Life in the Fast Lane

by TheAmazingMe


Here Without You

My body hit the ground, sending sickening shockwaves of pain through the totality of my existence. As I gasped, it was hard to pinpoint one source. Struggling to breathe, I felt a set of hooves on me trying to pry something off of my chest. A glow filled my view and suddenly I could draw breath.

Rolling to my side, I tried to get my bearings. Open Schedule stood next to me, her expression equal parts concern and relief, along with something I couldn’t place. Was she crying? It was raining too hard to really tell. Why…?

And then it struck me with more intensity than if I’d been shot from a cannon.

“Life!” I gasped, my throat raw and raspy. Getting to my hooves was impossible, the second I tried, my left rear leg buckled instantly. I crawled to the edge of the gorge before to sets of hooves stopped me. My head hung over the side.

“Life!” I screamed into the empty abyss. My only answer, a clap of thunder in the distance. My love, my Life, was nowhere to be seen.

As hooves pulled me back from the brink, I mercifully blacked out.

***

“Good. You’re awake.” A familiarly low voice said next to me. Cracking open an eye, Sgt. Mountain Stone stood at my bedside.

“Where am I?” I asked.

“In a tent near the gorge. You’ve been out nearly all day. The bridge collapse was last night.”

My stomach turned as I remembered last night. “Life?”

“No signs of him, yet.” He placed a hoof pre-emptively on my shoulder to keep me down. “I have local search ponies, rail employees, and our own guard. It’s a ragtag bunch, but your husband’s friend Open has been keeping us organized.”

“Bruiser?” I asked, trying to keep my thoughts away from the pain.

Sergeant Stone sat back. “The Story’s are watching him. Everypony is helping as best they can.”

“I need to get up. I have to find him.”

Stone protested. “You dislocated a rear leg, bruised more than a few ribs, and have been unconscious for nearly a day.”

“Sir, with all due respect—“

“With consideration for your career, I’m going to—“

“The hell with my career, my husband--!”

“Reality is, Guardspony, there is nothing you can do, nothing you could’ve done, that would change what happened to Life Story. If he’s alive, we’ll find him. If he’s not, we’ll find him. Your responsibility is to get better quickly and comfort his family while you do. Then you can join us.”

“You’re not going to cut me out?”

“Div, if I put myself in your hooves, I would search for Life whether my sergeant approved or not. So I can’t expect you to abide a direct order to stay out. But, I can have you declared physically incapable and a danger to yourself if you try to get involved before you’re ready. Consider this a compromise. Get better first, take care of the family, join us when you can.”

He turned to leave, but stopped at the tent-flap. “Sogni, you'll need to prepare yourself just in case he…didn’t make it.”

“I won’t give up on him.”

“I don’t expect you to. Just, remember it’s a possibility.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Thank me when we find him.”

Bruiser pushed his way past Mountain Stone. Impressive, given the sergeant’s size. Bru didn’t even come up to Stone’s chest. Once at my side, I could see the tear marks on his face. The foal seemed at a loss; as I looked into his eyes I knew he felt like I did. I lifted a forehoof and beckoned him in. The tough little guy rushed in. Gritting my teeth, I ignored my aching ribs and tried to comfort my little pony as best I could.

“Sorry, sergeant, he got away from me.” Open apologized from the tent flap.

“It’s alright, I’ll leave him in your care, Ms. Schedule.” Sgt. Stone saluted and walked out.

“Bru, you need to ease up on his ribs.” Open said softly. I mouthed a silent ‘thank you' as Bruiser lifted his weight off of my chest. I still held him with one hoof over his neck.

Looking over the foal, he appeared to be as well taken care of as could be expected. Only the slump of his shoulders, the heaviness of each hoof fall, and the tears that threatened to fall every time he looked up gave away that this kid was not alright. “Bruiser, they’re going to find him.”

“Life.” He said, rearing back to look at me. His brow furrowed, lips a tight line as he stared into my eyes. The vehemence caught me off guard.

“What?” I asked.

“Everypony has been callin' him ‘Him’ so don’t you do it too. Say his name.”

I smiled and tilted his hat back to see his face clearly in the light. “They’ll find Life. The fall wasn’t as far as it looked in the dark, the river was swollen from rainwater and, most importantly of all, I have a feeling.” I said, feeling more confidant as I spoke.

Gently, Bru nuzzled into my chest. “I do too.”

***

I woke up that night, discomforted. My hooves shook as I stood, my left rear hip protesting slightly. Our healer, Golden Touch, had done a remarkable job. Not exactly painless, but much better than if I’d had to relocate my hip myself. Passing Bruiser’s cot, I took a moment to smile. He clutched his hat and the Starprancers book Life bought. Carefully, I shuffled to the tent flap and out.

That night was brilliantly clear. Moonlight illuminated the camp in a clear, pale glow. Technically, I was supposed to be asleep and staying off of my hooves. But I was a runner; I always had too much energy.

Staring up at the sky, I took a moment to appreciate Princess Luna’s work. Between the courier job and guard school, there hadn’t been a lot of time for stargazing. Suddenly, a flash appeared and streaked across the sky towards the south. I marveled at how long it lasted before remembering the old ponies tale about wishing on a shooting star. I closed my eyes and concentrated. I wish for my husband's safety. Above all else, let him be alright. I formed an image of him in my head, smiling and vibrant; it brought me to tears. As I opened my eyes, I could’ve sworn the shooting star grew brighter for a moment before it disappeared. That couldn’t be right. There had to be more than one shooting star. Perhaps my tears made another star seem to shoot.

Shaking my head, I returned to the tent and my cot. Tossing and turning, I was suddenly uncomfortable. Something kept me up. I felt disoriented for a moment. Inhaling, I realized I’d stopped breathing at some point. Luckily, nopony was around to notice; Bru still slept on his cot. Warmth spread through me, in spite of the night air.

***

I wasn’t in armor, but I was part of the search. Magical healing had done a lot, but I still walked with stiffness, not that I’d let it get in my way. South of the bridge, the river flowed on toward the desert. My search party made camp on the edge of the San Palamino. Our group consisted of Sgt Stone, Golden Touch, Astral Bolt, Mixer, Second Story, and Bruiser.

“Astral, give me a flyover. Keep an eye out for tricky terrain and unwanted visitors. Golden and Mixer, begin the search pattern on the river. Mr. Story and Bruiser, if you will unload the boat, Div will assist you in making camp here.”

“Sir, Sgt. Stone, sir.” I stood as straight as a rod.

Stone turned from his search map to glance at me. “Guardspony, you are to be assisting your relatives with camp. We have a long stretch to search both up and down river. I also need us to be able to break camp quickly should the need arise. You have the relevant training in organizing civilians; use it.”

“Sir,--“

“Whether you join the sweep is up to my discretion. I’m warning you now, Sogni, I brought you in on this to keep you from running off on your own. Your physical condition is not up to par and any involvement on your part would slow down our efforts. Do not, under any circumstances, involve yourself without my direct order. Is that clear, Guardspony?”

“Abundantly, sir.”

He snorted. “Good. Dismissed.”

As they unloaded the boat, I spoke with my father-in-law and adopted son. “I’m under direct orders. Stone'll keep me out as long as he thinks I’m a burden.”

“I know you’d rather not hear it, but he has a point.” Second said.

I did my best not to glare. “At any rate, you two aren’t guards. He can’t command you in the same way he does me.”

“I’m not sure I like where this is going.” Second stated.

“Easy, Grandpa. This isn’t about us. We’re here to find dad.” Bruiser said quietly.

“Great. A day away from my wife and I’m part of a conspiracy.” Second said flatly, casting his eyes upward.

“We’re a conditional conspiracy. If Stone keeps us off the search, we make our move. Second, see if you can gain access to the search patterns of the air and land crews and then look for any holes in them.”

“What do you want me to do?” Bruiser whispered. I turned to the pile of equipment and extracted cooking utensils.

Turning them over to Bru, I answered. “Better get started with lunch. We have appearances to maintain.” Bru looked less than thrilled, but he couldn’t fault my logic.

The first day passed torturously slow. Watching the moon rise, my heart ached. My hooves felt empty. I needed to hold him, had to hear his voice.