I find it really strange that I'm growing accustomed to danger just a little bit. It isn't exciting me, but I don't feel overwhelmed by it either. Instead, there is this tiny voice of calm and confidence growing inside me that is saying, “You know what? I think I got this. I can hoofle this.”
I have to say, though, running beside Leg It emotionally feels a whole lot less stressful than seeing Doctor Caballeron directly tussle with the Naga and the snakes. There were many reasons for that, but primary among them was I was concerned for Caballeron's health and sanity. For every second he stood there against them was another chance for Caballeron to suffer a serious injury or death. I especially felt concerned about that before I knew the Alicorn Amulet would accelerate his natural healing. As for his sanity, that was obvious. We knew that the Amulet was working to corrupt his mind and soul. That made even him nervous at first.
But running along side Leg It is different because the objective is different. Instead of confronting the Naga directly hoof to . . . claw? Hand? Slither? Well, anyway, our objective this time was simply to stay ahead of them and it thrilled me to see that working. I've got to hoof it to Leg It too. He wasn't kidding about being the party's fastest sprinter. That really is a natural talent of his. He's got incredible stamina for this, too. Enough to impress even an average earth pony let alone any other breed.
In fact, even I am struggling to keep up with him. Unlike him, I am winded and I'm using a technique he physically can't do but it is helping me to keep pace with him a bit, and that is to keep flapping behind me even as I gallop hard. With each flap, it gives me a brief boost but I have to race faster to keep up with it or else I'd stumble. I know in any standard leg race that I ever heard of, what I am doing now would be considered cheating and get me disqualified from the race, especially if I'm caught doing it. Sometimes I just hop during the flaps so tripping on the ground isn't even an issue.
If I did keep myself in the air instead, I'd run into other problems. For example, sometimes these tunnels are too tight for me to fully extend my wings and occasionally I have to make sharp turns. Even without those problems, I'd still have a hard time keeping up with Leg It on the ground. He really is that fast, so I'm forced to use a combination of a hard gallop mixed with wind boost thrusts.
As we gallop, I catch him glancing at me over his shoulder to see if I'm still keeping up with him. He notices I'm there, notices my struggle, and notices my wing flap technique that would have gotten me disqualified in a formal race. For that, he simply grins at me. I return his grin with a sheepish version of my own, but I have to remind myself that this isn't a race but a life or death struggle. I'll do whatever it takes, within my physical and moral capabilities, to stay alive.
“Which way?” he calls back to me as he gazes forward again. Because of that, I have a harder time hearing him since he's also ahead of me, not to mention having to hear him above my own very rapid heart rate, but I still hear him and respond.
“Stay on this path!” I breathlessly call to him between gasps. “Tanon isn't far ahead if he's still there and . . .” My voice fades away because I need to gasp for air.
Along the way, we pass by yet another tunnel that causes me to frown. It is the wrong way, but it does lead to something that Toolshed tipped me off to before we left the chamber with the StarGate in it. He prompted me to pull out my map of the temple then pointed to one particular room. It isn't the room where Tanon should be so I didn't know why Toolshed pointed it out. He didn't tell me verbally either which deepens my suspicion that Toolshed really can't talk at all no matter how urgent the situation may be. Instead he sort of plays charades which eventually leads me to the correct guess that when the Naga captured his team earlier, he saw them confiscate his tools and put them in the room that he indicated. At first I didn't know why he told me that. It was the wrong way. Did he want me to fetch his tools for him? Did he think I needed them for my mission?
Toolshed shook his head, then gestured at me, then pointed at his head three times. It led me to believe that he simply wanted me to know that those tools were there. He planned to step through the portal himself a moment later. Undoubtedly he had plenty of other tools like that back in his home. Quite likely in an actual tool shed. Thinking of that made me realize that a pony like him was probably responsible for building the ship we used to get here in the first place.
Whatever I do with this knowledge is my business. Armed with this knowledge, I know for sure where useful treasure in this temple is.
Ever since he told me this, though, it has nagged at me in the back of my mind. With each tunnel we pass that could lead us to his tools, I feel compelled to wonder if I'm making a mistake by not going for his tools first. Will I need them later?
Celestia help me! I really hope I'm making the right call by going straight for Tanon right now. He's got his own set of useful tools too, but not nearly as much, or as organized, as the set Toolshed had. I know for a fact that Toolshed took very good care of his tools too while he still had them.
Still, despite the dilemma he unwittingly put me under, I smile warmly and gratefully because I realize why he did it. Toolshed was about to step through that portal back to Equestria, thus effectively leaving this adventure altogether. His last act before leaving was doing whatever he could to support me. This is yet another reminder that there really are very good ponies in this world that do whatever they can to help one another. Not everypony is greedy like Caballeron, and even in Caballeron's case, I can still understand why he was afraid of this adventure and wanted to duck out early.
A shrill scream behind us causes both Leg It and I to halt. That scream sounded so much worse than a mare who was scared. It sounded like a mare who was painfully dying at this very moment.
Horror deepens in both of us when it finally occurs to us why we accelerated ahead of the rest of the threat that chased us. Up until now I would have considered that a good thing, but now it looks like there is an extra reason this is the case.
“That . . . that sounded like Doctor Grazy!” I gasp in horror.
“Oh no! No! She wouldn't!” Leg It cried out in horror as he spun about then charged back the way we came to check.
As he does so, it occurs to me that I wish I could dismiss the possibility, but I remember how concerned Doctor Grazy was for Leg It before we left that room. These two really are romantically attracted to each other. That was as plain as day to see. Normally I'd say professionalism should have compelled her to trot through that portal and simply trust her coltfriend to hoofle himself, but romantic passions certainly have caused plenty of other ponies to do irrational things before. If this really is her, then it means she simply could not tear her mind away from her overwhelming concern for her coltfriend.
In a way, I don't blame her either. I know the heart of a mare since I am one myself, and I know that she knows he was charging almost recklessly into danger which is only mitigated by the fact that at least we had a semblance of a plan.
Oh no! Is it true? Could it really be her?
Very likely just as Doctor Grazy felt not long ago, I can't help but wonder and check, so I, too, also spin about and charge back the way we came.
“No! Let me hoofle this,” Leg It soon calls back to me as soon as he noticed me following. “Tanon may still need us too. It's better if we split up so we can hoofle both objectives.”
“But-” I say objectively before he quickly cuts me off.
“No!” he repeats insistently. “Just go!”
I reluctantly slow my gallop which quickly widens the gap between me and the ever swift Leg It. I also look behind me to where we were going. I notice that this particular tunnel is clear, at least for now. Celestia knows about the area Tanon is at, though. He might be lying there bleeding at this very moment. Maybe I don't have a moment to spare.
But I look back to where Leg It charged off. Where he is going leads to even more certain danger. It sounds like Grazy has already died or is dying. Leg It could be next. Back the way we came is an overwhelming challenge even if Decay isn't there.
I lower my head and close my eyes even as tears rise to them. I really don't want to be weak or indecisive right now but I can't help it. I have feelings and I can't just magically make them go away whenever they are inconvenient. I care about everypony involved here. What should I do?!
I'm shaking so hard right now and my heartbeat noticeably pound in my eardrums both because of fatigue but also because of raw emotion.
I take a deep breath and practically force myself to calm down. My memory of being with The Great Sage Auzmeir helps because that was a timeless moment. A moment when I felt like I had all the time in eternity I needed to make any decision with absolutely no pressure or judgment. I realize this moment is very different, but the feeling and memory of that moment with Auzmeir still helps to calm me down. Also knowing wise and benevolent guides and guardians like him in existence helps to comfort me. It makes me feel like there is a divine guidance into all of fate and beings like him help to confirm that.
During that conversation I also remember him trying to teach me that, whenever I needed it, I have an internal compass within me. I can only see it when my heart isn't clouded, though. I can't be telling myself what that internal compass should say. Rather, I need to simply examine what it does say.
It takes me awhile to focus on it, but what it seems to indicate is I need to go back and see Tanon right now. He needs me more, and as for the other direction . . . it's already too late to make a meaningful difference. Whatever will happen will happen. The chain of causality can't be stopped at this point.
To a lesser extent, I'm getting similar vibes about Tanon too. Something has already happened to him that I can't stop, but there still is something meaningful I can accomplish over there. Not so much the other way around.
I briefly consult with my compass to check if I should go for Toolshed's tools first, and the answer seems to be yes . . . but not yet. Tanon is first in line.
I open my eyes and gaze back at the tunnel we were going towards Tanon, but I find my heart is still strongly pulled towards Leg It. Grazy might indeed be dead right now, but Leg It isn't. Maybe I can still help him?
But how? If Doctor Grazy, his fillyfriend, is truly dead, what could I possibly say to him that would be meaningful enough to convince him not to give up and continue to live?
But then I recall his orders. How he told me to go back for Tanon. All this time, I remember the guilt that was deep in his eyes. About how his reckless volume back in the jungle helped to lure that large two-legged creature to our position, or at least so we believe. It could have been other factors, but it's clear to me Leg It blames himself for the loss of those two elderly former Canterlot Guards. Ever since then, he's been desperate to redeem himself in his own heart. Helping me to rescue Tanon might have felt like a opportunity for him to do that, but doing so may have compelled Grazy to follow us even though she was told not to. If yet another death lies on his conscience, then . . .
Then . . .
My shoulders sink lower when I realize that it doesn't matter. Well, it does but there is nothing I can do or say about it that will lift his spirits enough to deter some drastic action on his part. I already know he's the type of pony who is headstrong and charges at his problems without fully thinking things through. But, at the very least, he really does have a good heart in him. He tried to be the hero in this situation. He really did, but sometimes the odds are just too daunting.
Whatever happens, happens. During adventures, or even life in general, sometimes we have to make the hard calls.
I remember what Leg It said. I remember the way he said it. I remember that firm look of conviction in his eyes. This is his path. This is what he chose, and right now he needs me to choose another.
For all intents and purposes, I might as well view it as his last request in life.
Leg It certainly has his flaws, but in the end, he is only trying to help.
Tears dripping from my eyes, I whip my head away then gallop back the way I was going. At least the distraction these other two are giving me helps me to gain a very good head start. Considering the price they paid for it, I cannot let this opportunity go to waste.
“Oh no. NO!” Tanon Burrows grouses while otherwise sprawled helplessly on the ground. He closes his eyes and bangs his head against the cave floor. The impact of which is slightly blunted by his pith hat. “You stupid, stupid girl. You shouldn't have come for me.”
I frown as I trot up to him then say, “I'm sorry, but I could not, in good conscience, abandon you to your fate here.”
“And in doing so, you may have condemned us both instead of just me,” Tanon said with his eyes still closed. Moments later he winces much more tightly in pain. I also notice him touch his heart area reflexively.
It is then when his situation fully sinks into me. I found him in this cave near a cave wall where he was planning on inserting some dynamite which could later blast and unleash a whole lot of holy water hidden behind it. That water would flood through most of the temple and hopefully also drown Decay. I'm not even sure if that Worm-That-Trots needs to breathe, but normal worms can drown and holy water mixed with a being infused with overwhelming dark magic would likely cause him to dissolve in that water as if it was made of acid.
Until now, I had wondered if Tanon had some other complication to slow him down. I half expected to see him surrounded by corpses down here, but nope. The two of us are alone. That might change soon, but I locked and barricaded an iron gate leading down here. That won't stall those who were chasing me indefinitely, but it should at least slow them down. I had hoped that it would stall them long enough to come up with a solid plan with Tanon, but now I'm seeing he's actually being hindered by the most inevitable enemy of life of all. His very own mortality.
And come to think of it, I don't know how Tanon could possibly set those dynamites off and still get out of here with his life. Doctor Smith assured us both he had a way, but he wouldn't explain what it was.
This, however, is very likely an unforeseen complication.
I scanned the cave walls and noticed I didn't see a trace of any of the dynamite which compels me to ask him, “Did you plant your sticks of dynamite?”
I see him relax his painful wince a bit as he answers, “Yes, but I have it very well hidden just in case any of the Naga catch me down here. If they pull out those sticks before we're ready to set them off then this whole section of the plan fails. I was determined to defend them even if it costs me my life.”
“But they didn't do this to you, didn't they?” I ask as I look down at him and gesture to his heart area with a brief flick of a right fore hoof.
With his eyes still closed, Tanon shakes his head as he admits, “No. This is another problem entirely. I'm afraid old age is catching up to me.”
Tanon finally opens his eyes as he scans about the place. Moments later he says, “I often wondered where I'd be when I die. There were so many close calls before. I didn't have enough time to think about it during those moments, but afterwards it got me thinking . . . that place that I narrowly escaped with my life . . . that could have been the place where I could have died.” I see him grin. “Some of those places would have been very appropriate because they were obviously dangerous. Pits of lava, for example. There wouldn't have been a trace left of me had I died there. No pony would have known what happened to me back then unless my partner made it out.”
I see him smile fondly at the thought of his old friend. My grandfather.
“Still other places seemed totally random,” he goes on. “Places I could have died that seemed perfectly safe, but I had some enemies chase after me and good ol' Fourwind at times. One can never know of all the kinds of places that could suddenly turn into a battlefield. Typically there were unique challenges and/or opportunities in each place and that can apply to either side of the conflict. Baskets I could toss at the enemy, or enemies, or vice versa. Sometimes there were potential hostages in the area we had to watch out for. Generally speaking, me and Fourwind often preferred to fight in areas clear of non-combatants, especially if our enemies knew that about us. Not every pony or creature likes to fight fair.”
I crouch down beside Tanon and gently stroke a hoof through his mane. Neither he nor Doctor Smith knew that I was secretly awake when Tanon confessed to Doctor Smith that Tanon was dying. For this reason, I ask, “Why didn't you tell me that you had health problems on this mission?”
He opens his eyes and looks at me squarely as he answers, “Because there is nothing you could have done to prevent it. I didn't want you worried or distracted.” He looks up at the cave ceiling as he goes on to say, “In hindsight, though, I think I regret that decision now. If you had known, maybe it would have convinced you not to come after me now. I am dying one way or another, so it is more comforting to me for that death to have some useful meaning and purpose to it.” He looks back at me. “But I wanted to die alone. I especially didn't want you to die with me.”
“Because you love me?” I ask with an emotionally shaky voice. “Love me like a grandfather?”
Tanon gazes at me softly as he reminds me, “I didn't want you to come to this adventure entirely, remember? I know what your parents wanted for you but that isn't my only reason. It may sound selfish of me, but in you . . . I see his legacy. His bloodline. Gradually I realized it was more than that.”
Tanon pauses as he screws his eyes shut and winces in pain again. When he does, my heart squeezes both out of sympathy for him and panic that I might not hear him finish his point.
Eventually whatever pain is crippling him temporarily passes so I prod him, “And? What else did you see in me?”
Tanon takes a few more calming breaths before he looks up at me and says, “In you, I see more than just his legacy. I see more than just his face. Perhaps a tad more feminine than him and certainly much younger than he was at the end, but I've been with him long enough to remember his younger face too. Not as young as you are now, but close.
“Beyond that, however, I also see his spirit inside of you. It's almost as if you are him reborn, or his spirit dwells within you.” He winces slightly as he says, “I can't exactly explain it well, but sometimes what you say, the way you say it, or what you do reminds me of him. Whenever I see that, I get nostalgic. It's as if he's back in the world and resuming to fight the good fight. He taught me to be the stallion I am today. He was the real hero. I was just tagging along and trying to keep my foolish friend from being killed. In exchange, he saved my life too many times. Eventually it became pointless to try to keep track of who owes who a favor for saving each other's life. It became more like an old habit between us.
“We never felt invincible. We both suffered and gathered plenty of scars to prove that, but we were an extra safety net for each other that we had to rely upon plenty of times.
“And now . . .” he pauses for a moment as he scans his surroundings again before going on to say, “. . . this is where I die. I wondered where it would be for so long, but finally . . . that stress comes to an end. I have my answer now. Those questions and morbid curiosity can finally and totally be set to rest.”
He looks back at me with sudden flare of determination in his eyes as he says to me, “But you? You need to live. You got so much of your future ahead of you, and I know it's going to be glorious. Promise me that you'll continue to live! Promise me that you will never stop exploring those endless horizons. At least the ones that exist within ourselves.”
I burst into a sob and need a moment to recover before I smile down at him and say, “He said the same thing to me too. My grandfather. Your friend.”
He returns my smile with a nostalgic version of his own as he says, “It was almost an old catch phrase he and I both shared to each other. A promise that we'd never stop exploring those endless horizons. At least the ones that exist within ourselves.”
I look down with a frown, reminded of his loss.
“I used to think he was a fool for retiring from the life of an adventurer. Meanwhile I kept going while feeling nervous that he was no longer there to cover me.
“Still, by then, I had grown so skilled at it that I easily thwarted most average challenges. I no longer needed him to the degree that I once did as long as I scaled back the challenges we once sought. I always kept my strengths and limitations in mind and aim only for challenges I could realistically face on my own.
“But later it occurred to me that Fourwind still kept his promise to me. He kept on exploring those inner horizons, for a family presented lots of challenges of its own. In the end, he has more to show for it, and me? I do have one regret. I have no pony I can pass my legacy too, so for now . . . you'll have to do.”
I notice him stare at me squarely again.
“If it's true that his spirit is alive within you, one way or another, then I promise you mine soon will be too. I pass onto you all of my strengths, wisdom, knowledge and experience. All that I am. All that I ever would have been. It's all in you now. You now carry the legacy of us both. In you shall endure the might of two of histories more famous adventuring stallions. You have it all now. With that in mind, I just ask you to do two things. Live and be happy. Whatever that means to you, I want you to throw your all into your passions.
“The Doctor believes in you. Fourwind . . . believes in you, and now, finally . . . in the end of my life . . . I believe in you. You have us all within you, carrying and uplifting your spirit. Take it . . . your legacy and destiny. Master all that you are and all that is bequeathed to you so that you become as unstoppable as you are meant to be.”
He lifts a shaking hoof. Still sobbing, I grasp it between both of my fore hooves.
“Promise me!” He struggles to say to me with a tight wince of pain.
I apply my forehead to his outstretched hoof as well. Another reason why I cry now is because I don't think I can deliver on his promise even if I wanted to. I don't think I can escape the way I came and continue to expect to live. Besides that, some pony has to set off this dynamite. No matter what happens, this world cannot continue to suffer from Decay's ongoing existence. He must be stopped at all costs. At all costs!
“Promise me!!!” Tanon begs in a more desperate grunt of effort and pain.
I sigh. I really don't want to lie to him, but this is his last request. He won't die in peace until I give him some hope. I'm not heartless enough to endure the idea that his soul is writhing in agony in the afterlife because I refused to give him the answer he sought just before he dies.
Finally I look back at him and nod, then say, “Yes, Tanon. I promise.”
I see a glimmer of doubt in his eyes. He might have seen through my lie, at least partially, which compels him to his next action. I see a golden/brown aura engulf his pith hat then he guides it to float over to me. I gaze at it in astonishment.
“Tanon, I . . . I can't. This is yours!” I remind him emotionally.
“I won't need it where I am going,” he reminds me in return. “And I want some symbol of this promise to remain with you. I want you to know that this hat,” he shakes it for a moment, “is now your second cutie mark. With it, I invest all of my knowledge, wisdom, and experience.”
Tanon flattens the hat against my chest as he stares at me more passionately before he goes on to say, “But do not put it on unless you are ready to make the commitment. Unless you are ready to take that final plunge. From now on, so long as you wear this hat, then you . . . my dear . . . are an adventurer too. With it, be bold. Be brave. Be smart. Be resourceful.” He narrows his eyes at me and grunts, “Be unstoppable!”
Still holding onto his hoof with both of mine, I instead press the hat close to my chest within a hug from my wings. Strangely I do sense a kind of power radiating from this hat now. Maybe his spirit is indeed being invested in it now. As such, it has become an important legacy item. It might as well be a historical artifact now, at least for me. Along with that power comes a lot of responsibility. If I dare to put on this hat, I need to be serious about my promise to him.
“Thank you,” I tell him in a weak, tiny voice, but it also has as much conviction as I can muster right now. “I'll cherish it . . . and remember what you said to me.”
I finally see Tanon relax now. He's almost ready to let go of his spirit.
“The journey is yours now,” he tells me weakly but also much more calmly than before. For once, he doesn't seem to be in pain anymore. “With your maps and your compass and with our spirit with you to guide you, may you ever find your way on your journey.”
He gazes up at the ceiling as he says with his weakest breath yet. “Meanwhile, I'll resume to mine. Onwards . . . I go.”
Those are literally his last words. When he expels his next long breath, he does not take another. In his eyes, I see his eyes widen as if he just noticed something wondrous at the last second, but then his eyes still in that pose as if I'm looking at a frozen photograph. The rest of his body goes limp too. His hoof drops from mine.
I burst into a sob over him. Not many personally knew him. Not even me, but I read about his famous adventures. He had a lot of them. Some really good ones. Tanon can easily be described as the reluctant hero, but in his determination to follow the hoofsteps of my grandfather, that is what he became. Many lives and even whole societies got spared because of these two. That's a legacy that will die with him. The next time the world needs a really good hero, it shall suffer instead . . . because I can't be there. I wish I could keep my promise to him, but too much is at stake right now.
As I look among the cave walls, I realize I still can't see where he planted the dynamite. He told me that he hid it well, but I need to find it. A pity I don't have Toolshed's tools to help me ignite it once I do find it. I guess sparking it with two stones will have to do. Grandfather taught me how.
But then I grab his pith hat with my forehooves and drag it forward enough so I can gaze down at it. When I stare at it, I feel his spirit calling out to me through it, “Remember, you promised.”
My hooves shake as I gaze at that hat more tearfully. I do want to live. I really do . . . but somepony has got to stop Decay with all that holy water and I'm the only one left here.
Then I think about my diary. I still have it in my saddlebag. I put his hat away then pull it out. I affectionately and gently brush a hoof over the cover the the diary. Within these pages is my story. All that I have written so far. Perhaps I'll die today too, but it would be such a tragic loss if at least this diary didn't endure. Something, somewhere, someone needs to remember all that we've done during this adventure. All that we sacrificed. We all deserve it. Our memory must live on!
I cast a long sigh then slowly put the diary away. My spirit sinks too. This is all so tragic.
But then my ears perk up when I start to hear a very weird sound that I cannot, for the life of me, place. I can barely describe it. Some weird echoing sound in this cavern that is getting louder and louder. Eventually a second sound joins it which I can best describe as some kind of groan of an engine. I look around me for the source of this noise and I eventually locate it. When I do, I slowly see some weird and mysterious blue box fade into existence.
I widen my eyes at this. I have never seen this thing before personally but I have seen a few historical pictures with this thing in it or historical text mentioning the legend of it. Far more recently was Doctor Caballeron himself mentioning that this was the greatest treasure he ever sought.
It really does exist?!
I continue to stare at it in numb shock even after the thing fully materializes. Even after those weird sound effects fade away. Quiet descends in this cave, and I continue to stare at the Blue Box. Somehow I can even read the text on it. It says, “Police Call Box”, whatever that means.
Finally the door on it opens. Doctor Smith pokes his head out and scans about the place. First he notices me, then he notices Tanon's corpse. Sympathy sinks into his face when he sees the latter, but not surprise.
When he looks back at me, I see conviction sink into his eyes. He lifts his hoof and says to me, “Come with me if you want to live.”
For some reason amusement flashes in his eyes as if what he just said is an inside joke, but he continues to hold his hoof out to me to convey his offer is very serious. He holds his hoof out to me expectantly but gradually grows alarmed when he notices I am reluctant to accept it. Confusion seems to sink into his face too as he tries to puzzle why I might be reluctant. He quickly figures it out, though. I always suspected the stallion was sharp. His expression then grows more earnest and he shakes his hoof at me as if begging me to accept his offer.
I look down at Tanon.
I look at the wall where the dynamite is hidden somewhere.
I look down at my own hooves as I lift them up.
I look at his extended hoof and contemplate what he is offering.
I look deep into his eyes and his very earnest face.
Then I smile.