//------------------------------// // Retreat // Story: Surviving Sand Island // by The 24th Pegasus //------------------------------// Rainbow wandered over to Ratchet with a renewed spring in her step. Though she wasn’t happy to retreat from the archipelago like this, she knew that the sooner they did, the sooner she could set about finding Rarity. She had a location and the barest hint of a hope that Rarity was alive there. As far as she was concerned, that was all she needed. The survivors had pooled all their resources in one location for easy management and distribution. They ended up having a lot more than Rainbow had thought; there were at least two large crates of rations that they must’ve salvaged from the ship’s galley when it went down, along with some building materials and whatever metal they could get their hooves on. The metal especially interested Rainbow. With all the nails they’d salvaged from planks, they could afford to build much more secure and sturdy structures than what she’d managed back on their home island. It was a shame to realize there was so much more on the island they could salvage, but they didn’t have the time or the capacity to collect it all and bring it back. They only had one raft, and Rainbow figured it would still take two trips to get everypony back along with their very valuable supplies. Ratchet waited for Rainbow to get within earshot before clearing his throat and making eye contact with her. “Well?” was all he asked, a vague question that seemed to ask a lot of things about Rainbow’s brief flight to the other side of the islands. “The raft’s in one piece, along with the rest of our supplies,” Rainbow began. “We can get it back in the water and get it moving if you get a team out there, but we need a unicorn strong enough to lift and move the thing with their magic.” “How heavy is the raft?” Ratchet asked. “Do you think Ruse could manage it?” Rainbow shrugged. “It’s really heavy. But Rarity was able to lift it mostly on her own, though it was very exhausting for her. I think Ruse can do it if he sets his mind to it, and others can help him move it if he just picks up most of its weight.” “Good to hear, then,” Ratchet said with a nod. “I’ll let him know and get a couple ponies together to go with you and recover the raft. If we can get it here in the next hour, we can start making our way back to your island. I imagine that will take several hours just to cross the sea.” “Unless you use a unicorn to push it along again.” Rainbow smirked at Ratchet’s confused look. “Gyro helped Rarity figure out how to cheat physics, and we were able to get here from our island in about an hour. Maybe less. I don’t have a watch.” “Interesting.” Ratchet glanced around the camp, and Rainbow knew what he was about to ask as soon as his throat bobbed. “I… suppose Gyro will have to explain it to Ruse or Gauze. You didn’t find Rarity when you went looking for the raft, did you?” Rainbow sighed and shook her head. “Not her, but traces of her. She’s not on the island anymore, that much I can say with confidence.” “Not on the island?” Ratchet angled his head. “But how?” “Something took her to the southmost island,” Rainbow said. “It left an arrow pointing in that direction. I’m going to find her.” “Now?” Ratchet asked. He emphatically shook his head. “We need you here, Rainbow. We need your help.” “I know.” Rainbow let her wings sag a bit. “I owe it to you guys to help. Which is why I’m waiting until after you all get moved to the safety of our island before I go looking for her. Once that’s done, Gyro can get you all settled in and point out where stuff is. Maybe she’ll even be able to walk you around by then,” she added with a hopeful smile. “Wouldn’t that be something,” Ratchet agreed. “But flying over there on your own? That sounds dangerous.” “Which is why it’s gotta be alone,” Rainbow said. She pointed to her wings, extending them to their full blue glory. “I’ve got wings. I can get out of there if shit goes south.” “Aren’t you going south?” Ratchet teased, and Rainbow rolled her eyes. But then Ratchet’s voice took on a more serious tone. “Your wings didn’t help you against the pirates, Rainbow. Just… be careful about that.” Rainbow winced, and she felt out the sore spot on the back of her head from where one of the pirates had knocked her out. She still didn’t know which one had done it, only that it wasn’t Squall. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know at this point. “I was careless,” she said. “It’s not gonna happen again. Especially not when there’s more than just my life on the line.” “Then in that case, I guess I’ll wish you the best of luck,” Ratchet said. “If you do reconsider and want backup, I’m sure you’ll get some volunteers. Champagne might even be able to accompany you, since she can fly as well.” He glanced over his shoulder to where the two pirates milled about in the shade, taking a break from assisting in tearing down the camp. “I’m not sure if you’d want Jolly Roger, though, but splitting up those two might be best for everypony involved.” “You really think they’re gonna try and stab us in the back?” Rainbow asked. “I thought we were moving past that, finally.” “I don’t know,” Ratchet admitted with a shrug. “But it never hurts to stay safe. Until we’ve worked with them for longer than half a day, I’m not willing to put my complete trust in them.” Rainbow had to nod her head in agreement. “That makes sense. I’m just hoping that we can work together soon and not each be watching for a knife in our back.” “That’ll depend on them.” The older stallion glanced down at the crate near him and slapped a hoof against the side. “Maybe sharing our rations with them will earn us some trust. Food is a good way to make friends.” “Heh. Maybe you can tell that to Princess Twilight when we get back home. I’m sure she’d love to hear all about it.” “If we get back home,” Ratchet muttered. Rainbow shook her head “When,” she insisted. “Don’t give up on this yet. One way or another, we’ll find our way home.” “I really hope you’re right, Rainbow,” Ratchet said with a shake of his head. “I really hope you are.” “I really hope I am, too.”