The Coast Guard's helicopter crew on their mission to save lives at sea.
"The sea is merciless, respecter of none. It will swallow you whole, its icy grip dragging you beneath its churning waves, damning you and all you care about to a mindless, chaotic despair, and the singular need to survive.
When you scream to the heavens for a miracle, your lungs choking on the icy brine, it is their light that you will see. They are the guardian angels of the lost souls amongst the drift. They are the Coast Guard."
It was certainly a worthwhile ideal, but for Jason and his helicopter crew, living up to it was no easy challenge. With human technology and ponies' magic, their lives are constantly on the line for the sake of others, the weight of their credo, semper paratus, looming over them.
P.S. The story takes place approximately one hundred years after the Earth and Equestria made first contact.
The story inspired by "The Guardian" 2006 movie. I suggest you watch it.
And just for the records, I don't work in the Coast Guard, so if by chance there are some mistakes in the story don't hesitate to let me know.
I dedicate this story to all the Coast Guard members around the world.
The gloomy darkness of the night lay siege upon the area with its full might. Another lightning bolt slashed from the cloudy mass overhead, reaching all the way down to the churning ocean’s surface below. A helicopter surged boldly through the clouds as the beam from its searchlight highlighted every massive wave underneath. The steady thump of the spinning rotors could barely be heard through the hostile melody of the roaring water and the shriek of the wind, the huge downpour causing the helicopter to be whipped mercilessly through the air.
"San Diego base, this is Jayhawk-03. We are approaching the destination point," announced the Sikorsky Jayhawk MH-60T main pilot once he recognized an unusual oval object afloat in the distance thanks to his night vision set. Because of the SOS signal they had received while on routine patrol, the Jayhawk-03 team managed to be the first upon the scene. "We have the ship’s hull in our sights," he added once the searchlight finally flashed upon the main target of the expedition.
The ship, once known as Merry Celly, floated on the dark surface like a wounded whale, the waves pounding against its side. Furious Mother Nature had already capsized the vessel and was slowly, inch by inch, dragging it beneath the surface.
"Base replying, Jayhawk-03. Have you located any survivors?" queried the male voice on the radio.
"Not yet, commencing search now," replied the pilot as he began a slow cycle around the white hull, carefully scanning the area. It was one of those moments neither the pilots nor the Coast Guard were fond of. Quickly recovering the survivors, if any, was vastly preferred to spending any length of time searching for them, as neither humans nor ponies could survive in the present weather conditions for too long.
"Night Shade, how’s the situation?" the co-pilot asked suddenly over the radio just as something quickly flew right next to the helicopter. The dark, navy-blue, winged silhouette with a cropped teal mane, outfitted in an orange rescue suit, began to swoop around the crash site with extraordinary precision. His spread wings, carrying several water strings upon them, slashed through the air like sharp razors, his keen eyes protected by a pair of aviator glasses as they studied the area around the boat carefully, trying to discern any signs of life.
"Nothing so far, Jayhawk-03. I’m going down for a better view."
With an accuracy that spoke of years of experience, he began to descend while narrowing the search area around the crash site. His comrades could easily follow his movements thanks to the pair of search beams integrated into his helmet, along with a set of illuminated wing pads.
"Jayhawk-03, I’ve spotted something on the starboard side of the ship’s hull," reported the pegasus as he illuminated the darkened sector with his searchlight. "I’m moving in." He slowly reduced his altitude before he landed directly on the yacht’s keel.
"Permission to open the door?" asked a female voice from the helicopter’s passenger cabin, right behind the pilot’s cockpit.
"Permission granted, Baton Rouge."
The fully geared mare pushed the door aside, causing the cool salty air and the reverberation of the engine to fill the helicopter’s interior. The aircraft moved parallel to the capsized vessel, allowing the mare to carefully observe the crash site.
"Jayhawk-03, I've located two survivors," reported Night Shade, whose helmet lights were now focused on two bodies.
"Okay, I see them," Baton Rouge replied. As the helicopter finally finished assuming a suitable observation position, she spotted a small yellow inflatable life raft with two survivors donned in orange life jackets. Being stuck to the yacht’s board provided them with enough cover from the rough waves smashing into the other side.
***
Night Shade flew down and landed directly on the yellow life raft, the vessel already partly filled with water. One of the ponies, a middle-aged stallion whose white fur and charcoal mane was matted as he kept a hold onto the life raft’s edge, gazed at the Coast Guard with undisguised relief.
"I’m the Coast Guard’s rescue flyer. Please, remain calm!" Night Shade shouted loudly, trying to outmatch the stormy ocean.
"Oh, thank the sun!" cried the stallion while trying to approach him, but despite the ship’s cover, the inflatable raft still bounced roughly, forcing him to remain in place.
Night Shade’s attention shifted to the second survivor, who lay on the other end of the life raft. The burgundy-haired auburn unicorn mare was wrapped in a life jacket, even as she was slumped unconsciously next to him. The right side of her face was covered in blood.
"She hit her head when a large wave tilted the yacht!" shouted the stallion while Night Shade checked the mare’s carotid artery. "I barely managed to pull her out!"
Night Shade breathed easier once his hoof sensed the mare’s stable pulse. Knowing he was fighting against time, he quickly took out some bandages from the rescue bag placed under the side of his left wing. He swiftly patched up the mare’s wound with the medical gauze and a bandage net. There wasn’t much more he could do for her in the present circumstances. They both needed to be taken aboard the helicopter.
"Alright, I’m going to get you both to safety!" Night Shade rummaged through the bag once more and pulled out a coiled safety rope. It was too dangerous to remain around the sinking shipwreck, so the best option right now was to tow the life raft to the recovery point located over a dozen yards from here.
"NO, wait… m-my daughter!" the stallion shouted while shaking Night Shade’s leg. "She’s trapped inside! Please… help her!"
That threw a wrench in Night Shade’s plans. Why didn’t the stallion tell him sooner? His eyes quickly shifted from the panicked father to the visible part of the yacht’s hull. The ship looked like it could sink at any minute. The situation was quickly deteriorating.
"Anyone else besides your daughter?" he shouted, even as they were rocked dangerously, the spray from the ocean striking them like icy bullets.
"What? Um… Captain Roberts! He was supposed to bring our daughter to the evacuation point, but they never showed up. Two of the sailors got swept away by the wave; I don’t know if they’re still alive. There was also the chief mechanic, but… but he was so drunk a-and heavy, I … I just couldn’t hold him any longer!" The stallion’s voice was heavy with guilt.
Night Shade had heard enough. No matter how harsh it might sound to some, there was nothing he could do for the casualties. His job was based on rescuing those still alive. His first priority was to secure these two before being able to scout the area for the two missing sailors. As for the ones trapped inside, there was no way for him to enter the overthrown ship. His body’s physiology wasn’t meant for diving, but luckily he knew just the right person for the job. He quickly switched on the radio communicator that lay right below his neck.
"Jayhawk-03, we have one unconscious and injured mare, and one stallion who seems to be fine."
***
"Copy that. Any other survivors?" asked the main pilot while observing everything from above. For safety reasons, he kept the helicopter a safe distance from the crash site.
"Two sailors have gone missing. I’ll scout the area, but it seems that the captain and a filly might still be trapped inside the ship. I’ll require some assistance here."
Night Shade’s radio statement immediately invoked movement behind the pilot’s cockpit.
"Requesting permission to get wet, sir," said the human Coast Guard member, who already began to put on his fins and the diver’s mask. He was assisted by the flight mechanic, Baton Rouge, a crimson unicorn mare whose helmet covered most of her sunny yellow mane. With her help, he soon sat on the edge of the cabin’s threshold, just a few meters separating him from the icy waters below.
"Granted. You have eight minutes," replied the main pilot, who brought the helicopter to a height that would allow the swimmer to jump safely.
As the Coast Guard’s rescue swimmer nodded his understanding, ready to take the plunge, a sudden firm grip halted him. Turning, he noticed the stony gaze of his female colleague whose hoof was holding him down to the helicopter’s cold floor. Despite her looks, there was some serious horsepower under those muscles of hers.
"Just remember to come back in one piece, got it?" Baton Rouge's concerned voice belied her impassive exterior, making him smile. He didn’t say anything, just patted her hoof.
"Swimmer ready to engage!" announced the mare through the intercom as she stepped away from her colleague. A moment later, she watched him jump out right into the hellish conditions of the waters below. "Swimmer on the way!"
The swimmer’s body was submerged in the rough sea for a few seconds before he breached the surface. The thumbs up he sent assured Baton Rouge that he had made it in one piece. "Swimmer’s okay. Thirty degrees to port and astern, Sam!"
"Copy that," the main pilot responded, and in a matter of seconds, the helicopter changed its angle while keeping its present altitude.
The helicopter’s search light remained focused on the rescue swimmer. The muscles in his body flexed as he fought against the strong currents. Being physically and mentally prepared for this job, each breath brought him closer to the main goal of his struggles.
Once his hand touched the yellow raft, he noticed Night Shade already hovering right beside it. With a towing line between the ring on his waist buckle and the life raft’s handle, the pegasus flew closer to his human companion who was about to dive inside the ship.
"Jason, are you sure you want to do this?" Night Shade asked hesitantly. "She’s going down pretty fast!" He knew that risking their own lives was a part of their job, but that didn’t absolve them from worrying about each other.
"I’ll be fine. Just take them to safety and keep a look out!" replied Jason, sparing the ship a glance.
The pegasus seemed conflicted, but there was no time for idle arguments. They both knew why they were here, knew that it was up to them to determine what they would succeed at.
"Okay, listen, Captain Roberts went further inside searching for the filly. The last time they saw her, she was somewhere near the cabins on the lower deck. Chances are that they might be trapped together!"
"Thanks, Night Shade, leave the rest to me." Jason’s words didn’t seem to assuage his pegasus friend, but there was little he could do to stop him.
"Jason, just don’t push it, okay?" pleaded the worried pegasus as he began to tow the raft behind him back to the recovery point. "Jayhawk-03, the first two targets are on their way. Get ready, Baton Rouge!"
"Copy that. Bring them closer, Night Shade," Baton Rouge responded, observing everything from inside the helicopter.
"NO!" Suddenly, one of the rescued ponies jumped out of the life raft as soon as it lost contact with the ship's hull. Jason watched in shock as the castaway stallion dived into the stormy water and pinned himself back to the yacht.
"WHAT IN TARNATION!?" came Baton Rouge's aggrieved voice on the radio, causing Night Shade to stop in his tracks. It didn’t take him long to realize that he had lost a passenger.
In a few moments, Jason managed to close the small gap between him and the rebellious stallion. "Sir, you need to go! It’s not safe here!" The wave from the other side of the yacht smashed right against its hull, causing the water spray to fall on them.
"No… my daughter is still trapped inside," protested the stallion, knocking a hoof on the ship’s hull.
"First we have to get you and your wife to safety!"
"No!" shouted the stallion, struggling valiantly to push the rescuer away. "My… daughter. Please, she’s my only child!"
Jason could feel the situation slipping away from them. Thanks to the unreasonable actions of the distraught father, he had lost many valuable seconds. The more he wasted his time here, the less of it remained for the diving operation to succeed. The rebellious pony was risking his life and their mission by either drowning or dying from hypothermia. He needed to refocus.
"Night Shade!" Using the radio transmitter, he called out to the pegasus who was about to turn around to reclaim the troublesome stallion. "Take the mare to safety. I’ll look after him."
Night Shade didn’t question this decision and promptly resumed his former task. "Wilco, standby. I’ll make this quick."
While watching Night Shade pull away from the crash site, Jason kept wondering how to subdue the stallion. Although his training had prepared him for dealing with troublesome castaways, this was the first time that he had encountered someone who simply refused any assistance. Quite a new experience, and at the same time… a real pain in the ass.
"We’re ready, Baton Rouge." Hearing Night Shade’s rapid report forced Jason to turn all his attention towards the recovery point. Settling himself below the helicopter, his friend was forced to battle the overbearing winds and currents, just to keep the life raft in one place.
"Alright, stand back, I’m bringing her in now," Baton Rouge replied. "What in Tartarus happened there? Is he a lunatic?"
"Worse! A desperate father sacrificing himself for the sake of his own daughter."
Baton Rouge just snorted mockingly. "Wow, we have a hero on the loose. Better hide the mares and foals."
Soon, the unconscious mare’s body was bathed in a blue glow. The magic lifted her into mid-air while keeping her in a supine position. As her head was kept still, in just mere seconds her limp body was surrounded by a blue protective sphere. Completely unyielding to the strong winds, the magic construct soon begun to rise towards the helicopter.
Unicorn magic and pegasus wings—they were things Jason had marvelled at in the past. Many of his predecessors had only dreamed of what was now at the Coast Guard’s disposal. He could still remember when his profession had been completely dominated by his kind. It made him curse some of his high-ranking superiors’ short-sightedness for not perceiving any potential in mixed crews earlier.
However, as time had passed, thanks to stubborn ponies and their human allies, the intolerant attitude known as the ‘human-only wall’ had eventually crumbled. The first pony cadets had managed to prove their usefulness in the field quite quickly. Thus, the combined human and pony forces had marked a new era in the US Coast Guard. It filled Jason with pride knowing that he was a part of one such group. As a team, they didn’t hesitate in lending their talents to the higher cause.
Of course, despite how many times he had marvelled at Baton Rouge's levitation techniques, he knew there was no time to daydream, even as he held the struggling stallion. They needed to save everyone and get the hell out of here.
"Alright, first castaway recovered. Bring the next one, Night Shade," ordered Baton Rouge, just as the blue sphere disappeared inside the helicopter.
"Sir, please go aboard the life raft," Jason asked more firmly and grabbed the stubborn stallion’s shoulder. The stallion didn’t seem to hear. Seemingly exhausted from trying to remain in one place, he just kept resting his head on the yacht’s hull with his eyes closed. The situation seemed hopeless, but Jason already knew the pony’s weakness, so he might as well play that card.
"Fine, stay here, you idiot! The more you struggle with us, the less we can do for your daughter!"
Somehow, Jason’s outburst seemed to bring the pony back to his senses. His stare assured Jason that he had gained the reaction he wanted just in time for Night Shade to arrive. With a little help from Jason, the exhausted stallion was placed inside the life raft.
"Sir, promise me that you bring her back... promise me… please," he begged, his eyes overflowing with tears.
It didn’t escape Jason’s attention that the yacht’s hull had sunk a few inches since their arrival. The risk he was about to take was enormous. There was no guarantee that those trapped inside were still alive, and his partner wasn’t confident in that assessment.
"Sam, we’re bringing in the second one. I’m moving inside the boat."
"Just make it quick, we’ll need to refuel soon," hastened Sam. The unofficial Coast Guard's motto which stated that they need to go out, but don't need to come back always seemed to struck his nerve.
Sadly, all this struggling with the panicked survivor had made them lose valuable time. Damn it, if only there was a time spell at their disposal to back them up. The sad truth associated with his profession was that, even with all the magic and Pegasus aerial support, they were still restricted by time and human technology.
Jason looked again into the father’s desperate face and asked, "What’s her name?"
The stallion’s eyes, full of hope and desperation, jumped to Jason at his sudden question. "Lion Heart, she... she’s eight years old. Thank y—" he cried, but his words of gratitude were interrupted by another crash of waves on the other side of the hull. The falling water spray caused the stallion to cover his face on the edge of the life raft.
When he raised his head, he noticed the raft moving away from the yacht’s hull. However, he couldn’t locate the human rescue swimmer anywhere near them. All that remained were the huge waves, the glow from the helicopter’s search light... and Night Shade who was towing him in the aircraft’s direction.
***
Meanwhile, inside the helicopter, Baton Rouge was already taking care of the injured mare. After placing her on the medical stretcher located by the left wall, she covered her with a rescue blanket to prevent her body from further losing warmth. Thanks to her basic medical magic knowledge, she managed to stop the bleeding on the mare’s head and was about to finish scanning her vital functions.
‘So far so good,’ she thought, the mare’s ragged breathing almost drowned out by the shrieking winds.
"Rescue swimmer going in." Sam's report made her disrupt the health scan and leave the victim to take a peek outside. She noticed Night Shade and the life raft with only one person on it. Her thoughts whirling, she gazed at the crash site, only to see that Jason was already gone.
Just a glimpse at the yacht’s present condition was enough to be concerned. She bit her lower lip, knowing how perilous the situation was for her colleague. She knew that this was what they were trained for, being exposed to danger so that others might live, but still…
Despite graduating from the Academy and completing the training camp, during which she had absorbed everything her teachers had imparted like a sponge, she could never remain indifferent when her friends were putting their lives on the line.
"Baton Rouge, are you there?" Brought back to reality, she gazed down. Night Shade and his life raft were already in position below the helicopter. "We’re ready… like, anytime now."
"Shit," she cursed herself for the momentary lack of professionalism. This was no time to get lost in her thoughts. "Okay, just give me a second."
As her horn glowed again, the next castaway was surrounded by the magic sphere. This time, she did not have to worry about holding his body still. He instantly lost his balance and fell on his flank when the sphere began to levitate towards the helicopter.
‘Hmph, serves him right,’ she thought bitterly, knowing exactly who was to blame for this mess. Just as the sphere containing the stallion crossed the threshold of the helicopter’s cabin, the mare quickly broke the spell, causing him to be dropped on his flank with a thud.
"Ouch, watch it, lady!" he protested, though his words fell on deaf ears as the mare turned to Night Shade.
"Both survivors on board. Good job, Shade," she told her friend who had already unhooked the life raft, allowing the ocean to carry it away.
"Okay, guys, I’ll scout the area for the missing sailors. Keep me posted," he replied and quickly resumed scanning the nearby waters.
In the meantime, Baton Rouge noticed that the rescued stallion approached her position just to have a look at the crash site. Before he managed to get a good view, he quickly got grabbed by the irate mare and pushed right back beside his wife’s stretcher. "H-Hey… lady, do you know who I am?"
"A dead colt if you don’t shut up! Stay right here, and if you move just an inch, I’ll beat the living shit out of you, GOT THAT?" Her reaction rendered both him and the two pilots speechless as they gazed at her with their mouths fully agape.
After covering the shocked stallion with a rescue blanket, Baton Rouge returned to her post. Perhaps she overreacted a little. But thanks to his stubbornness and irrational behavior, her friend was now short on time. She desperately wanted to do something, anything, just to aid Jason in his struggles.
After mulling over the situation in her mind for a few moments, she came across an idea. The problem was that it was rather a long shot. Her magical capabilities weren’t exactly on the alicorn sisters’ level, but if she used her remaining magic reserves with caution, Jason’s chances might just be higher.
She quickly made radio contact with the helicopter’s main pilot. "Sam, can you bring us closer to the wreck?"
Both pilots turned their heads right back at her. "What for?"
The mare gazed at the sinking vessel once more before she finally gave the answer. "I’ll buy him some time."
Darkness dominated every corner of the abandoned yacht. The pervading silence was only interrupted by the splashes of water drops and the groaning of wood. The water was mercilessly claiming every nook and cranny of the room, foreshadowing the inevitable end.
A sudden bright point appeared on the water’s dark surface. Soon it expanded, pushing the gloom away. One energetic splash later, the source of the light surfaced and the sound of violent inhalation soon followed.
Not wasting any time, the swimmer removed his mask and began to carefully observe his environment. His ears, clogged with water, soon registered the ominous sounds of the dying vessel. As the flashlight carried its illumination around the room, it gave the one holding it the morbid image of his surroundings.
The swirling sludge around him carried the shredded pieces of the furniture that had been ripped from the wooden floor, which now served as the ceiling. The size and the room assured Jason that he had resurfaced in the ship’s main saloon, which was usually a yacht’s largest compartment. What struck him was the fact that this room should have been already underwater, or at least that was what he had deduced from the yacht’s hull back on the surface. The boundary between him and the ceiling was decreasing with every passing second.
"Jayhawk-03, this is Jason. I made it inside. No sign of the victims," he reported on the radio. While moving forward he repeatedly pushed aside the debris from his path.
"Roger that." Sam’s voice was somewhat distorted, but still transparent enough. "Our little friend, Baton Rouge, is building up quite a headache right now. Judging by her expression and our fuel reserves, you don’t have much time, so get to work."
"Is she okay?" Jason asked, wondering what Sam was implying.
"Try holding this thousand tons yacht for once and you’ll know for yourself, you jackass!" came Baton Rouge's exasperated yell over the radio.
‘Oh, so that’s what he meant... wait, she’s doing what!?’ The distraction caused him to stumble over some smashed underwater parts of furniture.
The pieces started to fit. Who would have thought that Baton Rouge had such a neat magical trick up her sleeve? Of course, he doubted that she could stop the ship from sinking, but it certainly gave him and the ones trapped inside a chance to survive.
"Um… thanks, Rouge. You just hang in there; I’ll let you guys know when I have something. Over and out."
Besides the helicopter’s fuel issues, he now had Baton Rouge's growing headache that she was probably going to make him regret later.
"ANYBODY HERE?" he shouted, hoping for a response. Beyond the mournful creaking of the yacht, there was nothing.
Not feeling discouraged, he proceeded further ahead as his eyes followed the flashlight’s beam to every corner of the room. This yacht was huge, and although he didn’t know how many cabins remained, there was simply no chance for a full reconnaissance. At least not if he was planning to get out of here alive.
From what the stallion had told him, aside from his daughter, he needed to look out for the yacht’s captain. He stumbled upon the yacht’s bridge. The room, aside from being filled with water, happened to be completely empty, which he considered as a good sign.
"LION HEART? CAPTAIN ROBERTS?" he shouted. Nothing. At that point, he cursed himself for not asking the stallion about his daughter’s mane and fur colour. Such information certainly would come in handy.
Jason could feel the water level constantly closing the distance to the wooden floor above him. At this speed, the room was going to entirely disappear within two minutes.
As he finally got to other end of the room, he found himself before a dark slipway. Its surface was decorated with small frosted glass lamps which went all the way up to a corridor. On both sides of the slipway, he could see the railing still attached. There was a faint flickering light coming from the top which he guessed was the energy supply from an emergency generator.
"Lion Heart! Captain Roberts!"
Suddenly, the yacht tilted as the water level moved slightly to the back side of the room. It was the first sign that Baton Rouge's levitation grip was slowly losing the outmatched battle she had thrown herself in.
He heard a shuffling sound at odds with the environment he was grappling with. His head turned just in time to spot a shadowy object sliding down through the slipway, right in his direction. With his body mostly immersed, Jason only managed to glide backwards before the object fell right where he had stood a moment ago.
After moving closer, he reached out his hand and turned the object around. He immediately noticed something that made him clench his jaw. Shrouded by a mess of black hair, he gazed into a pair of lifeless pupils that seemed to stare into his very soul. The blood that oozed from the deep wound on the human's head slowly coloured the water around them in red.
"Shit," Jason cursed loudly after recognizing the familiar black naval sweater with four gold insignia epaulettes on the right shoulder.
"Jayhawk-03, I found Captain Roberts..." He paused for a moment. It seemed that the captain had maintained the age-old tradition to go down with his ship. "…He's dead."
"Roger that. Any other survivors?" The question came rather quickly, its professional tone leaving little hint of any emotions. They did not have that luxury. What was now required was to fight for the ones they could save and leave the rest to the sea.
"Not yet, but there’s still one more deck left. I’m moving there now," Jason announced as he went pass the captain's lifeless body and found himself once more near the railing. He took off his flippers and attached them to his suit's belt.
He knew the risk he was about to take quite well. In this job it usually doesn't take much to go from being a rescuer to becoming a victim. Sometimes the rescue swimmer needs to decide who gets to live and who gets left behind. Right now his body was urging him to simply throw in the towel. It would be so simple to just turn around now and guarantee his safety. But Jason promised that pony that he’d bring his daughter back. Wouldn’t want to be called a liar, now would he?
Jason jumped and grabbed the railing on the side of the stairway, pulling himself up until he could stand on both feet. The ship didn’t seem like giving him any slack, and the rough ocean waves kept shaking the vessel, forcing him to spend precious seconds carefully monitoring his steps lest he fall.
"Alright, I’m halfway to the top. How’s Baton Rouge doing?"
"Not so good… thanks!" Baton’s voice was still furious, though it now contained layers of exhaustion threaded through it.
"You heard the lady, Jason," Sam said. "That extra bonus she gave you is slowly running out. The yacht will go down despite her efforts. Judging by her state, you have five-" he paused when Baton Rouge’s growling scream filled the helicopter’s interior, "-four minutes, so move it."
"Copy that; over and out."
A sudden slip made him lose his grip on the wooden railing, but despite the ominous quaking surrounding him, he persevered until he finally reached the floor to the upper deck. Panting slightly, he took his time to look down, where he noticed the lower level being completely flooded and the dark water’s surface slowly moving upwards in his direction. What instantly caught his attention was the thick pool of the captain’s blood, which was flowing down from this level to the yacht’s saloon. It seemed the poor bastard had only managed to go this far. From here on, Jason needed to start his search anew.
The long and narrow corridor before him was barely visible. The only source of light came from a single working ceiling lamp that was placed on the floor. The creaking sounds of the wooden walls reminded him that there was a flood hiding behind the thin façade, ready to devour him if he lingered.
To maintain his balance in this constantly shifting environment, Jason placed his arms against the corridor’s walls. The crunching sounds under his shoes caused him to gaze at the floor full of broken glass decorations. Among them, there was a large picture frame that piqued his interest. He instantly recognized a pair of well-dressed ponies that smiled back at him—the very same couple they had rescued minutes ago. Between them sat a rather unhappy alabaster filly who seemed slightly younger than the stallion had described. She had her short maroon mane tied in a pink ribbon and wore a yellow dress while she stuck her tongue right towards the camera.
'Cute,' Jason thought sardonically. At least he knew now what she looked like.
He spotted a pair of doors on each side of the corridor, with an additional one at the further end. There was also a vertical stairway that presumably led up into the engine room and down into the navigational bridge, or at least that was his guess from prior experience. There simply wasn’t enough time to search the whole yacht.
"Lion Heart!" Jason shouted, hoping to hear the filly’s voice. If she was alive, she should have given him some sign of her presence. He strained all his senses as hard as he could. "Come on, little one, help me out here." He could feel his anxiety rising. She could be anywhere, trapped, or even unconscious. He needed to speed up his search.
He tried to push the first door on the corridor’s left, which only moved an inch. Something was blocking him on the other end. He charged at the door a few times just to make the crack large enough to look inside. Sadly, it was a wasted effort. He called out the filly’s name and then listened intently for any answer. With no response, he quickly began to move on to the next one.
Jason suddenly froze in the middle of the hallway. At first he wasn’t sure. Perhaps his mind, desperate for answers, had already begun to play tricks on him. Through the ominous creaking and the constant dripping... he actually heard something.
There was a shout. It was faint and barely noticeable, but no doubt it was real. It seemed to come from… somewhere ahead of him. Jason sprinted forward, renewed hope granting him an extra spring in his step. The shouting grew louder with every inch he crossed. In just a few seconds, Jason closed the gap that separated him from the door. She was definitely inside there. He spotted the inlaid plate to the side of the door that said ‘Owner’ and barged in.
The darkness inside gave way to the flashlight, allowing him to witness another devastating picture. With the yacht being overturned, the room’s ceiling, as within the saloon, was cluttered with the remains of wooden drawers, couches, and lockers. Their bases were still firmly attached to the floor. In one of the corners, he noticed a gaping hole. Something substantially heavy must have been ripped out.
On the top of the huge furniture pile right in the cabin’s centre layed… a four-foot-tall iron safe. The question was who, in his or her right mind, would take something like that aboard a luxury yacht? A rich lunatic, who else?
From among this pile of debris came a sudden sob. This time it was much more audible. Between several broken tables and chairs, Jason noticed a navy blue and white tablecloth, with something shifting underneath it.
Jason quickly pushed aside all the loose junk that he could and sat himself right before the quivering tablecloth before he pulled it away. With a wave of relief flooding his body, he pushed the button on his radio transmitter.
"Jayhawk-03, I found her," he announced, hearing the triumph in his own voice. "She’s alive."
"Well it’s about time," replied Sam.
All Jason’s attention now focused on the little soul in front of him. A pair of small blue eyes kept staring at him from under the short burgundy mane, full of tears and hope. The filly’s lower body was hidden under the junk pile, which was pinning her down to the ground. The only thing that kept her from becoming a bloody pulp was the remains of a table acting as a wedge that kept the rest of the debris at bay. Given the situation, he would call her lucky.
"I'm the Coast Guard rescue swimmer. I’ll get you out of here. Are you hurt?"
"I-" Lion Heart began to struggle anew. "-I’m stuck."
From the sounds coming from outside the cabin, the water had already begun to flood the corridor. In addition, the floor beneath them began to slightly tilt as the ship’s aft was flooded. If they didn’t escape soon, everything in the cabin’s interior would begin to slide and crash against the walls, themselves included.
"Do you feel any pain?" he asked. Fighting the ship's constant movements, he began tossing aside all the loose parts from the pile that covered the filly.
"N-No," she replied briefly which was a good sign. Those who were physically able tended to be more cooperative as long as their psyche didn’t go down the drain. She seemed to be taking it a lot better than most he had come across so far. "My parents…?"
"They’re safely waiting outside. Give me a moment and—"
They both froze at the ominous creaking sound that pervaded the room. The floor shook and tilted once more, causing the cabin’s door to slam shot. At the same time, the iron safe began to slide down right towards them.
"Oh SHIT!" In one fluid moment, he sprinted forward. He quickly pushed his right side against the iron furniture, trying his best to stop it from crushing Lion Heart’s head.
Lion Heart merely stared at him, her eyes wide with fear. Besides Jason’s heavy panting came some hard swearing that no filly her age should hear.
"Shiiit… okay, Lion Heart..." Jason sucked in some air desperately. "Listen carefully, okay? When I give you the signal… you’re gonna jump forward as hard as you can. Got it?"
Despite the fact that her body started to tremble at the near escape, along with the reality she had found herself in, his voice seemed to reach her. She gave him a hesitant nod, which would have to suffice.
"Okay, on three. One... two... three!"
It didn’t take Jason long to realize how heavy the unnecessary piece of furniture really was. Putting his entire back into it, the safe didn’t even budge, mostly because the debris was blocking the way. The worst part was that his feet kept sliding backwards, forcing him to suppress yet another swear.
Taking a second to see how the filly was doing, he noticed her desperate attempt to break herself free, her hooves scratching the floor like a raging cat. As her effort remained unrewarded, she looked at him with a mixture of disappointment and despair.
"Again, get ready," he gasped through his clenched teeth. "One... two... THREE!"
Jason’s muscles flexed to their limits, the ambitious thrust causing the shoulder he leaned against the safe to burn in white-hot agony. With his eyes shut, he couldn’t tell if his efforts had gained any reward. All he could hear besides the ship’s dying convulsions and his erratic breath were Lion Heart’s desperate attempts for liberation.
He then heard Lion Heart’s sudden squeal as her lower body found a small pocket of wriggle room. Her tiny body blasted forward, making her land on her back with a thud. After asking her to quickly move away, Jason shifted his body to the side, allowing the iron safe to hit the floor. Panting deeply, he helped Lion Heart to get on her hooves. "Okay, kiddo, let's get out of here." He walked towards the cabin’s exit.
"No, wait! Mister Twinkles?"
Jason halted. "What?"
"Mister Twinkles, my pet. He’s trapped inside," she pleaded and started to dig around in the same pile of debris that had held her captive.
"Your pet, huh?" Jason unwillingly joined the search, even as his ears told him that their time was up.
With the iron safe out of the way, dismantling the pile went much easier. Thanks to her small size, Lion Heart vigorously wiggled back into the same opening until Jason could only see her tail and hind legs.
"I found him!" Lion Heart’s heavily suppressed shout came from inside.
Backing up slowly, she finally emerged with a small black and white backpack stuffed in her muzzle. Confused, Jason watched her unzip the bag to reveal its contents. He noticed a fluffy white fabric being taken out and hugged tightly. Mister Twinkles, a lifelike plush seal pup, had been reunited with his owner once more.
Jason strove to keep his temper at bay as anger surged in his veins. They had wasted so much time. And for what?
"A toy?" he asked as calmly as he could.
"My best friend," Lion Heart replied quietly as she placed Mister Twinkles back inside her backpack. "My mamma gave him to me."
Rocked by what was likely the impact of another wave, Jason lost his balance and fell back on the iron safe. The pair quickly ran back to the door, Jason flinging it open and flashing his light into the quaking corridor. The last working lamp had already died out. On the end of the dark tunnel, he noticed the water level had already reached halfway up. It seemed that diving was the only option left. Without wasting any time, he rapidly pushed his flippers back on.
In the meantime, Lion Heart watched in horror at the only possible escape route. The swirling mass of water made her tremble as she began to back away, her rump soon pressing against Jason’s legs. As their eyes met, it was obvious what message lay within. She did not like this, not one bit.
"It’ll be fine, trust me," Jason comforted her as best he possibly could. He grabbed the filly gently around her waist and picked her up to chest level. Sadly, Lion Heart seemed to have other plans. With her cooperativeness on strike, she kicked all her legs vigorously while trying to escape from Jason’s grasp.
Before he got to say anything to the troublesome filly, he felt the ship shifting once more. Now the floor underneath them was constantly becoming steeper, and a rumble sounded from behind them. A quick peek revealed the entirety of the cabin’s interior sliding down towards them. The deadly iron safe, which they both had struggled so hard with, was rushing now at them like a carnivorous beast.
His grip on the filly’s chest tightening, and with his left hand on the cabin’s door handle, he jumped forward and slammed the door shut. The heavy bang from the other side echoed in the corridor. The shock from the impact vibrated through Jason’s left arm, almost making him release the handle. What felt like thousands of heated needles pierced his skull, and Lion Heart’s panicked screams only made it worse.
Jason’s squeezed his eyes open to survey the new situation they were in. The flashlight on his chest swayed along with him while illuminating the dark walls. The churning of the water down below sounded deadly enough even without Lion Heart’s panicked yelling and her wriggling once she had gotten a glimpse as well. His arm burned as he struggled to keep a hold on her. What more could he ask for?
"Jason? JASON! Can you hear me!?" Sam’s shouting into his ear was the icing on the cake when it came to adding to his pain. Trying to keep a hold on the filly, he moved his right arm higher enough to reach the radio.
"Yeah, Sam… I can hear you. Please don’t shout… you’re scaring the filly."
"Jesus Christ, Jason." The relief in his voice was palpable. "What the hell are you still doing out there?"
"Oh nothing, we’re just … hanging around." Judging by the corridor, the yacht was now slowly sinking in a vertical position, though surprisingly slower than it should. Guess Baton Rouge's magic was still in the game. God, he loved that mare. "Just keep the rotors running. We’ll be right there."
No reply came. Sam, contrary to what he was witnessing outside, must have held a sliver of belief in Jason’s words. As for Jason and Lion Heart, this had become the moment of truth. They had to leave the ship now or go down with it.
As Lion Heart’s screaming subsided to sobbing, Jason could tell that she had reached her breaking point. It didn’t surprise him—she was just a kid after all. Sadly, there was no time for a comforting speech. It was just the two of them, and nobody was coming to save them. If they were to ever see the next morning’s sunlight ... they would have to work together.
"Lion Heart... Lion Heart, Look at me!" Jason raised his voice, making her ears perk in response. Sluggishly, she raised her head enough so their eyes met. Her eyes were rimmed red as tears leaked out.
"We'll get out of here," he assured her as convincingly as he could. "I'll take you to your parents, but you have to help me… okay?"
He kept his eye contact with her, willing for her to trust him. Hesitantly, she nodded, wiping her tears away with a hoof. It was just in time as well, as the water had already devoured Jason’s legs all way up to his knees. They were about to go underwater any second now.
"Now listen, we’re going for a little swim. When I give you the signal, you’ll take as much air as possible, got it?" Although she still did not look thrilled at the prospect, she did not try to escape again, instead merely nodding. "I’ll be with you all the time, so just hold on tight and keep your breath as long as you can."
Their eye contact broke the moment Lion Heart felt the cold water on her hind legs, the water level up to Jason’s waist. He lifted her as high as he could so that her head was now almost even with his. His arm trembled with exhaustion, but he continued to hold out until they were prepared.
"Okay, now do what I do. Ready?"
She nodded, and together they performed a series of two short inhales. With the third one, they inhaled deeply, filling their lungs to capacity. The cold water closed in above their heads shortly after, causing the pair and the entire corridor to disappear into the dark abyss.
Water gave and water took. Once again, her devastating powers had brought all that lay within her grasp to their knees. Life and death began another contest for domination, with time being the final judge in this eternal dispute. At that point, prayer was the last resort.
The helicopter’s crew helplessly watched the upright section of the yacht’s forecastle that was still afloat amidst the churning ocean. Each moment that passed resulted in inches of the vessel sinking into the shadowed abyss, its destiny to never return to shore. The magical blue gleam that emanated around the bow’s surface slowly faded away, the strength of its caster slowly ebbing.
Despite her futile efforts, Baton Rouge continued to push forward in trying to give her friend time to escape. However, the intensified fatigue and growing headache had taken its toll on her reserves, causing her pulse to beat rapidly and her breathing to become increasingly erratic.
Her efforts were constantly monitored by Joe the co-pilot and Night Shade. After receiving the radio message that the second helicopter team was in the middle of recovering the two missing sailors further north of Jayhawk-03’s present location, the pegasus had returned to resume his previous task.
Flying around the crash site, he always maintained watch over the helicopter’s rear cabin. Even from afar, he could see Baton Rouge’s fatigued movements and the flickering of her horn that betrayed her critical state.
"Rouge, I think that’s enough." Baton Rouge didn't pay any attention to Night Shade's radio message, her mind affixed to her task. "Rouge, I mean it. Stop this at once. You’re hurting yourself!" he commanded firmly, though it elicited the opposite reaction as intended.
"SHUT UP! He… He’s still trapped inside, so just… ugh… BUCK OFF!" Baton Rouge shouted desperately and clenched her teeth in irritation. That flare of anger brought forth an extra ounce of magic she didn’t even knew she had.
For a moment, it seemed that the yacht’s sinking had subsided. For Baton Rouge, it all suddenly became a trivial matter. Her view of the yacht’s bow was slowly starting to fade away as the sounds around her became a one big hum.
Blood began to fill her nose and flowed down her muzzle. Her legs gave out and her head fell forward, the rest of her body buckling over. It was over. She had done her best, so there was no sense to fight it anymore. All the tension and fear somehow melted away. She didn’t understand why, but it didn’t matter anymore. As a cool breeze whipped over her entire body, Baton Rouge just felt a need to surrender to the bliss. It… was simply… lovely.
"It’s okay, I’ve got her," came a familiar voice as her eyes fluttered open, allowing her to see Night Shade’s muzzle giving a sigh of relief. She could feel his strong hooves keeping her body from falling overboard as he energetically flapped his wings.
"You know, Rouge, sometimes I wonder if you and Jason are related." Of course, what Night Shade meant was stubborn and dumb, but he decided to spare her the details. Despite her exhaustion, Baton Rouge gave a weak albeit sincere smile to her hunky knight in a shining helmet.
Furiously flapping his wings, Night Shade pushed the mare back inside. A mere glance at the crash site allowed him to witness the moment the yacht’s bow finally disappeared under the ocean’s waves. Unfortunately, he didn’t notice Jason anywhere near the crash site.
Baton Rouge's senses slowly returned to her. Lying down on the cold floor of the rear cabin, she noticed Night Shade holding her in a tight grip. Thankfully, her temporary paralysis was starting to fade away, allowing her to settle herself against the port side wall behind her.
"I’m fine." She waved away his hooves while sipping some water from the bottle he hoofed her. "Just go, I’ll be with you in a minute."
Night Shade knew quite well that Baton Rouge never cared for anyone’s pity, and she knew that he knew that. Therefore, she felt justified in shooting him an irritated glare when, despite her request, he decided to keep her company.
"What? I said I’m fine!" She raised her voice, drawing everyone’s attention. Night Shade placed his hoof around her neck and pulled her face closer to his.
"I know, and I’m proud of you. Just don’t overstrain yourself, Rouge. Remember that you need to look out for both of you." His steady voice and piercing gaze caused her irritation to slowly melt away, making her now more vulnerable and powerless than she wanted. But he was right—there was one more life she needed to look after. "Jason’s on his way, I can feel it. Our kid will need a godfather after all, right?"
Baton Rouge nodded while trying to suppress a sob. She was so worn out and furious that she just wanted to cry. Her body shook like mad, but she managed to keep most of her emotions at bay. She was known as one of the toughest mares in the Coast Guard's fleet. Why spoil the image now?
Night Shade broke the embrace and turned to the helicopter’s exit. With his wings spread open, he jumped back into action. Left alone, Baton Rouge suddenly started to shake nervously even as she strove to regain her composure. The tremendous power loss somehow felt like nothing to what Night Shade had forced her to remember. Unlike him, she wasn’t very optimistic about all this parenthood stuff. Until now, her job had helped her keep her mind from it. And look at her now. Pathetic and weak was all she could think of herself while whipping the blood of her muzzle.
"Jason? Jason, are you there?" Sam shouted. The minutes had stretched by since the last radio transmission from him. The situation was getting critical. "Night Shade, do you see them?"
"Negative, Sam. I’ll make a few extra rounds just to be sure."
Despite her condition, Baton Rouge managed to hear what they were saying. "So he hasn’t come out yet," she whispered nervously and slowly raised herself to her hooves. Her weakened legs kept protesting as she moved closer to the cabin’s edge until she could see the crash site. Everything was still blurry, and her body howled in protest, urging her to take a break. She knew that she deserved it. However, the anger and fear both helped her overcome the urge. "Damn you, Jason, where the heck are you?"
She gasped as a surge of agony coursed through her head. She tightened her grip on the helicopter cabin's edge. Unbidden, her mind brought forth the image of the infamous memory board dedicated to the lifeguards lost or killed in action. Just thinking of Night Shade’s or Jason’s picture on it made her jaw clench.
"Damn it, we can’t wait any longer. Night Shade, do you see them?" Even Sam’s anxiety was beginning to seep through.
Baton Rouge knew exactly the burden Sam was going through right now. It was his decision whether they left now or remained and risked falling into the ocean. None of the crew members wanted to leave without Jason, but the main principle remained the same: save as many as you can, including yourselves. If they don't pull back now, they might never return safely to the base.
Baton Rouge nervously turned her head and noticed the stare of one of the rescued passengers. The stallion was looking directly at her as he sat beside his unconscious wife. He was shaking, though more from a concern for his loved ones than for himself. She could recognize that stare anywhere. His eyes were full of hope, but she could also sense hysteria lurking right behind the corner, ready to explode the moment it got the right signal.
Being reminded recently of her future role as a parent made her gain more sympathy and understanding for the pony. Afraid what might happen if the stallion read the worst from her tired and worried face, Baton Rouge quickly averted her eyes and gazed back into the rough ocean.
‘Come on, you son of a bitch, don’t you dare leave me like this. Get your sorry ass here, NOW!’ Her mind screamed so loudly that for a moment she wondered if her mouth hadn’t betrayed her true thoughts.
"Wait, I see something… on your fifth," Night Shade’s voice, containing a note of excitement, caused her slowly fading hopes to burst once more.
Everyone held their breaths. The truth was that it could be a part of the yacht’s equipment; a lifejacket or a lifebuoy. Whatever the mercilessly ocean had reluctantly returned, they were eager to accept, if only it would be a life that they had all vowed to save.
"Shit," Baton Rouge hissed in astonishment once Night Shade's search beam finally reached its goal.
"Um… pardon, ladies, mind giving us a lift to San Diego?" called an amused and very familiar voice accompanied by the constant coughing of a little filly.
"Rescue swimmer and the target at site," Night Shade reported while hovering over their heads.
Baton Rouge's heart began to hammer in her chest once she spotted Jason with the last passenger, waving at her. That son of a … He had done it again. She didn’t know whether she should hug him or give him a serious whooping once he got on board. They had been teamed together in many missions before, and she had witnessed many stupid actions on his part, but this time he had gone too far.
"Base, this is Jayhawk-03. We have visuals on the rescue swimmer and the last survivor," reported Joe while Sam began to shift the helicopter's position.
"Glad to hear it, Jayhawk-03. Head back to base once you complete recovery."
Baton Rouge immediately pressed the button on the nearby panel. She had no extra power to perform another levitation spell. Fortunately, one of the old proven technical inventions of the human mind hadn’t been put to rest yet. Using the small external winch right below the helicopter's rotors, she connected the child-size life belt to a hoist hook and began lowering it.
***
In the meantime, Jason, while being half-blinded by the helicopter’s search light, took his time to enjoy the view of his friends doing their work for a change. Compared to the yacht’s dying groans, the noise from the helicopter’s rotors seemed a quite pleasant change. Though the sharp pain in his left arm offset this small act of happiness, it also served as proof that he was still alive, and not just him. The one he had risked his own life for was now hugging him tightly with her head over his shoulder.
Coughing violently, Lion Heart fiercely sucked in the cool fresh air. Her wet mane, although short, managed to partly cover her face. At first, she could hardly make sense of her surroundings, and the dizziness in her head made her barely contain the urge to vomit. Nervously looking around, her gaze managed to reach Jason’s face. He kept smiling and didn’t lose his grip on her tiny body even for a second.
"Are you okay?" Jason’s words hardly reached her flooded ears, but she managed to lean herself enough so her eyes could see him smiling at her. She didn't understand why. Despite still being in danger, he didn't look like he was scared. What a weird guy. A simple nod was all she could give.
As Jason raised his head, she followed his gaze and noticed the helicopter’s dim silhouette and a pegasus hovering over their heads. "Wow, look who finally decided to show up!" Night Shade declared. "You always have to make an entrance, eh Jason?"
"It’s what I do best, Nighty. Good to know I still got it."
"Well thanks to you, we’ll be getting to base on fumes. Play that shit on us again and you’ll be swimming back on your own! Got that?"
Although Night Shade tried to sound serious, he couldn’t prevent a small chuckle from betraying his satisfaction. As soon as the winch hook touched the water, he picked it up and helped Lion Heart put the life belt on.
"I’m always up for a challenge," Jason replied cheerfully once he hooked himself up.
"All right, once you're out of the water, we’re heading back to base," reported Joe, the co-pilot. "Night Shade, keep an eye on them."
"Roger that."
"Both rescue swimmer and the survivor hooked up," reported Baton Rouge once she got the hoof signal from Night Shade. "Activating the hoist now."
"Hold on tight." Lion Heart barely comprehended Jason’s words before they both were ripped out from the rough ocean waters. The helicopter instantly began proceeding towards the base. Night Shade constantly flew around them, keeping an eye on the duo.
Meanwhile, Lion Heart continued to vigorously look around. The unpleasant buzzing in her ears started to rise. The gusty rain lashed her face mercilessly, forcing her to tilt her head down. The waves underneath them caused her head to spin in panic, her tiny body shivering from cold and fear.
"It's gonna be alright!" Jason's voice drew her attention towards him. Was he insane? How could this be alright? "I won’t let you go!"
His hands tightened around her body. For some reason, his words seemed to calm her, though she didn’t know why. Neither the wind nor the rain that whipped her hair, or even the ocean’s rough clamor didn’t matter anymore. She felt her anxiety melt away as she kept her eyes on her rescuer.
As soon as the winch stopped, Baton Rouge helped them get inside the helicopter’s cabin. "Rescue swimmer inside," reported Baton Rouge. "Welcome aboard Jayhawk-03, young lady," she added while helping Lion Heart get free from the life belt.
In the dim green light from the cockpit, Lion Heart instantly noticed her father. Without even taking a single step, she was immediately pulled by him into a tight embrace. A string of thankful prayers to the sun and moon goddesses flowed from his mouth.
In the meantime, Baton Rouge helped Jason free himself from the hook lift as Night Shade flew aboard the helicopter and closed the door behind him. In an instant, the sounds of the engine and the thunderous weather subsided.
"Base, this is Jayhawk-03. All targets have been recovered. We’re returning to base, but we’re running on fumes," reported Sam.
"Understood, Jayhawk-03. Emergency services are standing by. Can you reach the main point in present conditions?"
Sam carefully analyzed the parameters on his console. After so many hours wasted on flying, he could tell how much fuel the engines could consume in every kind of weather condition. The dissatisfied grimace he made revealed the rather unpleasant conclusion. "We might encounter some trouble later."
"Roger that. We’ll send a cutter towards your location for assistance. Keep us posted on your status while you’re underway."
"Understood."
Jason peeled off his diver’s mask. After settling himself on one of the cabin’s seats, he began to massage his aching left arm.
"You okay?" asked Night Shade, who had already tossed his helmet aside. "Want me to have a look at that?" While it stung like hell, it wasn’t anything that he couldn’t endure.
"Nah, I’ll be fine."
In the faded light in the cabin, he noticed Lion Heart had already been wrapped in a rescue blanket. Still trapped in her father’s embrace, she looked rather uncomfortable. She got her liberty thanks to Night Shade, who needed to separate them both for a quick medical check-up.
Meanwhile, Baton Rouge was pushing herself again with another spell near the unconscious mare’s stretcher. The declining light on her horn and drooping head betrayed her fatigue. After everything she had done, she still had some gas left. Where could you find people like that these days?
"There, that should do it," said Baton Rouge once her cursory medical scan had finally been completed. The mare’s vital signs seemed to be in order. She seemed to have suffered a fractured skull, but luckily there was no internal bleeding. She should make it until she got professional help at the hospital. Rouge stifled a yawn. Sadly, there weren’t any extra stretchers around. Given how exhausted she felt, the floor was a perfectly fine option.
Someone's hoof on her shoulder caused her head to make a lazy turn. Night Shade was right by her side. "Thanks, Rouge. I'll look after her. Go get some rest. Please."
Baton Rouge didn’t mind. Her job here was done anyway. Night Shade's medical knowledge matched her own, so she could entrust the patient to him without any reluctance. After sharing the medical results with Night Shade, she gave him some space and proceeded to the other end of the cabin where Jason was seated.
His head rose and froze the moment he saw Baton Rouge's face. Just one look at those bags under her eyes and sunken cheeks betrayed the enormous effort she had undertaken. She barely stood her ground, yet she could still force a smile on her muzzle.
Baton Rouge didn't say a single word to him. Instead, she just grabbed and pulled his left arm strongly enough to make him hiss in pain. Despite being magically drained, she pressed her horn to his sore limb and pushed herself for another scanning spell.
"Rouge, you don't need to—"
"I know, and I don't care," she replied bluntly.
It wasn’t the first time Jason had played tag with his own death. He always cared to put others people's lives first, which perhaps made him a fine coast guardsman. However, she could not help but feel that his constant thrill for excitement was the main reason behind it. Each time, his lack of common sense seemed to bring him further into dangerous territory. Someday his luck might run out. She just hoped that she would never live to see it.
Jason, on the other hand, was starting to feel rather awkward. He had expected Baton Rouge to begin her lecture the way she always did. Seeing her sitting silent and subdued didn't fit her at all. "Rouge?"
The mare didn't look at him and simply sighed. "Hmm?"
"Thanks for watching my back out there."
"Sometimes a mare has to do what a mare has to do. But you…" Baton Rouge paused to suppress another yawn, "…you owe me anyway." This would definitely be her last spell for the night.
"I’ll think of something. But man, lifting an entire yacht … just wow. My small respect for you has definitely gone up."
Baton Rouge confronted his cocky grin with her cold and firm stare, but didn’t say anything. The only response he got was a sudden jolt in his shoulder. "Oh, dear me, I’m such a klutz today," he heard Baton's Rouge say in her usual mocking tone.
Using the last remnants of her energy, Baton Rouge finally stated the diagnosis. "There’s no dislocation in your shoulder or any bone fractures, just some muscle strain. In other words, you’ll live." She took a breath of relief since it would be hard for her to work without this fool by her side. A few medical spells in the local hospital and he would be as good as new.
"Thanks, Rouge, where would I be without you?"
"Dear Celestia, if I had a bit every time I heard that," she retorted and passed him an ice bag. Jason opened the fastener on his jump suit and placed it inside on his shoulder.
Baton Rouge settled down on the seat right next to him. Just in time as well, since her body refused to cooperate anymore. In just a moment, she flopped on her side right on Jason’s legs. Maybe it wasn’t very professional on her part, but she was past the point of caring. The only thing she could think about right now was a shower, warm bed, and a sip of her favorite imported Equestrian cider. A wink at Night Shade made her smile devilishly once her naughty mind gave her something extra to think about.
Her stallion kept guard around the mare's stretcher the entire time. It was hard to imagine that this skilled flier, who had once even been offered a vacant position as the Wonderbolts Academy’s instructor, had decided to risk his life for others here on Earth. Normally she would call him a lunatic for giving up such a lucrative job for this. Unfortunately, of all the crew members gathered here, she was the last one to talk.
Although being ready to finally give in to her fatigue, Baton Rouge somehow couldn't abandon the strange feeling that someone was watching them. One good look around the cabin and she managed to notice a pair of blue eyes aiming her way. Or rather, at someone right behind her.
"Hey, Jay, guess what? It seems you got yourself a fan. Way to go." She sneered at his surprised expression. However, it didn’t take him long to realize what Baton Rouge was implying. Embraced in her father's hooves, Lion Heart kept her eyes on them both while hugging the wet Mister Twinkles. Jason smiled at the little filly, who instantly lowered her gaze in embarrassment and began scanning the floor around her.
As for Jason, he had to admit that this was by far the craziest rescue mission he had ever been on. Realizing how many lives were lost had subdued him, but if he had to do this again just to see that cute little face, alive and free of tears, he would in a heartbeat, especially with the team watching his back.
The sudden sound of snoring made him look down at his friend. That walking volcano had really outdone herself this time. Guess one couldn’t expect less from a former student of Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns. And boy was he glad that she didn’t end up in some magical department in Canterlot, otherwise who would be looking after his and Night Shade’s asses right now? He gently ruffled Baton Rouge’s mane, causing her body to fidget before she sighed.
The rest of the flight was spent in almost complete silence, only interrupted by the radio transmissions coming from the cockpit. It was hard to see anything due to the darkness outside and the massive wall of rain smashing against the windows. Occasionally, the helicopter experienced some turbulence, which was nothing new for Jason and his crew, but the co-pilot needed to assure the frightened passengers that it was natural in present weather conditions.
The only thing that made them all worried was the emergency fuel light that kept flashing. Now, everything was in Sam’s and Joe’s hands. Jason knew Sam was one of the most experienced pilots in the fleet, and despite Joe being the new addition to the team, they both made quite a competent pair to fly the Jayhawk-03, which Sam sometimes used refer to as ‘that stupid piece of junk’. However, despite the machine having her bad moods from time to time, they needed her to feel generous enough to bring them safely to the base.
As the time passed, both pilots' eyes constantly flew nervously between the fuel’s flashing crimson light and the barely visible line on the horizon. Closing in from south-east, the shore slowly kept unveiling its true shape. It was there that they noticed the lights of a vessel as it fought its way through the rough waves. No doubt it was the Coast Guard’s cutter the base had sent.
"Jayhawk-03, this is USCGC Stratton," came what they assumed was the ship commander’s voice on the radio. "We're here to provide you with some assistance."
The USCGC Stratton, the third Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard, was an impressive ship with four hundred feet in length, and rose one hundred and forty feet in the air. In the aft section of the vessel lay a flat rectangular landing area. The huge circle in the middle crossed with a line-up line, both outlined by in-deck lightning, marked the exact point for the helicopter to land.
Sam welcomed the distant landing spot with a look of reluctance. Frankly, he preferred risking a shore landing and killing the engines while in auto rotation than this. Unfortunately, there was no guarantee they would make it to the shore before the fuel ran out. He knew that landing aboard the constantly rocking vessel in windy conditions during night time would tax his abilities. Additionally, it had been some time since he had found himself in a similar situation, so he was rather rusty.
"Jayhawk-03 replying, our fuel reserves are almost depleted. Requesting permission for an emergency landing," said Sam as he prepared for the landing maneuver.
"Understood, Jayhawk-03. Permission granted. The flight deck is at your disposal."
As the Stratton steered herself into the wind, Sam began adjusting the helicopter's flight pattern. He set the machine right behind the ship and continued his approach. Unfortunately, the view in front of him was blurry due to the heavy rain which the wipers did little against.
While lowering the altitude until the helicopter's position was even with the level of the bridge, Sam placed the machine directly above the deck. Set directly against the gusty wind, the helicopter kept swaying while he battled to keep it in position. In the meantime, the flight deck underneath rocked roughly like a cradle, hindering the final landing maneuver.
Luckily, Sam and Joe weren't left alone with their struggles. From the very start, they gained the support from a fully geared human Landing Signal Officer who was standing on the flight deck. Together with the control officer placed in the Helicopter Control Station, they gave the proper verbal and light signals for the helicopter.
Working according to their signals, Sam received the signal when the spread hands that held the illuminated batons began to wave. With the ship's rocking partially subsiding for the time being, he began to carefully lower the helicopter. Meanwhile, the signaling officer kept his eyes on the chopper. Any unusual occurrence that could endanger the ship or the aircraft obligated him to communicate such hazards to the helicopter pilot.
Just when Sam began to breathe somewhat easier, the sudden rough swaying of the vessel forced the crew below to change the signal. The helicopter began to hover, but the strong frontal wind made it difficult to keep the helicopter in one spot. While trying to find the right moment for landing, the signals kept constantly changing, with Sam battling to follow them. Additionally, one of the two engines began to splutter and cough, pouring oil to the fire. It seemed that time was running out faster than Sam had planned it. Still, no matter how much fuel was left, this wasn't something that could be done hurriedly. A single mistake could result in a crash. They needed to take it carefully… and efficiently at the same time.
His co-pilot was constantly mumbling something quietly, probably begging for the gods' guidance. Sam, an avowed atheist, rolled his eyes. If one really wanted to count on someone, the best choice was usually yourself. He had never been wrong on that subject so far. The weather wasn't going to abate anytime soon, and there was no magic that would refill their fuel tanks.
At that moment, he received another signal, and Sam once again resumed descending. In the meantime, a painful groan rose in the back cabin. The wounded mare was slowly regaining consciousness. Everyone around noticed her wincing and her eyes glistening with painful tears.
"What? Where…?" She tried to move, but her body was pinned tight to the stretcher. With everyone seated and buckled, Night Shade released himself from his chair and, while trying to hold ground on the swaying floor, he stood next to her.
"Please remain calm, ma'am. You're safe," assured Night Shade as he placed his hoof on her chest.
While under the neck brace support, the mare moved her eyes rapidly around the helicopter's exterior. "W-Where… Lion Heart?"
"I'm here, Mamma." Her daughter placed her forelegs on the stretcher and gazed mournfully at her mother. The mare smiled as she tried to reach the filly with her hoof, but the straps on her body prevented it.
"Please go back to your seat. We are in the middle of the landing operations," ordered Night Shade.
"I'll take her," said Lion Heart's father as he came closer to drag his daughter back to her seat. He didn't look at his wife as he shamefully turned his gaze to the ground.
"Side Swipe?" The mare's weak voice made him tremble. He braced himself for her recriminations. It had been his stupid idea for a family yacht trip that had caused this entire mess. If he had just listened to her, none of this would have happened.
Girding himself, his gaze reached the mare's eyes. To his astonishment, his wife just kept smiling at him. There was no anger, no remorse, nothing except blissful relief. "You’re both okay?"
Her words caused him to shiver. Seeing how she reached her tethered front hoof for him, he immediately grabbed it tightly. He couldn't understand why she had reacted like that after all he had done. There was a surge of guilt, but it was tempered by relief and happiness. A simple nod was all he could give.
"Sir, get yourself and daughter seated, right now," ordered Night Shade and began to separate them from the injured mare.
As everyone took their proper places, Sam was already making another landing attempt. All this repetitiveness was slowly starting to play on his nerves. Until now, the sea hadn’t felt generous enough to give them any chance to land. He made use of another landing sign received from below just as the ship’s rocking had subsided enough for him to get another shot.
"So far so good." Sam breathed deeply as he began performing another landing maneuver as they were now just a few inches above the flight deck. "Now we just put you down nice and slow. That’s right, just like kissing your sister." A violent thud rattled the helicopter. "SHIT! I meant my sister!" he shouted as the helicopter landed somewhat roughly on all three wheels. Despite that, they had made it.
"Helicopter on deck," came the words Sam wanted to hear as the four members of the Stratton's crew, humans and ponies alike, ran towards the helicopter to secure its position.
Once the mentioned chock-and-chain guys had finished their job Night Shade slid the door open and, together with Jason and the barely standing Baton Rouge, helped the survivors to exit the helicopter. They were about to spend the rest of the journey inside the ship.
***
Sometime Later
The USCGC Stratton finally moored alongside the San Diego port quay. The roof lights from every service track ashore ensured that the vessel was constantly illuminated. Humans and ponies were all ready to provide any needed assistance.
Once the gangway was set, the ship's crew members began bringing down the stretcher with the injured mare. The rest of her family was kept behind together with Jason, Baton Rouge, and Night Shade. The medics ashore joined them near the gangway’s entrance and, with the aid of unicorn magic, the mare was transferred on a moveable trolley.
"We have a middle-aged mare with a head injury, a skull fracture, and a possible concussion!" shouted Night Shade while the remaining medics took care of Side Swipe and Lion Heart. Jason refused any medical help and, together with his friends, they walked on.
"Um… excuse me!" Someone's sudden call made them stop and turn around. Side Swipe was approaching them with his daughter settled on his shoulder. "I… I wanted to thank you. We owe you our lives."
"No need to. Just doing our jobs, sir," replied Jason, his arm still aching unpleasantly. Still, it wasn't anything serious enough to immediately ride the ambulance all the way to the hospital.
"Speak for yourself," an exhausted Baton Rouge whispered quietly while leaning against Night Shade. If this ship-lifting thing became a new standard in the Coast Guard, she’d demand an instant retraining program. Once, in this case, was just too much. Her body bore witness to that.
Side Swipe walked closer and put out his hoof. He energetically shook all their hands and hooves, then started walking back towards his wife's ambulance. Lion Heart turned and waved goodbye to the crew, which they were happy to return.
"Nice kid," noted Baton Rouge as they moved along. "Hope our kid will be just like her."
Her words made Jason freeze. "What kid?"
Not discouraged by the sudden reveal of their secret, the two ponies continued trotting along, leaving their human friend behind. "Well, Night's the carpenter, I'm the sawmill. You do the math, Don Corleone."
"What? Hey?" Jason quickly joined the two who were already entangled in their own conversation. He still couldn't believe it. Night and Rouge? Together? Who would have thought?
Soon, all three of them came to a stop before an elderly brown pegasus stallion dressed in a blue navy jacket and a garrison cap. His breast was decorated with various military insignia indicating his rank. Standing in front of the Coast Guard's pickup truck, he eyed them coldly. They quickly saluted.
"Good job on your last mission, everypony … and human." Razor Wing's cold attitude towards the human race was rather legendary among the Coast Guard. It wasn’t a surprise when one considered he had been one of the first ponies who had fought their way through the former prejudicial system. "Baton Rouge, we are especially interested in your ship-lifting talent. I'm sure the Coast Guard will make some good use of it in the future."
While the captain's attention was focused on his friends, Jason found a moment to watch the survivors ambulance leaving the port's quay. Its loud siren soon started to grow dimmer as the vehicle drove through the port's alleys while heading towards the hospital.
"Oh, and Jason-" the pony captain finally turned his attention to the human, "-not bad, for a bipedal."
"Yes, sir."
While the others were piling inside the vehicle, Jason's thoughts brought him back aboard the yacht. He grimaced as the visage of the Merry Celle's dead captain flashed across his mind. The man had lost his own life while trying to save another. That was courage you couldn’t always witness among officers these days.
Then there was Lion Heart. He was quite impressed with the little filly. He had encountered adults who had panicked far easier and longer than she had. And despite having the Helicopter's Emergency Egress Device bottle at their disposal, her tiny lungs managed to hold her breath most of the way.
'Who knows? Perhaps she might even become a pretty good coast guardsman someday?' he thought to himself before he finally settled himself on the car’s last available seat. Soon the vehicle began heading towards their main base. Their watch was finally over.
***
The ambulance’s siren filled the road ahead while heading towards the hospital. Lion Heart kept standing on her rear legs so she could have a better view from one of the vehicle’s rear windows. Her mind circled around the Jayhawk-03 and all those people and ponies that she and her family had so much to thank for. Especially him. That Jason guy.
When it seemed like all hope was lost, he had appeared out of nowhere... like a guardian angel. Each time fear gripped her, he always seemed to bring her back. Was that magic? No, but even without it, he kept on fighting to the very end. It was the first time she had witnessed someone like him, and her heart was beating faster just thinking about it.
The admiration for this human made her realize that she simply wanted to know for herself what it was like to risk your own life for the sake of others. Could she, a mere unicorn, even dream of becoming somepony like him?
Despite her doubts mixing together with her deepest desires, she couldn’t even predict what fate was going to store upon her. The pony medic and her parents both witnessed the bright light carving her own cutie mark, thus announcing her very first step into the future. The future of the Coast Guard.
