//------------------------------// // I Need A Hero // Story: Life in the Fast Lane // by TheAmazingMe //------------------------------// "Bruiser!" I called out into the night air. The colt was away from the search party camp and likely downstream. The moonlight cast a pale luminescence across the landscape and gave me a clear silhouette to follow Astral Bolt. Keeping up with a pegasus was my entire life as a courier pony and I wasn't about to lose this one now. My hooves flew over the dirt and stones of the San Palamino riverbank. Just being able to run was sheer bliss for me after being cooped up with injuries from the bridge collapse. Unfortunately, the ease of travel also meant my mind was free to reflect on everything that happened since then. How Life had sounded, how his lips had felt as he kissed me just before launching me to safety as he fell. The pained looks of his parents as they tried their hardest to keep up morale while taking care of our son. Hopelessness took hold of me as I struggled against duty and love; I'd had to follow orders to not look for my husband while I recuperated. With a will, I shoved all of that aside. It had been days of searching and even with us in the prime area, our only lead had been several miles of caves along the river. An unusual glittering powder found among those caves inspired this latest runaway, the second one Bruiser'd made in his short life. Shaking my head to clear it once more, I took in what scenery I could. The land on either side of the river was flat. Sand, dirt, gravel, and scrubby brush greeted my eyes as I continued onward. I put an extra burst on as the land started going hilly. Astral swooped low overhead. “Nearly there, Div! You're doing better than I expected.” “Thanks.” I said, only now aware of how short my breath was. “I think.” “It was bound to happen eventually, Div.” Astral chuckled as he pulled upward once more. “Oh wow.” I said in wonder as I looked around at the ‘glitter.’ It looked like sand, but it glowed in a multitude of hues. If somepony dropped concentrated rainbow at the beach, it would be a lot like this. “What do you make of this?” I asked Astral as he landed beside me. I sifted some off the edge of my hoof. “Honestly? It could be anything, from some kind of glowing bacteria to some kind of magical accident. Mixer might know a bit more about this than me.” Astral admitted. “It's not concentrated rainbow?” I asked. Astral shook his head. “No, that has a very distinct smell and taste.” “You tasted this?” “N-no.” He said suspiciously. “Sure you didn’t faceplant into the dirt around here?” “Hey look, who’s that?” Astral pointed to a dark figure exiting a river cave on the other bank. “Bruiser!” I called, running to the river’s edge. Sure enough, it was him. He waded out of the partially submerged cave holding something in his mouth. “What have you…” I cut myself off as the object came into the light. It was purple, metallic and very familiar. “My helmet?” Bruiser swam across to us and deposited my helmet at my hooves. “He’s gotta be around here, Dad.” Bru unwrapped a soaked cloth on his forehoof and spread it out on the ground. It was Life’s button-up white shirt. I pulled the soaking wet colt up against my chest. In spite of the heat of the day, the nights were very chilly. Bruiser shook slightly in my grasp. “Crap, I didn’t think to grab any emergency supplies.” I said, wishing I had a blanket to dry off my son. “Need to…find him.” Bru got out around his chattering teeth. “Not as important as getting you warm. Astral?” I looked over at my squad-mate's wings. “Whatever you need, Div.” “Can you do that pegasus thing with your wing?” I asked awkwardly. “’That pegasus thing?’” I looked down at Bruiser. “Oh. Oh! Oh yeah, no prob. Just tuck him in right next to me.” Astral tucked his legs underneath him and spread a wing up invitingly. I set Bruiser down next alongside Astral and the tough guardpony tucked Bru under his wing like a mama hen. If it hadn’t been for Bruiser’s condition, I might have laughed. Astral must have caught the look on my face, because his eyes narrowed. “Do I even want to know what you’re thinking?” I was interrupted by Second’s voice. “They’re over here!” Second appeared a moment later, along with Golden Touch and Sgt. Stone. “Oh great. Now this can be officially embarrassing.” Astral deadpanned. I rolled my eyes and turned to Bravo Squad’s medic. “Golden! Bru’s here, but he’s chilled himself half to death in the river.” “We need to get him dry and warm…oh that’s precious.” Golden said as she caught sight of Astral and Bru. “Mention this to anypony, Goldie, and I’ll make sure you pay for it.” Astral said half-jokingly. “Just lift the wing tough guy. I’ll get him dry and then we’ll get to alternative warming techniques. Although I must say the mama bird look is good on you.” Astral groaned, but lifted his wing. Golden began the drying spell. Then an odd sound of something rasping against stone crackled below us. Curious, I looked towards the riverbank. A giant scorpion, easily the size of three ponies, emerged from a cave underneath our hooves. “Sarge!” I called out as the scorpion turned around towards us. “Sweet Celestia! Golden, Astral, protect Second and Bruiser! Second, stay clear, this is our fight! Div, hit and switch!” Mountain barked out orders with remarkable calm. “Sir, I don’t have my service weapon.” I admitted as we stood side by side. “Remind me to reprimand you for that later. Use your hooves and watch that tail. Stay by me.” Stone unsheathed his sword. The weapon was easily larger than most Royal Guard service weapons. Given Stone’s size, that wasn’t all that surprising. No, surprising was how easily he swung the sword to block a tail strike I barely had time to see. Together, we pressed forward. I ducked under a pincer and landed a flurry of forehoof strikes at the scorpion’s face. Bounding away, I avoided another pincer attempt as Stone blocked a barrage of tail attacks. I turned around to use my hind legs for a solid buck, catching a glimpse of Golden’s shield spell. In the glow of the shield, I could see the worry on Second’s face. Pushing that aside, I looked behind me and bucked for all I was worth. The scorpion backed up towards the river, stunned. Stone flipped around for a buck of his own. Out of desperation, the scorpion flailed its tail. Vaulting over the sergeant’s back, I kicked the side of the stinger away before the blow could land. Mountain lined his buck up and struck, knocking the scorpion out cold into the river. “Yes!” I said, excitedly. My heart beat in my ears for a moment until I heard a familiar sound. “Div.” Mountain called. I rushed to his side on the riverbank. He faced a cave, where the sound of another scorpion scuttling up towards us came from. “Sir, how many scorpions do you suppose are in there.” I asked, my mouth dry. “I don’t intend to find out. Retreat!” He called out, pushing me up the bank. We cleared the embankment and galloped to Astral, Golden and Second. Stone ordered Bru onto his back and then we took off. The sharp clack of pincers sounded behind us. I looked behind us to see three more of those overgrown desert death machines headed our way. We were halfway to camp when Second tripped on something went rolling. Stopping to help him, I turned and saw the scorpion’s practically on top of us. I wasn’t sure exactly what we’d done to aggravate the monsters, but these big bugs weren’t giving up. “Second, we have to go!” I cried in his ear. “Might have a problem, then.” He groaned as he stood on three hooves, favoring his front left leg. “Well, that’s just…” Just then, two dark shapes emerged from the brush beside us. I almost kicked one in sheer reflex before I realized it was pony shaped. Two hooded figures stood between us and the scorpions. The first, larger than the second, called out in a clear tenor. “A shield will only delay them and we are strong enough to take them on, even two-on-three.” “I’ll raise the shield, you heal the older one and then we’ll make a run for it.” The second one replied in a raspy voice. “I’ll be quick.” The first one galloped to us and took hold of Second’s bad leg before we could react. Second flinched, but whether it was from the pain or from the mysterious figure lowering his hood, I couldn’t say. By the antlers, I’d guess our quiet ally was a deer. “Lucky for you, my friend, I just so happen to have the means for a splint and some numbing gel. It won’t be a permanent fix, but it should get us clear of here and back to your healer.” I looked up from the deer’s ministrations and over at his partner. A pale green glow separated us from the scorpions. His partner was a unicorn? “Hey, if of life you keep a care, shake off slumber and beware!” The deer chastised me, poking a cloven hoof at my head. “I could use an extra hoof here to hold this together while I tie it up.” We worked quickly, so by the time the unicorn dropped the shield, we were already underway again. The unicorn brought up the rear. When we made it to the camp, the scorpions were hot on our tails. Sgt Stone, Mixer, Golden, and Astral trotted out holding burning torches. The big bugs balked at the flames. Mixer lifted a flask to his lips and then blew fire right at the desert dwellers, driving the creatures away in fear, pincers clacking. Second dropped to his belly as soon as he got near the campfire. “Medic!” He called weakly. Golden hurried over to take stock of his injury. On the other hoof, Sgt Stone was taking stick of our new friends. The deer seemed to be saying something animatedly. I drew near, my eyes glued to the one with his head still covered. “Hey, thanks for the cover. We all made it back thanks to you two.” I said, extending a hoof to the hooded one. Throwing back his hood, Life took my hoof and gave it a shake. “No problem, hubby.” His voice was raspy and raw, but there was no mistaking the red coat, the black muzzle, the green eyes and that irresistible smile. “Ly,” I croaked out, eyes filling with tears as I pulled him into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re safe. We were all so worried about you.” “Ease up there, Div.” Life responded. “It would take more than that to get rid of me.”