//------------------------------//
// Hot 
// Story: Ashes 
// by Cloud 
//------------------------------//

It was hot.  The sun beat down on the dusty landscape as it lazily arced across the sky – far too slowly.  Looking Glass was panting, mouth dry and tongue tasting of cotton.  Pulling a canteen from his side, he shook it from side to side – nothing.  Sitting dejectedly on a protruding rock, he offered a quick prayer to Luna’s moon, permanently affixed just above the horizon.

“I don’t suppose…” He panted, “…there’s a lake around here somewheres?”

Shoes just glanced at him and shook her head.  Putting a hoof to her horn, the unicorn shielded her eyes, glancing at the sun above – just beyond halfway across the sky; it was the warmest part of the day.

“Come,” she beckoned the panting stallion, “we need to find shelter from the heat.”



As the day dragged on and on, they sheltered in a dry creek bed.  Looking Glass was sprawled out in the shade – tongue lolling and limbs in all directions.  Shoes sat gingerly against the cool embankment and undid her cloth robes.  Taking a dainty sip from her own canteen, she considered the stallion.  It was true she chose to escort ponies across the great desert – but this stallion came from too far north.  He knew nothing of survival here.  She wryly smiled as she suspected he wouldn’t even be able to survive even in the mountains he called home.

“Here,” she offered her canteen.

He reached for it eagerly, and she drew it back.

“Just. A sip.” She said evenly.  At his nod, she extended it again, floating it gingerly in her magical telekinesis.  “You need to use water sparingly out here – you can’t afford to run out when you need it the most.”  He nodded, hesitantly hoofing the canteen back to her. “Now get some sleep – we have to move again before the winds come,” she said with finality.



As the two resumed their travel, the sun was finally creeping close to the wavering horizon.  Dust eddied about their hooves as a stiff breeze began to cool the cracked earth.  While Shoes deftly navigated across the desert, Looking Glass weaved a bit, looking faint.  Sweat matted his far thicker winter coat of hair.

Glancing at the miserable stallion, she requested, “Tell me about the mountains. The Crystal mountains.”  It was something she had heard from many hapless would-be adventurers before him, but if it kept him focused, then so be it.

He glanced curiously at her, than replied: “Alive.”

“It’s… Hard to explain completely, but it’s just so very vibrant.  Green sprouts everywhere, and even at the very tops, nestled in amongst the rocks, something finds a way to survive.”  A pause.  “…somehow, it makes them feel…more natural than these.”

After a long pause, Shoes turned to see him standing still, gazing at the sharp mountains to their east.  “Do you…”  He considered, “Do you suppose the Queen of Ash is still up there?”

“You should take care not to use that title,” Shoes warned.  He looked at her, confused.  “This… Is Celestia’s land.  No other’s.”

She began to trot away – quicker than before.  Glass spared the mountains one final before following.