Water gave and water took. Once again, her devastating powers had brought all that lay within her grasp to their knees. Life and death began another contest for domination, with time being the final judge in this eternal dispute. At that point, prayer was the last resort.
The helicopter’s crew helplessly watched the upright section of the yacht’s forecastle that was still afloat amidst the churning ocean. Each moment that passed resulted in inches of the vessel sinking into the shadowed abyss, its destiny to never return to shore. The magical blue gleam that emanated around the bow’s surface slowly faded away, the strength of its caster slowly ebbing.
Despite her futile efforts, Baton Rouge continued to push forward in trying to give her friend time to escape. However, the intensified fatigue and growing headache had taken its toll on her reserves, causing her pulse to beat rapidly and her breathing to become increasingly erratic.
Her efforts were constantly monitored by Joe the co-pilot and Night Shade. After receiving the radio message that the second helicopter team was in the middle of recovering the two missing sailors further north of Jayhawk-03’s present location, the pegasus had returned to resume his previous task.
Flying around the crash site, he always maintained watch over the helicopter’s rear cabin. Even from afar, he could see Baton Rouge’s fatigued movements and the flickering of her horn that betrayed her critical state.
"Rouge, I think that’s enough." Baton Rouge didn't pay any attention to Night Shade's radio message, her mind affixed to her task. "Rouge, I mean it. Stop this at once. You’re hurting yourself!" he commanded firmly, though it elicited the opposite reaction as intended.
"SHUT UP! He… He’s still trapped inside, so just… ugh… BUCK OFF!" Baton Rouge shouted desperately and clenched her teeth in irritation. That flare of anger brought forth an extra ounce of magic she didn’t even knew she had.
For a moment, it seemed that the yacht’s sinking had subsided. For Baton Rouge, it all suddenly became a trivial matter. Her view of the yacht’s bow was slowly starting to fade away as the sounds around her became a one big hum.
Blood began to fill her nose and flowed down her muzzle. Her legs gave out and her head fell forward, the rest of her body buckling over. It was over. She had done her best, so there was no sense to fight it anymore. All the tension and fear somehow melted away. She didn’t understand why, but it didn’t matter anymore. As a cool breeze whipped over her entire body, Baton Rouge just felt a need to surrender to the bliss. It… was simply… lovely.
"It’s okay, I’ve got her," came a familiar voice as her eyes fluttered open, allowing her to see Night Shade’s muzzle giving a sigh of relief. She could feel his strong hooves keeping her body from falling overboard as he energetically flapped his wings.
"You know, Rouge, sometimes I wonder if you and Jason are related." Of course, what Night Shade meant was stubborn and dumb, but he decided to spare her the details. Despite her exhaustion, Baton Rouge gave a weak albeit sincere smile to her hunky knight in a shining helmet.
Furiously flapping his wings, Night Shade pushed the mare back inside. A mere glance at the crash site allowed him to witness the moment the yacht’s bow finally disappeared under the ocean’s waves. Unfortunately, he didn’t notice Jason anywhere near the crash site.
Baton Rouge's senses slowly returned to her. Lying down on the cold floor of the rear cabin, she noticed Night Shade holding her in a tight grip. Thankfully, her temporary paralysis was starting to fade away, allowing her to settle herself against the port side wall behind her.
"I’m fine." She waved away his hooves while sipping some water from the bottle he hoofed her. "Just go, I’ll be with you in a minute."
Night Shade knew quite well that Baton Rouge never cared for anyone’s pity, and she knew that he knew that. Therefore, she felt justified in shooting him an irritated glare when, despite her request, he decided to keep her company.
"What? I said I’m fine!" She raised her voice, drawing everyone’s attention. Night Shade placed his hoof around her neck and pulled her face closer to his.
"I know, and I’m proud of you. Just don’t overstrain yourself, Rouge. Remember that you need to look out for both of you." His steady voice and piercing gaze caused her irritation to slowly melt away, making her now more vulnerable and powerless than she wanted. But he was right—there was one more life she needed to look after. "Jason’s on his way, I can feel it. Our kid will need a godfather after all, right?"
Baton Rouge nodded while trying to suppress a sob. She was so worn out and furious that she just wanted to cry. Her body shook like mad, but she managed to keep most of her emotions at bay. She was known as one of the toughest mares in the Coast Guard's fleet. Why spoil the image now?
Night Shade broke the embrace and turned to the helicopter’s exit. With his wings spread open, he jumped back into action. Left alone, Baton Rouge suddenly started to shake nervously even as she strove to regain her composure. The tremendous power loss somehow felt like nothing to what Night Shade had forced her to remember. Unlike him, she wasn’t very optimistic about all this parenthood stuff. Until now, her job had helped her keep her mind from it. And look at her now. Pathetic and weak was all she could think of herself while whipping the blood of her muzzle.
"Jason? Jason, are you there?" Sam shouted. The minutes had stretched by since the last radio transmission from him. The situation was getting critical. "Night Shade, do you see them?"
"Negative, Sam. I’ll make a few extra rounds just to be sure."
Despite her condition, Baton Rouge managed to hear what they were saying. "So he hasn’t come out yet," she whispered nervously and slowly raised herself to her hooves. Her weakened legs kept protesting as she moved closer to the cabin’s edge until she could see the crash site. Everything was still blurry, and her body howled in protest, urging her to take a break. She knew that she deserved it. However, the anger and fear both helped her overcome the urge. "Damn you, Jason, where the heck are you?"
She gasped as a surge of agony coursed through her head. She tightened her grip on the helicopter cabin's edge. Unbidden, her mind brought forth the image of the infamous memory board dedicated to the lifeguards lost or killed in action. Just thinking of Night Shade’s or Jason’s picture on it made her jaw clench.
"Damn it, we can’t wait any longer. Night Shade, do you see them?" Even Sam’s anxiety was beginning to seep through.
Baton Rouge knew exactly the burden Sam was going through right now. It was his decision whether they left now or remained and risked falling into the ocean. None of the crew members wanted to leave without Jason, but the main principle remained the same: save as many as you can, including yourselves. If they don't pull back now, they might never return safely to the base.
Baton Rouge nervously turned her head and noticed the stare of one of the rescued passengers. The stallion was looking directly at her as he sat beside his unconscious wife. He was shaking, though more from a concern for his loved ones than for himself. She could recognize that stare anywhere. His eyes were full of hope, but she could also sense hysteria lurking right behind the corner, ready to explode the moment it got the right signal.
Being reminded recently of her future role as a parent made her gain more sympathy and understanding for the pony. Afraid what might happen if the stallion read the worst from her tired and worried face, Baton Rouge quickly averted her eyes and gazed back into the rough ocean.
‘Come on, you son of a bitch, don’t you dare leave me like this. Get your sorry ass here, NOW!’ Her mind screamed so loudly that for a moment she wondered if her mouth hadn’t betrayed her true thoughts.
"Wait, I see something… on your fifth," Night Shade’s voice, containing a note of excitement, caused her slowly fading hopes to burst once more.
Everyone held their breaths. The truth was that it could be a part of the yacht’s equipment; a lifejacket or a lifebuoy. Whatever the mercilessly ocean had reluctantly returned, they were eager to accept, if only it would be a life that they had all vowed to save.
"Shit," Baton Rouge hissed in astonishment once Night Shade's search beam finally reached its goal.
"Um… pardon, ladies, mind giving us a lift to San Diego?" called an amused and very familiar voice accompanied by the constant coughing of a little filly.
"Rescue swimmer and the target at site," Night Shade reported while hovering over their heads.
Baton Rouge's heart began to hammer in her chest once she spotted Jason with the last passenger, waving at her. That son of a … He had done it again. She didn’t know whether she should hug him or give him a serious whooping once he got on board. They had been teamed together in many missions before, and she had witnessed many stupid actions on his part, but this time he had gone too far.
"Base, this is Jayhawk-03. We have visuals on the rescue swimmer and the last survivor," reported Joe while Sam began to shift the helicopter's position.
"Glad to hear it, Jayhawk-03. Head back to base once you complete recovery."
Baton Rouge immediately pressed the button on the nearby panel. She had no extra power to perform another levitation spell. Fortunately, one of the old proven technical inventions of the human mind hadn’t been put to rest yet. Using the small external winch right below the helicopter's rotors, she connected the child-size life belt to a hoist hook and began lowering it.
***
In the meantime, Jason, while being half-blinded by the helicopter’s search light, took his time to enjoy the view of his friends doing their work for a change. Compared to the yacht’s dying groans, the noise from the helicopter’s rotors seemed a quite pleasant change. Though the sharp pain in his left arm offset this small act of happiness, it also served as proof that he was still alive, and not just him. The one he had risked his own life for was now hugging him tightly with her head over his shoulder.
Coughing violently, Lion Heart fiercely sucked in the cool fresh air. Her wet mane, although short, managed to partly cover her face. At first, she could hardly make sense of her surroundings, and the dizziness in her head made her barely contain the urge to vomit. Nervously looking around, her gaze managed to reach Jason’s face. He kept smiling and didn’t lose his grip on her tiny body even for a second.
"Are you okay?" Jason’s words hardly reached her flooded ears, but she managed to lean herself enough so her eyes could see him smiling at her. She didn't understand why. Despite still being in danger, he didn't look like he was scared. What a weird guy. A simple nod was all she could give.
As Jason raised his head, she followed his gaze and noticed the helicopter’s dim silhouette and a pegasus hovering over their heads. "Wow, look who finally decided to show up!" Night Shade declared. "You always have to make an entrance, eh Jason?"
"It’s what I do best, Nighty. Good to know I still got it."
"Well thanks to you, we’ll be getting to base on fumes. Play that shit on us again and you’ll be swimming back on your own! Got that?"
Although Night Shade tried to sound serious, he couldn’t prevent a small chuckle from betraying his satisfaction. As soon as the winch hook touched the water, he picked it up and helped Lion Heart put the life belt on.
"I’m always up for a challenge," Jason replied cheerfully once he hooked himself up.
"All right, once you're out of the water, we’re heading back to base," reported Joe, the co-pilot. "Night Shade, keep an eye on them."
"Roger that."
"Both rescue swimmer and the survivor hooked up," reported Baton Rouge once she got the hoof signal from Night Shade. "Activating the hoist now."
"Hold on tight." Lion Heart barely comprehended Jason’s words before they both were ripped out from the rough ocean waters. The helicopter instantly began proceeding towards the base. Night Shade constantly flew around them, keeping an eye on the duo.
Meanwhile, Lion Heart continued to vigorously look around. The unpleasant buzzing in her ears started to rise. The gusty rain lashed her face mercilessly, forcing her to tilt her head down. The waves underneath them caused her head to spin in panic, her tiny body shivering from cold and fear.
"It's gonna be alright!" Jason's voice drew her attention towards him. Was he insane? How could this be alright? "I won’t let you go!"
His hands tightened around her body. For some reason, his words seemed to calm her, though she didn’t know why. Neither the wind nor the rain that whipped her hair, or even the ocean’s rough clamor didn’t matter anymore. She felt her anxiety melt away as she kept her eyes on her rescuer.
As soon as the winch stopped, Baton Rouge helped them get inside the helicopter’s cabin. "Rescue swimmer inside," reported Baton Rouge. "Welcome aboard Jayhawk-03, young lady," she added while helping Lion Heart get free from the life belt.
In the dim green light from the cockpit, Lion Heart instantly noticed her father. Without even taking a single step, she was immediately pulled by him into a tight embrace. A string of thankful prayers to the sun and moon goddesses flowed from his mouth.
In the meantime, Baton Rouge helped Jason free himself from the hook lift as Night Shade flew aboard the helicopter and closed the door behind him. In an instant, the sounds of the engine and the thunderous weather subsided.
"Base, this is Jayhawk-03. All targets have been recovered. We’re returning to base, but we’re running on fumes," reported Sam.
"Understood, Jayhawk-03. Emergency services are standing by. Can you reach the main point in present conditions?"
Sam carefully analyzed the parameters on his console. After so many hours wasted on flying, he could tell how much fuel the engines could consume in every kind of weather condition. The dissatisfied grimace he made revealed the rather unpleasant conclusion. "We might encounter some trouble later."
"Roger that. We’ll send a cutter towards your location for assistance. Keep us posted on your status while you’re underway."
"Understood."
Jason peeled off his diver’s mask. After settling himself on one of the cabin’s seats, he began to massage his aching left arm.
"You okay?" asked Night Shade, who had already tossed his helmet aside. "Want me to have a look at that?" While it stung like hell, it wasn’t anything that he couldn’t endure.
"Nah, I’ll be fine."
In the faded light in the cabin, he noticed Lion Heart had already been wrapped in a rescue blanket. Still trapped in her father’s embrace, she looked rather uncomfortable. She got her liberty thanks to Night Shade, who needed to separate them both for a quick medical check-up.
Meanwhile, Baton Rouge was pushing herself again with another spell near the unconscious mare’s stretcher. The declining light on her horn and drooping head betrayed her fatigue. After everything she had done, she still had some gas left. Where could you find people like that these days?
"There, that should do it," said Baton Rouge once her cursory medical scan had finally been completed. The mare’s vital signs seemed to be in order. She seemed to have suffered a fractured skull, but luckily there was no internal bleeding. She should make it until she got professional help at the hospital. Rouge stifled a yawn. Sadly, there weren’t any extra stretchers around. Given how exhausted she felt, the floor was a perfectly fine option.
Someone's hoof on her shoulder caused her head to make a lazy turn. Night Shade was right by her side. "Thanks, Rouge. I'll look after her. Go get some rest. Please."
Baton Rouge didn’t mind. Her job here was done anyway. Night Shade's medical knowledge matched her own, so she could entrust the patient to him without any reluctance. After sharing the medical results with Night Shade, she gave him some space and proceeded to the other end of the cabin where Jason was seated.
His head rose and froze the moment he saw Baton Rouge's face. Just one look at those bags under her eyes and sunken cheeks betrayed the enormous effort she had undertaken. She barely stood her ground, yet she could still force a smile on her muzzle.
Baton Rouge didn't say a single word to him. Instead, she just grabbed and pulled his left arm strongly enough to make him hiss in pain. Despite being magically drained, she pressed her horn to his sore limb and pushed herself for another scanning spell.
"Rouge, you don't need to—"
"I know, and I don't care," she replied bluntly.
It wasn’t the first time Jason had played tag with his own death. He always cared to put others people's lives first, which perhaps made him a fine coast guardsman. However, she could not help but feel that his constant thrill for excitement was the main reason behind it. Each time, his lack of common sense seemed to bring him further into dangerous territory. Someday his luck might run out. She just hoped that she would never live to see it.
Jason, on the other hand, was starting to feel rather awkward. He had expected Baton Rouge to begin her lecture the way she always did. Seeing her sitting silent and subdued didn't fit her at all. "Rouge?"
The mare didn't look at him and simply sighed. "Hmm?"
"Thanks for watching my back out there."
"Sometimes a mare has to do what a mare has to do. But you…" Baton Rouge paused to suppress another yawn, "…you owe me anyway." This would definitely be her last spell for the night.
"I’ll think of something. But man, lifting an entire yacht … just wow. My small respect for you has definitely gone up."
Baton Rouge confronted his cocky grin with her cold and firm stare, but didn’t say anything. The only response he got was a sudden jolt in his shoulder. "Oh, dear me, I’m such a klutz today," he heard Baton's Rouge say in her usual mocking tone.
Using the last remnants of her energy, Baton Rouge finally stated the diagnosis. "There’s no dislocation in your shoulder or any bone fractures, just some muscle strain. In other words, you’ll live." She took a breath of relief since it would be hard for her to work without this fool by her side. A few medical spells in the local hospital and he would be as good as new.
"Thanks, Rouge, where would I be without you?"
"Dear Celestia, if I had a bit every time I heard that," she retorted and passed him an ice bag. Jason opened the fastener on his jump suit and placed it inside on his shoulder.
Baton Rouge settled down on the seat right next to him. Just in time as well, since her body refused to cooperate anymore. In just a moment, she flopped on her side right on Jason’s legs. Maybe it wasn’t very professional on her part, but she was past the point of caring. The only thing she could think about right now was a shower, warm bed, and a sip of her favorite imported Equestrian cider. A wink at Night Shade made her smile devilishly once her naughty mind gave her something extra to think about.
Her stallion kept guard around the mare's stretcher the entire time. It was hard to imagine that this skilled flier, who had once even been offered a vacant position as the Wonderbolts Academy’s instructor, had decided to risk his life for others here on Earth. Normally she would call him a lunatic for giving up such a lucrative job for this. Unfortunately, of all the crew members gathered here, she was the last one to talk.
Although being ready to finally give in to her fatigue, Baton Rouge somehow couldn't abandon the strange feeling that someone was watching them. One good look around the cabin and she managed to notice a pair of blue eyes aiming her way. Or rather, at someone right behind her.
"Hey, Jay, guess what? It seems you got yourself a fan. Way to go." She sneered at his surprised expression. However, it didn’t take him long to realize what Baton Rouge was implying. Embraced in her father's hooves, Lion Heart kept her eyes on them both while hugging the wet Mister Twinkles. Jason smiled at the little filly, who instantly lowered her gaze in embarrassment and began scanning the floor around her.
As for Jason, he had to admit that this was by far the craziest rescue mission he had ever been on. Realizing how many lives were lost had subdued him, but if he had to do this again just to see that cute little face, alive and free of tears, he would in a heartbeat, especially with the team watching his back.
The sudden sound of snoring made him look down at his friend. That walking volcano had really outdone herself this time. Guess one couldn’t expect less from a former student of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. And boy was he glad that she didn’t end up in some magical department in Canterlot, otherwise who would be looking after his and Night Shade’s asses right now? He gently ruffled Baton Rouge’s mane, causing her body to fidget before she sighed.
The rest of the flight was spent in almost complete silence, only interrupted by the radio transmissions coming from the cockpit. It was hard to see anything due to the darkness outside and the massive wall of rain smashing against the windows. Occasionally, the helicopter experienced some turbulence, which was nothing new for Jason and his crew, but the co-pilot needed to assure the frightened passengers that it was natural in present weather conditions.
The only thing that made them all worried was the emergency fuel light that kept flashing. Now, everything was in Sam’s and Joe’s hands. Jason knew Sam was one of the most experienced pilots in the fleet, and despite Joe being the new addition to the team, they both made quite a competent pair to fly the Jayhawk-03, which Sam sometimes used refer to as ‘that stupid piece of junk’. However, despite the machine having her bad moods from time to time, they needed her to feel generous enough to bring them safely to the base.
As the time passed, both pilots' eyes constantly flew nervously between the fuel’s flashing crimson light and the barely visible line on the horizon. Closing in from south-east, the shore slowly kept unveiling its true shape. It was there that they noticed the lights of a vessel as it fought its way through the rough waves. No doubt it was the Coast Guard’s cutter the base had sent.
"Jayhawk-03, this is USCGC Stratton," came what they assumed was the ship commander’s voice on the radio. "We're here to provide you with some assistance."
The USCGC Stratton, the third Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard, was an impressive ship with four hundred feet in length, and rose one hundred and forty feet in the air. In the aft section of the vessel lay a flat rectangular landing area. The huge circle in the middle crossed with a line-up line, both outlined by in-deck lightning, marked the exact point for the helicopter to land.
Sam welcomed the distant landing spot with a look of reluctance. Frankly, he preferred risking a shore landing and killing the engines while in auto rotation than this. Unfortunately, there was no guarantee they would make it to the shore before the fuel ran out. He knew that landing aboard the constantly rocking vessel in windy conditions during night time would tax his abilities. Additionally, it had been some time since he had found himself in a similar situation, so he was rather rusty.
"Jayhawk-03 replying, our fuel reserves are almost depleted. Requesting permission for an emergency landing," said Sam as he prepared for the landing maneuver.
"Understood, Jayhawk-03. Permission granted. The flight deck is at your disposal."
As the Stratton steered herself into the wind, Sam began adjusting the helicopter's flight pattern. He set the machine right behind the ship and continued his approach. Unfortunately, the view in front of him was blurry due to the heavy rain which the wipers did little against.
While lowering the altitude until the helicopter's position was even with the level of the bridge, Sam placed the machine directly above the deck. Set directly against the gusty wind, the helicopter kept swaying while he battled to keep it in position. In the meantime, the flight deck underneath rocked roughly like a cradle, hindering the final landing maneuver.
Luckily, Sam and Joe weren't left alone with their struggles. From the very start, they gained the support from a fully geared human Landing Signal Officer who was standing on the flight deck. Together with the control officer placed in the Helicopter Control Station, they gave the proper verbal and light signals for the helicopter.
Working according to their signals, Sam received the signal when the spread hands that held the illuminated batons began to wave. With the ship's rocking partially subsiding for the time being, he began to carefully lower the helicopter. Meanwhile, the signaling officer kept his eyes on the chopper. Any unusual occurrence that could endanger the ship or the aircraft obligated him to communicate such hazards to the helicopter pilot.
Just when Sam began to breathe somewhat easier, the sudden rough swaying of the vessel forced the crew below to change the signal. The helicopter began to hover, but the strong frontal wind made it difficult to keep the helicopter in one spot. While trying to find the right moment for landing, the signals kept constantly changing, with Sam battling to follow them. Additionally, one of the two engines began to splutter and cough, pouring oil to the fire. It seemed that time was running out faster than Sam had planned it. Still, no matter how much fuel was left, this wasn't something that could be done hurriedly. A single mistake could result in a crash. They needed to take it carefully… and efficiently at the same time.
His co-pilot was constantly mumbling something quietly, probably begging for the gods' guidance. Sam, an avowed atheist, rolled his eyes. If one really wanted to count on someone, the best choice was usually yourself. He had never been wrong on that subject so far. The weather wasn't going to abate anytime soon, and there was no magic that would refill their fuel tanks.
At that moment, he received another signal, and Sam once again resumed descending. In the meantime, a painful groan rose in the back cabin. The wounded mare was slowly regaining consciousness. Everyone around noticed her wincing and her eyes glistening with painful tears.
"What? Where…?" She tried to move, but her body was pinned tight to the stretcher. With everyone seated and buckled, Night Shade released himself from his chair and, while trying to hold ground on the swaying floor, he stood next to her.
"Please remain calm, ma'am. You're safe," assured Night Shade as he placed his hoof on her chest.
While under the neck brace support, the mare moved her eyes rapidly around the helicopter's exterior. "W-Where… Lion Heart?"
"I'm here, Mamma." Her daughter placed her forelegs on the stretcher and gazed mournfully at her mother. The mare smiled as she tried to reach the filly with her hoof, but the straps on her body prevented it.
"Please go back to your seat. We are in the middle of the landing operations," ordered Night Shade.
"I'll take her," said Lion Heart's father as he came closer to drag his daughter back to her seat. He didn't look at his wife as he shamefully turned his gaze to the ground.
"Side Swipe?" The mare's weak voice made him tremble. He braced himself for her recriminations. It had been his stupid idea for a family yacht trip that had caused this entire mess. If he had just listened to her, none of this would have happened.
Girding himself, his gaze reached the mare's eyes. To his astonishment, his wife just kept smiling at him. There was no anger, no remorse, nothing except blissful relief. "You’re both okay?"
Her words caused him to shiver. Seeing how she reached her tethered front hoof for him, he immediately grabbed it tightly. He couldn't understand why she had reacted like that after all he had done. There was a surge of guilt, but it was tempered by relief and happiness. A simple nod was all he could give.
"Sir, get yourself and daughter seated, right now," ordered Night Shade and began to separate them from the injured mare.
As everyone took their proper places, Sam was already making another landing attempt. All this repetitiveness was slowly starting to play on his nerves. Until now, the sea hadn’t felt generous enough to give them any chance to land. He made use of another landing sign received from below just as the ship’s rocking had subsided enough for him to get another shot.
"So far so good." Sam breathed deeply as he began performing another landing maneuver as they were now just a few inches above the flight deck. "Now we just put you down nice and slow. That’s right, just like kissing your sister." A violent thud rattled the helicopter. "SHIT! I meant my sister!" he shouted as the helicopter landed somewhat roughly on all three wheels. Despite that, they had made it.
"Helicopter on deck," came the words Sam wanted to hear as the four members of the Stratton's crew, humans and ponies alike, ran towards the helicopter to secure its position.
Once the mentioned chock-and-chain guys had finished their job Night Shade slid the door open and, together with Jason and the barely standing Baton Rouge, helped the survivors to exit the helicopter. They were about to spend the rest of the journey inside the ship.
***
Sometime Later
The USCGC Stratton finally moored alongside the San Diego port quay. The roof lights from every service track ashore ensured that the vessel was constantly illuminated. Humans and ponies were all ready to provide any needed assistance.
Once the gangway was set, the ship's crew members began bringing down the stretcher with the injured mare. The rest of her family was kept behind together with Jason, Baton Rouge, and Night Shade. The medics ashore joined them near the gangway’s entrance and, with the aid of unicorn magic, the mare was transferred on a moveable trolley.
"We have a middle-aged mare with a head injury, a skull fracture, and a possible concussion!" shouted Night Shade while the remaining medics took care of Side Swipe and Lion Heart. Jason refused any medical help and, together with his friends, they walked on.
"Um… excuse me!" Someone's sudden call made them stop and turn around. Side Swipe was approaching them with his daughter settled on his shoulder. "I… I wanted to thank you. We owe you our lives."
"No need to. Just doing our jobs, sir," replied Jason, his arm still aching unpleasantly. Still, it wasn't anything serious enough to immediately ride the ambulance all the way to the hospital.
"Speak for yourself," an exhausted Baton Rouge whispered quietly while leaning against Night Shade. If this ship-lifting thing became a new standard in the Coast Guard, she’d demand an instant retraining program. Once, in this case, was just too much. Her body bore witness to that.
Side Swipe walked closer and put out his hoof. He energetically shook all their hands and hooves, then started walking back towards his wife's ambulance. Lion Heart turned and waved goodbye to the crew, which they were happy to return.
"Nice kid," noted Baton Rouge as they moved along. "Hope our kid will be just like her."
Her words made Jason freeze. "What kid?"
Not discouraged by the sudden reveal of their secret, the two ponies continued trotting along, leaving their human friend behind. "Well, Night's the carpenter, I'm the sawmill. You do the math, Don Corleone."
"What? Hey?" Jason quickly joined the two who were already entangled in their own conversation. He still couldn't believe it. Night and Rouge? Together? Who would have thought?
Soon, all three of them came to a stop before an elderly brown pegasus stallion dressed in a blue navy jacket and a garrison cap. His breast was decorated with various military insignia indicating his rank. Standing in front of the Coast Guard's pickup truck, he eyed them coldly. They quickly saluted.
"Good job on your last mission, everypony … and human." Razor Wing's cold attitude towards the human race was rather legendary among the Coast Guard. It wasn’t a surprise when one considered he had been one of the first ponies who had fought their way through the former prejudicial system. "Baton Rouge, we are especially interested in your ship-lifting talent. I'm sure the Coast Guard will make some good use of it in the future."
Baton Rouge's eye twitched dangerously. "Oh, I'm sure it will, sir."
While the captain's attention was focused on his friends, Jason found a moment to watch the survivors ambulance leaving the port's quay. Its loud siren soon started to grow dimmer as the vehicle drove through the port's alleys while heading towards the hospital.
"Oh, and Jason-" the pony captain finally turned his attention to the human, "-not bad, for a bipedal."
"Yes, sir."
While the others were piling inside the vehicle, Jason's thoughts brought him back aboard the yacht. He grimaced as the visage of the Merry Celle's dead captain flashed across his mind. The man had lost his own life while trying to save another. That was courage you couldn’t always witness among officers these days.
Then there was Lion Heart. He was quite impressed with the little filly. He had encountered adults who had panicked far easier and longer than she had. And despite having the Helicopter's Emergency Egress Device bottle at their disposal, her tiny lungs managed to hold her breath most of the way.
'Who knows? Perhaps she might even become a pretty good coast guardsman someday?' he thought to himself before he finally settled himself on the car’s last available seat. Soon the vehicle began heading towards their main base. Their watch was finally over.
***
The ambulance’s siren filled the road ahead while heading towards the hospital. Lion Heart kept standing on her rear legs so she could have a better view from one of the vehicle’s rear windows. Her mind circled around the Jayhawk-03 and all those people and ponies that she and her family had so much to thank for. Especially him. That Jason guy.
When it seemed like all hope was lost, he had appeared out of nowhere... like a guardian angel. Each time fear gripped her, he always seemed to bring her back. Was that magic? No, but even without it, he kept on fighting to the very end. It was the first time she had witnessed someone like him, and her heart was beating faster just thinking about it.
The admiration for this human made her realize that she simply wanted to know for herself what it was like to risk your own life for the sake of others. Could she, a mere unicorn, even dream of becoming somepony like him?
Despite her doubts mixing together with her deepest desires, she couldn’t even predict what fate was going to store upon her. The pony medic and her parents both witnessed the bright light carving her own cutie mark, thus announcing her very first step into the future. The future of the Coast Guard.
END