Far Away

CHAPTER XVIII

Jack woke up in a dimly lit hallway. No. The hallway. Dried blood caked the floor and grey dust settled into heaps. He tried to move his limbs to get up. A pain shot through his body. He was physically broken, and mentally. What happened the day before? All he could remember was a cannon, then an explosion of light. His eyes scanned the immediate area around him. He found Daring laying limp next to him, and Spitfire laying under s mall piece of rubble.

“Hello? Guys?” Jack called desperately.

A series of groans echoed through the hall as a few ponies woke up, and stumbled in the dim hallway. The roof had caved in in front of them and blocked the exit/entrance. Twilight assisted Soarin to his hooves and rushed to the rest of the Wonderbolts. Their bandages what covered their deep wounds were soaked in blood, now dried.

The band seemed fine, except for Jack and Daring, both of which were lying on the floor. Twilight swiftly flew over to Jack and examined the damage. Her face scrunched up in concentration, as violet strands of magic flew liberally from her horn down to the aching limb. It was painful, yes, but Twilight assured Jack that it would mend his fracture.

As Twilight tended to Jack’s ailments, the ‘bolts were discussing in hushed voices. They were completely trapped in the building. The stairs to the top of the compound were on the other side of the pile of rubble. There was enough rubble there to fill landfills! The roof was stable for the time being.

Twilight was thinking to herself. There was a great cave system under the Everfree that somehow joined to the mine on the edge of Ponyville. It was long abandoned and the supports must be rusting but it was their only hope. Twilight saw a flight of stairs leading down to a rough stony floor when she came into the facility. It was right next to the door that led into the turreted room.

Twilight finished her mending spell with a zap to the leg. Jack yelped in surprise and jumped up. He kneeled next to Daring and lifted a hoof to her nose, monitoring breathing. There was a slight draw and release of air but Jack doubted it was enough. He needed to get her to a medical station very soon.

“Come on guys! I’ve figured out a way,” called Twilight as she led the band down the flight of stairs into the cave. Twilight illuminated her horn while Jack pulled out his flint and steel and lit a small stick he found lying in the corner. The band trudged unconfidently through the dark caves. Twilight used her echo magic to paint an ok picture of the cave.

Suddenly, Misty fell to her hooves, a small bolt wedged in her legs. It caused calamity in the band of ponies. Jack stayed calm, and pulled out his revolver, loading the cylinder with normal shells. A blur of green dropped in front of the band, they were holding crude stone weapons like spears and axes.

“Defend!” barked Spitfire as the Wonderbolts fumbled with their rifles. The green things, now identified as cave goblins were closing in fast. Jack made every shot count. Even while carrying Daring on his back, he was capable of shooting accurately. The goblins scattered and the group pushed on. They needed to get into town, all were worn and torn by this mission.

“Come on!” shouted Twilight, “The end is near!”

The band galloped in the ever narrowing cave until they hit a section with metal supports and mouldy handles of old rusting pickaxes.

“We’re finally home!” shouted Fleetfoot happily, “And also, where our prisoner?”

Jack stumbled around to see him nowhere.

“Dammit, he got away in the blast,” said Soarin disappointedly.

The blinding rays of the sun and the endless blue sky greeted the group as they emerged from an old mineshaft. This was the first time Jack noticed how exhausted he was. He followed the group that led them to the medical clinic and he stumbled every few steps, due to fatigue. All he could feel right now was aching bones and a nauseous mind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jack woke up in a bed. Not the cold floor anymore. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was in a hospital, with heartrate monitors set up and tubes carrying an unknown liquid into his system. Everything was white except for the curtains which were light blue. He could see no one.

“Hello?” he called with a broken voice that could barely be heard.

Twilight burst into Jack’s space, “Thank Celestia you’re all right!”

“Where’s Daring? Is everypony else all right?” Jack machine gunned the questions at Twilight before she had time to respond.

“Ok, first thing’s first. Daring is in the bed next to you on the right. We were lucky that we got a private ward. The ‘bolts and Dash are on the left. And please let me finish before you ask another question,” said Twilight

Twilight explained what happened in the cave and gave a concise recap of everything.

“Daring’s fine, she just got a bit of a shock!” Twilight grinned.

“Do you want to see her?” Twilight asked after a period of silence.

“Yes!”

Twilight swiftly turned and ducked out of view. Hospitals were never comfortable, and why did they have to put the air conditioning on every damn minute in a day? It was these little things that sometimes made life hell. He could hear the clatter of hooves trotting towards him. He saw Daring for a moment before she pulled Jack in for a hug. Twilight just disappeared, to give the companions some personal space.

“I knew you wouldn’t leave me behind,” said Daring, muffled by Jack’s fur.

Jack just simply sat there, savouring the moment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight moved towards Dash’s bed, ducking into the curtains. She saw the cyan mare reading a Daring Do book. She chuckled lightly to herself. She sat down in the chair beside her bed. Dash dropped her book and looked at Twilight, expecting her to say something.

“You know, she’s right there,” Twilight pointed to roughly where Jack’s bed was concealed behind the curtains.

“I’ll let her be,” Dash sighed.

She placed her book on the table beside her bed. Dash only got minor injuries like scrapes and bruises and a concussion from a piece of rubble hitting her head. How she managed to keep up with the band of Wonderbolts, she will never know. She stepped down to the cold hospital floor and walked towards where Soarin was resting. She walked through the curtains and found Soarin laying on his bed. She sat down on the mattress and looked into his eyes.

“How are you doing?” she asked.

“Well,” grunted Soarin in pain, “Why don’t you get off my leg.”

“Sorry.”

“That’s better.”

“So, how are you,” asked Dash.

“Well, look at me. I broke my right hind leg because of the damned roof falling. How did I manage to go through that cave?” she said gruffly.

“Exactly what I was thinking,” said Dash in a quizzical voice.

“Oh come here!” Soarin growled playfully, “You know why you came here!”

Soarin sat up in his bed and Dash leaned in. He cast his strong forehooves around her. Dash was content, even in a time of such confusion and catastrophe. Dash relaxed and let go of the world around her. As much as she’s concerned this was the universe for the present.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight walked to the window. Where was the black unicorn? He must’ve slipped away when the roof collapsed, but how? How did he get away?