Another day passed about the same. However the next day Swift Glaze realized that if he didn't ration his food and water, he would run out of both within that very day.
Skipping breakfast and lunch, he continued. The dunes started to get hard to climb up, and his stomach wouldn't give him any reprieve from its insensate pangs of hunger. Finally climbing the dune, he started down it. However, due to his exhaustion, he tripped. Tumbling down the dune he finally reached the bottom. His saddle bags had scattered, and his last jug of water had opened. By the time Swift Glaze had closed the cap, most of his remaining half-quart water in the jug had drained out
"Cursed are you Celestia!" he cried out in pain. Pulling himself together he dug himself a shallow hole. Drinking his remaining water and eating the last quarter of nutrient bread, he only had some dried fruits and nuts left.
Accepting fate, he laid down weakly for sleep. Not even bothering to put the blanket over his hole, since it was so shallow. He instead slept in the small amount of shade the dune gave.
His sleep was even worse than before. Nightmares of his family renouncing him as their son, Celestia wishing him death, and many more awful things came to him. All of these felt so real he started to weep. Eventually, Nightmare Moon appeared to kill the weeping pony. However, before this dream could end, a bright light appeared and Nightmare Moon vanished. In her place, Luna, one of the royal sisters had appeared.
"What troubles you so?" Luna asked, inquisitively.
Very surprised, and thinking she was a part of his dream he said"I am trapped in this horrid desert, and no pony is coming to rescue me! I know I did wrong, I know I disobeyed Celestia, but why am I tormented every night by her presence?" he pondered
"What dost thou mean?" Questioned Luna After a few minutes, Swift Glaze explained his situation and feelings to Luna.
"Dost thou require rescue?" She finally asked after a minute or two of pondering what He said.
"Aren't you in my dreams, destined to vanish when I wake up?" He said, confused
"No, I am very much real. I patrol ponies' dreams and I found yours particularly disturbing" She said
"Yes, I do need help! Please, be quick…" He said, first loud, then more quietly
"If thou canst make it to the Nile, there thou wilt find rescue," She said
"But isn't the Nile controlled by the storm king?" He asked
"No, the storm king is…" She said, but before she could finish Swift Glaze woke up, he was battered and close to collapse. But now that somepony knew where he was. They were going to send rescue!
Then he felt his mouth. It was course, and dry. His lips were chapped and he was near death. He pulled out his canteen and drank his very last drop of water.