New Home

by Whiskeylullaby


Rescued

        Dan was the last to be rescued from the ship. It had taken hours to extract the survivors, and would likely take days to collect the fallen. Bodies lay in tidy rows on the trampled, torn earth near the ship, and more were already being carried or dragged towards the area... far too many of which were younger than 10. Of the 8,000 souls aboard, 3,839 remained alive. The amount of severed or amputated limbs on the ground outside the surgical tent told a chilling tale. Sheets were becoming rare, and several fights broke out over who would get one, but most were broken up by the remaining ship security and guards.  
 The Princesses looked upon the scene with lumps in their throats. The cries of anguish and loss were the worst. Celestia and Luna hadn’t heard such cries in a thousand years, and each despairing wail tore at even their experienced hearts.
At some point during the rescue, Shining Armor and Cadence had arrived with a contingent of their own guards and medics. Cadence, being a new mother, was hit hard by the sight of parents mourning their young, and was doing all she could to ease their pain. Unlike her elder aunts, she allowed her tears to flow freely.
The Elements sat tiredly as they watched the scrambling medics, doctors, and guards. They took comfort in their friends proximity, silently watching. Fluttershy was inconsolable, And Pinkie was uncharacteristically quiet. Celestia landed near them, her face worn from the events of the day.

        “Twilight. You and the others can do no more for these people. Go home. Rest. We’ll be very busy come the morning.” She moved stiffly, and her voice was hoarse from barking orders most of the day. Luna Looked little better, large bags visible under her eyes even from a distance.

        Twilight merely nodded tiredly before looking at Applejack.

        “Could we stay at the farm tonight? It’s closest,” she asked. The farm pony nodded and turned to the other mares.

        “C’mon y’all. We’ve got nothin’ more we can do here. Let the Princesses and the others handle it.” Applejack nodded her head towards the weeping pegasus. Rainbow Dash draped a wing over Fluttershy as she shakily stood up, hiccupping and sobbing still. Pinkie leaned against her, and they started a slow, shuffling walk towards the farmhouse. Applejack and Rarity sighed as they followed their friends.

        “Are you coming, darling?” Rarity asked, looking at Twilight, who had hesitated.

        “Uhm...In a minute. I just want to check on Captain Farley before we go. He was a big help in leading everyone around the ship,” Twilight answered, looking over towards the injured human. His head and chest were bandaged tightly, and his legs were in hardening plaster casts. Another human stood over him, in a bloodied and slightly scorched labcoat. As Twilight approached, she caught the tail end of the conversation

        “I do not blame you for her death Dan. You have been a good friend of our family for years, and she knew your skill in piloting and navigation. If she hadn’t had faith in your ability, you would not have been chosen. Plus, I would have lost my daughter as well if not for you leading these kind aliens to her. We are all mourning Dan, but you don’t have to bear this weight alone.”

        “I know, Jean,but It feels like I’m responsible. Like there’s something I missed. So many people are gone, and I feel like it’s my fault,” Dan croaked, holding back tears as he looked over the reports on his datapad. Twilight stopped, and sat down, as the conversation continued, neither man noticing her.

“Danny… The slipspace drive ruptured during our jump. You had no control over that. So stop. I’ve got other patients to see. Get some rest, acting captain. We’ll need some leadership to get through this mess, and I need you to do that, for everyone's sake. You're the last officer we have.” Jean turned and walked away, revealing his deep brown face, greying hair, and bright, intelligent brown eyes.

“Princess… Sparkle, correct?” he asked, with a french accent. Twilight blushed at being discovered eavesdropping.

        “Ah, y-yes. Sorry. I didn’t mean t- didn’t want to interrupt,” she stammered, pawing the ground sheepishly.

        “No, I was just finishing with Danny. Please, go ahead,” the man assured her, walking away. Twilight  sighed and walked over to Daniel.

        “Princess Sparkle! Uhm, hello. Thank you for helping us. I wish we could’ve met under better circumstances.” Daniel forced a small smile onto his lips. He was pale, and drawn, but he looked much better than when they’d first pulled him from the wreckage.

        “It’s no problem. Call me Twilight. Are you going to be alright? I mean….So many of your people are…” Twilight choked on her words, the reality sinking in as her eyes watered. “I wish...if we had been here sooner...” She was stopped by the feeling of an arm draping itself over her shoulder.

“Look, Don’t blame yourself. We’re an alien species. We could’ve been hostile, or brought some crazy disease here. I’m not even gonna question how we can speak the same language right now.  It’s because of your people that so many of mine survived, and I can’t ever begin to thank you for that. Go get some rest, I’ll try to do the same.” With that, Dan withdrew his arm and sighed, closing his eyes. Twilight stood there for a moment, a bit surprised, but nodded.

“Thanks, Captain Farley...I think I needed that. Goodnight”

“Good night princess,” Dan yawned, his injuries and exhaustion already tugging at his consciousness. Within moments, he was asleep.

Twilight looked up at the stars as she walked away. The future was uncertain, and many worries nagged at her mind, but for the first time in the last few hours, she felt a glimmer of hope. Within Minutes, she’d arrived at the Apple’s farmhouse.  Applejack sat on the porch, her hat in her lap as she watched Twilight approach.

“C’mon Sugarcube, I got Apple Cider and some cold fritters in the kitchen. Then it’s off to bed.” Applejack stood and opened the door, allowing Twilight through.

“Thanks. Are you okay AJ?” Twilight looked deep into her friend’s eyes. AJ wasn’t one to cry very often, but Twilight could see the dampened fur around her eyes.

“Ah’ll be alright. Ah’ll probably have a few nightmares, but Princess Luna’ll help with that. I’m more worried about ‘Shy and Pinkie. This was pretty hard on them. Prolly best if we keep an eye on ‘em for awhile. For now, we’ve gotta get to bed. G’night Twi. See ya in the mornin’.” With those final words, Applejack stood and trotted towards the stairs to her room.

“Good night, AJ.” Twilight called after her, walking towards the guest room. The others were already asleep Twilight noticed as she walked past with care and settled onto a worn easy chair. She too, could no longer fight her exhaustion, and fell asleep.