The UNSC Prophets Bane drifted over the destroyed castle. Numerous pelican dropships launched from the hangers of the ship. Every one was filled with Spartans of all colors and sizes. John stood on the bridge of the Prophets Bane, in an UNSC Officers Uniform, "I want every inch of this forest searched. She would not have done this if she knew she wouldn't survive." John said to the bridge crew who relayed the message to the ground teams.
Qi'meen walked into the bridge, "John. It has been three days. If she would have survived it would have been by the skin of her teeth. Something in the forest probably got to her."
"Shut it!" John snapped at his adopted daughter.
"Dad. Please calm down. You are just-" Qi'meen was cut off as an indicator went off on one of the consoles.
"Captain, Wolf team has found something." an operator said.
"Put them through." John said.
++This is Wolf team. We have found what appears to be the remains of a midnight blue Spartan helmet. My team is currently searching the area for the rest of her armor and maybe her as well.++
++Thank you for finding that Wolf One. If your team does not find anything feel free to return when you are done.++
"Dad…." Qi'meen turned and went to leave the bridge but stopped, "When you are done chasing a ghost, you have a family that needs you." with that she left the room.
John turned and punched the nearest pole, "What the hell is wrong with me?" he asked himself.
"Spartan team Zeta there is a heat signature about ten meters North of your position. Please investigate." one of the operators said into the teams comm.
The brown female Spartan walked up to John and put her hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry. We will find her."
"Thank you Jess. Could you please watch over this for me? I have to go talk with my daughter." John said. Jess nodded, "Thank you." John turned and walked out the bridge.
----
John found Qi'meen crying in her quarters, "Qi'meen." John said softly.
"Leave me alone." she said through her tears.
"I thought about what you said. You are right I do have a family that needs me." John walked next to her bed and sat down next to her, "You are my world, but before you I could only think about her so please try and imagine what it is like for me to just lose her like that for the second time."
Qi'meen looked at her dad before she slapped him, "That is for being stubborn." she then hugged him, "This is for at least trying to cheer me up."
The door to Qi'meen's room opened and Jess stood in the doorway, "We found her Captain. Zeta team is on their way back here as we speak."
"I will go to the infirmary when she arrives, but until then I will spend some time with my daughter." John responded.
Jess nodded and left leaving the two alone. Qi'meen looked at her dad, "I want you to know that I won't fault you for staying by her side when she gets here, but I expect you to not be so hard on yourself. You couldn't have stopped her if you tried."
"I know but I feel guilty for some reason." John responded, "Do you want to come with me when I go and see her?"
"Sure. I mean I do see her as a friend so why not."
----
John and Qi'meen walked into the infirmary, "How is she?" John asked the closest Doctor that was moving about.
"Commander Runa is stable but any sudden changes could harm her. Her suit was in shambles. She was lucky to survive at all." the Doctor responded.
"Is there any chance that she will wake up any time soon?"
"No there is not. She is in a stress induced coma. There is a chance that she won't wake up at all." the Doctor said.
"Can we go and see her?" Qi'meen asked.
"I don't see why not." the Doctor pointed at the last bed in the room, "That is her. Just remember to call for one of us if something changes."
John nodded before walking over to Maria's resting body. Qi'meen went to approach her something startled her, "I am going to get Celestia." she said before running out the room.
----
Celestia followed Qi'meen down the hall of the ship, "So tell me again what you sensed?" Celestia asked.
"Nothing. When I met her there was a spark of the force and something else, but when I started to get close to her I felt nothing. Almost like she was drained of all her powers." Qi'meen explained.
"So you came to get me. How am I supposed to know how to help?"
"That something else I felt." Qi'meen stated, "It felt like your magic."
Celestia's jaw dropped, "How did I not notice it before. Get me to her quick. If it is what I think it is we don't have much time." Qi'meen and Celestia started to run down the hall.
----
John sat next to Maria's bed, not willing to let anyone move him. The sound of a human and pony running could be heard coming from the hall outside of the infirmary. John ignored the sound and focused on the still body next to him, "Why didn't I tell you the truth. Maybe you would have came up with a different plan if I would have."
Qi'meen and Celestia rounded the corner and slid to a stop in front of Maria's bed, "John I don't want to do this but you need to move." Celestia said.
"No I will not move. I will not leave her alone again."
"Dad she can help her. Maria is dying. The doctors cannot find the symptoms because the Equus's natural magic is slowly draining her strength."
"What are you talking about?" John asked not budging.
"When the nuke went off. The planet absorbed most if not all the radiation. Maria being the only thing that was alive in that general area was the planets target for gaining the required amount of magic to heal itself." Celestia explained, "I am going to pour my magic into her and have the planet take that instead of hers. If she loses all the her magic she will die."
John looked at Maria, "Is there any guaranty that she will die from this?"
"No. If I do this she should make a full recovery, but there is the chance of her not being fit enough to fight again." Celestia responded.
"Go ahead." John said as he moved away from Maria's bed. Celestia's horn light up with an intense golden glow. Suddenly a stream started to flow from Celestia's horn to a transparent one on Maria's head. After a few minutes Celestia stopped and the transparent horn on Maria's head disappeared, "That it?" John asked.
Celestia looked at him as her mane and tail lost it's flowing motion and became still and pink, "That is all. Now time is all that’s left to take it's course."