The mood of the expedition had become a pit of depression. Lightning and Hardy were stoic and Solid had been inconsolable. She had shown a strong outward appearance but from time to time Hardy could hear Solid’s sniffs and quiet sobs and it tore at his heart. He had not known the stallion personally but he was a good kid, he was level headed, supportive and he always accompanied the crazy mare that was his friend.
His actions spoke volumes about his heroic personality and Hardy would see to it that he would gain proper recognition, when they got back. He corrected himself despondently.
That was, if they got back.
They faced a dilemma. Hardy knew that with the map gone, heading back out into the desert was a sure fire way to get themselves killed. However, heading back to Equestria was also an equally dangerous proposition. They had supplies to last them at most, two weeks without water and they had expected to reach the Tower within the third day. What had been a simple mission had quickly devolved into a life or death situation.
Solid and Lightning had reached the same conclusions only moment later.
They may have to face the fact that failure was an option.
-----
The feeling of a blade thrust into your chest is a shocking feeling. I had broken bones before and it hurt like hell, but nothing really compared to this. There was the shock, of course, that made me immediately realise it was serious.
I gasped weakly, my hands shakily moving towards the blade and then shying away. I realised that if I pulled it out I might bleed out instead. I could feel the blood pool in my left lung. My breathing was getting laboured.
I looked to my left and found Twilight gazing at me, with tears in her eyes.
Please don’t look at me like that, my friend, I thought, giving her a reassuring smile. I wonder why that made it worse?
Luna was galloping towards me from the distance but it seemed like everything was moving slowly, as if the air had been made to the viscosity of treacle.
I laughed. I was truly a scientist, to the end.
I was falling, but I didn’t feel the impact.
I was getting ahead of myself.
-----
A few hours before…
The meal with Twinkie, Shining and the two princesses was very awkward to say the least. I don’t know what it was about me that drew the awkwardness of a situation out but I couldn’t help it, it was a part of who I was.
“Do you normally have these intensely awkward silences around me?” I asked the general audience of the table.
Twilight shook her head.
“Usually Pinkie would say something by now”, Twilight replied, shooting Pinkie a gaze.
Pinkie shrugged, in a very human-like fashion.
“I can’t help it, Whitey just makes me want to be quiet”, Pinkie said between mouthfuls of crystal cake. “Dunno why.”
Twilight shot me a critical expression.
“You have to teach me how you do that with Pinkie”, she demanded, fixing me with an intense stare. I hadn’t touched the food, because it was made of crystals, I didn’t know if I could digest it. If I had food in my mouth I would be nonchalantly chewing it.
“Maybe I’m leeching the happy magic out of Pinkie”, I offered offhandedly. I tinkered with the crystal glass flicking it with a small ping.
“Maybe one should teach thee thine own manners”, Luna suggested, giving me a playful nudge. The powerful blow sent me halfway tilted in the chair. I huffed but took it lying down. Stupid princesses having ruling powers over a stupid country, bah what would I give for a normal person to talk to, maybe someone humanoid?
Apparently, Cadance was good at reading minds.
“Are we not interesting enough for you?” she tittered, mischief sparking in her eyes.
Gosh, she mimicked my tone almost perfectly. She must be a singer.
Shining finally steered the conversation into a more serious matter.
“So, I guess since everypony seems to be avoiding the topic- “ he shot a glance at Luna and Twilight, who avoided his gaze “ -I think I speak for all of us when I say, what now?”
Twilight and Luna had a thoughtful expression while Pinkie was still stuffing her face with cake. Does that pony ever stop eating? Can anyone else match this mare’s ferocious appetite for delectable treats? Why do I keep asking questions to myself when I know they’ll never be answered?
Cadance cleared her throat, startling everpony and myself, out of a short reverie.
“I think a tour is in order!” she announced cheerfully before being cut down by Luna.
“No!” Luna cut in sharply, causing the pink pony princess to shrink slightly. I winced.
Maybe you should go easy on her Luna. I thought.
Luna seemed to see the error in her ways.
“Forgive me Princess Cadance, but we cannot have our null being running around, especially near certain magical artefacts that may or may not be responsible for the entirety of the defence of your kingdom”, Luna explained bluntly.
Cadance shook her head.
“Of course, I simply meant he should be shown around the palace”, Cadance corrected smoothly, getting to her hooves. Shining regarded Luna somewhat frostily. They beckoned for us to follow and exited the side door. I was about to follow but found myself backtracking a little when Luna didn’t follow.
I patted Luna on the back. She flinched at the contact but relaxed slightly as I ran my fingers through her fur.
“Don’t worry about it, princess. You were just looking out for them”, I consoled, giving her a final pat. “They’ll come around.”
She surprised me with vulnerable eyes. They regarded me for a moment before hardening.
“I’m sorry you had to see that”, she ground out stiffly.
I nudged her, breaking her stern features.
“Relax, Nighty”, I said, striding ahead.
“N-n-nighty?!” she shot back indignantly. I chuckled.
“How about Woona?” I joked... but her expression turned terrifying.
“DON’T YOU DAR- WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” she shouted after me, storming past surprised guards as she bee lined for my retreating form.
“That’s the spirit!” I sniggered standing on the balcony. The others had returned. They had finally figured out I hadn’t followed. Perhaps they were giving me privacy? Meh.
I stood out on the balcony beckoning them to join me.
“Look I want to show you-“ I began, but I heard a fluttering noise behind me before turning my gaze to the blade that had suddenly blossomed out of my chest.
“Oh. Oh dear”, I whispered, feeling shock course through my body.