Gyro watched the sun continue to rise higher and higher over the east end of the island, its golden rays cutting their way through vines and rocks to chase away the darkness hiding beneath. There was no feeling like the warmth of the sun on her dark coat after such a long night. The sunrise was more than just a sunrise to her and the other survivors; it was a sign that they’d done it, and against all the odds, they’d found a way to survive and foil a dark deity’s plans for the world.
She glanced toward the water, where Rainbow and Rarity happily watched the sun rise in each other’s company. Gyro was just happy that Rainbow had finally come down after she had pleaded for her to do so. The best way to deal with survivor’s guilt was to be with friends, and the last thing she wanted was for the hero of the hour to hide herself away and drown in misery. So far, it seemed to be working, and the rising sun seemed like it was brightening everypony’s day.
Even hers. She heard stirring at her side, and she looked over to see Hot Coals beginning to wake. She froze and bit down on her lip as the stallion slowly came to his senses. The sudden change in his location startled some lucidity into him, and the stallion abruptly sat up. “Where—How—?” His eyes fell on Gyro, and he blinked at the practically vibrating mare sitting next to him. “Gyro? Am I… is this heaven?”
“Heeeee!!!” Gyro launched herself at the stallion, knocking him back into the sand as she fell on top of him. “You’re alive!” she cried with joy. “You’re alive! I was so worried about you when those mummies attacked you but you’re alive!”
“Heh… well, I—ow!” Coals clutched at the side of his face and recoiled from Gyro’s hoof. The mare’s jubilant expression had turned into an angry frown, and for a second, Gyro considered slapping him again. “Gyro! What was that for?!”
“That was for trying to get yourself killed saving me,” Gyro said, glaring down at him. But then the glare broke, and soon she was giggling and smothering him with kisses. She grabbed onto his body with all her limbs as tightly as she could, as if fearing that the moment she let go, he would fade away into nothing. Only when she broke off did she wink at him. “And that was for not dying.”
“Heh…” Coals wiped some of the wetness off his lips and placed his hooves on his mare’s shoulders. “If that’s the reward for not dying, I think I’ll live forever.”
“Good. You better.” Giggling, Gyro laid down on top of him, letting her ear rest against his chest. His heartbeat was strong and comforting, a steady, percussive reminder that he was back in her life again. So long as he stayed by her side, she knew she could weather any storm—and she’d certainly weathered her fair share of storms since crashing on these islands.
“What happened down there?” Coals asked her. “Soft Step showed up and we tried to fight her, then… nothing. Though I take it by the fact that the sun’s coming up and everypony’s happy, she failed in completing her ritual.”
“Mmhmm.” Gyro shifted about a bit, snuggling a little closer against Coals and giving his sides a light squeeze. “Rainbow Dash and Chirp took her out. They stopped her when she was halfway through the ritual.”
“Halfway?”
Gyro sighed and her nostrils flared. “Ratchet and Gauze are dead,” she said, her voice wavering. “She sacrificed them. She was going to sacrifice Champagne too, until Rainbow got the better of her.”
“And where is she now?” Coals asked. “Soft Step, I mean.”
“She’s dead,” Gyro said. “Flag’s bastard brother showed up out of nowhere and shot her. I don’t know where he flew off to while we were fighting for our lives, but he came back when it mattered most.”
“And he shot the alicorn instead of one of us,” Coals said. He glanced across the beach and Gyro followed his gaze to where the two pirate brothers sat side by side in the shade, talking to each other in quiet voices. “Maybe he realized what this was all about in the end.”
“Maybe,” Gyro said, nodding slowly. “But, like him or not, he dealt the deathblow to Soft. Rainbow might have done all the hard work, sure, but he at least finished her off.”
Coals nodded, his cheek brushing back and forth through the sand as he attempted to do it while lying on his back. “That’s got to count for something, then.”
“Yeah.”
They lay in silence, soaking up the moment, until Coals broke it once again. “So what happens now?” he asked. “Is it too much to hope that the barrier is gone?”
“I don’t think it is,” Gyro said, and she turned her attention to Rainbow. “If anypony knew what to do next, it would be Rainbow Dash. She was the one in the tomb with Soft during all this. She must have picked up something about our next move.”
“Shame,” Coals said. “I was hoping that you’d tell me Equestria is on its way.”
Gyro chuckled. “Oh, yeah, sure. All four princesses are personally on their way to rescue us. They’re bringing a whole flotilla of airships, including a little tug filled with all the food we could possibly want. You know, to make up for having to eat only like, three things to survive since we got here. I heard some musicians were coming too to make a song about us.”
“That would be nice. ‘The Ballad of Sand Island’. How’s that sound?”
“Sand Island? Really?” Gyro scoffed. “That’s the best you can come up with for this place?”
“If Rainbow Dash doesn’t catch flak for naming a bird ‘Chirp’ I don’t see why you have to make fun of my idea.”
“Because Rainbow Dash is an idiot,” Gyro said, smirking in the direction of the oblivious pegasus. “It’s about what I’d expect from her. You and I have degrees, Coals. Show a little bit of professionalism, at least.”
Chuckling, Coals picked his head up and kissed Gyro’s cheek. “How about I pitch the name to Rainbow,” he said, winking at his marefriend. “I bet she’s gonna love it.”
“Don’t you dare do that,” Gyro said.
“Why?”
“Because you’re right; she is gonna love it, and then that’s what it’s going to be called from now on.”
Coals crossed his forelegs over his chest, erecting a playful barrier between him and Gyro. “Alright, so what’s your idea, then?” he asked her. “Got anything better?”
“Uhh…” Gyro floundered and tried to look anywhere but Coals’ smug eyes. “Fuck you, Coals.”
“That’s a really odd name for an island, I have to say.”
“No, actually, fuck you.” Gyro flopped down on the stallion, making him grunt. She fluttered her eyelashes and slid forward until her lips were practically against Coals’. “And maybe find some time for me too, while you’re at it.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Coals asked her. “The last time we tried, mummies tried to join in.”
“I think they get the memo now,” Gyro said, sliding forward and pecking Coals on the lips. “If they don’t, I’m keeping a stick with me to beat ‘em off.”
Coals blinked. “I’m offended.”
“Shut up,” Gyro said, and she slid a forehoof down towards his tail, making the stallion flinch. “You’ll get your turn. You just gotta be patient.”
“Patient, eh?” Coals smiled and closed his eyes. “After everything that happened last night, I think we’ve got all the time in the world now.”
“I couldn’t agree more.”