The wind settled into a dark and gloomy silence. Applejack approached the door and carefully nudged it open, shoving against the mound of sand stacked against it and forcing it out to reveal the changed landscape outside. The dune they had parked beside had ceased to exist, and new dunes had sprouted up in its place.
Sweetie jumped out past her and circled around the wagon swiftly. The camels were still alive, if battered and sullen. She sang them a sweet song as she passed among them, banishing their injuries with her empathy, and getting a slobbery lick in thanks. Sweetie giggled a little with a smile, returning to the others with a satisfied expression. "They're OK!"
Willow stepped out with Applejack, drawing free a compass and peering at it with a raised brow. She pointed into the distance. "Let's try to make up for lost time. Good job with the camels. They'll be much easier to control without those injuries."
Scootaloo, Sunflower, and Apple Bloom hopped out of the wagon. Sunflower smiled up at his mother. "Can we have a minute or two to stretch?"
She huffed softly. "If you must. Don't go farther than ten feet from the wagon. Some beasts are active just after sandstorms." She sat herself down and began muttering some strange spell.
With permission given, the Crusaders began to run and explore the area around the wagon eagerly. Scootaloo pointed at the sand piled against it. "We should get that off the wagon.
Apple Bloom nodded in agreement. "Good idea." Play time became work time as they industriously cleared away the sand and made a new small dune beside the wagon instead of on top of it.
Sunflower clambered up to the top when it was completed. "I am king!" His monarchy was short-lived as Scootaloo barreled into him and they rolled down the small hill together.
"Enough play." Willow waved at the group. "Get inside. It's time to go." Her fire cat was with her, prowling alongside her quietly as she got into position to drive the wagon. "
Soon everyone was loaded into the wagon, except Sweetie Belle. She hopped up beside Willow and sat down. "I want to be here today, please?"
Willow urged the camels forward silently and the wagon struggled a moment before it pulled free of the sand remaining and began sliding along the surface. "As you wish. There is precious little to see from up here, just dunes."
Despite her words, Sweetie seemed to enjoy watching the dunes go past quietly. Sweetie glanced towards Willow, and her flaming cat. "So you've been on this route before?"
"A few times." Willow glanced sideways at Sweetie. "Why?"
Sweetie shrugged her little shoulders. "Is it always dangerous?"
Willow smiled. "Of course. If it was easy, there'd be much less money to be had. Most of those lazy cats would rather sit at home and count the few coins they have rather than risk it all. What about you, little one? Have you been on such ventures before?"
Sweetie tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I've been to a big city a few times to help my big sister, but we were never attacked by monsters on the way. Um, no offense, but Everglow's a lot more dangerous than Equestria is."
Willow pointed at Sweetie, claw extended. "But it hones a person. You have grown more in the week you've been here than in the last year of your life. If you can avoid becoming lunch, you could become a great hero."
Sweetie gave a slow nod. "I suppose... but I'd rather there not need for there to be a hero."
Willow gave a soft laugh, slapping her knee with a paw. "You're wise for your age. Are there truly no heroes in your world?"
Sweetie shook her head quickly. "My sister's one! She and her friends have saved the world a few times from bad guys. I... suppose if there has to be a hero, I could do that." She stuck out her tongue a little. "I'd rather not."
Willow nodded slowly and allowed silence to settle over them for a time, with just the quiet steps of the camels on the sand beneath them. "The best heroes don't want to be, you realize. Keep that desire for peace safe in your chest, Little Bell."
Sweetie smiled brightly at Willow as she craned her neck about, looking over the sandy stretches. "So, uh, do purrsians really get married in groups?"
Willow snorted softly. "Not all the time. Only very wealthy purrsians gather a harem around themselves, usually males. It is a symbol of wealth and success. I had but one spouse, and our love was not... enduring."
Sweetie frowned a little with obvious thought. "What happened? I mean, if you don't mind my asking?"
Willow waved it off. "It is an old wound, and an honest question. For you, I will answer. He found a prettier cat with deeper coin purses and left me holding little Sunflower. Sunflower's the only good thing to come of the no-good tomcat." She spat to the desert floor. "Don't marry for looks."
Sweetie looked sad, which made Willow uncomfortable. "Don't look that way, Little Bell. I am not unhappy with my life. Sunflower is a darling child and growing strong and well." She reached out and patted Sweetie gently through the mane. "He has found such wonderful friends as well. How could a mother be anything but pleased?"
Sweetie's pout melted away into a smile. "Um, this is very personal... but..." She swallowed thickly. "Are you... playing matchmaker? We tried that once with our teacher, and it didn't work so well."
Willow raised a brow. "Did you now? That sounds adorable. What went wrong?"
Sweetie made a vague gesture with her hooves. "We kind of used a love poison and they got crazy over each other. We fixed it in the end though, promise."
Willow snickered softly at the image. "I see... Apple Bloom was already well on her way to becoming a fine alchemist? I am glad it worked out in the end, but love should not be forced, or false. To answer your question, I will let what happens, happen. If you and my son grow closer, I will celebrate, if not, I will hope you at least become friends." She slid a finger under Sweetie Belle's chin. "You are a fine person, pony or cat, and I would be honored to have you as kin."
Sweetie flushed darkly, unsure how to reply to that statement. "Uh, thank you?" It was a nice thing she had said, but... "I'm not sure if it'll work out that way... but Sunflower's nice enough, so we can be friends for sure."
Willow nodded gently, putting her hands back in her lap and controlling the camels. "That is all I can ask. Anything beyond is a blessing. He is a rash kitten, keep him safe and he will gladly play hero for you and your friends."
Sweetie pointed ahead. "What's that?"
Willow frowned and squinted at what Sweetie indicated. The great shape of a beetle rose from the sand, shaking itself free of the recently driven stuff. It was the size of a cow, and fixed its eyes on the wagon in a disconcerting fashion. Willow thumped the top of the wagon. "Company!" With a sharp wave, she motioned Kalik forward.
The flaming cat leaped over the camels and charged at the giant blue beetle. Sweetie looked guilty. "I used up my healing magic on the camels."
Willow waved away the confession. "Too late to worry about that now. Let's focus on not needing it. Sing your song, Little Bell."
Sweetie complied with a little ditty she learned from Rainbow Dash about Daring Do's exploits. Under this adventurous melody, the rest of the group burst out the back of the wagon and were closing in on the beetle. The beetle and Kalik met first, great mandibles closing in on the flaming cat and scoring a grazing gnaw along a leg. Kalik quickly returned the favor with their own teeth, trying to work through the tough chitinous hide of the beast.
As the others closed the distance, Apple Bloom dug out a bomb mixture and hurled it at the beetle. It wasn't spot on, but landed beside the beetle, catching it in its explosive fire. The beetle clicked in fury and turned to approach Apple Bloom, scuttling past Kalik. Kalik swiped at it on the way past, but the claws slid over the steel-like plating. The beetle crashed into the second line of combatants. Scootaloo drove her flaming rapier into it with a sudden forceful burst of flames, setting it alight for a moment with a keening whistle of pain.
Applejack drove a single hoof into it with a punch, knocking a hole in its hide and crushing flesh beyond it. Sunflower ducked around its momentum, weaving around it on all fours and springing up with mace in paw, surrounding the beast. The great beast wheeled and turned, driving mandibles at Scootaloo and grinding at her. Scootaloo squeaked and wriggled away, hopping back with fresh wounds.
Apple Bloom hurled a fresh bomb, landing on the beetle's back and exploding powerfully with flames. "Keep it up, everypony. Ah think it's gettin' weak."
Sunflower brought down his mace with a satisfying crunch as he found a weak point between two plates. "It ain't so tough!"
Applejack went for her signature finisher, driving her hooves into it with an electric charge, but the beetle juked just in time, and only one hoof thudded against it to her annoyance. Kalik picked up the slack, landing on its back and burying her head into the hole Applejack had made earlier. She tore and rended at the creatures innards and it shuddered before collapsing to the ground, succumbing to the abuse heaped on it. "It is done."
Willow nodded from the driver's seat. "Well fought. There's still some cool time left, let's get as much desert behind us as we can."
Apple Bloom approached Scootaloo quickly, giving her a healing potion. "Thanks." Scootaloo chugged it down and let out a sigh of relief. "Did you see that explosion! Boom! We cooked that beetle before it even had a chance." Scootaloo waved up at Sweetie Belle. "Coming back with us?"
Sweetie waved at Willow before hopping down, rejoining her friends. Soon they were all inside the wagon and the trip continued around the beetle, onwards to their destination.
When they parked for the coming day, Willow joined the rest in the wagon. "I think we are safe from the bandits."
Applejack perked an ear. "Why's that?"
Willow gestured. "If they had the means to take us by force, they would have. It was a bluff, dashed to pathetic shreds with the coming of the storm. We should be thankful for it. It has erased our tracks up to its point." She plucked up a small flask with a purple stopper. "I propose a little drink of celebration."
Applejack looked hesitant. "How strong's that stuff?"
Willow scoffed. "A tepid wine. Good for travel, rude for polite company. But we are traveling companions, not polite company." She settled down and poured the flask out into its cap, offering it to Applejack first. "Try."
Applejack sipped it up and made a face. "It ain't cider, that's fer sure. Go on, one cap fer each of ya."
They rested in good spirits that day. The end of the desert felt closer than ever before.