years later and I am now a gunner for an airship.

“Is that good enough?”

I offer the book back to Beezen and he just stares at what I wrote.

“But you didn’t go into anything about what happened to you during your walk. You barely talked about your life on the island.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I am just a camel known as Gunpowder my life and what I witness is my own if that is not bad enough too bad. When I get married and have children they will have my memories and they will know what I went through. Now you're done?”

Beezen closes the book and he doesn't seem upset or bothered by what I said. I think he understands.

“Many will read this later Gunpowder many will read this many years from now.”

I roll my eyes.

“Beezen I could give less a shit what readers will think of me later on. I am just a simple camel who grew up alone. I have friends and I have enough time to make a family. I just need to find the right camel or stallion. Let me do this my way. Someday I may write what I believe in my old journal. But for now, my thoughts are my own.”

I stare at the troll. I know my reaction to him wanting more written in his book is not enough for him. But I know full well when all is said and done more will be written in his book and I don’t care.

“Thank you anyway Gunpowder. I will go see if Oil is in the core.”

_______

Beezen

I left Gunpowder's place of work and the place she sleeps. I swear every time I see her she gets more and more unwilling to talk to me. I do know why though I am a judge of the stars. She has been told sooner or later I will turn on them. So she doesn’t see the need of making me a friend. Because she is correct when the stars call me it will be my time.

I walk down the halls of the ship hearing heavy work in the core. I head inside to see Wicker helping Oil.

“I am sorry for pushing myself in your relationship with Gizmo.”

Oil chuckles.

“I don’t mind Wicker as you can tell I enjoyed it. I will talk to Gizmo about it. I hope you’re not too upset by her reaction when she woke up.”

Wicker laughs.

“I have never seen a turtle blush that hard before. Oh, Beezen, how can we help you?”

Wicker lowers wrench.

“Oh I am here to talk to Oil but since you’re down here maybe you can do this too if you wish. Anyway, where is Gizmo?”

Oil shrugs her shoulders.

“She said something about some inventors club. I think she is more embarrassed about what happened between the three of us.”

I laugh.

“Well, love can be strange. Pulling another into the circle can be even odder. I am sure she won’t care as long as you two are there for and don’t expect too much sexual intercourse from her.”

Oil smirks

“I never do, I just treat her like a friend and one who has given me so much to be happy about.”

Wicker shrugs her shoulders.

“I am just a kirin who had no friends. But I do now and two I could give my heart too if Gizmo allows me to.”

I set the book down on the table.

“Beezen, what do you wish us to do?”

I glance at Oil.

“Well, I would like you to write in the book about your life from start to now. I had Mellow and Gunpowder do it but Gunpowder refused to go deeper into it. She just said I have no right to know.”

Oil snickers.

“Typical reaction from a camel wanting to protect their memories. My life wasn’t that impressive Beezen. Why do you want me to do this?’

I pat Oil's shoulder.

“It’s just for those of the future who will read your journey and exploits.”

Oil opens the book seeing the spot where it talks about her, Gizmo, and Wicker. She turns to look at me.

“Did you watch us Beezen?”

I laugh

“I just watched you three get drunk. I figured out the rest of what was going on in that bedroom.”

Wicker laughs.

“Hmm I could tell you but I don’t want to be too rude about it.”

Wicker smirks.

Oil blushes I could tell she is blushing from her body language since it’s not easy to see it through her fur. Oil takes the pen from the book opening to a blank page.

“Okay, I will write Wicker you wish to write next?”

Wicker nods.

_________

OIl

Back during the war, my mother lost her husband. She was captured by zebras after her platoon lost during the war. She wasn’t pregnant with me yet and she was given as a sexual slave to the zebra commander. I remember what was said to a T.

“So I was told you were a thorn in our side. Please explain to me why you fight us?”

As I remember the memory of my mother. She didn’t say any words for a while the zebra commander treated her like an everyday creature. He didn’t abuse her, he didn't harm her, he didn't beat her. He just let her ease herself into everything. He set a plate of food down for her.

“Listen I know you camels well, you have a genetic memory and you have a cave full of your history. I have been asked to find it. Truthfully though I don’t care, you just seem like a lost soul.”

My mother was named Field.

“I…I am just named Field. I am a simple medic and I never wished to join this war.”

The stallion chuckles

“War does many things to us. I didn’t want to come to this war either. I didn’t want to invade your lands. We are mostly in this land to fight the ponies and your kind seems to hate us.”

From what I remember from the memory she let him bed her to steal information from him. She sent the information off after a while. A week or so later camels broke into the base and put the zebra and ponies leaders in a group. A camel leader of the camel army speaks to both leaders and they did this without killing

“This is how it’s going to go down. We don’t give a shit about your war. If you wish to be here then be here without your pointless war. This is our land. Your ponies and zebras are welcomed here. But we will not allow you to turn this land into a war zone.”

My mother sat near the zebra leader after all was said and done.

“If it makes you feel any better you respect me more than my husband did. My husband beat me when I didn’t do what he demanded.”

The zebra looks up at my mother.

“I would have never treated you like a slave or below me. To me, you’re a female creature who deserves to be treasured and treated like a gem and always held close and loved.”

My mother wrapped her paws around the stallion.

“I wouldn’t mind becoming your wife if you don’t mind getting to know me.”

Many years later I was born. The reason why I have oily patches in my fur is that I am half zebra. Of course, I look more like my mother. The only feature of zebra I have is the splotches which are meant to be striped. My mother and father loved each other very much and after the bombs fell including the one in the salt flats they took me away to an island far off the coast.

I remember when I was five years old my mother and father were dying. I stood there watching some sickness take them. I held my father's hoof remembering what he told me.

“You’re a mix of Camel and zebra my dear Oil. You have a chance to bring our species together like your mother and I did. Please remember me and remember everything your mother told you. I promise you the stars will be watching you and I will be one of those stars. I love you, my little Oil.”

My mother never got her last words; she died soon after we made it to the island. I did all I could to help those who are here to build a community in the old buildings. We were told never to go into the medical hospital. Soon after Gem came to the island we all came around her.

Growing up I became an engineer from very old books. Gem built a school for many of us and after a while, a brood magic eater queen joined the island and all I could say was that’s how Mellow was born. Despite us all living on the same island a lot of us never really made friends.

More time passed Mellow was born from a big group of female brood I got to know a bit. But I was working on a core over the years. A core I would use to put on a ship to go on a journey. I was very secretive about the core.

Life for me wasn’t as simple as most would think. Making things didn’t give me the ability to find food. It took relying on the island to do it for me.

Many years later I was working on the core still touching it up and this was before I left for the airship. Gem came to me after she got married.

'Hey Oil you here?’

I come out of the bottom of the core.

“What's up?”

Gem helps me up and I notice she is not alone. I see the healer who is with her and Beezen. I took a deep breath wondering why they were invading my space.

“So how can I help you and your wife and this troll?”

The healer stays silent.

“I am here mostly because Beezen is here. You know Ruby right?’

I snort in anger at the name.

“What about her?”

Beezen comes over to me.

“Soon she is going to wake up and we need your expertise in engineering to get the airship flying.”

I glance at the photo of my dead husband and my dead son. I didn’t wish to go deep into what happened to those who are reading. Let's just say Hope is a deadly thing.

“Okay for you Gem I will.”

It took so long to work on this airship to get it ready. I became close with the family of the airship. When Ruby woke up I didn’t do much. Mellow came to me most of the time to bring me my food. We went to the land of Abyssinia and after that, I did so much to help Gizmo get used to the airship and I fell for her.

I am sorry I don’t go deeper into it more but right now it’s all I wish to talk about thank you to those who will read in the future.

_____

Beezen

Oil lowers the book.

“Most of what is left is very private Beezen and I am sorry again it’s a camel thing. I can’t fully go into everything like you want me to maybe another time. But I don’t fully trust you.”

I sigh softly.

“I understand Wicker are you willing to write what you can”

Wicker smirks

“I thought more about it. I don't have an impressive life to talk about. My father died being stupid I was an outcast to my brother and I was a pirate. If you do this again when we get to Dream Valley Beezen I might be more willing to do it. I am sorry for leading you astray.”

I laugh.

“Don’t worry Wicker. I can understand perfectly why you feel your life won’t be that interesting to others. Now I will do this again after we get to Dream Valley. I think for now too many are wanting to get off the island and are too worried about other things.”

I walk back to my room sitting on the chair. The pen that I brought back to life a while ago gets out of my pocket.

“I wish I could have helped you more Beezen but I can’t force others to write as you want.”

I chuckle

“I can understand I am sure they will be more open to this later and the rest of the community in this airship might be willing to do it. Melody is too busy, the others are too busy with everything else.”

I take the pen to write.

There are stories even being written now. Every story has its ending and right now this journey will come to an end and come back when we get to Dream Valley.

No level

No perk

Author's Note

To let everyone know when the crew and others trust Beezen more there will be another chapter. It will have Mellow, Oil, And Gunpowder but also Wicker Gizmo Melody and the others. The only one who won't write in the book is Ruby. So I will be introducing more of the crew soon.