Fallout Equestria: The Metal Ring.

Chapters

Intro: Cargo and water.
Chapter One: Repair jobs
Chapter Two: The docks
Chapter Four: Ekhaya
Chapter Five: The secret of Topaz
Chapter Six: The job part one
Chapter Seven: The pipes and Changlings part two
Chapter Eight: The old goat part three final
Chapter: Nine: The past
Chapter Three: Topaz and the deal

Intro: Cargo and water.

Snow Flight's Journal Log: The day the world ended.

Since the start of time, Ponies used the stars to find their way on the water itself. The stars of Luna's night helped even Zebras and other race's in this lovely world of peace and friendship. Of course, a war broke out not so long ago. The shipping lanes have been changing from normal ships. Then to flying airships that would allow the cargo to be moved without having to go through the water. But some ponies even zebras refuse to change with the times. A few keep their old cargo ships. Some have been upgraded to run on magic gems. Some use coal as steam to go across the land. One of the recently upgraded cargo ships the Wind Skipper the captain. An earth pony stallion is called Sea whisper. Since he has been on the water all his life.

It’s not just ponies, that have these cargo ships. It's Zebra's as well the same as Griffin's. But with the war on. The trading lanes are still open. The Zebra and the Ponies of the cargo ships have a lingo that they don't care what their countries are trying to do. The cargo ship family of the captains. Sea whisper has been away from Equestria for three years. His ship is mostly full of ponies that wished to get away from the army. Some would call them traitor's for going awol or worthless shit for running away from their mission.

It was the day when the world ended. But of course, they didn't know what was going on at the time. it was just normal docking. After five years the captain of the Wind Skipper wanted to go see his family. But it took time for them to get into the docks. He heard alert's the rest of his crew looked up to see the contrails. At first, they had no idea what it was. Then a large explosion with a green mushroom cloud filled the air. The place they were at. The docks of the Hoof.

" Get us back out to sea!!" He screams

The others of his crew stared at their captain. He pointed with his hoof again.

" Out to sea now!!"

He trots to the wheel and started turning them around. Watching while more bomb's kept falling. It was his son's 5th birthday he promised his son. He would be home. The wind Skipper turned creaking and groaning from the force of moving. He set the detestation for the shipping lanes in the middle of the neutral sea. As he looked back he heard sobbing from his crew. He needed to stay strong he closed off his emotions for the time being. But he knew that sooner or later he would need to cry. But he looked as Equestria burned behind him. A deadly fire that he knew would never make it out to sea. Maybe they could live in the middle of the shipping lanes.

Journal log: Four days after it ended.

It took about a few days but during the travel they found burnt boats floating away from the land. But all the ponies on board are dead. But when the Skipper slowly stopped in the middle of the shipping lanes. Sea whisper stayed silent. The entire crew didn't even know what to do. He went to the radio room. He allowed the mare who normally was here to cry her pain away. He sat on the chair. Putting the headset to his head then sent out pleas for life.

" This is Captain Sea whisper of the Wind Skipper. Is any pony out there?"

All he heard for the moment is static. He sighed and knew it was too hard to be true. But he didn't give up the day went on to the point he only ate when he was in the radio room his crew got very worried about him. A mare his first mate walked in she is a unicorn holding his dinner.

" Sir you need...to rest."

Sea whisper turned to his First mate the pink unicorn smiled softly since all his crew had tags on their uniforms. Her name is Cotton. He didn't even smile at her she placed the food near him frowning and sat on her haunches beside him.

" Sea I know...."

He looked at her with anger in his eyes.

" Cotton you lost family to...I know this...but It was his birthday...You expect me to move on?!"

Cotton was taken aback at his words. He growled at her showing his anger putting the headset back on.

" This is Sea Whisper of the Wind Skipper is any pony out there?"

Cotton sighed standing up blinking hear the voice over the radio.

" We read you Sea Whisper. This is Griffin's fish skipper the crab's dance. Give us your location please."

Sea Whisper spoke into it. But more voices started to come over.

" This is the cargo ship the crazy mare. Please give us your location." Sea Whisper looked back to his First mate.

" Get ready for some guest."

Snow Flight's Journal Log: A month after the world ended.

It had taken a month after the world ended for all the ships to come to the middle there are three Pony Cargo ships. The other two use coal. Two Griffin Fish skimmers A large Zebra Transport ship that helped save what they could. Then the final ship is a shaman transport. That held a Zebra seer. In the captain's meeting room, the captains of each ship set to meet. Sea Whisper looks at the assortment of souls in the room.

" I am sure all of you know the world has ended." He sighed sitting in his chair. " I would be home with my son on his 5th birthday when it happens."

The Griffin of the Crab's Dance spoke.

" My crew and I fished for our great nation. But we used coal to help us go along. We wanted " Of course by mistake made a loud noise. I was the first engineer on the ship. They all looked at me. A bright white fur Pegasus mare. The captain gave me a nasty look. I sighed and flew out of the ready room. I was in there repairing something but I wouldn't be able to hear the rest of the meeting.

Journal log.

Out of kindness and respect for the world. The Cargo ships and the large Zebra like troop transport. In the ring as well. I just watched this happen most of the time. In the middle of the metal ring. the fish Skimmers were used to gather fish for the Griffin's maybe even the ponies someday. The Wind Skipper is mainly going to be used as a home just for us. But the rest is going to take on them all. But sadly we have been asked to burn every instruction booklet on how to work the ship's wheels to get them running.

It seems all the captains wish to forget what happened. But also they want the future never to return to land. I wish I could put a stop to this but. It would take alot of doing and with the world that has ended. I don't wish to become a problem.

Journal Log: Two years

It's been two years now. everything is in place after all that. I have also found what most would say this time a mate. He is a wonderful stallion of one of the other cargo ships. But I didn't get the name. How we worked around that I am forced to live in the core room to keep the core from going haywire. But I have been asked not forced to produce offspring. Maybe they feel we will be here forever since the land is burning. But it's working all the cargo ships have had some changes. In fact how we get our water. A machine was built in each in the water. To remove the salt and make pure clean water. Now, this is because some were holding cargo to make something like this. Us.. well there is one room we aren’t allowed to go in.

It's some top-secret room that the captain wishes to never come to light. It was something that would help win the war. The door's lock has been broken so no pony can ever go inside. But the rest of our cargo looked to be seeds and dirt. So me being who I am. With the rest of the crew on each ship. We put space for gardens. It would take a while to get our food yes. But it's what we must do.

Journal Log: four years later.

Whelp I am pregnant. My husband and I didn't last long together. Since he found some other pony. I didn't care I have a little one to raise. Since there is no way I could kill the foal. I wouldn't dare anyway. I have been writing instructions on how to keep the core running. The other cargo ship that was near us. Had a wooden path built into the core room? So I could talk to my new friend and his family. He brought his family with him. I am hoping that his family helps my little one when I am finally gone. His wife Butter bread. has been very kind to me. She was there when my husband broke my heart. I didn't cry but she wished me to. She is a pretty picky unicorn. She even had her children build me a hut made out of metal so I could at least live near the core.

Journal log: Twenty-six years later

My daughter is now a full-grown adult. But it's been a hard time for us The captain had his own family but he passed away. His son took over. All my friends are dead. I am the last one of the former crew alive. On my death bed. All I can do is see the fact my son is going to be alright.

Journal log: 200 years have passed

It's been 200 years. I found this journal in my mother's belonging but no pony else wrote in it. But I found out who my great great great grandmother was. I...I am her decedent. I am known as Sprocket my mother I guess was drunk because she even called me Root Beer at one time. I will never understand my family.

I set down my pencil from my mouth. I Looked up to the core as the room started to shake. Oh no not now. The core on the other ship did the same. I flew to the door.

" Socket!!"

The unicorn mare looked out she had fear in her eyes.

" After this let’s go to the bar and get a drink."

Socket nodded rushing back inside. I rushed to my gear placing it all on. I sighed softly hating this time of year. The core did a charge then turned off. An alarm went off sighing I flew out of the core room. Heading to the deck. The deck of the Wind Skipper is a large city made from empty cargo containers. I sighed looking at my home the Metal ring in the middle of the sea. I fly off to the first part of the ship I need to repair oh I hate this job.

Footnote:

Sprocket.

Special:

Strength: 5

Perception: 4

Endurance: 8

Charisma: 5

Intelligence: 7

Agility: 7

Luck: 0

Virtue: Stubborn {Very hard-headed set in her ways. Won’t stop a job till it’s finished even if sick.]

Chapter One: Repair jobs

It was early morning the ship kind of was smoking and parts of it were on fire thanks to that damn core. I wish we could learn to not have this happen every single year. It's going to get worse from what I have been told and well this is how my life is. I take each time to find what I can but it's not what I can do.

But I went to the first spot I had to fix. A bar that made us beer and many other products but it was not a simple thing for me to do. I had to have tools to clean and fix the issue the core provided I don't always understand what this does it gets on my nerves. So I fixed the issue that was caused and I'm not even paid in anything.

Going through another part of the simple idea of what is going on is how it's normal to me. But I went through another part of the ship. it was the generator connected to the homes. Lucky them they get to be in the sun. But I have to be stuck in that stupid core room. It's how most things can be and how things will always be. But it's not always a simple task inside this.

So I took apart the generator and replaced the core it had and it ran on saltwater. The saltwater was the only way it could work. But sometimes it's even more issues than most of the time it happens. But when I got it back together I turned it on and the power for that set of homes came back on. I sighed softly unsure how to work this. But again I learned through my mother.

Why does a mare have to work on this? I don't feel happy with the fact that I am just a simple new adult mare that is only allowed to fix and then try to make things better for the top of the ship. I love my home but is this all there is? I wish I could get off there It's not something I was simply always happy about.

Now I finally made it to the captain’s part of the ship. Well, we really didn't have a captain anymore it was more of how simple the idea of how it's set up is kind of how it's wrong to me but I am not sure. I went into the power pack of the ship to fix what I could. Now it's almost late afternoon when I did this. But I would still have more work to do in the morning.

Just fixing these things is a patch job for now. I have to come back and redo it. I am not happy about it at all. I felt my heart beating and the sweat slowly drained from me. It's not how I wanted to live my life. But there was a meeting going on. With all the captains or leaders of the ships.

" We need to find a way to get back to land. We have one working boat that can get us there. But who would we send?"

I kept silent working on my job I wasn't sure if they would even pick me that would be a bad idea. I don't wish to go back to land. I just wish to have a new job. But some looked at me while I worked.

" I got an idea why not send her." A griffin pointed at me. But the leader of my home looked at me and sighed.

" Her mother said never send there. But maybe it's time for her to go." I left finally I didn't wish to hear anymore. I went to go get something to eat but I had to of course fix the grill. to just have some fish. The fish is always tasty. it made me happy that I was able to eat something like this.

Because growing food just was not on my list of something I wished to eat. I have been on this ship far too long. I don't even know what land looks like. All I know is metal and metal is all I need to have. I took my dinner back to the core it was very late at night and I noticed how most of the core was still pretty much damaged to the point I couldn't fix most of it in one day.

So I had to eat and then went back to my job. My friend from the other ship walked in my unicorn friend. She sighed at me I looked down at her with a weak smile.

"I don't wish to be doing this anymore." I softly said.

"I am very very tired of it myself." My friend said. I nodded feeling awful and very much in pain. it's gotten harder to do this and it made me feel sick as well. Being near this core when It's doing this makes you sick and does not keep food in your stomach.

" Did you finally finish your stuff Wrench?" The unicorn mare gave me a nod she was faster than me at working on this core. I stayed silent not caring about the fact she already was done. But It would be a while before I could ever fix this again.

" I finished it but It still has some spots that need a few repairs. But I doubt the core will be lasting a year this time. It's slowly losing its casing and the magic inside is seeping out. But of course, my captain refuses to listen to me and toss it out of the ship.

" Eh, your lucky I think whoever built it for this ship did a better job. Because I know this will be here forever and I will never be able to have a break."

I sighed but I heard over the PA. " Could the mare that was in my room please come now? I would try to remember your name. But of course, it's hard to remember all the help that we have here." That hurt me. It hurt me alot he knew me. He wanted to date me once but of course, I am just a worthless asset to them.

0000

I slowly walked into the Captain’s room. " Ah, there you are" He softly said. " I got a job for you but it will be a few days before we can get things ready. I want you to go to land.," A blink came from my eyes. He wanted me to go to land? I doubt I would be able to walk there. But I could fly.

" Um, sir. I am not right for this job. I need to be here for the core."

" Could you teach some pony else to do your job while you’re gone?" I sighed and nodded.

" Then you can do this. It's that simple."

"No sir it's not that simple. Teaching anypony else how to work the core could take years. If you want to do this I don't have years."

"Well if you don't you will be locked in the brig and everything you owned given to ponies that wish to listen to their captain."

Anger grew in my heart. I wanted to bash my hooves in his face. I heard guns cock and aim at me.

"Or we could just shoot you, worker. You're a worker you're below us to keep this ship going." I backed down sighing I knew someday that would be used on me. "Leave us please." The guards left and the Captain stood up on his hooves walking to me and looked into my eyes.

He could see my anger for him. I felt that he didn't treat me fairly I thought he was going to punish me like he has others. But all he did was put his hoof on my shoulder. He gave me a gentle smile.

"Listen I may not know you well but I'm told you're the best. I want the best on this mission so we can get back home. I know you feel that I am treating you unfairly. But if we don't do this right we might fail to get home. I haven't told you the full truth. If we kept on this course each ship would have to sleep with family or those of the same line. If we kept on this our way of life would end us. So we need this to add more blood to the lines. We can't stay on this course and you know this."

He was right. I hated to admit it but he was right. With no mix in our family trees, it would cause a problem, and then it would take a big deal of breaking off from the lines to fix this.

"Okay... I will go."

"Wait before you do." He tossed me a set of keys. "Take those to the locked vault in the hold and take what you need. But leave Project Black alone."

Project Black? First time I have ever heard of it. I nodded and left his office and left and did what he asked. But first to gather what I can from the vault.

............

The vault.

It's the first time I have ever been down here in the hold. Using the key I open the vault and see rows of armor and weapons. Then I saw a large black door that had on the door with the words. 'Top Secret.' I ignored it and grabbed a set of armor that fit my barding and weapons. I grabbed a knife and a shotgun and placed them on my sides. Looking at the mouth triggers I placed my mouth on them to test them. Ugh, the taste was awful.

I felt I was done then I turned back to the large door. Why would this be here? A top-secret device of the past? I leaned on the door and put my ear to it. I heard nothing I tapped my hoof to see if I could hear anything on the other side. Nothing I moved back out of the vault passing a zebra mare I never met before. She turned to look at me.

"Are you chosen to then chosen to find the way to get back to land?" Oh... great a zebra had to go with me. I had a dislike of others helping me. Even ponies helping me really upset me. I took a deep breath knowing I would need help. I tried to be kind.

"I'm Sprocket."

The zebra removed her cloak to show her body. A pure right zebra that had jagged stripes and glowing yellow eyes. I could feel an aura of magic over her.

"I'm Root Beer or you may call me just Root. I'm here because I was told all the weapons from each ship are in this vault. More of the past they wished to keep them locked in here. I shall meet you on the boat miss Sprocket."

...................

I filled up the lifeboat with food and other supplies. They gave us a big enough ship for the three of us to go. I had no idea who would be next. I heard a large creature land on the ship looking up seeing a griffin. An orange griffin their beak was the shape of a hawk and had pure red eyes.

"MoonGlow." A female griffin huh I have never really met a griffin face to face. I tended to stay away from their fishing skimmers. I just gave them a look like don't double-cross me. You would think that all of us in the same ring community we would get along that is not true.

"Root Beer." The zebra finally got into the boat and I sighed a moment looking at them. It took me almost six days to teach someone else how to work the core. The core is a crazy system if you don't cool it right. It will start burning too much water too quickly and release a mist that is bad for the lungs.

" Listen before you two think I am going to trust you I won't. It's not that I think my species are better at everything. Just I can't trust others. "

The other two looked at each other. I could tell they didn't really seem happy working with each other either.

"I agree..." The zebra added. "We are just here to find the information then we can get back to our lives. No need to make friends."

Moonglow nodded the entire community cheered for us while we left in the motorboat. It would be a long trip back to land. if we don't kill each other before we get there it would be amazing.

Footnote

Level up

Bad perk: Weak immunity: You have been in a closed-off community all your life. Your immunity is weak and never been attacked by those normal sicknesses if you aren't careful you could get a nasty sickness and it would take a while to recover or you will die.

Chapter Two: The docks

It took us a few days in the middle of the water. MoonGlow held her weapons tightly to her. She had a large spear and one pistol. Root beer has been able to sleep unlike me. I am worried about the core back home. I try to ignore the feeling.

“You should get some sleep.”

I turn my head just enough to look at the griffin. I didn’t want to piss off the female griffin. I was told female griffins are a lot more respectful than the others. But I can’t sleep worried about the core.

“Hard to sleep… when your entire life is to work on that core. What about you what do you do on your ship?”

The griffin stares at me looking at her spear. Stabbing into the moving water and brings out a fish offering it to me.

“I am not only a fisher I am also one that repairs the hull. The hull of our fishing trawlers gets bad after a while. My reason for coming to the shore is to find a bigger boat to get enough metal and wood back.”

I inhale the wonderful sea salt air. Calming down after a second of breathing it in then letting the air out. I felt my nerves at least relax just a second. I didn’t want to panic and cause these two to backstab me from over-panicking.

“I don’t know why the zebra is with us. I am sure it has something to do with the troop transports. I am sure she will either tell us or not. I could care less what she tells us. I just want to get back home as quick as we can.”

Moonglow laughs.

“Yes, I agree I am just hoping I don’t get badly sick from my immune system. Just be prepared we don’t know how bad things are on the shore. Heck for all I know nothing is alive on the mainland. We had many scouts come back and say there is nothing but empty land.”

I chuckled weakly at the feeling that something the scouts forgot to tell us. I spread my wings a bit to relax even more. I am not happy I had to bring a gun. I am a pacifist and I know full well I may have to use it. I was even trained to use a weapon.

Then I notice the fish again on the end of the spear finally with my wings using them as hands to eat the fish. I never understood how we trained our wings to be used like this. It’s pretty impressive how we can do so much with our wings.

“I see land.. “
I lift my head I see the land as well. I am told this is the Hoof at least I was told it’s the Hoof. I am sure there is more to this land than just being called after a hoof. I take in the sea air again since we may have to go deeper into the land to find what we need.

“I hope we are ready for what is ahead. Do we have some booster shots just in case?’

MoonGlow stares at me tilting her head.

“You do know right those shots won’t protect us at all from what could be out here.”

I nod getting us to the docks tying the rope to the dock post. Root Beer opens her eyes and the three of us get out of the boat. MoonGlow takes the booster shots and she jabs the needles into my ass and Root Beers ass. I take the other and do the same to her. Of course, we don’t know if this will work.

“Alright, they asked us to stick together. So what we are looking for could be at the docks here.”

The three of us don’t even have our weapons they’re back in the boat when we left. I put the empty needles back into my bag. The docks are so badly kept together the buildings are rotted but still kept together.

“Alright, pony did they tell you what building it might be in?”

I just shrug my shoulders. I had no idea I know these two are here with me to try to find the ability to start the cores of their vessels again. The cargo ships are the only cores that stayed working all these years.

“I don’t know really. I look at my ancestor’s journal and it didn’t talk about anything about living on land. All I can think of it would be in one of these buildings.”

It took us a while to notice that Root Beer is missing. We look around for her and notice a zebra tail not too far from us. I shrug my shoulders and went to the zebra.

“Root Beer come on..”

I pull the tail and there is no movement. I tilt my head looking back at MoonGlow and standing beside her is Root Beer. She must have found something because she is holding a stripped shotgun.

“Well, I found… her but is that a corpse?”

A corpse I turn my head to finally see the decaying body I quickly back away. I finally see many bodies around us. How in the world did I miss this? I took a deep breath trying not to panic. Then my stomach lurched and I quickly hid behind a box to vomit. Root Beer sets the shotgun down stroking my back.

“I think we got here after a battle.”

It didn’t take me long to regain myself. When I stood back on my hooves I had to try to ignore everything. Before we could move on through loud buzzing sounds throughout the area. We hide and see a strange bug-like creature. The creature looks like a large bug with wings and the creature’s body has a deep blue look.

“I am sorry I couldn’t get here sooner to try to save the others.”

A tired zebra smiles at the bug nodding. She hugs the creature they know each other. We hear the name of the zebra.

“Zranth you should head back to the island. I feel it might be safer for you than trying to take a dead expedition back to your homeland.”

The zebra nods quickly.

“Yes I have a feeling I should but why did you change how you look. I heard stories about what you did. I also heard what happened to you. Why won’t you tell the others?”

The bug weakly smiles.

“I can’t both of the choices so I picked what I am now. I had to change how I look even my name. I don’t even exist as the old me anymore. So please Zranth either head back home or find a group that will protect you.”

Zranth sighs looking at her followers.

“I should have listened to the warden on the island. I should have never taken a group of us and tried to find our way back home. This would never happen.”

The bug nods she quickly grabs one of her swords from her strange armor hearing a sound and it was just four figures.

“They’re gone.”

I stare at one of them it’s a Steel Ranger I know that armor the other from what I have learned is of the Enclave. The third is a zebra wearing old zebra roman armor. The last is a strange creature wearing strange armor with a red star on its head.

“We can take it from here and take her back to the desert. Then we can get a ship to take her back to the island. I wish we could have helped more my old friend.”

An armored claw pats the shoulder of the bug and she nods. The one who is known as Zranth leaving soon after with the four. Left behind is the strange bug creature. The bug creature takes time looking at the bodies.

The bug soon leaves I don’t think it noticed we are here. We finally got out of the hiding place unsure what to think.

“Do you think this thing is the cause of all the deaths here?”

I look back at Root Beer shrugging my shoulders.

“I don’t know I have never seen a creature like this before.”

Moonglow laughs weakly

“Well, whatever it was I don’t want to meet it in a dark ally.”

I sigh and turn around after looking at my friends and I come face to face with the bug and quickly back up. How in the world did this creature do that so easily? I took a deep breath unsure what to say and I finally exhale.

“You know spying is not a wise idea little pony. Whatever you’re spying on could take an issue with you. Now explain why are you here?”

I quickly regain myself.

“We are from a community deep in the middle of the sea. We are here to find the manual of every ship in our community to bring all our homes back to land.”

The bug listens nodding quickly.

“Well, I have nothing to do anymore right now I don’t mind helping you. But I warn you to tell no one you saw me without my helm on. If you do I will have to kill you.”

The creature smiles at me putting her helm back on. I look at the name on the helm. I notice the armor finally she has heavy swords and a railgun rifle on her side. I finally got a good look at the name. The name from what I see is Topaz.

“Do you have a name miss bug?”

It took a while for the creature to say its name.

“I am Rub..”

The creature stops itself from saying its name. I took a while to answer again like it was remembering a past life that it would never be able to tell us.

“I am Topaz welcome to Equestria.”

Footnote: Level up

Perk added: Weak: Stomach: You will be unable to handle most of the foods of this land. It will lead to your downfall but there is also a light at the end of the tunnel. It could be used to help you as well to gain a stronger stomach it depends on how you use it.

Chapter Four: Ekhaya

I was right...Topaz is the reason we are going to have issues. I quickly cock my weapon flying into the air firing at the raiders that got the jump on us. We were able to get the cart out of the way. Root Beer and Moonglow used the weapons they had been trained to fire back.

I lost track of Topaz after a while. I thought she flew off to leave us here to die. Then I heard a string from a crossbow. A bolt came quickly for the head of a mare. It went right into her head and through the other side. The large bug fired another one. She is using us as a distraction?!

“She...is using weapons of the stars!!”

I turn my head to look at Root Beer and then look at the crossbow. Topaz flew right at the raiders using the crossbow as a melee weapon. The raiders didn’t even seem to know how to act with that. With one of Topaz’s other hands, she grabs her sword and slices it into the others. The blood coating the blade and the crossbow itself.

“Retreat!!”

One of the raiders screams and the ones who are alive run. Topaz didn’t even chase them; all she did was pick up her bolts from the dead. She washes off the tip of the bolts coming back to us soon after the battle is over.

“You three are too soft to survive too long here. Good thing you met me I guess.”

I quickly put my gun away to my side. I bite my lip to ignore my anger. Of course, I never could keep my feelings to myself.

“You could have fucking got us killed Topaz!! You know full well we aren’t even from this land. But do you even care?! No, you don’t give us the time of day to train us. You don’t give us anything. How can we trust you at all?”

Topaz just looks at me without saying a word at first.

“I could just leave you here to die if you would like.”

I just stare at the bug. She is not kidding if anyone talks back to her. Then Topaz grabs the collar of my barding with her robotic bug hand. The blast shield goes up. I stare into her bug eyes while she stares at me.

“If you wish to survive you listen to everything I say. If you get angry that I use you as a distraction. Then you have no right to be in this land.”

She pushes me away into the others.

“Go back to your home and stay as weak as it made you.”

I just stare at the creature. What happened to her to make her like this? I swear I have never met someone so willing to get others killed.

“Who the fuck are you what happened to you?! Why don’t you even trust us? You act like we are a bother and a burden to you. We are helping you here but you treat us like trash.”

Topaz closes her black shield.

“Life happened now, get over yourself, hitch yourself back up. Then we will talk when we get to our destination, understand?”

I try to argue with her. But Moonglow and Root Beer stop me and they hitch me and themselves back on the cart. I was known for losing my temper.

“Topaz, I am sorry for our friend here. She doesn’t understand this world. Of course, Griffins are taught how the world used to be. Then we have our scouts explain what is going on. It may not get us fully ready for what is to come.”

Topaz nods as we get going again.

“I am the same way I came from an island. Then I was tossed into a land that needed a hero. I would go into more detail. But if I said any more, others that I love might get hurt. Just because others learn I am still around. I am sorry if I am hard to get along with. If you learned what happened to me you would understand.”

I wish she would explain. But from the sounds of it if she did. Those that she had to leave and care for would get hurt. I am hoping someday she will get her life back. But I highly doubt she ever will. From the stories this world is cruel. You would think from the great story of sunshine and rainbows. That the world would now be at peace.

“I only fear that you’re a minion of the stars.”

Topaz turns to Root Beer staring at her, it’s hard to tell what the bug is thinking.

“Well, In a way I am a minion of the stars. Thanks to someone else pushing this on me. I am now one at least for now trying to get enough blood for the stars. I don’t go too nuts, I go for those that harm innocents. I would never go for folks that never hurt anyone.”

I took a deep breath as the three of us followed Topaz. While we do this she gathers whatever she can from the various bodies. She also told us it’s best to try to break into old buildings. You can find some amazing stuff there. I doubt it’s wise to try it. Since I am sure many things could get us sick. I already feel hot from being here. I am sure it could be because I am very upset with Topaz. I don’t trust her. I glance at the others leading in while we walk to wherever we are going. I speak just loud enough to speak.

“I don’t trust her. She refuses to explain herself. I also feel that she will get us killed.”

Root Beer sighs, shaking her head.

“Sprocket you don’t seem to get it. If it wasn’t for her we would already be dead. She is even willing to help us to find instructions. If we can’t trust anyone here then why did we take this job?”

Moonglow nods.

“I agree if we can’t trust anyone here. Just because you have a bad feeling about them. That means we have no right to even be here. Then go home as zeros rather than the heroes. Then we tell them the truth and no one will ever return to the mainland.”

I groan they’re right. If I am going to get so upset at Topaz. Then we have no right to be here. This world is so different from the world of our home. But it doesn’t mean I have to like it or agree with Topaz’s methods.

“Excuse me Topaz. Are you getting paid for this delivery?”

Topaz flaps her wings, turning around in the air still flying towards where we are going. I had no idea how she learned that or what kind of creature she is. But I have a feeling we are closer I am seeing more and more zebras as we go on by.

“No, I am more a citizen of this village. Because of all said and done. The zebras are the only ones that were willing to defend me when everything happened. So I felt maybe living with them would be a good idea. It has been now after this I can ask the elders about your books.”

I didn’t understand this at all. She acts like a mercenary but she also has a heart? I will never understand this. Before we could get any further a large gated wall blocked our path. Guarding the gate are heavily armored zebras.

“Let me do the talking. They don’t trust outsiders. It took me a long time to get into their good graces.”

I sigh and stand with the others watching little foals run around. The area is so heavily guarded that I doubt anyone would even attack this place. A little filly came up to me and stared at me. I don’t know why she is staring at me.

“Sawubona iponi”
I don’t have any idea what she is saying. Root Beer smiles unhitching herself leaning down to speak to the little one.

“Ngiyabingelela omncane unaye umama?”

The filly giggles pointing her hoof to one of the zebras talking to one of the guards.

“Ungumama wami.”

Root Beer smiles.

“Kumele aziqhenye kakhulu ngawe. Ukuze ube nesibindi sokukhuluma nabantu ongabazi.”

The filly giggles calling to her mother.

“Bavumele bangene. Babonakala benomusa futhi bethembekile.”

The large mare zebra turns to look at Topaz and they both come over and she leans down to the little zebra. She looks up to Root Beer, Moonglow, and me, and I try to give a kind enough smile since. I had no idea what she was saying. Topaz spoke to the female zebra.

“Bavela edolobheni lemikhumbi phakathi kwamanzi. Ngakho-ke abakaze baye kuleli zwe.”

The zebra nods.

“I see so you’re being very kind to my daughter and not from here? So you have never seen the cruelty of this world? If you haven’t gotten corrupted from the cruelty and hardship of this world. Then I am sure we can trust you. Topaz?

Topaz shrugs her shoulders.

“The pony gets upset easily at me. I am sure it’s because the world she is from is so pure. That it’s hard to understand. To survive you have to kill.”

The zebra nods.

“Ah, to see the world with such pure eyes. I am Qalisa. It's nice to meet you three. Topaz was telling me how you helped her with the deal.”

Topaz nods.

“Yes and we made a deal that we would try to find the manuals to start their homes back up. To come back to the mainland.”
Qalisa tilts her head looking fully at me. I have no idea why she is looking at me like this. She even looks at the others with a gaze like she is studying us.

“So what kind of boats have you all been living on for the last few years?’

I take a deep breath.

“Well, I have been living on an old pony cargo ship. Root Beer is from an old zebra troop transport. Moonglow is from a griffin fishing boat. There are like many ships connected. Just one question. Do you think you could give me and the others an immunity system boost?”

The zebras stare at each other. Topaz sighs, shaking her head.

“I doubt they have anything for you. Of course, they could try making brews for you. If your immune system is that bad. Then you better do what you can to stay away from the sick. Now it seems you will be welcomed. Let’s gets this inside and we will introduce you three to the elders.”

Qalisa yells out a strange call. We hear many locks slowly groan from being unlocked. The door opens up and deep inside is another part of the city. But deeper inside from what I could tell is another wall and gate that leads to the town.

Qalisa follows along with her daughter and leads us through the large city. Many of the buildings look to be cleaned out and stores are in the many homes. Most of them are housed by guards and from what I could tell warriors. Topaz leans in to whisper to me.

“The warriors live out here.. Since they’re trying to keep the young ones from seeing the hardships of the world. It may not fully work but it keeps the young ones pure.”

I hear the door behind us lock back up. Then the one ahead of us opens up showing an entire town in the middle of a large old park. There is no other way in and the windows of each building next to it are blocked off. There is another gate leading out with watchtowers watching. We bring the cart in and are unhitched.

Topaz puts down all the cases. She opens up the cases. I finally get a good look at all the large cases of water and food inside the big cases. Even meds and she pulls out the water talisman and flies over to a zebra that looks like she works on the water system.

“Now we will let the guards give the others water and food. I will take you to the elders. I warn you they may not help you right away. You have to prove to them you can be helped. A deal for a deal.”

Qalisa nods.

“That is how we work.”

Qalisa’s daughter ran off to play with her friends under the watchful eye of a large female yak. From what I see the Yak is the protection of the children. I am amazed I don’t see many non-zebras. I see a few ponies. I see one diamond dog and a yak.

The yak turns her eyes to stare at me. She pulls all the little ones close to her. I have a feeling from the look in her eyes she doesn’t trust me. We walk into a large tent that is heavily protected by armored zebras. Looking at me I could see the eyes of one keeping a very close eye on me.

“Allow me to do the talking. Keep them from saying anything Topaz.”

Topaz nods to Qalisa. The large mare takes off her armor out of respect for the elders. She lowers herself and her weapons like in a bow.

“Greetings Elder Tea leaf. We have visitors from a faraway place. They wish us to help them find it.”

She turns her head to look at me.

“Oh um.”

I quickly bow as she does in respect.

“Ship manuals on how to turn engines back on. If you know anyone that has come across this that would be great.”

Tea leaf stares at me, Root Beer and Moonglow.

“So the rumors of a city in the middle of the sea is true then. I remember hearing stories about this from zebras that came from the mainland.”

The mare thinks she looks at the other elders.

“We will give you nothing till you prove yourself. We will give you a place of your own to stay. But you need to do deeds and missions for us before we give you anything.”

I wanted to argue but Topaz shook her head. I take a deep breath sighing. I nod in agreement.

“Good, we won’t have anything for you till tomorrow go to the empty house outside the main gate and make yourself at home. Topaz will lead you there.”

I sigh, MoonGlow and Root Beer stay very silent. I have a feeling they do just in case. They don’t wish to anger these zebras or the others that are here. Topaz leads us to the outside of the second gate we came in at. The house is connected to a large building. From what I see it’s all for us.

“I will meet you here tomorrow. You get some rest. You will be able to get water in here. You will have food brought to you. If you need to you will have to hunt for food yourself. Be lucky you got anything. I need to get back to my place I will be watching you three.”

When Topaz leaves we go inside and we don't have much with us. We had bedrooms to ourselves, one bathroom though, and a shower.

“I need to think away from you two. No offense to you and Root Beer Sprocket just. I can’t handle too much of you two for too long.”

Root Beer nods

“I need to do some meditation anyway. Goodnight Sprocket goodnight Moonglow.*

They both go into the rooms and lock the doors. I sigh softly heading into the bathroom to go to the bathroom and take a quick shower. The water may feel strange on my body. But at least I am getting clean.

I go into my room, it's just a bed. I lay on the dusty bed listening to the silence. I do now and then hear random gunshots and the gates opening and closing. I hear the drums of the zebras as they sing together. Closing my eyes I don’t know what to think but this is home for now.

Footnote: Level up

Perk added: Ekhya: You have found the village and faction of Ekya. You’re just a pest to them at the moment. But if you work to honor their request and help them with problems. They may help you with your problem down the line. They have a radio Dj that will do their best to praise you and do a lot to ruin your reputation if you anger anyone in the village.

Chapter Five: The secret of Topaz

I woke up in the bed of the strange town Topaz lead us to. My friends and I have been given a place to stay. I knocked on the door of each.

“I am going to stay in here a bit Sprocket. I need some time away from you and Root Beer no offense to you. Just ponies and zebras anger griffins a bit too much. So I am sure you can understand.”

I sighed shaking my head. Knocking my hoof on Root Beers door. There was nothing but pure silence. I have a feeling that Root Beer is in meditation. So there is no way I am going to be able to get them out.

Since we are in a calm little town. At least I hope it’s a calm little town. I walk to one of the guards. I am hoping they will at least be helpful.

“Excuse me. I am looking for Topaz do you know where she lives?”

The zebra guard shifts on her hoof looking towards me a smile forming on her face. She lifts her hoof pointing to a large building.

“That’s her home. We gave it to her after she saved our asses. So please don’t be too rude to her, please. She has done so much for our home that she deserves everything she gets. So again don’t cause anything.”

I sigh deeply.

“I don’t want to cause any problems. I just want to talk with her.”

The guard nods.

“Go ahead just don’t expect too much from her.”

I give the zebra a nod heading to the building and the door is ajar. I head inside looking around. I walk into what looks to be a study. In a strange glass case, I see many weapons and armor. I even see something called the howling dance?

“I am sorry but you don’t belong in here.”

I turn to see a yellow pegasus.

“I am sorry I just wanted to talk to Topaz.”

The yellow mare shakes her head.

“You’re the mare she met at the docks correct?”

I nod.

“Yes, I am tired of her acting like I am some threat to her. I just ask a question on who the hell she is and then she acts like I am demanding to know her entire life.”

The mare sighs heading to the main door to close it.

“Here let me make you some tea. Then maybe I can help you understand a few things.”

I sat in a chair looking at a case that holds an old beat-up armor. The armor has been not only ripped up. On the helm, the words have been removed the only two letters left are er. I glance at the mare coming out with the tea.

“Before I go on I am Melody. I am the wife of Topaz. We have been married for ten years and yes I knew who she was before she even became this one known as Topaz. I can’t tell you who she used to be. But I can tell you that she is not a hateful creature. She is the kindest gentlest being ever.”

The yellow mare closes her eyes showing her purple eyeshadow. I see that this mare wears a great amount of makeup. I never understood why our species does such a thing. Maybe someday I will learn why.

“I am Sprocket.”

I use my wings to drink the tea.

“Just from what Topaz was able to tell me. She had to watch her brood hatch from so far away that they would never see her. That she had to tell the one that is her mate to find someone else. Then raise their brood without her.”

Melody rolls her eyes.

“No that is not true. She did love that male of her species. But he didn’t love her at all. He implanted the brood into her. She loved him but he had no love for her. He gave her the brood so she would be remembered. The entire time she was at this land I met her. She was lost broken and unsure of herself. She is searching for the one that made her the weapon of the stars. She could tell the stars she won’t do it anymore. But she wishes to find this creature that did this to her.”

I took a deep breath sipping the tea. I had a feeling there was more to this than I was told.

“She had to let go of many friends. Her friends that she made when she came to this land. Then the ones she made later on. The only ones that stayed together as friends. Are the ones that she made on a journey. Some of her friends still talk to each other. But after what was said and done they refused to even talk to each other.”

I felt bad for her now.

“I wish I could ask more. I am sure if she knew I was here she would try to hurt me.”

Melody laughs.

“Oh don’t worry how she acts is just a show. She is very gentle I promise you this. If I am around she will not harm you.”

I heard the door open.

“Melody I am home.”

Topaz comes in without her armor on. I finally get a good look at her. She gets a good look at me. A deep angry buzz comes. I gulp as Melody sets the tea down. She turns to look at the bug. The bug looks at her wife.

“You will welcome our guest with respect, my love.”

Topaz sighs.

“She has been trying to invade my secrets for a long time now.”

Melody gets out of the chair putting her wings on Topaz’s face staring into her eyes. I could see the deep love between them.

“You don’t have any secrets to hide my dear love. You’re a creature of habit that refuses to open your heart to anyone else but to me. So please open that heart of yours again. To at least let one into your life. I promise you she will not tell others.”

Topaz didn’t even argue she just stares in the eyes of Melody.

“I won’t tell her everything. I will just tell her about my friends or former friends and what happened would that work?”

Melody doesn’t say a word the two of them just start making out.

“Um…”

My cheeks glow bright red. The two break their kiss and Topaz sits in the chair Melody sat in. Melody sits beside her in the chair.

“Now will you promise me that you won’t write this down either?”

I tilt her head. I have been writing down what is going on in our journey. Of what we all do and say. So that would mean I can’t even write what she tells me here. I took a deep breath blowing the air out.

“I promise I won’t write down anything you say.”

Topaz sighs.

“Then I can tell you.”

Topaz took the time to explain everything she could to me. Like I promised her I wouldn’t write down what she said. I doubt it was wise to do so since she is in hiding to protect those she loves and her friends. Melody is the only one of those that remember everything about her. But from what Melody told me no one would care. She is just a simple pegasus doctor that wouldn’t say even a word.

But her friends are ones she has known for years. She even brought up a mare known as Star Shooter. She didn’t go much into that mare known as Star Shooter. But what she told me was that she tried very hard to be like her. But that failed and she will never learn the truth. But after a while, she was done.

“The truth of a hero. You’re a threat to those around you. I will say being a hero to a small little community like this. Then do so because they will never expect too much from you. But since my wife trusts you. We will do what we can to help you find what you need. I do warn you though there is a small war building up in this place called the hoof. From what I have learned of it. There is always a small war.”

I got off the chair.

“So is there anything I can do?”

Topaz smirks.

“The best way to learn is to get odd jobs around the town. Maybe if you did some random jobs for the zebras and other creatures that live here. They will do what they can to trust you. But I will say this for now. Go back to the room you’re staying in and Melody will be there tomorrow to give you an inoculation. There is some nasty sickness in the wasteland. You don’t want to get them.”

I head to the door looking back at the two loving wives.

“I have a question for you. Can you two have a brood together?”

Topaz smirks.

“We did of course they look mostly like me and since they’re already grown. My kind grows quick and can lay broods when they find a mate. So some of them headed to a place called Tiria’s heart. Some stayed here or went back to the home I came from.”

I tilt my head.

“How did you do this?”

Melody laughs.

“We mixed our life-giving eggs. A little seed from a male of her species and a stallion who is herding with us. We were able to get the brood eggs to be laid. Also, it may be a while before you meet him. He is on a patrol right now.”

I was about to leave but Melody quickly stops me.

“Here let me give you this and then I will be to give this to your friends.”

Melody jabs a needle in my side.

“I felt it would have been better not to wait. Since it’s unwise for either of you to get sick. Oh, and best get going. It won’t take too long to affect you, my new friend. Just be prepared that you better get a good amount of sleep You will feel sick tomorrow.”

I head outside to walk back to the room I was given. I look at the gates though and see a strange green creature talking to one of the guards. That is not all though I see a bird creature standing beside the green creature.

I wish I could have stayed longer to talk with them. Walking back into the building to get some sleep. My friends didn’t even come out but I knock on the door anyway.

“I am back and a doctor will be by soon. To give you two a shot. That will help fight all the sickness here. Just I need to get some rest since. Oh, it’s hitting me hard.”

I open the door into my room laying on my bed. I close my eyes remembering everything that I was told. Before I could fully fall asleep a knock came on my door.

"It's open"

MoonGlow walks into the room tilting her head.

"You and I need to talk. But before you say anything. What do we do here?"

I shift on the bed sitting up sighing smiling.

"We need to make do some odd jobs around the town. To at least get them to trust us. I know it's not something you or even Root Beer will want to do."

MoonGlow sighs.

"I see anyway I will let you sleep."

Moonglow left the room I knew how she felt. She didn't say how she felt but the look on her face it was all there. Just it was hard for her to know fully of what is going on. If we have to lower ourselves to a place like this to work for them. We will never know.

Footnote: Level up

Perk added: The trust of a doctor and a former hero: Topaz and her wife Melody. Have opened up to you. They did all they could for you. But if they join you in a battle and their journey your ability to heal doubles and if you have Topaz with you. Your ability to withstand certain radiations is doubled but it would mean they have to be with you.

Chapter Six: The job part one

There is an old rumor we might have a hero of the past in our community. Some believe the hero is the one known as Topaz. The reason Melody was with her, including many other heroes. But I know full well there are many Magic Eaters now in Equestria. I wish I could send more to you my friend. I know you’re searching for your friend. But I think you’re going to have to accept she is dead.

Written by unknown to another Unknown.

I open my eyes getting out of the bed. I felt like I slept so hard. I head into the front room of the house we have been given. I look around seeing the other two I came here with already long gone. I hear a knock on the door. I open the door and standing there is Miss Topaz.

“Ah about the time you’re awake. Like I told you if you want this town to help you. You need to help them. So I am going to say this and say this once. Your friends or whatever you call them since they didn’t care about calling you, friend.”

I look away feeling anger in my heart forming. I knew full well they didn’t consider me a friend. We just came here together to find the instructions to start up the ships again to get them back to shore. I am starting to wonder if it’s even worth it. This world is too willing to force their view on you. Of course, it could be that I have been living on the metal ring most of my life and I haven’t opened my mind to others’ thoughts.

“Is there something you wish to say? Or are you going to keep acting like you’re getting a bad break here?”

I glance down at the large bug shrugging my shoulders.

“What do I need to do to prove to this city I am worth helping hmm? '' How about this I do nothing and you help me find it and I will get out of your face.”

The bug just stares at me and her eyes glow brightly. How can green eyes glow like that? I can’t tell her emotions. I am sure she is not happy with me at all for what I just said. She turns to head to walk out.

“Fine, keep acting like a child. If you don’t help I will make sure you and your friends are tossed out of town and you will have to find another city to help you or you will die. I could go deeper into guilt for you Sprocket but there is no need for it. You will help or you will be tossed out got it?”

I took a deep breath staring down at the bug.

“You done?”

The bug stares up at me again.

“Oh, you’re just saying, am I right?”

I nod

“Forgive me, I may have been married to a pony for years and lived around ponies. But I still don’t understand your sense of humor or whatever you call it.”

I take a deep breath again.

“Do you blame me for acting like this Miss Topaz? I have been living on the Metal Rings for most of my life. We never even thought of becoming friends with the others in the community. All I did was repair the core and then I would be forced to marry a stallion then teach how to repair the core then die.”

Miss Topaz stares up at me, her eyes wide open this time. She didn’t say a word.

“So what the others said is true, you're just there to build whatever your job is. Then breed the next generation why?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know it’s been that way for as long as I can remember. I am too young still to give birth to a colt or a filly. It’s something I expect to happen if I don’t return with the instructions to turn the ships back on.”

Miss Topaz sighs, shaking her head.

“Alright I was told by the others you’re an Engineer am I correct?”

I shrug my shoulders, nodding.

“I may not be able to repair most of what I see on the shore. But I could try my best to do so. Is there something around here that needs to be repaired?”

Topaz leads me outside the house. I look back at the house noticing the house is connected to a larger building. The building is getting worked on. I notice the building is being taken apart and some parts are being repaired and added on.

“Well our normal engineer needs some help and she is a bit upset. We haven't been able to find others to help her over the last few months. It’s the issue with this land: the so-called vault dweller brought back the rain and many other things. But she could have seen this coming to the world not wishing to change.”

I nod.

“I am not fond of heroes, I don't even see myself becoming one. Even if my path leads me to do what I can. I refuse to become a hero and just think the idea of a hero is the best way to get backstabbed.”

Topaz laughs while she leads me to a large building. I look around the building before I am brought in. I see an old sign that saids research water center. I have a feeling this was an old research center to do something to the water.

“Hey, Amber you here?!”

I hear heavy wings and heavy landing. I turn around, staring at a large female dragon as she folds her arms. I stare at the pure white female dragon. Her red eyes glow brightly while she looks at me. Then she comes out of the darkness to look at Topaz smiling.

“Well is this the one that is going to help me Topaz?”

She nods.

“Well then is she stronger than your wife?”

Topaz chuckles

“I highly doubt she has the guts of my wife.”

Amber laughs as she stares down at me looking over my body. She grabs my left back leg lifting my leg. To look between my legs. I am confused why in the world is she looking between my legs and she laughs loudly after she lets my leg down.

“You haven’t even been taken by a stallion girl, you don’t know the best parts of life.”

My cheeks turn bright red.

“Please I am just here to help you so I can get the instructions and head back home. I am very tired of dealing with this wasteland. I am not enjoying this at all. I will never enjoy this community.”

Amber laughs letting go of my leg.

“Oh come on kid I am just kidding around. Anyway, what do I need help with? Our security defenses are kind of down after constant attacks by raiders. Our water supply is having issues. I think something is gumming up the pipes. Also, a trade path needs some more turrets put up. So we will be very busy.”

I take a deep breath. I am unsure what to think of all this. I am willing to do what I can to help.

“What are the others doing?”

Topaz chuckles.

“I got Root Beer making potions with the other zebras and your griffin sending letters to other communities in this city.”

I am unsure what to do with Amber. Topaz left after a while and Amber led me to her workshop. From the looks of it, she lives down in this water research plant. I look around seeing she has so many tools, a very old bed, and a nest full of eggs.

“Wonderful place to raise little ones.”

Amber chuckles.

“Eh not really but I got drunk, slept with a male, and laid eggs oh well. I forced the male to marry me and told him if he didn't I would remove his balls.”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I am sure it’s normal for other dragons to mate like this.”

She tilts her head.

“Dragon he’s a zebra hon. I know it's a strange pony and dragon-making hatchlings. It’s not very normal but it can happen extremely rare though. Thankfully we have a good doctor here to keep an eye on them.”

I stare at the eggs. A mixed-species other species can have sex together and create hatchlings or children in my case? I wonder how rare this is. Looking back at Amber who grabs her tools and I look at the eggs closer I see a heater keeping them warm. I wonder when they will hatch.

“Alright come with me. Take some tools and we will work on the pipe system first. A little warning there are creatures called ghouls that find their way down here. It’s why I have the defenses as I do set around my place.”

I nod using my wings to pull another set of tools with the tools I already had. We walk towards a set of stairs leading us down farther into the sewers and there is an iron door with weapons on the wall.

“I am going to give you a weapon for you to keep. I will teach you how to repair them and how to make ammo for them. Now I promise you it will be something I am sure you can upgrade when you find pieces for it.”

Amber looks through the weapons she has on the walls. She grabs a strange gun that shoots large spikes. It connects to a strange helm that goes over my head. It looks like it was created for a dragon and a pony. She puts it on my head and when it goes on my head a hud forms and I feel armor form over my body.

“Allow it to get used to your body. It’s an armor I found in a research station years ago. It was not only connected to a weapon it had an old Ai inside it. The Ai died years ago but the hud stayed. I am going to let you keep it Sprocket and name it.”

I felt the last pit of the armor form over my feathers. It's light enough to let me fly. I flap my wings just a bit. I look to my sides seeing the ammo for the weapon attached to it and with a wing, I arm the spike thrower or whatever it was called at the time. I watch Amber put on dragon-made armor. It’s made from various parts since I never heard of armor made for dragons during the war.

“Can you hear me?”

I hear her voice in my new helmet weapon. It was strange hearing her come over the mic.

“Yes, I do. Are we doing this because it’s nasty down there?”

She laughs.

“Not it’s more you’re new to this land Sprocket and I feel you needed a bone, my friend.”

A smile forms Amber has at least been kind to me. She opens the door and I see many bodies of what are called ghouls. Some have been here while some are newly dead. She looks up at the security she has. There are many sentry guns on the walls smoking. I am thinking they just shot up a group.

“Alright follow close the room full of pipe that connects to the entire community will be this way. Pray that is the only thing that is needed. If it’s not, we will have to go through this entire sewer to fix it.”

Oh, I am not looking forward to it if that is true. We go through the tunnels of the old sewers. Amber explains to me she has been down here ever since the war. She is older than she looks and she came here to hide after coming out she helped form the community.

She explains to me she hid because she refused to join the war. I don’t blame her. I explain to her while we walk through these tunnels of old pony work. About how we are born and then given the job of our life. Then we watch while our parents slowly become nothing but an empty husk. Then we either kill them or feed them to the sharks.

“For my mother and father. I had to poison them and then I gave them a burial at sea. I wasn’t happy with what I had to do to them but I had no choice on the matter. I wish I could have not done it but I had no choice.”

Amber sighs and we work on opening an old locked room that leads us to the pipes. I wonder what is to come. I don’t know but I know truthfully what is to come will come with my soul and heart.

To be continued.

Chapter Seven: The pipes and Changlings part two

I am writing back to you my friend for many reasons. But I must find that many of us miss her and they regret how they treated her now. The only one that didn’t care how she was treated was Hawk. Many of her old friends had a big downfall after everything was said and done. I am still friends with our old water hunter friend and the zebra. But the others I am unsure how to feel. Please do your best if you do find her tell her to return

Written from The Healer to a community leader.

A spike flies out of the barrel of my new gun. I feel the kickback from the weapon while the spike flies right into the head of a ghoul. The head flies off the ghoul’s body and hits right into the wall Amber uses her sharp claws from her armor.

“Another one of the workers of the pipes left their door open again. I need to put up another sign to make sure they stop doing this.”

Thankfully from what I saw it was only three ghouls. We had no idea how they got in here since all the doors leading to the other communities are closed shut. I flap my wings looking for a way they got down here. An old grate that leads to the city above I poke my head out to see many ghouls hissing and skulking around. I quickly land back down near Amber pointing my hoof up to the grate.

“It looks like one of the old grates broke. I am guessing they fell here and I am surprised more didn’t fall through the hole to land down here.”

Amber nods, setting down a bag she had with her bringing out a large piece of metal she had with her. She looks over to me, removing her helm, setting it down. She looks up at the grate and then back at me.

“I figured someday this would happen. I am amazed this didn’t happen sooner. I might come down here later to replace all the grates in the city. Now if you don’t mind carrying the metal up there and I will be up there to use my breath to make sure it stays.”

I lift the metal carrying it up and flap my wings with the extra weight grunting knowing the extra weight makes it harder. It took just a few seconds for Amber to weld the metal to close up the old grate. She then grabs one of my spikes and forces through some holes just in case it rains,

“Now that should hold. It should hold till I get enough with me to take out that pack of ghouls and fully repair it.”

I land back on the floor looking at Amber after she lands and she puts her helm back on. She sighs as we look at the mess of pipes. The pipes have been repaired so many times that some are connecting to the other pipes.

“It’s going to take days to find out what is wrong.”

I groan.

Amber laughs.

“No, It won’t take that long. What I am going to do is take my helmet off and I want you to hit your weapon on parts of the pipe. If there is an echo then that means we have found the right pipe. Now I warn you what we could find in these pipes could be something very nasty or some old toy that has been going through the system for years.”

I am confused about how old items could still be going through these pipes? It makes no sense to me. Maybe it’s because I came to this land from a city on the water. I will never understand this land at all. I am sure my heart will make me want to stay.

“You ready?”

I glance up at Amber.

“Question before we do this though why not just replace all the pipes since we are down here?”

Amber smiles.

“I would love to but finding new pipes is not easy. We have to keep repairing the older pipes and if we find any pipes to replace we would replace them closer to our homes. Now if we could get one of the old pipe factories up and running again we would be able to make them. But there is a big issue with that. This is the hoof trying to open anything will never stay open.”

Closing my eyes, sighing. I have been told some crazy things about the hoof. Most of that though is what the white mare known as Security caused and then what another mare known as Scootaloo caused. So yes, things that happened in the past caused more issues than help. Of course, Scoots did a better job. Just no matter what, those who want hope will have to fight for it.

“I am sorry I have been told stories about the Hoof. I don’t know if any of it is true at all.”

Amber chuckles.

“Nothing is true unless those that wish to find it are true. I don’t buy those stories. I could have helped fight the Headliners and help Scoots and her friends. But I didn’t care enough to do so. I just thought the Alliance could be worse than the Enclave and worse than the NCR. Forgive me I don’t trust many pony leaders. I am sure you can understand being a pony and all.”

I nod quickly, understanding how she feels. We have had many uprisings on the ships because of the leadership. We have even replaced so many leaders because of anger and the ones that replace the leaders who replace the other leaders get even worse. It’s just silly and dumb I wish someday we will learn.

“I am ready to do what you asked. If we find the pipe and it’s not the spot around here, what do we need to do to repair it?’

Amber chuckles.

“We will have to follow the pipe and we might have to take apart the wall. The issue is that it won’t be easy to repair it. I might ask you to come with me to an old cement factory. Are you willing to help me with all this? I don’t care if you just want to back out of all this.”

She is allowing me to back out of this? I don’t understand why she is allowing me to back out of it? I thought I was being forced into this because Topaz wished me to help and to prove I can be part of this community.

“I don’t get it, Topaz told me I need to prove myself to your community. She said the only way she will help me find the instructions to turn the cargo ships and others back on is to get them back to shore.”

Amber shifts a bit and turns her head, a frown forming on her face.

“Tell me the truth, are you sure you want these cargo ships to return? I will be honest with you, more wars keep popping up. Peace does happen but some crazy nut will form an army and so forth and then it will cause more problems. I am not trying to tell you what to do but you need to understand the world is still very uncivilized.”

My eyes open wide, confusion comes over me. My mouth hangs open. I am hearing this from someone living here? They’re telling me the world is not ready for those who are outside of it to return? I don’t get it. I have been told about sunshine and rainbows and about all the heroes who did all they could for the land. I shake my head wanting to be angry but thankfully she doesn’t see how I feel.

“Truthfully Sprocket Topaz is a harsh gal. I have known her for almost ten years now and the only I know more about is her wife. Her wife told me about what she went through. She told me she couldn’t tell me everything. Topaz did promise me that someday she would tell me what happened to her. But you need to understand she is expecting you to not find what you want. To her, the world is not happy to go lucky.”

Closing my eyes, sighing. I am not going to leave Amber hanging. She has been very kind to me. This entire community has been very kind to me. I can’t just leave them hanging because I don’t want to prove myself.

“Alright I will help you and I will do everything you need help with. I am not going to allow your first meeting of a pony whose life has been in the middle of the water all their life to be a bad one. Now, what pipe is normally the one that has issues?”

Amber chuckles.

“Truthfully all these pipes are so old it could be all of them but that is very rare. I want you to hit the pipe in this spot right here.”

She taps the middle of the metal pipe. She puts her ear to the pipe and I smack the weapon on it and after a while, she moves her head.

“Not this one and this is normally the one. Now we will have to check every pipe. I am sorry about this. Now, this could take a pretty long time, are you ready?”

I nod and we do the next pipe. It’s not that one and she explains to me that one leads to another community farther away from here. But normally they take care of their pipes. But it’s rare for them to run into each other. We finally found the pipe. It was a big pipe, a larger pipe than normal and Amber sighed.

“This pipe is connected to the old water treatment plant. No one has been in there for years. I was dreading this moment. We can get there through some old locked doors. Do you trust me enough to go with me?”

I glance at the pipe. I know it may take hours or even days to follow it. I am sure Amber has old blueprints of the place down here or she has been there. Maybe she knows more about this underground place area.

“You sound like you have been there before.”

Amber nods.

“I have I am the one that locked the doors. I don’t remember why I locked it. I just remember when everything happened I again lived down here and made sure it stayed clear. Just something happened in that old treatment plant”

Taking a deep breath smelling the filtered air in the helm. I take the helm off playing it down to the floor sighing.

“Do you have blueprints?”

Amber smirks.

“No I don’t need them, I know the way. What you might see here won’t be pleasant. I have kept these areas clean so have the others. The area we are going to hasn’t been cleaned at all. So be prepared for some crazy shit.”

I was confused about what she meant by that.

“Why?”

Amber laughs.

“Well, it's an old zoo. I am sure the radiation that still lingers around here hasn’t done some nice shit to things. No one has any idea what happend at that zoo and they had a lot of their pens underground since it was the only way to protect them from the war.”

I put my helm back on and I follow Amber through another set of doors. While we get closer to the door leading to the zoo changelings are nesting around these dark areas. They look at us and one wave at us.

“Don’t worry about them, they're a peaceful hive. The hive and the queen are part of the community we are from. They didn’t want to take up all the room so they moved in down here. So we will have to talk to the Queen to get the key to go into the next set of doors to get to the plant. Make sure you don’t say anything that will insult them.”

I do my best to keep silent and we go through the strange hive connected into the sewers. They left the pipes alone. I notice they have their workers trying to fix some of the pipes themselves. They seem to be having issues too and Amber tells them what is going on.

“It’s the water treatment plant Coal.”

A green changeling lands beside us and she stares at me and then Amber. Her name is Coal? She doesn’t even look like Coal. This changeling is not only a female, she looks like a hive queen but she is not a queen. I wonder if these hive females are larger. I look to see the males and they’re smaller than the females.

“Great…our water is not working and the queen needs it to lay more eggs. At the water treatment plant, no one is allowed to go in there for some weird reason and she said because of what happened down there.”

What happened down in the water treatment plant everypony is so hush never talk about it. Amber doesn’t even remember and she lives longer than most creatures. Coal leads us to the hive while the workers take apart the pipes and add new pipes.

“Amber, you told me it would be hard to find new pipes, how are they able to make pipes?”

Amber chuckles.

“The Changelings can sneak into anything and find stuff for their community even though they’re part of our community if they find pipes so on they get first dibs. This area has the worst off pipes and the queen needs them more than we do. It’s why I just repair and rework our pipes and I take the old pipes from them.”

Amber and I are led through the hive and a large chamber near a waterfall of dirty water behind it as it goes down into a deep pit and the water from what I see seeps into the ocean. When we go in the queen sits on an old throne. The queen is pure white Amber bows fully down to the queen and I follow suit.

The queen gets off her throne drinking from glass floating into her magic. She looks at me pulling my helm off. She looks at me closely, taking a deep sniff of me and shivers from the smell.

“I have never felt you, empty love, before. You aren’t from the hoof are you?”

I stood up feeling a bit upset about being sniffed.

“I am Sprocket. I come from a community of cargo ships and other ships in the middle of the sea. Our captains or elders call themselves. Send me and two others to find instructions to start up the ship's ability to move again. After what I have seen, if I do find it I would burn it and tell them it’s not worth coming here.”

The queen sighs, shaking her head.

“So you're a pony who has been stuck in a peaceful community.”

I laugh loudly.

“Peaceful”

I laugh harder.

“No one is free at all and we are forced to breed with the one we aren’t in love with and then we are forced to kill our parents with poisons. Do you think there is no crime and no problems? There is so much hunger on these ships, one little crime you’re in the brig for almost all your life. Now let’s get this done so I can get out of here.”

The queen wanted to argue with me and Amber shook her head. The Queen just shakes her head and leads the two of us to the door leading to the zoo and then later to the water treatment plant.

“This may take a few hours for us to get through Sprocket. Why don’t you go get some sleep? I will come and wake you when it’s open.”

I look back to the door has many locks to the point they have to unlock every door and it looks like no one has unlocked these locks in years. So it will take years to just move the door at all. I take a deep breath sighing. Coal leads me to the inn. The inn is in a wall looking around they’re using the old sewer area as rooms.

Behind the counter is a creature I have never seen before. A rat female stands on her hind legs and she smiles.

“Well hello there pony. I haven’t seen you before.”

Coal pays for my room, setting the caps down. Coal nods to me.

“We will be working together. Oh, and Amber will be coming with you and I will too. We will go with you on your journey to get the book and return with you.”

I wanted to say how I felt. Then I kept silent. Did I just make friends? Amber has been very kind to me and she wants to go with me but what about her eggs? Coal even wants to go with me but what about her job here? I hear claws click on the inn counter.

“Excuse me I am sorry pony are you awake?”

I turn to the rat creature.

“I am sorry just thinking I have never seen a species like you.”

The rat chuckles.

“Nothing really impressive about me. I am just a rat creeper anyway, here is the key.”

She sets the key down.

“Dinner will be ready and served six hours from now, enjoy your sleep.”

I take the key in my wing and unlock the room. I go inside and it’s been cleaned up and there are air filters to push clean air around. I pull off all my armor and helm. I lock the door and lay in the bed to relax. I close my eyes to rest, feeling sleep take me.

To be continued.

Chapter Eight: The old goat part three final

I need you to find her my friend. She needs to know stories of unicorns vanishing. It’s not as bad as most think it is right now. There are so many things I wish I could tell you over a letter. But I need her to know she is needed again. She needs to forgive those that backstabbed her so long ago. If you could at least give Melody these letters I am writing to you. Maybe she will look out for her. The final journey is coming my friend and we can’t just sit back and allow the past to stop us from winning this coming battle.

Written by the healer to the leader of the community.

I open my eyes and I hear a strange sound like an alarm. I look at my helm, it's like it’s trying to warn me of something. Then before I could do anything I saw eyes open in the darkness and a dark growl. Coming into the light a Manticore, a small one, jumps me.

I am finally able to move as it goes in for the kill. It’s a manticore that roars before anything could happen. A gun goes off and the manticore roars in pain and falls over dead. Amber quickly runs into the room.

“Oh, Goddess, you're awake. We opened the door and when we did all hell broke loose. Get your armor on, we need to defend the hive before they make it deeper into the tunnels.”

I quickly get out of bed noticing my door broken down and the rest of the inn full of gun marks and I am worried about the innkeeper before I could get my armor on when the rat comes in wearing heavy power armor. It looks like it is made just for her. It’s made of various garbage and old armor fused.

“Thank the goddess the Junk reapers made me this before I left home years ago.”

I get a good look at the armor and the rat takes the helm off her head staring at me.

“Look if you want to get gutted by these creatures go ahead keep gawking at me. Get your armor on now that is a damn order!!”

I quickly get my armor wondering why. I have no idea what she just said made me get it on. When I get the armor on I quickly arm the railgun. I finally named it when I got the arming button with my mouth. I say the name of my new weapon out loud.

“RailRoading.”

Amber laughs.

“Not bad. Now let’s clear this out, it's more than just manticores. These creatures have been over-breeding. I don’t know what else is in there but one of the Changelings said the door to the water treatment plant is broken. It’s time to finally get pure water again for this city. Hopefully, it will make it to the entire city.”

The rat creeper puts her helm back on.

“It won’t happen, it would take years to go through every pipe and replace them so some places are going to lose treated water. Many places won’t even have water and we don’t have the power to… Okay, enough standing around here talking, let's take care of these creatures.”

The three of us ran out of the inn. There are many creatures who I am sure wouldn’t ever be able to fit in here if they weren’t little ones. I see the bodies of dead hydras and other creatures I have never heard of before.

“Okay, Sprocket you’re with me. You and I are going to push to the water treatment plant. It would mean we go right in the middle of the zoo down here. I still don’t understand why they built it down here. Something to do with rich elites wanting a private place.”

I quickly nod snorting in the helm allowing my lungs to fill with air and remove air. I trot behind Amber while the two of us fire our weapons and allow the changelings to take on what they could. A large tiger blocks me from getting through the door. I try to fire many of the railway spikes into the tiger. When many of them enter the tiger it screams in pain.

The tiger couldn’t do anything laying there in pain but not dead yet a medic or doctor came to its aid stroking its head with magic trying to calm it. I watch while the stallion does what he can to keep it calm and heal its wounds it’s like this changeling is talking to it. I didn’t care at the time and continued forward to follow Amber to the door.

We make it through and when we get inside we see many bodies of changelings torn apart and creatures dead. It’s like a warzone in here but when we get here I finally get to see it. It’s like a normal zoo in a sewer. The layout is a zoo with pens and places for the elites to watch. Far away is another door.

“That door at the end there leads to an old tram. The tram, if it's still working, will take us the right to the treatment plant. If not we will have to walk there on the tracks.”

Before we could do anything we heard a large roar and standing in our way is a large old hydra. Not just that, a Chimera. I am told you could talk to them and try to reason with them But these creatures are old and have been here for years. Before I could do anything I got a surprise.

“Hisss. Pony…”

The hydra screams.

“Dragon.”

The heads scream.

“We come in peace.”

Amber and I stare at each looking back at the other creatures who didn’t look to be part of that peace. Amber and I went on ahead. We stood far away from the older creatures. A giant snake that I am told looks like a creature from mythology called the world eater. I was told a creature like this didn’t exist or maybe it did.

They didn’t even attack us.

“We are sorry about our children. The ponies of old did experiments on us old creatures so we could be smarter and do tricks for the ponies that came down here. What they didn’t understand is hiss. We could start talking like them.”

The large snake laughs.

“Just like a pony to not understand their problems. For they capture the last of the world eaters and make him smart enough to talk. Oh, such irony but I am too old to do my job these days. Again the children don’t have the same ability to think as we do. All the mating of the hydras and Chimeras and so on has been removed.”

A large tiger with arcing flowing through its body and a strange look like a cloudy tiger. Lighting flowed through its mane and the poor creature looked older than everything else.

“Why do you invade our home? So many of us have been here too long we are sure our old homes are long gone. Is the world still wounded?”

Amber chuckles.

“Yes, and many things have changed but not fast enough for some creatures. I wouldn’t say it’s ready for creatures like you to return. I am sorry if that upsets you.”

The hydra laughs.

“No, it’s for the best that we are relics of the past. Our world eater friend is older than the world. Most of us just want our lives to end so we can finally be free. We won’t ask you to do it, we will wait for the long sleep to take us.”

The chimera nods. I get a good look at it. It’s normally a goat, snake tail, and tiger. This one is a lizard with the body of a lion as the other head and a viper tail.

“My family here can’t speak for themselves. They never learned so I talk for them. They’re smart enough to talk. They just never had anything to talk about. Thank you for doing what we couldn’t. Thank you for killing those that came after us. We will clean up the bodies of our children and those that fought them. So why are you here?’

Amber sighs, taking a deep breath, blowing the air out after.

“We are here to get to the water treatment plant.”

The hydra hisses.

“There are nasty creatures in that plant. Something came through here not long ago. Creatures from the desert land. We have no idea what they want but they thought we were too stupid to understand them. They wanted to destroy the ability for the hoof and the world to fight the coming threat.”

The coming threat, what is this coming threat? I shrug my shoulders and I follow Amber to the door leading to the tram. I look back at the creatures. I feel bad for them while they go clean up the bodies of their children and give back the changelings who died.

The large world eater turns its head to look at me slithering closer to me.

“Pony before you go I wish you to do something for us.”

I take my helm looking into the eyes of the large creature.

“I would like you to tell your dragon friend when all this is said and done build walls around our homes lock us in to let us die and then when we die use our bodies to grow your food. I am going, to be honest with you. I had enough of living forever. My body is finally failing.”

Tears fell from my eyes. I feel bad for these creatures. Why am I crying for creatures that could just eat me? I might have been on the Metal ring for far too long and think my heart is losing its stone casing. The world eater weakly smiles removing my tears with the tip of his tail.

“I’m sorry I just never felt this way before. I know full well if I was still at my home I wouldn’t care less about either of you. Now I see how the ponies of the past treated you. I wouldn’t blame you if you try to hurt me because I am a pony.”

The large creature nods.

“We would have a right to. This world though has had too much sadness and pain lately. The idea of adding more pain for revenge on the past is not what should be done. It’s best to move on from those problems. If ponies can’t grow it doesn’t mean we can’t grow from the past.”

I felt honored by these creatures. I look at all the creatures who turn to look at me. They all give me a bow. I feel proud that they respect me. I may be part of the race that captured them and made them slaves. Even if they feel they don’t deserve to live any longer.

“Go pony.”

The Hydra yells and cheers.

“Save the future for our sake and your kind GO!!.”

They all yell in unison and I leave to follow Amber to the tram. When I see the tracks the tram is slowly returning looks like the tram has been blasted up a bit but it’s still working. Amber turns to look at me.

“What took ya Sprocket?”

I explain to Amber what the creatures want. She nodded. I could tell from the sound in her helm that she was close to tears. I feel it’s hitting her that these creatures want to help those who placed them in these cells.

“I will honor them after. I learned what we are dealing with by looking at the camera here.”

She clicks a few buttons and I see creatures I thought were only a myth. Troggles minions of Grogar and walking with them is a donkey dressed as a jester. I know him from stories about him. An odd donkey who gave up his soul to be in the good graces of Grogar.

“He has returned then?”

Amber turns her head nodding.

“Grogar the seals are almost fully broken. I doubt anyone would believe us.”

I shake my head. I know the stories about Grogar and his seals. I know much about what happened to him and how it’s told about in our schools and all the time in the cargo city. It’s one of the things the old guard forced into our heads over and over. Beware of the undead goat necromancer. For if he returns our world is doomed.

“My home knocks it into our heads over and over if he returns our world is doomed. Because many would never believe us because they’re too focused on their survival or if they get the next sexual intercourse or drug.”

Amber shifts a bit on her claws. I have a feeling I struck a nerve.

“I used to be that way myself Sprocket. Then I got my hatchlings. I am going to be leaving them to join you. I told my husband what I am going to be doing and he is going to watch them and raise them while I help you.”

I was taken aback by her words. The tram screeches to a halt and the tram groans and screams the metal rubbing on strange rust. She and I get on the tram and I feel I should thank her for giving up on a peaceful life.

“Come on, let's get the water going for our future. If we can bring a little bit of peace for those coming after us. My hatchlings need that future. If I die to give it to them then so be it.”

I nod arming my railway rifle filling it fully up with the spikes. I don’t know if these Troggles are like the Troggles of old willing to betray Grogar. Amber clicks the button and the tram starts to grind and move. It’s going to take a while for us to get to the treatment plant. The muscles in my body ache in pain. A pain that shows you haven’t moved those muscles in years.

While we go I turn on the screen again to read the history of what went through here. I found information on the creatures in the zoo. I look up at the giant snake or worm I think it is. I got some old information on this creature. I turn it on to listen in my hud.

“We have been searching for this giant snake for years. It has been labeled the world eater. So they say some just think it was made up to scare little ponies. We have cast many spells on the creature and it screams curses at us or we think it does. We can shrink it after many years of forcing spells on it. We allowed science ponies to take it and then they experimented on it and placed it in the zoo with the others. Goddess forgive me for what we did. I felt we could use him to fight this war. But they just wish to use him to gawk and laugh at. Someday I will be forgiven”

The recording ends.

It took a while but we finally made it to the treatment plant. When Amber and I fully go in we see many runes made from magic chalk around. Amber and I follow it as she reads the runes. She freezes a second reading one of them.

“This is a summoning spell. Some summons now it’s rare old-world summons needed water or some other fluids, some even needed fire. But if you have enough water you can do a large summon. This magic has been lost for years.”

I tilt my head.

“How do you know all this?”

Amber chuckles.

“Dragons know a lot about old magic even though we did our best to avoid ponies. Old stories from my kind and when it comes to old stories from my species we take them seriously. This is how some wizards in the old times would get around. Even how some would fight us.”

I will have to take her word for it. I have no idea at all since ponies never kept their old history. If they did I wouldn’t ever be able to read it. Most of the world died so long ago. When we finally get closer. I swear I feel magic going through my body. We see water forming in my symbols while it floats around us. We finally get to the main room and see the large army and them casting a spell. We see Bray laughing and giggling.

“Yes, the spell is almost ready.”

Amber whispers

“Now I see why the water stopped as it did. We need to stop them Sprocket.”

Before we could do anything I felt a spear in my back and it jabs in making me and Amber stop as we look behind us seeing Troggles standing there. Since we are unable to do anything she and I are led to the large group.

“Ah, ponies from this new generation. Weak dragons from this new world are still just as weak. The ponies of old would have beat us by now.”

I take a deep breath knowing if I allow Bray to talk he will monologue and then we can find a way to beat him.

“So what’s your plan?”

Bray stares at me.

“Are you that dumb? Are you thinking I would just stand here and talk and talk like a comic book villain? My master and I learned years ago that it will never work. So shut up and watch the doom of your world.”

Amber sighs, shaking her head. I can’t see her emotions but I know she thinks of me as dumb for even trying. There are too many of them and we can’t do anything it’s like they expected more than just me and Amber.

The last of the spell is yelled and the water forms into a circle and a portal open up. A right black hoof comes out of the portal. Then fully the large blue ram comes out. From the looks of it, the spell may not last. He has runes trying to push him back into his realm. Bray bows to the large blue goat

“Master, we did what we could to keep you here.”

Grogar just looks around with a sneer on his face. He then looks at me and Amber. A dark smile forms on his face. The troggles move out of the way and Bray cackles while the large goat stares at the two of us. He comes down to us. He is so much larger than I expected he is much larger than the stories give him credit for.

“So this is the army to keep me from returning. Then that bug failed to do what she told me she would.”

He laughs.

“Oh, the Irony even though I can’t fully stay in this world yet till the last seal is broken. I can still do enough for you two and whoever else stands in my way. Let’s see who that would be shall we?”

His black horns glow bright red and a strange red mist and we are transported with him and his army back to the zoo. I look around, seeing the world around us changed. He looks around laughing softly.

“Hmm, you ponies sure love your zoos for my children.”

I look around not seeing the creatures that we saw at all, not even seeing the changelings. The Troggles and Bray stay back to wait to see what Grogar does.

“Master, do you want us to do anything with these two?”

Grogar turns his head to stare at his minions. He shook his head and turned back at me and Amber.

“I will do it. Besides it’s just a pony and a dragon not like they would do anything anyway. Since ponies in this new generation are too scared of their shadows.”

While he wasn’t looking I charged at him Amber tried to stop me. This goat in my mind is too full of himself and when he turns to look back he has a look of surprise on his face. I smash into him and he backs up like he is in pain, his nose bleeding.

“How scared of our shadows?! Huh?! You think I am just going to let you come here and take over my world?!”

Grogar’s look of pain turns to anger. I feel his magic around me. He lifts me and spreads my body like he is going to rip me apart. I feel so much pain like I struck a nerve and he laughs and of course, he forgets about Amber. I am guessing being trapped for so long has made the goat’s brain forget or he is just that dumb at the moment. I am guessing it’s the spell that brought him here.

Amber doesn’t wait and she claws him deep in his side and he grunts. We see the runes glow even brighter like they’re making it harder for the brain to work fast. I was told stories he is good at what he does and a spell was placed on him to slow him down. I believe this spell is why it’s taken him so long to break these spells. Before Amber could hit him again he lifts her and puts her beside me.

“Damn pony spells. If I didn’t have this brain slowing spell on me I would have killed you two already!! Now. no one is going to save you now”

As if it was fate or stupid luck the large snake creature known as the world eater breaths a strange fire on Grogar he places a spell on himself to block it. He stares at the world-eater anger filling his eyes. While he sees more of his children coming to fight him. The Hydra, the strange tiger creature, and the Chimera.

“My children, your father has returned. You should be fighting with me to defeat this world and make it bow to you again.”

The hydra hisses laughing.

“Father? You make us and half of those you make father backstab you. The naga? The rumors you placed a genetic marker in them so they would die over time. Guess what they beat that marker. I will take pride in doing this.”

The hydra charges the three heads in unison and does what they can to attack Grogar but the Troggles and Bray get in the way the Troggles lift strange spears and Bray screams the words fire. The Troggles fire strange magic from the spears when it hits the Hydra it bores right through him. The hydra in as much pain as it tried to stomp on the Troggles and in an act of defiance takes as many out as it can and then falls over dead from an exploding heart.

Grogar uses his magic to cause Amber and me great pain. I scream and Amber screams. The tiger creature fires lighting at Grogar when it hits him it goes through his horns and he turns to look at the creature. It did hurt him and the tiger charges at Grogar and with it being weak and old he uses a magic spell to turn the hydra into an undead creature. With blood flying everywhere the mindless hydra attacks the tiger while they’re in a brawl of life vs undeath.

The chimera is the next to charge and she charges into the Troggles going after Bray. He backs up shaking.

“SAVE ME!!”

He gets into a ball shaking like he is a baby. The Chimera breaks through with many wounds on her body. She weakly pants so weakly from attacking the Troggles and Bray acts scared when she gets closer. He lifts a gun and fires right into her heart. The three sisters scream in pain falling onto Bray dead.

“Get this off me!!”

All that is left is the world eater. The weakest of the creatures after so much happened to it. He watches while his friends lay there dead and the tiger and the hydra fighting. He looks at me and Amber while he pulls the armor off our bodies making the pain worse. I feel it going deeper into my body as a rib bone snaps in my chest. Amber’s wing snaps in a weird position. He closes his eyes chants a spell to himself and quickly transports me and Amber away and he takes our place in the spell.

“WHAT?! You would stop me from having my fun?! Then you will die yourself!!”

The snake screams and the runes glow brighter on Grogar showing he is about to be forced back into the prison. He looks at me and the tiger who kills the hydra again. But the wounds on the poor creature are too much and the creature falls over convulsing and dies. The world eater snake looks back at me.

I swear I hear him in my head. I am back on the ship in the core room and my mother is there? Why is she there?

“Mom?”

The old mare comes over to me putting her hooves on my face.

“There is so much I wish to say to you. I wish I could tell you all I have seen.”

I was confused but then I realized I am not talking to my mother, I am talking to the world eater. I finally see he is telling me his last words.

“If only I was able to be my pony friend. I would thank you for the kindness you showed me. If I could have met more like you I wouldn’t have hated your species as I have. I am too weak to do anything else to Grogar. I can only weaken him just enough. Now goodbye my friend.”

I wanted to know so much more and then I came back out of my mind seeing the large snake doing the last thing he could. He is glowing and Grogar screams not realizing what is going on the snake is killing himself. Lights and beams of magic pour out of the wounds and the magic smashes into the goat and the Troggles killing some of them and Bray dances around them with no issue.

He finally explodes in magic. Causing the ground to shake above and causing me and Amber to fly and when I land I feel more of my body get hurt. I groan deeply, lifting seeing Grogar vanished and Bray and the Troggles gone as well. I look over to Amber who has a piece of metal lodged into her left shoulder. She looks to be breathing at least. I try to get up but I feel my world slowly getting fuzzy. I hear hooves at least I think I do I look over to the changelings helping Amber and picking her up.

My vision slowly goes dark as I see them lifting me and all I can do to keep my eyes open.

Footnote: Level up

Perks added: Railroaded and armor: You have been given a railway gun, a powerful one that will break through various armors. The armor you have fits you perfectly. It will not defend you against everything.

Two new Companions: Coal and Amber: Coal and Amber both have an engineer-like mind making it harder for some to understand you when they’re both around. Coal’s changeling’s ability to get into places you can’t. She has a charming perk that would help you convince stallions to give up their secrets.

Amber with her being an old dragon you will learn more of old history and with the motherly perk of being a new mother. She will do everything she can to keep you alive. She treats every creation she works on as her child and her friends she would die for.

Chapter: Nine: The past

I am sorry I showed the letter to Melody. She didn’t say anything, just that she didn't wish to be bothered by her past. She wishes to give her love to your wife though. I hope everything is peaceful with you. I will be contacting you again with a request. Signed unknown

_______________

Melody a few days after Grogar attacks

It’s been so long since I used my doctor skills to save one from sickness rather than from what harmed her. The poor mare Sprocket from the Metal Ring waits in bed while the dragoness Amber stands beside me, her arm in a sling.

“I am doing everything I can Amber but I need help from an Enclave doctor. I will regret this but I need you to do me a big favor Amber.”

Amber glances down at me.

“I need you to go to Widowmaker Desert and head to the island far off the shore. I need you to find the pony named the healer. “

Amber sighs, shaking her head.

“Getting to Widowmaker is not an easy task. I would have to fly all the way unless there is a way to get me there sooner.”

I sigh deeply, nodding.

“I know a way and my wife is not going to like this but I had to contact an old friend of ours and he shall be here soon.”

Amber laughs

“How can someone get here so fast unless they have powerful magic?”

I laugh softly.

“No, they were already in the hoof. His escorts are very old friends of mine so don’t worry.”

Amber sighs going back to her bed to rest and after an hour while I work to try to keep Sprocket alive. The door swings open. I turn around to see the large turtle creature with a cybernetic arm and shell. Beside her was an orange kirin mare wearing her pirate outfit and beside them a camel. The next one to come in is a troll. The kirin trots up to me pulling me into a tight hug and all I do is hug back laughing.

“Hello, Wicker, are you keeping your wives in line?”

Wicker laughs.

“Na so Melody enjoying the herding life and…would she be upset if she found us here?”

I laugh weakly

“Yes, she would only let a few know she is here and she wants to keep it that way. But I got a request from Beezen. Could you please help me?”

The troll sighs, shaking his head.

“Melody you can’t always ask a judge of the stars for help. But since I know you I will let this slide. I doubt they will. What do you need?”

Gizmo glances at the pegasus mare in the bed.

“I think the mare in the bed is the one that needs help Beezen. Melody, who is that?”

I glance at Sprocket sighing.

“Her name is Sprocket. She is from a community in the middle of the sea called the Metal Ring.”

Wicker stares at the mare and then back at me.

“Wait, someone from the Metal Ring is on land? Why would they return? The only reason would. Be trying to start the ships back up.”

I sighed, shaking my head.

“I guess she is searching for instructions on how to start their vessels again. But there is more..her immune system is awful. I can’t do anything. It's why I need an enclave doctor. I need her.”

Beezen groans.

“You need the healer? Melody you know she is searching for you know who and if she finds her here. A lot of problems will arise. I hope you understand this.”

I nod, smiling weakly.

“Beezen have you talked to the others?”

Beezen chuckles.

“Dust is doing great; he is out helping the council with an issue that has risen. He won’t talk about it. Rhoyo is a mother now and hasn’t changed a bit. We haven’t been to see Soft Heart or Sterling but Soft Heart is still traveling around Equestria. So hopefully we see her now…I will return as a wizard's magic is never done.”

Beezen sighs and heads out of the hospital room. Gizmo looks at the mare I am helping to look at her weak body from the sickness.

“This mare has a smell of the sea on her like Wicker used to.”

Wicker rolls her eyes.

“Are you three staying or are you going to leave soon?”

Oil snickers

“We will be leaving soon. I don't want you to know who to see Gizmo and Wicker. Is she still upset that you told us who she was?”

I shrug my shoulders.

“I don’t know she is a creature of habit. She is open to me and open to those she knows. But she refuses to even talk about you. I worry about what will happen if she sees the healer again.”

Beezen comes back into the hospital.

“I found a pegasus mare willing to fly my letter over there. So I don’t have to waste my magic again for you.”

I roll my eyes.

“Thank you so much Beezen, this poor mare might be dead before she gets here.”

Beezen laughs.

“Highly doubt it, see this mare…”

He stares at Sprocket.

“She has seen Grogar”

He glances at Amber.

“You both have seen him.”

Amber laughs.

“Well, we stood up to the old goat. It took the creatures around us in the zoo to save our asses and then I wanted to stay in Grogars face to act dumb. Do you know you're Gorgar?! But he did say something he is not wrong about. The ponies of this age are too weak to fight him."

Beezen sighs.

I shake my head.

“Beezen look I don’t know how long she is going to survive are you sure this mare will be fast enough?”

Beezen glances back at Sprocket.

“She will be fine. You’re worrying a bit too much just keep flushing her system and I am sure she will get better. But I doubt you will be able to let her leave back to this Metal Ring she is from. She would give them so many illnesses.”

I shake my head.

“Beezen it’s good to see you all again. Have you seen any of the others?”

Beezen shook his head.

“Nope, I haven’t had time with these three keeping me on the move.”

Oil laughs.

“Well, when we hear Melody needs help we will come as quickly as we can. Oh, you would be happy to know Mellow finally opened her restaurant on the island. She even has a big family now. It’s wonderful to see our old friends..”

Oils ears pin to the back of her head.

“I wish we could see…the one we traveled with so long ago. Are you sure she will be upset seeing us?”

I nod quickly

“I could talk to her about it but I don’t want to leave Sprocket out of my sight. So why not find a place to stay you three and then I will talk to her later.”

Beezen sighs.

“I am tired anyway so let's go find this place to stay.”

Wicker is the only one to stay behind while the other three leave to find a place to stay. Wicker sits in a chair beside me while I watch the mare in the bed. Amber lays in her bed to just stick around even if she can leave.

“Wicker I am a bit worried about so much. The world is becoming far worse than good. Some places are so peaceful while others get worse. It’s like the world doesn't wish to heal. I am noticing it so much lately and it’s bothering me.”

Wicker laughs

“You said this every time we went through Dream Valley. I am unsure about this. I am worried about this happening. Ruby, please don’t touch it because it could cause sickness.”

I laugh

“I was right, you know it did make her sick. So how are you enjoying married life with Oil and Gizmo?”

Wicker shrugs her shoulders.

“They keep me in line. I haven’t even wanted to go back to the lovely life of sea raiding because of them and I turned over a new leaf and became a guardian of our new home.”

A smile forms across my face.

“I am happy for you Wicker. It took a while but Topaz finally accepted the stallion I wanted to herd with. She loves him as I do and I told her no matter what I will always love her as my true love. It’s amazing to me our entire journey our love grew more.”

The hospital door opens up and coming in is the blue bug.

“Melody. I am..”

The two old friends stare at each other. I see nothing but hatred in my wife's eyes. Wicker’s ears wilt to the back of her head. Topaz floats on her wings coming over to me and then stares at Wicker looking at me ignoring her like she wasn’t there.

“I heard what happened. Amber, did she listen, or did she fail?”

Amber chuckles

“She listened better than you when we first met Topaz. You don’t have to be such an ass to her. She at least stood up to Grogar.”

Topaz rolls her buggy eyes.

“Standing up to him is good for her, look what happened to you two. Now I am going to head home Melody. I will make you dinner.”

I smile creeps on my face.

“Please make enough for our guests.”

Topaz stares at Wicker.

“Are there more guests we are going to have and do I have to be there?”

I stomp my hoof hard on the floor. With how hard I hit the floor with my hoof I crack the floor. I stare into Topaz’s eyes

“Ruby…”

I turn my eyes to Amber who looks at Topaz confused.

“Topaz I mean Wicker and the others aren’t the ones who betrayed you. You know this full well and you will never forgive them?”

Topaz buzzes angrily.

“Fine.. for you Melody I will let them into our home. I will listen to them and that is all I will do.”

Topaz turns her eyes, staring at Wicker. The hatred in her eyes scares me. I am worried she is going to hurt her old friends. She flies out of the hospital. I sigh, shaking my head and looking at Wicker.

“I am sorry Wicker, I have been trying to ease her hard heart. She refuses to listen but I do my best to help her.”

Amber strokes her head.

“Melody, Topaz never acts like this towards me and the others of the town. Why does she act like this towards creatures from the island she is from or Widowmaker?”

I shake my head.

“It’s a long story; we can't explain the story to protect her friends and herself. No matter how much I want to. She will never fix her relationships with her old friends.”

Wicker sighs.

“So it’s true that is.. Her.”

I nod.

“I figured how did you keep it a secret from us for so long?”

I laugh weakly

“It wasn’t hard I just said after my former wife she made me love magic eaters like her.”

Wicker smirks

“I see any way I will see you later Melody. I will try to convince the others to show up for dinner. I doubt they will agree. Someday though Melody the NCA will never be able to keep this up. She won’t be able to keep this up either. Sooner or later we are going to need you two for the battle to come.”

Wicker waves her hoof heading out of the hospital. Amber gets off the bed heading to the door to leave.

“By the way, Melody, please tell Sprocket I am going to put in a good word for her and her friends. She will be a citizen of this town when she wakes up. Coal and I will be following her on her journey to help her find instructions on starting up her home. I hope she understands though she might never be able to return because of what she exposed herself to.”

I nod heading to my office next to the hospital room so I can keep an eye on them. I feel myself falling asleep and after laying my head on the desk I open my eyes looking at the clock yeesh I have been asleep for at least five hours. I got off the desk heading into the hospital room seeing Sprocket still fast asleep. I turn to see an armored pony standing right by the door.

“Forgive her, she is being a bit sneaky today.”

I turn my head smirking at the blue dragoness.

“Hello, Gem, I heard you can fly again.”

Gem chuckles

“Eh rather not talk about what I had to go through for it. Cranberry you can take your helmet off. I don't see your bug daughter anywhere.”

I turn my head to see the pegasus mare take off her helm. Cranberry’s right ear is half missing and she has many scars on her face. She is luckier than most during the battle many years ago.

“Hello, Melody is. Topaz okay?”

I laugh loudly.

“Yes, she is, you're not here because of her. This mare on the bed is named Sprocket. She comes from a community called the Metal Ring.”

Gem whistles

“They normally never leave. Why don’t you head home and talk to Topaz? She needs to know her mother is searching for her.”

I smile weakly.

“You know how she is going to feel about you two being here. She even called Wicker and the others betrayers. I will do what I can to calm her down.”

Cranberry smiles nodding.

“Do what you have to. I just want to hug my daughter again. Take care of my dear daughter-in-law and we will touch up with you after I am done taking care of this mare.”

I wave heading out of the office. It's pretty calm looking up and seeing a storm about to start by the pegasus we have living with us. I quickly get into my home and when I walk in, a large stallion stops me. I stare at the zebra stallion smirking.

“Oh hello, big guy, when did you get home?”

The stallion smirks.

“Oh just recently I was trying to talk to Topaz but all she did was give me a kiss and told me she needed to go into her private room.”

Private room I take a deep breath and sigh.

“I am sorry Star Walker. I wish I could tell you what is going on. It’s not that we don’t love you, big guy, it's just very hard for Topaz to speak of everything. She has moved but I think when she sees her old friends she will never accept them into her life again.”

Star Walker nods.

“I am expecting to learn sooner or later but I know full well not to push Topaz or you. “

A weak smile forms on my face.

“Topaz is going to be making us dinner. Why don’t you go clean up? I am going to talk Topaz into accepting a mare back into her life.”

Star Walker tilts his head.

“Who?”

I sigh deeply

“Cranberry.”

Star Walker's eyes open wide. He may not know everything about Topz and me but he knows that Cranberry is Topaz’s adoptive mother and she told him everything about her. She hasn’t forgiven Cranberry for years and I doubt she ever will.

“Whoo I will go take a shower quickly and this is going to be interesting.”

I laughed while heading to Topaz’s private room. I look at the name on the wall. ‘The bell of freedom. A part of the airship we took on our journey was the room where she laid her eggs.

Topaz sits in the middle of the floor looking at photos of all her friends and she turns to look at me.

“Someday a time will come when I need them again. For now, I don’t”

I close my eyes and a tear falls to the floor. I remember everything and I know full well someday I will or she will explain to someone the journey we went on and what happened. I look to the side and see the book she is writing, which looks almost finished. ‘Rainfall.’

Footnote: No level

And no perk

Author's Note

To folks wondering who these characters are. Beezen so on they're from Rainfall.

Chapter Three: Topaz and the deal

It took us but a day but with the help of our new friend Topaz, we made one of the most intact warehouses in a place to stay at least for now. I wish she would have taken her help again. I want to see what she looks like.

“So tell me why are you three here?”

The bug creature turns her helmeted head to look at me and the others. It’s like she was staring at us. I got a good look at her armor and I saw a sword hilt called Spitfire with a black blade and another beside it called Starseeker. That metal is strange to me but I didn’t know what to say.

“We are here to find instructions to start up our homes again.”

I couldn’t tell if Topaz was interested or not but she was cleaning her swords and other weapons she had with her. I wanted to know so much about this creature but it’s like she was hiding.

“Before we go any further.”

Topaz turns her helmeted head like she is staring at me through the visor.

“You need to at least tell us why you won’t take that armor off.”

It took a while for the creature to answer and she set down her cloth and set down her weapons. The bug creature didn’t speak for a while. I do have a feeling though that she would at least give us a little bone of why.

“I can’t go into why but I had to do many things to protect my family and friends. I had to give up my old life and change everything to protect those I love and even my children. I laid my brood and they will never meet their mother. I had to tell my mate to find a new mate and raise them like I never existed.”

I finally got something this creature was a hero of some land here in Equestria and the ones she saved turned on her? Maybe someday she will go into it. I am hoping she will at least. But that is all I got.

“I am sorry for you miss Topaz.”

I turn my head look at Root Beer. I am sure she would know how it feels. Since her kind has always been treated as outsiders even in the Metal ring community many have been trying to fight old issues and problems of the past.

“Now like we told you before we came here. We are from a community in the middle of the sea and searching for manuals to start up the ability to move the ships again. The way has been destroyed for years and non of our ancestors even were allowed to keep it. So that is why we are here.”

Topaz sighs.

“So you come to the Hoof a place that is kind of insane kind of crazy and you’re here looking for instructions to start your homes again. I see well then I will do my best to help you. But I was hired to meet someone here. Those zebras aren’t the ones I was meant to meet. I just came to their defense even if many of them died. Tomorrow I want you three with me for this deal. You..”

Topaz lifts her leg pointing one of her strange little gloved buggy fingers at me

“I will tell you and then you will have to remember everything I told you and tell your friends here. Are you willing to do that?”

I turn my head looking over to Moonglow and Root Beer the griffin just shrugs her shoulders. The zebra just seems unsure about it but they don’t argue. I stood on my hooves a little wobbly since I am still getting my sea hooves.

Topaz leads me to another room and sitting in the room are many cases. I open one of them staring at many weapons and ammo.

“Are you an arm’s dealer?”

Topaz closes the cases and shakes her helmed head.

“No, I am making a deal for this for freshwater. Not just freshwater but also food medicines and seeds. You see many years ago something called sunshine and rainbows happened. It fixed and brought rain to many lands of Equestria. But not every area of Equestria is getting this treatment. The Hoof may be getting help. But many are suffering still without fresh water and all this.”

It was hard to buy this. Of course, I am sure she has her reasons for selling weapons to these ponies or whatever.

“You don’t seem to agree.”

I wish I had a helm myself. My emotions are so easy to read since I had the look in my eyes I don’t buy this.

“Just why would anyone trade that stuff for weapons? If water is that needed around here why would that be a thing?’

Topaz took a deep breath in her helm and breaths out. I could tell that it wasn’t easy for Topaz.
“No one in these lands is a hero. You may hear stories of heroes. The Lightbringer Security The Buzzer the wolf. I could go on about many stories of heroes. After what I have seen and done and learned. Heroes should just stay as legends and myths. Anyone who tries to become a hero in the land will just backstab you. For heroes make a deal with the devil and she will never smile at you.”

My ears pin to the back of my head. I have a feeling that something bad happened to Topaz if she is willing to bash heroism like this.

“Then if I get the feeling of being a hero what should I do?”

Topaz looks away looking through the weapons of ammo and guns with a clipboard. She is checking off what she has and even counts what is in the boxes.

“If ponies start calling you a hero and say you bring them hope. Don’t allow them to make stories about you. Don’t even let them sing your praises you’re just another simple creature in this land. If you even allow one to call you a hero. You’re as good as cannon fodder for their little wars and you will become the threat.”

I didn’t care for her words but I doubt I could argue with somepony or some bug that feels this way.

“Is that what happened to you Topaz you became a threat to them?”

Topaz closes a case with a loud snap turning her head to look at me.

“Do you remember what I told you about the deal?”

“But I.”

Topaz grew more upset from the sound of her voice in the helm.

“Do you remember everything I told you about the deal?!”

My eyes turn to pinpricks my ears fold to the back of my head and I back up gulping and nodding.

“Y..yes I will remember to tell them.”

Topaz nods.

“Good and no more questions. I don’t want to leave you here. I don’t want to push anyone else away because of what happened in the past. So please leave me till the deal.”

I go to leave the room turning around to watch Topaz I have never seen someone like this in my life. Maybe someday I will be like that myself. When I get back to MoonGlow and Root Beer I look back at the open and to them. I explain everything to them about the deal and that it’s tomorrow morning.

“I see if that is the way this world lives then we can’t stop it and allow it.”

Moonglow nods in agreement with Root Beer.

“We are strangers to this new way of life. It’s why I might tell the griffins it is wise not to return to shore till we feel this type of life is fully changed. Of course, to my kind, they want to get back to land no matter what.”

After an hour we had some dinner and we all fell asleep. At least I tried to fall asleep. I kept my eyes close. My mind finally allowed my body to fall asleep. It was morning and we brought all the cases outside at the request of Topaz.

“Now you three are here to mostly help me.”

My ears perk up hearing strange Hydraulic sounds. I fly into the air just a bit to see what is coming. I stare at the group that is coming. A camel with some strange yeti creatures and I stare at the robotic creature. I have never seen a creature like this before.

I quickly land back and down and they finally come. I stare at the large robotic creature that had on its side the name Hawk. The yeti creatures pulled carts with them of everything. The camel comes up looking at Topaz and then at the three of us.

“Hello miss Topaz. It’s good to see you again I am hoping you got what we need.”

Topaz nods looking over to the mech named Hawk and the guns prime and they burn ready to fire.

“I see that your friend is ready to fire on me if I don’t fall through with the deal.”

Pinda cranes his head just a bit to look at Hawk sighing.

“Former hero that refuses to trust anyone even her old friends.”

A creature that refuses to trust her old friends. I look at Hawk who’s cams stare at me like they’re looking through me.

“I see, I got the weapons you asked for. I hope whatever you will use them for is the correct choice.”

Pinda nods and the cases are being switched and one of the yetis opens one up to look through the ammo. Pinda turns his head to look at Yeti who gave a thumbs up.

“It seems all is there miss Topaz.”

Pinda turns his head to look at Hawk.

“You can relax now Hawk.”

Hawk turns her other cam to look at Pinda or at least I think she was looking at Pinda it’s hard to tell when you don’t have eyes.

“No, I won’t not till we are out of this place. Now please let’s get out of here so we can allow whatever comes to murder this group and forget they even exist.”

Pinda sighs and he leans closer to Topaz.

“She hasn’t been the same since it happened.”

Topaz just quickly nods looking through the cases and to make sure everything is here. She looks towards me and I do my best to count everything and my two friends stand guard with the weapons they recently learned to fire.

“Okay, everything is here. I am sorry I asked you to bring clean water, oh and you even added a pure water talisman.”

Pinda quickly nods.

“Yes, we have extra water in our land now thanks to..”

Pinda turns his eyes to look at Hawk and stays silent about what happened. Pinda refuses to speak about what happened and Topaz refuses to go into what happened as well. I want to learn why they’re so unwilling to speak about it.

“Come on everyone let’s get back home”

Pinda and the others leave. Hawk turns her head to look back at me the cam stares at me like they’re watching me. Then at Topaz after a while, we can no longer hear Hawks legs move and Topaz picks up the cases and puts them into a cart.

“Sprocket how strong are you?”

How strong am I? I doubt I am that strong to pull all those cases.

“I don’t think I am strong enough to pull all those cases. I am sure all three of us together will be able to.”

Topaz helps the three of us to get hitched to the cart. Moonglow didn’t do much complaining but Root Beer snorts and didn’t care for the idea of pulling a cart. I turn my head to look at Topaz arming a weapon of hers and mounting it to the cart.

“Now just follow the road it will be a two hour to three-hour walk. No complaining please you three I don’t want to regret meeting you.”

I took a deep breath blowing air out of my mouth. I look at the eyes of the two I came with if this is how we need to find the manuals by doing all this then so be it. I look at my cutiemark that is half covered by my barding. I have to think of why we are here and the fact we are here longer means we could get sick.

The three of us pull the cart and the wheels groan and move while we finally get moving. I look back at the dock. I don’t know what to think and I worry about leaving the boat there. But I highly doubt they could go back and find our homes.

Looking ahead I see a city coming into view. I am told this is the Hoof. I am hoping that this city will at least be calm and less stressful. But I worry that Topaz could be one of those that bring problems to us.

Footnote: level up

Perk added: Bad perk: The truth of a hero: You learned the sad but truth of being a hero. A hero’s way of saving everything is nothing but a myth and a legend. In truth for a hero to even work is to cause just as much death and destruction in the name of a fake sense of justice. As you feel this go through your mind. Your morale will drop to zero each time you think about it.