The past few months had gone by without trouble. Ponies rebuilt, life continued, and friendship's flourished. The evil wrought upon the town of Ponyville didn't last, nothing ever did. For that very reason a certain stallion was not surprised to find that neither did the peace.
"Dash, I don't know what to do. Every day goes by, and her well being slips a little more. I can't lose her."
"I know Breach, and I've got Twilight searching through every books she's got. The fact of the matter is we don't know anything about outlanders' phisology. I was thinking though, what about heading to Hayven and asking if anypony there knows something about this."
Breach realized she was onto something. Of course somepony in Hayven had to know. The town was filled with outlander refugees under the eye of Baener, and if anypony knew what was wrong with Bow. Just then somepony was rushed through the hospital lounge that they were in.
"We need to get this pony and intraveinous drip stat!" "Nurse, get neg. o, we may need it!"
"What was that all about Dash?"
"I don't have a clue Breach, but I believe that was Bon Bon...."
Just then Lyra came running into the lounge looking disheveled and crying.
"Lyra!" shouted Rainbow Dash, "What's going on, what happened to Bon Bon?"
"I don't know! One minute we were having shakes, then suddenly her nose started bleeding, the it started coming from her eyes and ears, and she just collapsed!"
While Rainbow Dash comforted the poor pony, Breach wracked his memory. He knew he had heard of this before. It took him a full minute before he realized why he recognized the ailment.
"Rainbow! I need you to go to my house and pack me a light saddle bag with basic neccesities!" the stallion shouted before taking off out the hospital door.
"Alright; Lyra, Bon Bon will be fine, I promise. I gotta go help Breach, he seems to know what's going on."
As Rainbow Dash sped out the door she nearly bowled over Ms. Cherilee as she was bringing in Dimond Tiara and Sweetie Belle, both suffering from the same symptoms of Bon Bon. 'I hopw you know how to fix this Breach' she thought as she sped to his house.
This wasn't good and he knew it. Bow had told Breach about a terrible disease that eventually proved fatal if not treated. He was rushing to Hayven when he saw Baener running straight for him.
"Breach! We've got a major problem!" "Same here, we just had a pony brought in that looks like she's suffering from.."
"Hiderot?" Baener questioned. When breach nodded, it confirmed Baener's worst fears. "Do you know how to cure it Baener?" "Yes, but that may prove to be a problem. The cure is a flower found only in the outlands. I was just getting ready to head out." "By yourself? Like Tartarus, I'm coming with you, besides, I have a more personal stake in this!"
"Bow can't have gotten it, she's been innoculated!" Baener claimed with shock. All outlanders were innoculated right before graduation. "No, she doesn't have it, but her health is failing; its got to be some outlander disease. Now c'mon, we're going to my house!"
Dash had packed Breach's saddle bag, but stopped by Twilight's first to grab her own. She had a good bet on where Breach was planning on going, and she would not let him go alone. Warning Twi and Scoots, aswell as wishing them farewell, she had made a beeline here and now she waited. She was bored too, and was about to lay down when she noticed two ponies running straight toward the house. Getting her saddle bags on, she grabbed Breach's and met him halfway.
"No way Dash, this is too dangerous." "I don't give a buck, I'm not letting you go alone!" "Baener's going with me..." "Uh, right, um, Well I'm not going to stay here while my friends are in danger!" Smirking slightly, Breach knew he wouldn't be the one who won this arguement. "Fine, but you do what I say when I say it. There are danger's in the outlands like you wouldn't believe." "Got it Breach, now let's go!"
With that the three ponies took off in the direction of the Equestrian shore. Little did they know they were being followed.
'Going to talk to the Wonderbolts?' Scootaloo wondered. That makes no sense, Rainbow dash wasn't even excited when she told her. Something was up, and she was going to find out what. Packing her saddlebags, and grabbing her medication for her leg, Scootaloo flew out the window after older sister. 'She was always there for me, so I'll always be there for her!'
It had taken a few days to get to the coast, then a week to get across the sea tot he outlands. Standing on the beach Rainbow Dash stared into a thick forest with awe, "I thought the outlands were, like, I dunno, desert wastes or something!?"
The reply came from Baener, "Most 'outlanders' to this place do. Food grows in plenty, and the weather is always good. Makes me wonder how we became such a bloodthirsty race of ponies.
"So Baener, what's the plan. Obviously we need to find this flower but where do we go." inquired Breach.
"We go to the only other goodly outlander I know, my grandmother.... and yes I do have a grandmother so stop snickering Dash."
"Ok, but praytell how we go about getting there, Dash and I aren't exactly the most dappled of flanks. That and I just don't look like an outlander in general, you're all average size with a slight build. I'm horsezilla who looks like he pull 20 plows at a time everyday."
"Well then it's obvious, I'm and average sized mare with a slight build. We just disguise me as an outlander and you can be a prisoner, Breach."
"Actually Dash, that won't work. there are no outlander pegasi, and barely any outlander unicorns. We'll just have to be stealthy."
The three ponies spent the next 4 days creeping through the woods, dodging outlander patrols, which grew increasingly frequent after they'd found the Equestrian ship on the shore. As it became to risky to stay close to the paths, they eventually strayed into the woods.
"Great, now instead of dodging patrols, we're dodging wolves and bears while we traips through the woods!" moaned Rainbow Dash, who couldn't even remember her last nap.
"Well if you want, just fly there and hope nopony notices you..."
"Or you could shadow step and get this over with Breach. Come to think of it, you haven't used anything other than unicorn magic since the day you saved me at the train station. Why is that?"
The stallion sighed a little, then relayed what he knew. "While I was in Canterlot, Luna and Celestia did some digging into the possibility of me becoming a pony permanantly. Apparantly the less I use my natural powers the more likely my daemonic side is to just fall away from me."
"But you used those portals to save me, and transformed to save Bow?" "And now it will take that much longer for me. But I don't regret what I did." "Wow, and here I thought I was loyalty" Dash said in shock that he postponed the thing she thought he wanted most just to save her. 'I guess there's more to him than what I thought.'
"Well you two be nostalgic all you want, but make camp, I need to head into this town up ahead to speak to my grandmother." stated Baener. With that the stallion walked away.
'Now what are they doing in the outlands?' wondered Scootaloo. She'd followed the ponies to the shore, then stowed away under deck. When they finally hit the outlands shore, she waited about 15 minutes before she finally trotted out and took off after them. 'This is obviously important, but why not tell anypony. Somepony could have helped right?'
Popping a pill for the pain in her leg, the filly continued after her sister, Breach, and Baener.
Dodging the patrols wasn't too hard for her, and she always had extra warning because the three ponies ahead of her would duck down. Scootaloo didn't know how long she'd been following them before Baener eventually left on his own and Breach and Dash made camp.
Setting up a lean to on a thick tree limb, Scoots settled down and thought back to what had led up to her being here.
'Wow! So that's an outlander?!' It had been her first time seeing Bow. She thought the dapple on her flank was actually really pretty, and had even sometimes imagined having a dapple herself. Then she'd seen Breach, the largest stallion she had ever seen. Over the time Bow had spent hanging out with Dash after Breach had left were enchanting as well. It was one thing to here about some old pony's tale, but to see a mare who'd actually met her 'Prince Charming' and to hear about the sacrifice's they's made to keep eachother safe had struck a chord in the filli's heart. Scootaloo would never let on to this, but she thought Bow was as cool as Dash.
'And then when I didn't listen to Dash and saved her life. That was definitely awesome!' the filly remembered with detail what she had done to save Breach and Bow. The memory also brought a twinge to her leg. She looked back at the now useless limb. 'Dash spent so much time by my side after I got hurt, teaching me how to limp right, and always encouraging me. Then Bow having Breach use that deep magic to repair what he could.' She didn't have the limp for too long though. sure she had it in the med bay with Fluttershy, and later when they were first captured. And sure she had it when she went to save Dash, and boy did it hurt, but she didn't care anymore. There was no more 'How could I ever be like Dash if my leg is messed?' going through her head. It was just the loyalty and friendship instilled into her by two amazing mares.
'Then I saved Dash and the fight began.' Tartarus bent on not allowing anypony to get through to her friends, Scootaloo gave up that final ability to use her left hind leg in any way. She could still remember the pain she was in, but how little it mattered if her friends we're harmed. Even when the defense had failed, and everypony had the option to leave her for their own lives they refused. Scootaloo looked back at that mental image of herself, a tired pitiful looking filly, leg drawn up under her, face screwed up in pain. Ready to give her own young life, just to allow her friends to survive. That was when the spark in her heart took flame and she realized that there was nowhere else in Equestria she would have rather been. And then they stood against the impossible for her. These ponies, who she'd done so much for without asking for anything in return stepped inbetween her and certain death.
'And it still took me until Celestia pointed it out to fully understand.' Scootaloo chuckled at herself. The sacrifices she had made, without hesitation or fear for herself, were part of something bigger than helping other. It was knowing that they'd always be there to help you too.
Tears beading in her eyes, Scoots looked once at her cutie mark. The outline of a pony, fore hooves stretched to the sides to block some threat, mixed with two curving lines that caused it to resemble a shield, blocking her friends against danger. With that thought in her head, she curled up and got to sleep.
Queen Luna and Queen Celestia were distraught, Luna for one couldn't think of anyhting worse than when she'd lost Celestia, even though it was temporary. They knew Ponyville was suffering from a plague, but had no way of fixing it. For all their power, and despite the fact that they now could aid their subjects, there was nothing for them to do.
"Doctor, we've got another one." the nurse yelled as Ms. Cheerilee was brought in on a stretcher. "I'll be right there, just give me a minute." The Doc. would never admit this, but while doing his best to keep Bow healthy and comfortable, he was also getting advice on how to take care of the patients from her. "So Bow, how are we doing today?" Bow was looking frail, but had a gleam of determination in her eyes. "I'm doing well, I really wish you would spend less time hovering over me and work on the other patients." "I already told you, we can't do anything but stabilize them and give them extra blood when they need it. Might I ask you though, why have you not gotten sick? Almost everypony here is sick except for you." "Well you and the nurse aren't sick. But yes, you're right. The disease is called Hiderot. It's common place in the outlands. We get innoculated for it before our graduation. My best guess is somepony picked it up off of one of the outlanders." Bow explained 'And I'll bet that's why Breach hasn't been around.' she finished in her head.
"Well then, that's good to know, your health is already poor as you already know, and your filly or colt doesn't need any stress from diseases. We'll just work on a cure and then get everything back to normal." the Doc replied cheerily. He then coughed into his hoof, then quickly hid it. "Well I must get back to the other ponies, and just hit that button if you need help."
As the doctor left, Bow noticed that he had some blood on his hoof, 'Why must this happen to my friends. Breach, hurry please.' she thought the silent plea.
Back in the outlands forest, Dash woke up with her nose feeling damp. Lifting her head up and swiping her foreleg across her snout, she looked on in horror when she noticed that she had blood smeered across it and pouring out her nose. Quickly she hid this fact, flying to a nearby stream and washing up. 'Breach needs me, healthy and all that stuff. Side's I can't leave the stallion hangin'.'
It had been a good week since the first incident, and Rainbow Dash couldn't hide it for much longer. She was sick with whatever Bon Bon had and she knew it. Constantly running 'scouting missions' she did her best to hide the blood that frequently ran from her eyes, nose and ears. She could also feel her muscles aching. 'Is this how Scoots felt when she had cancer?' she wondered to herself.
"I'm worried about her Breach. She's not innoculated like I am, nor immune like you are. These 'scouting missions' are useless, she doesn't even know her way around."
"I know Baener, but I don't wish to upset her. Maybe she just misses the others, or is worried about them and doesn't want to be seen crying." replied the black stallion.
'Oh now you've done it Scoots, gooood jooob!' Scootaloo mentally berated herself. After tripping and bloodying her nose, she'd drawn the attention of some outlanders that had been nearby. Blood running down her muzzle she saw one of them point at here and scream something in horror. Unsure of what to do Scoots took off in the opposite direction. She didn't know if she was being followed, but she didn't intend on sticking around. Flitting through the tree with agility taught to here by Rainbow Dash, and the grace from here old scooter stunts, she disappeared into the foilage in seconds.
'Stupid sickness. This is going to ruin my reputation.' Dash moaned as she cleared off the blood from her face. She lifted into the air just in time to collide with none other than Scootaloo. "Pffft. Huh, wait, what are you doing here Scootaloo, you're supposed to be in Ponyville!" "Oh yeah, so uh, Dashie why don't we go meet up with Breach and Baener? Let's go!"
With nothing coming to mind to berate the filly, and being in a bit of pain, Rainbow led Scootaloo off the the other two stallions.
"Oh ho! Look at this Breach, we had a master assassin following us!" chortled Baener. Breach couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of how this tenacious filly managed to follow them so far. "Hahahaha funny you two. I accidently ran into Dashie here and... wait, Dash, you ok?"
Dash had landed in camp but couldn't see straight. Everything swirling in front of her, she began to get quite nauseated. Far off Scoots was laughing at something but...
It was like Scoots had imagined herself looking way back on that fateful day that led up to her discovering she had cancer. She'd been at a party and collapsed from over exertion. The difference is Dash had blood running down her face.
"She's sick Baener, we need to find that flower!"
It had taken a couple of days but Baener managed to sneak Rainbow Dash to his grandmother's under the guise of her being a slave. Returning to the woods, he realized that they need to move fast.
"Are you sure that you're ok. I did see dried blood on you muzzle when you showed up." pushed Breach. "Yea, totally. I tripped is all. Is Rainbow Dash ok?" "She will be once we find a certain flower, and so will everypony else."
"Scootaloo, we've got a problem." Baener bluntly stated as soon as he walked into camp. "Is Rain.." "Rainbow Dash is fine. There are outlanders looking for an escaped slave that matches your description. On another note, do you know how dangerous it is for a pony in your condition here?!" Scootaloo had a good guess what 'her condition' was, but wasn't about to admit it. "What 'condition' would that be?" she shot back. Taken aback by the filly's ferocity, but not about to back down Baener roared back. "You're a cripple! Do you know what they do to cripples here? They execute them!" Disgusted at the notion of anypony being executed for being crippled, and sick of everypony thinking she wasn't good enough due to her wounded leg she screamed back at him while rounding and bucking a stone at him, "CRIPPLE THIS!" The stone shot off at a speed that would make Spitfire herself green with envy. It would've collided with the goodly outlander's nose had Breach not deflected it.
"Enough, both of you! Baener, obviously she can handle herself. She's on the cusp of becoming a young mare, and she followed us with no trouble up until now. Scootaloo, I don't have a problem with you coming with us as long as you can keep up. We'll be moving at a fast pace for the next few days. Suck it up, both of you."
Stunned at the stallion's anger, both parties clamped their muzzles shut and followed after him.
Breach had to give the tenacious little pony her due. Not only had Scootaloo kept up with them, she frequently outpaced them.
"How much longer Baener? We need that flower for my older sister." "I know Scootaloo, and I don't know exactly, 3-4 days would be my best guess."
"Baener is doing the best he can Scoots. You just need to have a little faith." "Yeah I know, its just hard knowing that somepony's depending on you and knowing that you can't do anything."
The large stallion understood her sentiment more than the filly could possibly understand.
Everyday he spent looking for this flower was a day away from searching for any sort of cure for Bow and whatever ailed her and the baby. He knew where the ancient witch was but she was too out of the way to go to her. If Dash was here he'd leave her a Baener to it. But after the incident earlier, and Baener's in bred opinion of cripples, made that a bad idea. Scootaloo nudged him in the side, drawing him from his thoughts.
"Breach, I just told Baener, we're being followed by a group of ponies. I don't know who they are or what they want but they're dappled." "Got it Scoots, we'll just continue along for now and see what they do." "I agree Breach. It seems to be a watch party, I remember my days doing that. All they do is watch us and see what we're doing." assured Baener, not telling them that they would then report in and the watched party would be taken care of.
They'd been followed for the next 5 days. It'd taken them longer but they had finally reached a lush canyon filled with all sorts of foilage and a temple in the middle. "Thats it Breach. All we have to do is get pick out way down there and we will be se...." Baener was suddenly cut off as he was tackled by another outlander. Breach spun around to face the direction of the attack. There were about 15 outlanders, not to troubling. 'I've dealt with more than that at a time in the war.'
"Breach," called Scootaloo, "We've got more over here!" Turning he saw the filly was right, there were another fifteen or so. "So yeah, Breach, I'd say about thirty is fair odds right?" joked the filly. "Oh yeah definitely Scoots. These guys have no chance." he half heartedly chuckled. 'Why did I not send Scootaloo back to Equestria.' he questioned himself.
"Well boys, looky here. We've got ourselves a couple of slaves." "Nah, Boss, just one. The shrimpy one's got a bad leg."
At this remark Scootaloo's brow furrowed. "Oh that she does, well then a shame really. So we've got one useful stallion, and then gimpy over there. Hahahaha." Her mood darkening Scoots barked back at the group, "HEY! Call me useless one more time, I bucking dare you!" The slavers looked surprised at the amount of spunk in one lame filly. "Oh ho, so we've got a lively one. Maybe I'll leash and muzzle you, then you can be my pet. That way you'll be useful. I'nt that right boys?!" The slavers were laughing so loudly they didn't even notice Scootaloo whip three stones out of her saddle bags and toss them into the air. With one flap of her wings she cleared the ground and with speed and precision that could only come from diligent practice, bucked the stones into the crowd. Two regular slavers went down, and the leader dropped easily from the stone that connected right inbetwixt his eyes. Taking this oppurtunity to run, Scoots grabbed Breach and started pulling him towards the canyon.
Breach was content to let the filly take the reigns for this one, and if it got too hot he'd take over. 'The filly needs the oppurtunity to learn that she's a great leader. Everypony else knows it, and now it's time for her to learn it.'
Things were getting worse in Ponyville. The Doc eventually collapsed, succumbing to Hiderot just like everypony else. Fluttershy, Twilight, and the nurse were the only ponies left standing. Bow didn't include her self in the count because she technically could only lay in her cot. Fluutershy was the go-to pony for everything. Working on animals, and the medbay work during the war, meant she had good knowledge of what to do. That and the level head she'd somehow kept despite Applejack getting sick. Twilight was constantly running around, be it getting supplies or researching more efficient ways to treat the symptoms of the disease. The nurse on the other hoof just followed Fluttershy and helped where she could. 'This is getting bad, Breach, where ever you are, cure this fast.'
Baener immediatly slipped into an act after being tackled. "What are you doing you idiot? You tackle me and not the slaves?!" The second outlander looked confused at this. "Let me put this in simple terms, I was trotting along when those maniacs took me captive and forced me to bring them here. I'm assuming Equestria is suffering from Hiderot, they probably need the cure!" "Oh, sorry sir, I had no idea!" said the surprised outlands stallion. "Of course you didn't, now let's get back to your group and get those slaves!" The slaver turned to lead the way, but his eyes dilated suddenly. Letting out a final breath of air the stallion collapsed as Baener retreived the knife from the base of his skull. Whipping the blood off on the slaver's corpse, Baener set of into the canyon muttering under his breath, "Idiot slavers.."
"Scoots, you know where we're going?" "Yeah Breach, I mapped out the canyon in my head back there. The cure is at the temple in the middle I'm assuming." Leading the large stallion deeper into the canyon Scootaloo realized that she was actually pretty good at this. Sure, her leg was in a bit of pain because she hadn't taken her pills yet, but she felt she belonged in this role, leading. Something about having other ponies lives in her hooves just made sense to her. Knowing that she could protect them, and that she had a responsibility, made so much sense. Continuing deeper, she finally led Breach to the steps of the temple. "Well this is it. Time we got this cure, eh, Scoot's?" with that the two ponies headed up the stairs and into the depths of the temple.
Baener saw ahead as his two companions entered the temple. 'Good they made it. Wait, buck it all to Tartarus!'
The slavers were headed up the steps, led be their leader who was infuriated at having been downed by a cripple. He was two feet from the entrance when a knife entered at the base of his skull, effectively ending any thoughts of revenge.
The slavers, seeing their leader fall, spun around to find Baener standing alone at the base of the steps.
"So then scum, who's next?"
The slavers charged at him, but he didn't care, sending a barrage of throwing knives into the group he downed 6 of them in seconds. Still facing another 23 slavers, Breach burst into action. Not as smooth as Bow, but close to it, the goodly outlands stallion danced a rough dance amongst the slavers putting them down left right and centre. There were still too many, for every slash the brave stallion dished out, he received two more. Thinning the ranks down two three slaver, Baener glanced a look at the ground. Blood pooled everywhere, but he knew that quite a lot came from him as well. Feeling the strength fading from his limbs he tore into the final three stallions before collapsing into the gore.
Breach and Scootaloo emerged from the temple, none the wiser to the fierce battle that had just raged, they started their way down the steps when Scootaloo saw the carnage below. Flying down she immediatly went straight to Baener. the stallion was covered in gashes and gore. The filly lifted his head with her hooves. "BAENER! BAENER ANSWER ME, C'MON!" With a faint whisper the stallion replied to the courageous young filly, "Oh... hey Scoots...I guess I saved the day. Get back to my grandmother, give her this medallion. Save..*cough*..save your sister, and all of....*cough cough*...of Ponyville, and when you see my wife and filly tell them I died for them." "Baener, no! Tell them yourself, c'mon Baener!" "And Scoots, I was wrong.... you're not a cripple, you never will be....." With that final apology the stallion died in her hooves, smiling into the after life.
"This is my fault, I'm Self-Sacrifice and Protection, I'm s'posed to save every one. I left you here Baener, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry...." The filly continued her muffled sobs as Breach came up behind her an drew her into a hug. He wanted to protect this filly who had given so much for him and Bow. He drew her in closer, protecting her from the sights, protecting her from the sounds, the smells, protecting her from everything.
It had been 2 hours since Baener's death. Breach watched as Scootaloo mechanically went about setting up a shrine for the stallion that had taught her the most important lesson she would ever learn. Eventually the filly finished and came and sat by Breach's side.
"It was my fault, wasn't it?" "What? Of course not! Baener died to allow us to live, he sacrificed himself for us." "But that's my special role. I'm supposed to save everypony.... instead I failed." "No! You're a filly still, and nearly a young mare. You have a full life to live. I've given up much to be with Bow, and everypony has also made sacrifices of their own. It is not your sole responsibility. Also, he has given you so much more." "Really?" asked Scootaloo, already starting to feel better. "Yes. Scoots if you truly feel that it's your job to save everypony, then Baener's given you that chance. You can save Rainbow Dash. You can still save Ponyville. Baener has given you a very important lesson as well, nopony can go it alone. You'd do well to remember that you aren't alone in this. Now buck up, and go save everypony!"
Scoots face lit up at this, realizing that the stallion was right. "I'll get right on it Breach, but what about you?"
The stallion sighed. "I can't follow, Bow is sick but not from the same thing everypony else is. I still have to get what I need for her. You go, fly as fast as you can, and get that flower to Ponyville, I have my own quest to finish." With this Breach set off on his own while Scootaloo took off towards the town Baener's grandmother was in.
'She'll be okay, I just wish she coudlv'e learned that lesson a bit earlier.' Saying his prayers for Baener, Breach set off for the Hag's lair.
Scootaloo tore through the skies as fast as she could go. Seeing Baener's grandmother's town looming ahead Scoots prepared the smoke bombs that she'd fished out of Baener's bag when she got his medallion. Dropping the bombs around the house she dove in and quickly entered the house. Giving the news to Baeners grandmother as well as the medallion, Scootaloo rushed to Dash's side. Giving her a bit of the flower mixed with water, Dash recovered nearly instantaneously. "Whaaa..." "Dash, you got sick then I saved you, but we got to get to Equestria and save Ponyville!" Quickly remebering Ponyville's plight, RD nooded determindly and the two mares made to leave, stopping for just a second to thank the old mare that had been so helpful. Just as Scoots made to exit she felt a tap on the flank. "Young mare, I'd like you to take this to Baener's filly. He told me he had a little girl, and I'd like her to have his medallion." Realizing how much this meant to the elderly pony, Scootaloo nodded solemnly and took off after Rainbow Dash.
Breach closed in on the grove. The place reeked off anchient magics, the trees dead and webbing every where. Slipping into the main ring of trees, Breach called for the Hag. At his call a giant spider dropped from the boughs above. The stallion readied for a fight but was met with scorn. "So, another pony calls upon me?" it chittered, "Now what does this one want? Money, fame, power, some other worldy waste of time?" The stallion boldly called back, "No old one, I wish for none of those things. I come to find health..." At this the spider cut him off, "Immortality? Shouldn't be too hard, But know that everything come at a price, and know..." "Silence old one!" Breach yelled, eyes blackening over, "I do not wish for immortality! I wish for the health of my mare and unborn child!" "Ah, I see, I've heard of you, the goodly daemon who wishes to be a pony. So you want the health of your family. A large task, and how many bits do you offer for this?" "Bits? BITS!? My family's lives are far more worthy than any sum of money! I offer my life for them! Strike me down so that they may live!" "Ahhhh, I see. You are from a different stock. Cut from another cloth compared to the ponies I generally deal with. All I have met asked for something in exchange for something wordly save two others. One before, and you. You give something that isn't tangible, but is fworth far more than anypony usually understands. So you wish to trade your life for theirs. Done."
Breach braced himself as the ancient spider began to glow. Their was blinding light and a deafening roar. When his vision returned he found that he still stood before the giant spider, and that it was presenting him with a music box.
"I don't understand? I gave my life to save my family." "That you did, stallion Breach. I respected that. You are no longer immortal. Go and live with your family, and always remeber how much they are of value to you." "Thank you Anchient one"
"One more thing stallion. The music will will give you what you need, but the box mustn't be opened until after you hear the music." "But how do I hear the music if the box is closed?"
"You only hear the music when your heart begins to break." the spider answered cryptically. Mist swirled in, and the stallion suddenly found himself outside the grove. Setting a frast pace for the shore the stallion was now determined to save his mare.
Bow was relieved. Scootaloo had shown up with Rainbow Dash just as Fluttershy, the final pony standing, started experiencing symptoms. Quickly readying the cure, the two pegasi set about administering it to everypony. The ponies cured felt better in seconds. Helping each other they slowly set about getting back to business. The doc immediatly went to Bow. The mare's heart was failing and he knew it. He could kepp her alive for another week at most, but that was about all he could do. Explaining this to the Elements and Scootaloo, he did his best to sound hopeful, but they knew that the chances were slim.
Five days later Scootaloo suddenly had an idea, an ingenious plan. Rushing to Twilight she burst out a plethora of questions. "Okay so that means then, if somepony can do magic, then they can enchant items. Twilight i know I've kept you busy but I need to to enchant a necklace for long range teleportation, one use. It's for Breach!" Realizing what the filly was talking about the mare set about the task immediatly. An hour later the necklace was ready, and Scootaloo took off out the door with it. Flying as fast as she could towards the Equestrian shore she made it in half the day. It had nearly been a full week since the Doc had delivered the news. Breach didn't have much time. She actually saw his boat, miraculously a couple of miles out from the shore. the filly made a beeline for the boat.
Breach saw the pegasus in the distance. As the pony drew closer he realized it was Scootaloo. The filly landed but quickly waved off anything he meant to say. "Breach, this necklace will teleport you anywhere in Equestria. Bow is failing. I''l get the boat, but you need to go!" Quickly slipping the necklace on Breach used it to teleport outside the hospital.
"She's going critical. The baby is coming but we can't do anything!" "Nurse ready the cloth, we need to get this baby out a.s.a.p." Suddenly the e.r. doors burst open.
Breach rushed into the hospital lobby and asked for Bow's room. The clerk explained that the mare was going into cardiac arrest and the baby was on it's way. Leaping the front desk the stallion barreled down the hallway and threw the operating room's door open. Rushing to Bow's side he took her hoof, helplessly not knowing what to do.
"It's almost here. Just give it a couple of seconds... and here we are!" the nurse cried out as she started cleaning up the baby pony.
Breach stood helplessly by as the life ebbed out of Bow. The girl who had taught him everything he knew about the world. Taught him how to feel, and how to smile. The mare that had accepted him for who he was, and had fallen in love with. She had brought him from depression and saved him, and he could only sit helplessly as she paased before his very eyes. Turning to see the baby, he saw a sad look on the nurses face as she shook her head. He reached for the baby, a glimmer of hope in his broken eyes. The nurse burst into tears at this, revealing that the baby had not survived either. He took the faol regardless and laid it next to Bow. Laying his head across the two, the strong, brave stallion who'd stood against the might of thousands, cried. Defeated by the fates, and destroyed by his misfortune, the words of Trixie rang clearly in his head. "Daemon's don't get happy endings..." Laying there, with nothing in his head but the wish to simply pass from this world, he suddenly found that it was not the only thing in his head. He heard music. It was the most beautiful music he had ever heard. Quickly pulling the music box from his saddlebags the opened it.
Two glourious lights came from the opened box. They drifted together for a time, then entered Breach's chest. feeling a slight burning in his heart the twin lights suddenly emerged from his chest and enterd the chests of Bow and his foal.
Bow's eyes fluttered for a second. She heard praises that sounded like they came from Breach and crying. Not sad crying, but more like an infant. Opening her eyes fully she saw Breach standing by her bed with a foal in his hooves. Noticing she was awake he curled himself and the foal into her.
"Are you okay Breach?" the mare asked.
"Yes,a nd I will never allow that to change." replied the stallion.
And in that moment Breach knew that he was holding all he lived for in his hooves, and he would never let go.
