//------------------------------//
// 144 
// Story: My Little Fortress: Dawnpick 
// by Paaaad 
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Flux walks towards the crypts, hoping he'll find Jaxler there.  He had seemed to be adjusting well to being mostly a civilian, though he was still part of the reserves.  Flux hadn't seen him since Wool's funeral, and he tended to visit the crypts when he was feeling depressed.  He half hoped he wasn't down there, that'd at least mean he was probably not down in the dumps at least.  Once he descends the stairs, though, he can see the red and black form of his friend down there.
"Um... heya Jaxler."

Jaxler had spent a lot of time down in the crypts. A pony who's magic kept him alive had recently died. Jaxler wouldn't be able to be stand where he was right now if it weren't for wool. Jaxler even had spent some time talking with the pony on occasion and would go so far as to call him an acquaintance or even a friend. Jaxler was entranced in deep thought over unicorn's passing and was surprised to hear one of his friends coming down the stairs "OH, Hay Flux."

"How... are you doing, Jaxler?"

Jaxler sighed before responding "I've been worse."

Flux glances at the coffin he's standing by, noticing it's Wool's, and gives his own small sigh.
"There was nothing you could have done, Jaxler..."

Jaxler sighs again and gazes down at the coffin.
"There's probably something I could have done... and I hate knowing that somepony that saved my life die."

"You can't be everywhere at once, Jaxler.  I... I wish Wool were still here, too, but... blaming yourself doesn't help anything."

"I really don't like ponies dying around me."

"I didn't ask you to like it, Jaxler.  But do you think he'd want you to blame yourself?"
Flux shakes his head sadly.
"I don't think he would."

"I'm not blaming myself, I know it was that twisted subterranean abomination's fault. It's just that I feel like I could have done something to help him."

"How?  By being able to predict the future?  Jaxler... he was dead before anypony could get there.  We should strive to prevent something like this from happening again, but... 'what if' situations don't really help either.  Look to the future for hope, Jaxler, and to the past for guidance."

Jaxler shrugged "I know... it's just I have hard dealing with the past..." Jaxler then gazed over to his scar. "You know, if it weren't for Wool, Panacea wouldn't have been able to put me back together after the whole cavern incident."

"I... I know.  He didn't... deserve this.  Nopony does..."

"You know back where I'm from, it's actually disrespectful to cry over somepony's death. I mean, why would somepony want their death to cause other's pain, and if you do cry it's supposed to be out of respect not sorrow."

"Then... stop beating yourself up over it?"

Jaxler sighed and broken his gaze. "I probably should..." Jaxler paused for a second as he thought to himself "Ya know what? I haven't had any booze in like three days. In fact, I also probably should go get a drink right now."

Flux gives his friend a small smile.
"A drink sounds nice.  Mind some company?"

Jaxler smiled "Drinking is always better with company."