//------------------------------// // Sacrifice // Story: The Desert Spirit // by Cmdr Brohoof //------------------------------// “Getting thirsty back there Apple Bloom?” The Spirit asked over his shoulder. “Yeah a little bit.” “There’s a small spring up ahead in that canyon we’ll take a break there and move on.” He said as he gestured to a group of rocks sticking out of the sand. As the Spirit walked into the canyon Apple Bloom could hear the faint noise of moving water echoing all around them. The Spirit turned a corner revealing a small overhang with a spring beneath it. The Spirit took off his pack and gently placed it on the ground allowing Apple Bloom to hop down. “Is it safe to drink?” she asked peering into the crystal clear water “Probably the cleanest around” the Spirit assured Apple Bloom began to take large gulps of water from the spring. The Spirit propped himself against a rock relaxing under the shade of the overhang. “So have you thought about coming with me to Ponyville?” Apple Bloom asked as she walked over and sat by the Spirit “Yes I have and I would like to, but I can’t leave here who would watch over the ponies then?” He said scratching Apple Bloom behind the ear. “I understand” she said “It just makes me sad that you will be all alone.” “I know Apple..” The Spirit was interrupted by the sound of voices echoing in the canyon. “Crap” the Spirit muttered “I was too carless, Apple Bloom I want you to hide behind that boulder” he pointed her toward a boulder a few yards from them. “and if I tell you to run I want you to run as fast as you can in that direction. The village is maybe thirty minutes from here and don’t stop till you get there also whatever you do don’t look back.” “But” Apple Bloom started to say “No buts promise me” The Spirit said with a determined look on his face. “Okay what about you?” Apple said confused at what was going on “Don’t worry now go” The Spirit said as he pushed her toward the boulder. Apple Bloom ran to the boulder and listened to the voices growing louder and louder. “Well look what we have here boys” an unknown voice said aloud “The Spirit trapped and outnumbered.” “Yeah not so powerful when you aint got the jump on us!” another voice called out. Apple Bloom recognized the voices as Diamond Dogs “Just leave dog and no one will get hurt.” The Spirit said calmly “I don’t think so” the first voice said “We’re tired of you.” Apple Bloom slowly peaked out from her hiding place. She saw the Spirit surrounded by at least 10 Diamond Dogs slowly advancing on him. “I didn’t want to have to do this” the Spirit said as he pulled two of the green eggs that he had warned Apple Bloom about earlier that day. “Back up boys” one dog grunted “That’s right you remember these don’t you” The Spirit said with a grin “Yeah I also remember that we are too close for you to use those you’ll be hurt too.” “Maybe” the Spirit said “All I need is a little time anyway” The Spirits eyes quickly batted to Apple Blooms hiding place. “NOW APPLE BLOOM GO!” The Spirit yelled Apple Bloom ran as fast as she could in the direction the Spirit had pointed out. She could hear yelling as she ran but was too scared to make out any of it. “This is the place” Applejack said “This is where the girls saw Apple Bloom last” Applejack immediately began to pace around the area looking for any sign of her sister. “Over here” Spike yelled “I think I found the hole” The group ran over to the dragon’s location. Applejack stuck her head into the hole. “APPLE BLOOM” she yelled the only response was her own echo “I’m going down” she said “Now hold on Applejack” Twilight said as she held her hoof in front of Applejack “We don’t know how deep that is and also you’re too big to fit.” “I’ll go Spike” interrupted “Ok Rarity, Artie you get Spike ready to lower down. I’ll try to illuminate the hole.” “Right” Artie said getting rope from his saddle bag Before the purple pony could concentrate on the spell to illuminate the hole two large booms ripped through the sky. “What was that?” Spike exclaimed “That was louder that Rainbow’s sonic rainboom” Rarity added “I think we should go check it out” Artie said looking in the direction the sound came from “What!” Applejack yelled “Who cares about that we came for Apple Bloom” “What if she’s there?” Twilight said to the upset Applejack “Alight but if she’s not there we come right back here” Applejack stated “Agreed” Twilight said. The ponies took off at full sprint toward the source of the boom. As they got closer they saw a small yellow speck coming toward them in the distance. “Whats that?” Spike said as he stood on Twilights back “IT’S APPLE BLOOM!” Applejack yelled as she began to outrun the others. “Applejack” Apple Bloom said catching her breath as the two met in the middle Applejack pulled Apple Bloom closer to her “Don’t you ever worry me like that again. I was so afraid we would find you.” Applejack said as tears filled her eyes “We have to go back the Spirit is in trouble.” Apple Bloom said as the others joined them “What are you talking about Apple Bloom?” Applejack said putting her hoof on Apple Blooms head “You’ve been in the sun too long let’s get you home.” “No” Apple Bloom said as she pulled away from Applejack “The Spirit of the Desert he saved me and now he’s in trouble.” “The Spirit” Artie whispered “You met it” “Yes now come on he’s in trouble.” Apple Bloom, sitting on Applejacks back, led the group to where she had left the Spirit and Diamond Dogs. They stood atop the canyon looking down on the canyon below. “What happened here?” Rarity said looking down on the scene below. The canyon had changed from when Apple Bloom left. The overhang with the spring had collapsed. Two craters were now in the canyon with scorch marks going outward from the center. Large rocks and boulders had been thrown from the area and were now scattered in new places. “Over there” Twilight gestured toward movement by a boulder. The group ran down to the boulder where they saw the movement. The Spirit was slouching against the boulder his vest was removed exposing the tan clothing underneath. His helmet was missing the goggles he wore were cracked. Red stains appeared in various places on his clothing. All of the ponies but Apple Bloom stood back from the strange creature. “Spirit?” Apple Bloom said as she slowly approached the wounded spirit “Hey kid” he strained to say “Thought I told you not to turn back.” “I wanted to come back to help you.” “I don’t need any help” the Spirit allowed himself a weak smile. “You’re the Spirit?” Artie said as he trotted forward “I’ve been called that” the Spirit answered “Thank You” Arite said “For saving me all those years ago. I’ve wanted to tell you that for so long.” “I appreciate that...” The Spirit began but began to cough into his hand. Both Twilight and Rarity noticed him quickly hide his hand from Apple Bloom. “I appreciate that but I didn’t save you. It was a friend.” The spirit said as he drew another pained breath. “There are more of you?” Arite asked “Not any more it’s a long story” the Spirit stopped and looked at Apple Bloom “Hey Apple Bloom go find my pack real quick “Ok” Apple Bloom trotted off in search of the Spirits pack The Spirit watched to see Apple Bloom walk out of earshot. The Spirits breathing was already becoming more labored. “Listen I don’t have much time left you need to get Apple Bloom out of here before she gets even more traumatized than this experience will probably already done to her. You” The Spirit pointed to Artie “Help me up and take me far away from here tell Apple Bloom I…” Before the Spirit finished his plan Apple Bloom was already back. “No Spirit you can’t leave.” Apple Bloom said as she began to cry “You have to go to Ponyville with me.” Apple Bloom ran to the still sitting Spirit and latched on to him. “Kid” the Spirit said as he placed his hand on Apple Blooms head. “I’m sorry” Apple Bloom buried her head into the Spirit chest. She felt his hand go limp and fall from her head. “Spirit?” Apple Bloom whimpered Apple Bloom began to cry even louder. “I’m sorry” Applejack said as she pulled Apple Bloom to her. “What’s going on here?” A kind but regal voice said behind the group The group besides Applejack and Apple Bloom turned to see Princess Celestia flanked by several Royal Guards. “Princess” Twilight exclaimed the group made a slight bow as the princess approached the fallen Spirit. “That’s the Spirit” Apple Bloom said between her tears “He saved me and now he’s gone.” “Well now” the princess said “Stand back I haven’t used this spell in a while.” The group all took a few steps back all eyes were fixed on the pure white alicorn. She knelt down bringing her horn to the Spirits forehead. Light began to form at the point where her horn and the Spirits head met. The light became brighter and brighter until everpony around had to look away. As the light subsided the group squinted to where the Princess and Spirit were. The Spirit was again conscious looking around. “Spirit” Apple Bloom said as she jumped grabbed the Spirit’s neck. “Careful” the Princess said smiling at Apple Bloom “Hey kid” the spirit said patting Apple Bloom “Thank You” Apple Bloom said turning and bowing to the Princess “Think nothing of it” the Princess responded “It’s the least I could for this brave hero.” “I really appreciate that the Spirit” said as he tried to stand “Easy” the Princess said signaling her guards to help the hero “It’s been a very long time since I’ve used my magic on a human I couldn’t fully heal you. You still need to rest.” “Sure…” The Spirit stopped and stared at Celestia “How did you know…” “That is for another time” she added “For now we are to take you to Ponyville for rest.”