Sliding out of the nest-like bed, Rescue found himself once more looking at the sleeping pegasus beside him. Ailan had asked him to move in just a few weeks prior, a month to the day after they had taken their relationship to the physical level. Standing there at the bedside, he truly could not remember ever being this happy.
With a nudge of his hoof, the draft stallion leaned down and whispered. “Time to get up, we have a jog to do.”
Ailan’s eyelids cracked open and he rolled over on his back slowly, giving a little snort and glancing up at the stallion looming over him.
“How about we go back to sleep and pretend we did?”
Rescue shook his head. “Up and at 'em, probie,” he said as he turned and trotted into the bathroom. A quick bathroom break, followed by running a comb through his mane, and he was done. He took note of the fact that Ailan was up preening his wings. It gave him time to trot out to the living room and start laying out their leg weights. A quick knock at the door told him that it was time to go.
“Let’s go, feather head.”
Opening the door to see the usual three quarters of the Apple family Applejack, Big Mac, and Applebloom. Rescue then peeked over his shoulder to see his mate drag himself out of the bedroom and begin to strap on the weights, giving a smile and walking out the door.
“Junior Firefighter Applebloom, where is Scoots?”
“She is gonna meet us at the station with Chief Tiara and Rumble, sir.”
Giving a nod of his head, Rescue turned and started down the cobble path at a slow trot. Not bothering to look back, he knew as they jogged through town, others would join in. That had been one of the bigger surprises among the many he had. The fact was not one drop out, not one pony, or Kevin for that matter, had dropped out or washed out with poor scores. From foals in the Junior Firefighters, to the volunteer adults, every last one of them was staying strong. Some had shown themselves to be leaders, too. Ailan heading up the lift and roof team, Carrot Cake excelled at running hose and anchor, even Kevin had shown himself to be adept at running the pumps. Not once had they run over pressure or out of water during tests.
Now, keeping the same pace and cadence as he had, twenty-nine adult ponies, ten foals, and a changeling jogged along at a trot. Heading out of town, they kept a pace easy for all to keep and remain in a tight gather. The goal wasn’t to go fast, it was to build endurance and strength. A bit of a grin crossed Rescue's muzzle as he glanced back at the group. “How many feet of hose does a pump and ladder truck carry?”
It was a small, higher pitched voice that called out first, one colored with a Trottingham accent. He could not help but smile at that, even among them all the little paint was smart and quick with answers. “Two to four thousand, Chief, sir!”
He gave a nod, and so it was on all of their runs. He challenged them not only to shape their bodies, but their minds as well, for it was a tool just as all of the equipment they wore and used.
---
Station One had been completed for a week now as Rescue trotted out the last of the run, watching some break off here and there to shower and return to start their days. Others sat down and talked, while foals like Pip and Scoots headed inside. With it being summer and all of the foals out, he had given the two orphans a job in the station. They spent four hours a day sweeping, cleaning, helping out, and in turn, they earned twenty bits a week. On top of that, he had worked with Miss Cheerilee for them to receive credit on their grade cards over the summer.
Pip swept the floors, his small body harder now. The workouts over the months were beginning to show, and while he was smaller than almost all the other foals still, he could hold his own, even winning quite a few of the pull-offs they held once a week. Scootaloo had come into her own, too, discovering her speed on her scooter gave her an edge when running errands or delivering mail for the Chief.
Rescue watched them go about their day, and wondered what the future for them might bring.
---
Two nights later, that question was answered, but not in a way anypony would ever wish it to be. Rescue stood looking down at the little paint lying peacefully on a hospital bed. He could see the sterile covers over the burns on the colts left foreleg and hip. The colt's mane mostly gone, while he was held in a magical coma, for now.
Looking over at the rest of the room, Scootaloo had not left his side once. Despite the burns along her wing and neck, she would not leave. She threatened to fight anyone who tried to move her from the little colt's side. Diamond had been beside herself, finally sent home after staying almost all night without sleep.
Ailan lay quietly in one corner, Rumble in his leg grip, Thunderlane looking over and watching with a quiet pride in his eyes. There on the boy’s flank sat a new cutie mark, the red cross bore wings on each side of it. The wraps on the foal’s hooves showed he paid for that mark, and earned it in the crucible of fire and duty.
Damn it, Rescue thought. Foals were never meant to leap into fire like this!
But they did, and he was proud!
It then made him think back on that night…
---
The call had gone out at two in the morning in the form of a pony banging on the door hard and screaming for help. Rescue had rolled out of the bed and been out the door even as the mint-colored mare galloped with him, filling him in on what was going on. Ailan had been not too far behind, both could smell the smoke and see the glow from a structure fire in the north part of town. It had taken him precious minutes to get into gear, hook up to the rescue wagon and go. Ailan and Thunderlane had arrived just as he was pulling out, yelling to get the pump wagon going as soon as others showed up to pull. He had put hoof to ground and raced, heart pounding, quietly praying to Luna he was in time.
As he came around the corner, Rescue could see it was the orphanage, and it was fully involved. Throngs of pony-held sobbing foals, but four stood out clear in the glow. Laying on the ground was a paint colt, with an orange filly next to him. With an ease born of practice and a lifetime as a firepony, Rescue slung the heavy rescue wagon into a slide.
One rear leg kicked out and set the block break. The rescue wagon was still rocking on its springs as he unhooked and sprinted for the foals. Even as he ran up, he could see the burns and smell the acrid scent of burned fur. Rumble’s hooves appeared burned as well, while he held onto Scootaloo who had soot marks across her flank and neck.
A quick glance told him the pegasus had earned a cutie mark and likely didn’t know yet. Kneeling down next to Pip, he started to examine the foal. As he did, he spoke to the pink filly by his side who was almost hyperventilating.
“Tiara, focus!” Rescue barked making the filly blink and close her mouth. “Minutes count here, give me what happened.”
Even as he lifted an ear. He could hear the whining howl of the big fire wagon’s crank siren coming closer. He continued to listen as a now cool-and-collected Junior Chief gave him what information she had. Glancing again over his shoulder as he saw the massive wagon come around the corner, At the wheelpony yoke was Jim and John, who looked locked in on what they were doing. Big Mac and Carrot Cake were locked in and hitched to the power yoke, putting their all in. Last but far from least were the two in the lead yoke, Applejack and Hondo Flanks. Behind the wagon as it came to a stop others in gear or getting into gear ran into sight.
Rescue kept that deep, loud voice as he barked out commands. “Kevin, get the pump on line, now! Applejack, Hondo get me three lines laid. Team one and two, on the hoses. Team three, get up on that roof and cut us two vents!”
Even as he worked on the little colt in front of him, he kept focus on the others too. They had gotten Ailan and Thunderlane into harnesses and airlifted the three injured foals to Ponyville Mercy as rapidly as was safe.
Of course the orphanage was a total loss. He could see the frustration in the eyes of the brave mares and stallions who stepped up to take on a job that bore little thanks. Even on top of their day to day life and normal jobs. He spent time with the group in a huddle after, and praised them their speed, their efficiency, and gave a breakdown of what they could do next time.
Princess Twilight had stepped up, as had many citizens there that night. Not an orphan went cold or without a bed...save one.
----
That one breathed in and out slowly, unaware of the world around him. Rescue set his hoof gently on the colts hip, on the mark it bore now. A bright golden shield much like his own, marked with a crescent moon of fire. He lifted his ears as Doctor Horses spoke softly as he looked at a chart.
“We will keep him in a coma for another few days and let his body heal so he won’t feel pain. He is going to make a recovery.. Bbut there is little we can do about the scars along his leg.”
Rescue gave a soft sigh and nodded his head.
“Better than ones bore on the inside, Doc.”
He grew silent, and just watched the little colt sleep.