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.