Spike's head rolled lazily, as the cockpit shuddered. He remained asleep, however.
"Don't we have enough people on this mission?" Spike asked.
"Not enough to keep you out Spike. Besides, we need your claws, they're much more efficient than hooves!" Twilight smiled.
Both of them watched the main structure of the landing craft being finished, as welders and engineers labored tirelessly to get it done on schedule. Steel working had never been done on this scale, and not too many looked forward to doing it again, but that was progress.
The structure was completely spherical, minus the four landing legs that jutted out from the inside, and various mechanics. It was large enough to carry 9 people safely, but small enough to replace a hot air balloon basket. Spike did not envy its passengers.
"So, they're just gonna drop us from the sky? Nopony can survive that!" Spike worried.
"No! The jet thrusters slow us down! It really is a masterpiece of scientific engineering; nopony has ever attempted s-" Twilight gushed.
"Right, right. This better be one cool island." Spike mumbled, clutching his stomach to stop the churning.
"Spike! These are the Tidal Islands, a wonder of science. The lander is designed to be able to break through the thick storm cover that has blocked out so many explorers before."
"We don't know that it's that great though! Anything people have died doing too many times is not worth anything!"
"Trust me on this one, Spike."
Spike's head rolled and his eyelids slid slightly. The lander had shook again, and this time he could barely hear Twilight shouting. Sleep's grip was too tight, however, and he kept on dreaming.
Testing had not gone well the next several weeks. All the windows had shattered instantaneously once placed inside the wind tunnel, and leaks turned into liquid oxygen sprayed everywhere. More tests came to discover flaws like cracks in the oxygen tanks or electrical failure, each pushing the launch date back more and more.
Even worse were the thruster controls, which ended in abrupt explosions or dangerous spins. None of the test pilots had found the courage to try a practice landing, even Princess Celestia's highest-ranking officers who had been chosen. But progress is a fickle thing that forces what even may be unnecessary, and the first pilots began.
A landing requires 3 ponies, and naturally such a matter of science brought Twilight Sparkle aboard. Twilight's role as the Element of Magic was too valuable, and the back-up pilots were brought aboard for testing.
It was when the capsule returned that the engineers had realized they had forgotten insulation aboard, and the returning crew was suffering from hypothermia. The heights above Equestria were a frigid and windy place, and the crew had been stranded for hours before the cables actually ejected themselves and they descended. Even the descent had been uncertain; the lander had dropped in at several miles an hour above the recommended feet per second. One pilot had suffered a broken hoof, and was taken off the team for good.
This, however, was not the only grumbling from the group. The Elements of Harmony were selected to be ambassadors for the islands, and while it was a risky move considering the chances of survival, friend or foe would need the best representation Equestria could offer. Still concerning though was the rigorous training they needed to go through. Twilight too had concerns about what she was putting her friends through, because they weren't some magical relic; it would be the cost of her friendships, but it would have to mean something.
The feeling caused from the physical strain of training, mental strain of studying and practicing operations, and overall tedium made for one unhappy group of campers. Twilight was made aware of every complaint of her friends, and was offering less and less solutions daily. A thinning strand of friendship was questioned every day.
Yet still, Spike did not complain. Perhaps even he was silently judging Twilight's ridiculous calling, and just not vocal enough. Applejack requested that it's best to see what a landing actually looked like before climbing in and finding out on the fly. When the insulation accident happened right before all of their eyes, amongst the valid rumors that the landing thrusters had blown up several times, Spike's silence was the greatest concern, because he was the only one who hadn't given a very vocal opinion. But Twilight's suspicions got the better of her, and she asked.
Spike spent a lot of time watching the construction of the baskets, where a lot of replacements had needed creating. The large hall that housed the assembly process formed grid with balconies and walkways for inspection, and overlooked the newly created pods or those in the way of getting there. He would often stand upon a stool and lean on the safety rail, and just stare at the workers weld the panels on and hook up electronics. The usual Spike would enjoy the company of friends, but the company of his friends was not enjoyable lately. Twilight approached from the side, expecting to be a surprise, but was greeted by the same big boyish smile she never failed to receive.
"Are you mad at me too?" Twilight sheepishly grinned.
"No Twilight, I'm really proud of you for pursuing what you believe in!" Spike beamed.
Twilight wasn't really comforted, as she turned, sat, and rested her chin on the railing. Her eyes hadn't landed on Spike for a bit; while she wanted to believe him, she couldn't really want to know if it was true or not. It was really possible she had gone ahead and wasted the resources of the Princess on a useless venture and then dragged her friends uncomfortably into it.
"Don't beat yourself up over it, you're doing something honorable and historic." Spike soothed.
The statement had forced Twilight's eyes shut; it only reminded her that there was a big possibility she was just being selfish in doing this. Spike was right, but at the expense of her friends, unfortunately.
"It's okay Twilight, we'll do it together!" Spike was beginning to worry he had said something, but offered a reassuring arm around her.
"Yes Spike, together." Twilight had made eye contact and smiled.
The alarms and shouts had finally gotten to Spike and he fully awoke. Twilight had just slammed into the ground after floating in mid-air, along with the two assistant pilots had just done so. Rarity had been wailing and Applejack had been returning the expression with shouts to stop; whether or not it was for the falling or the panicking unicorn was to be determined.
Descent had begun, and while Spike had now just awakened, his recommendation was to sleep through the entire flight. The rigorous training prescribed for all of the ponies onboard regarded that dragons were still in the "experimental phase", and he should remain asleep to avoid any problems. He had avoided altitude sickness in most balloon flights, but this was unusually high. Landing, however, would be the most difficult and strenuous, and he did wake up.
As the descent had entered the last phase, the rockets fired and the whole craft shook. All three of the pilots had been forced to the ground by the lack of free-fall present, but still shouted commands amongst one another and slapped delicate switches, buttons, and levers. Twilight had been the worst offender of the shouts, but the other two had been just as obnoxious and strained.
Celestia had appointed Spitfire and Soarin to learn all the specifics of high-altitude flight for the mission. As the pegasi that they were, flight was a specialty of theirs, and quickly joined with the control team. Rainbow Dash had been included with the command to not talk about the Wonderbolts, though, as the pilots could not be agitated.
The lander wobbled and bucked the closer it got to the ground, where the winds brushed harshly against the ground. Outside the windows the lights got brighter and brighter as the flames from the thrusters blasted the ground, continuing to get closer and closer, until-
THUD
All that could be heard was the roaring winds against the side of the craft. A light went on in the control switchboard that indicated that contact had been made, and all three of the pilots shook hooves with victorious grins. Outside, where the rocket lights had faded, the sky was occasionally obscured with thick sand-filled gusts on the night sky. While Spitfire and Soarin rose up to check the instrument gauges, Twilight got to her hooves and inspected the outside landscape of the island. She turned to face the guests of her scientific endeavor with bright and determined eyes.
"Suit up, everypony!"
Habitat: Chapter 1
Being the biped he was, Spike was suited up first.
Spike stepped out of the pod and into the sand with a boot covered foot. There was little he could see through the glass-covered visor of his EVA suit, but from what he could make out through the sandstorm and moonlight, they had landed on desert. Sand stretched across the land, only ending in ocean.
Twilight stepped out next, beaming a geeky smile through the glass visor. In a single leap she landed on the dune gave a brave look around. The smile on her face faded as she counted the dunes surrounding, and came up with one massive one.
But then her grin returned as she came alongside her number one assistant, pulling him into a hug. Spike wrapped his arms around through the thick padding, and found her warm body. Twilight, after all, was inspired by Spike to be just as positive no matter what.
"It isn't what I expected, but we're here! We did it!" Twilight beamed.
"Yeah! And the best part is-"
"We did it together!" Twilight chimed in.
She pulled him out of the hug and faced him to deliver the next serious points, after looking to the lander door. From out of the saddlebags incorporated into her EVA suit, a weird metal box with a glowing screen atop it levitated out.
"Okay Spike, I'm going to wait for Spitfire and Soarin to get out here, but in the meantime I need you to track down our supply container." Twilight informed Spike, floating the device to him to handle.
"Yes, Commander Sparkle!" Spike snapped a salute while failing to hide a grin and snicker.
Twilight giggled and shooed him off, turning to face Soarin exiting the cockpit.
Spike bounced across the dunes to get to a high point to look along the islands. He feared for a moment that it might have fallen beneath the waves, but it had landed on the next island over. It wasn't like Twilight had a choice in landing, so Spike would have to honor her as assistant. Luckily, the bay in-between islands had frozen over.
Standing on the shore, the ice was fresh and not incredibly thick, but walkable to those with lighter feet, which Spike would have to have. With the present being a better time than never, he picked up his tail as he took a delicate step onto the surface. Spike's EVA suit featured extra traction boots, in the event the high winds would sweep him away. Flying by any and all pegasi had been banned, because it was life or death here.
Spike got pretty far onto the ice before there was a loud cracking noise behind him. The storage unit was about halfway out, and he couldn't turn back now. He moved to the side slightly, but the cracking noise continued.
"Twilight, I think I n-" Spike breathed.
Suddenly the ice gave, and while Spike had dived ahead, the panel he had landed on flipped and dumped him into the frigid sea. He kicked and swam, but the weight of his environmental suit continued to drag him under. While the oxygen tank would give and he would breath underwater, the hypothermia would soon get to him and kill him.
"Twilight! I need you!" Spike shouted inside the thin margin of his mouth to glass, which wasn't a thick enough space to feel safe in.
***
"Spike's electrical systems are failing, something's happened." Spitfire said from inside the lander, before putting on a helmet to go talk to Twilight, who was in a hurried conversation already.
"How far out are you? You're breaking up Spike, come in!" Twilight panicked.
"Ma'am, w-" The pegasus under the lander began.
"I need to go help him, I'll be back!" Twilight shouted before she galloped off.
Spitfire stepped out and turned to Soarin, who was working on the landing gear. His expression was grim, but he delivered the news anyway.
"We've got a failure on the second leg, we're not going to be able to land again. Too much more of this storm and the pod will collapse, and it'll destroy the boosters."
"What does that mean?" Spitfire asked.
"We're going to be stranded if we stay out here too much longer, and this entire island is incapable of supporting life. Plus our communications array is about to go, so we won't be able to call for help. We need to abort soon." The repairing pilot wasn't very happy at all. Both sighed.
It had been a close mission, and a lot of faith had gone into this landing, but the entire chain of islands was devoid of anything but sand and rock; nothing more special than the resources of home. Perhaps the sciences they had so much faith in had been oversold, and while they had accomplished the first step, today was not the achievement.
"Twilight come in, we need you to return to the lander." Spitfire radioed with a grudge. Shortly after the landing gear creaked under the swaying craft.
"Sparkle here, go ahead Spitfire." Twilight crackled in, her breath short on the other end.
"The conditions here have increased to critical levels, we've agreed that an abort is in order. Return to the lander." Spitfire informed.
"Okay, if they get too much worse, launch without us. I can teleport within the storm cover. We'll-"
Twilight was cut off by the communications array blasting away in a large gust of wind that rocked the cabin.
"Get ready for launch!" Spitfire called.
Soarin finished his preparations beneath the landing gear as his superior climbed into the module. Before her helmet had depressurized and was off, she was bombarded with questions.
"Where's Spike?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"Is he in trouble?" Applejack stared suspiciously.
"What could have happened?" Rarity started.
"Oh my, is something wrong?" whispered Fluttershy.
"Is he DEAD?" bounced Pinkie Pie.
"No! Get back into your seats! We're launching!" shouted back Spitfire.
A large commotion began, wondering why she would betray both Twilight and Spike, following futile attempts by Spitfire to get them to settle into their seats. The lander rocked more with the oncoming winds approaching, and the other ponies would not stop. It was a mess.
Suddenly Soarin opened the door, leaving perfect opportunity for Rainbow Dash to fly into the night. The pilot toppled over as Spitfire ran after but was caught at the doorway. Rainbow Dash's short-lived flight quickly got her sucked deep into the storm winds.
"We have to launch now. Twilight's going to teleport aboard if we stay within range, but we need to fly after Rainbow Dash before something awful happens to her; but now, if you would please take your seats..." Spitfire shot nasty glares across the capsule.
***
Twilight skidded across the ice to a halt, just outside the hole Spike had dropped through. Time was running out for everyone, and she had just given the lander orders to depart. The radio silence, however, was disturbing. Should her suspicions be confirmed that the wireless communications had been knocked out, time was much more incredibly short.
A light flickered below the ice just as she turned, as Spike's electronics finally gave out. Twilight couldn't teleport him out if he wasn't visualized, so she would have to go in. With all four hooves she jumped in and fully submerged, swimming downwards into the abyss to beat Spike's fall rate.
Her helmet's headlamp scanned the murky darkness, as she pulled herself farther under. Spike's sinking had caused copious amounts of small bubbles to float to the surface, as a sign of struggling. Even more concerning were the larger bubbles that rose to the surface, implying Spike's oxygen supply was going.
Just before her visor had fogged up from her tense breathing, Spike's shadow came into view and Twilight levitated his body over; he did not protest as he faded deeper into unconsciousness. Upon closer examination, the water pressure had cracked his visor and water had flooded his ability to breathe.
With a spark of magic they had landed on the sheet ice surface, and Twilight quickly flipped Spike to dump water out of his helmet. Twilight depressurized her own helmet, looking up to the sky to see the red trail of rocket fuel burning across the now night sky. Conditions must have worsened on the lander, as Twilight might have predicted, and taken off before any chances could be taken. But it was moving too quickly away, and was impossible to reach.
The front spotlights had focused on a fleeting object in the sky, one that Twilight squinted to see. She could barely make out the form of a blue pegasus flipping out of control; Rainbow Dash being sucked into the storm into her eventual death. Twilight's knowledge of the craft's physics showed the grim possibility of being unable to perform another landing very real.
Fear flashed into Twilight's head, faced with the possibility of being marooned on a desolate island with near impossible survival conditions given. For many of the nights leading up to the mission, this exact scenario had been the subject of her nightmares. Perhaps she had earned it for her poor treatment she had given her friends, her blinded determination, and her awfully convincing argument she had given the Princess to get them here.
But she had dragged Spike along today, and might have cost him a respected life in civilization.
***
The lander had flown into the sky with little problems, but Rainbow Dash's lighter and smaller frame was flying faster than possible. She had not lost consciousness, so there was hope they could perform the maneuver quickly and fly away. Meanwhile, they were waiting on Twilight's return.
"Rarity, how strong is your magic?" Spitfire called over several loud electronic beeps.
"What? Well, if you think I can do any of Twilight's complicated teleportation magical nonsense you have the wrong mare. I am a lady, and-" Rarity protested.
"We don't need no magical nonsense! Come here Fluttershy!" Applejack argued, removing a rope from the supply box.
Applejack tied the rope to a solid steel fixture, and then tied herself to it. With the rope in her hooves, she could open the door and climb to the roof with a sense of confidence and safety. There was still a loose end she had not tied herself to, but held securely, and tossed down into the cabin.
"FLUTTERSHY! Get yourself up here!" Applejack shouted over the wails of the winds.
Everyone except Fluttershy backed to the rear wall.
"Oh goodness!" Fluttershy shrieked.
"Keep the lander level." Spitfire barked, tying the rope around Fluttershy's waist.
Spitfire returned her attention to piloting the spacecraft while Fluttershy inched her way out the door. While encouraging comments were welcome, no one had much else to say; nobody would dare place herself in their position. As soon as she had left the doorway, the wind caught her wings and she entered the sky, putting the rope at full tension.
The lander lifted higher into the sky and Fluttershy extended her arms to pull Rainbow Dash in, who tried to stabilize after constant flipping in air, but was near passing out from thin air. Applejack remained on the roof, tied to the same rope and barely standing, trying to keep Fluttershy from dragging the craft down. Rainbow Dash's attempts to stop flipping were met with little success, but while Fluttershy was within range, catching now would be extremely lethal.
Applejack's calls to take the opportunity were lost in the wind quickly, but Fluttershy went ahead and grabbed her. The whole lander shuddered as she became apart of the whole, and her flipping came to a sudden stop, throwing Fluttershy far away if not for the rope.
A tired and oxygen-deprived Applejack reeled the two exhausted pegasi in. Once she had grip on them, she used her legs as a lever to push all three indoors. When the rope was cut, the doors were sealed and all was okay, almost.
"Why aren't we going back?" Pinkie asked.
"We can't the winds are too strong. Our thrusters are off now, we should be dropping." The pilot said without looking up. Suddenly he turned to Spitfire.
"Sir, check our horizontal velocity?"
An alarm went off in the lander, as it began to shudder a great deal.
"We're hitting a high patch of wind." Soarin groaned.
"Reverse thrusters! We need to stay within the islands!" Spitfire shouted.
A large rumbling was felt beneath the floor as the engines revved up and pushed the craft back, but it didn't even slow the progress. The entirety of the craft shook and an earsplitting roar was felt beneath, as the rockets went to full capacity. Low fuel sirens rang out, as the time was getting far too short.
The rumbling cut out and was replaced by the entire lander flipping and shaking.
"Wind tunnel sir! We're going way too fast!" Soarin yelled as he stabilized himself in free-fall.
"Speed of 95 miles per hour, the chute casing broke!"
"WHERE'S TWILIGHT AND SPIKE?"
"WE NEED TO GO BACK!"
"9 miles off course!"
"WE'RE GONNA CRASH!"
"Everybody calm down! We're going to think of something!" Spitfire shouted.
Everyone had stabilized himself or herself in zero gravity, giving one another panicked looks. The two pilots remained stern.
There was a pause among the panic. Everyone had stabilized himself or herself and stood in the lowered gravity, looking amongst one another for the solution that would come to no one. The two Wonderbolt pilots were the authority, whether it be self-declared or their knowledge outranking the other passengers, they took command.
"We've lost communications, fuel, and landing capabilities. We're going home first."
Shouts of protest filled the cockpit.
"EVERYONE BE QUIET!" Soarin shouted.
"We'll put it to a vote!" Pinkie suggested.
"There will be no voting! This is an emergency situation and we're in charge!" Spitfire commanded.
She silenced them before the protests began. Every one of them looked her in the eye and gave her their worst glare.
"Go to sleep, it's late." She said before turning to the controls.
The lander had stabilized but was carried along by the wind still, which had not stopped shaking the craft. Soarin and Spitfire prepared for splash down to wait for the rescue ship, while it's inhabitants floated in the controlled free-fall. Rarity turned to Applejack and gave a very scrutinizing and specific glare.
***
Spike’s eyelids slid open, when he had expected never to ever again. But in all reality, the way his life had gone, Twilight and her friends would come through.
But at what cost?
Getting up off the sand was not enjoyable, as his limbs brushed against a water filled suit in ice-cold temperatures. The visor had been smashed underwater, and once useless, tossed to the side. With it removed, he could observe his surroundings much better.
Twilight had been alongside him the entire time, helmet off and silently weeping. She tried to hide her tears, but had only begun when they made eye contact; he had noticed.
“Twilight! You’re crying, why?” Spike quickly asked. He realized too late he had developed a massive headache, and his words amplified his pain.
“We… may be in a lot of trouble…” Twilight whispered.
Spike stood up, ignoring the cold, looking for Twilight’s other friends who could offer support. But the lander across the sea had disappeared, and left evidence by the charred sand that it had blasted off without them.
“Are they coming back?” Spike asked, quietly and failing to hide any worry.
“They shouldn’t, they’d risk more lives.” Twilight hung her head.
“But they’re our friends! They’ll come back!” Spike tried to reassure; he failed.
“No Spike, they won’t. The winds have grown too strong, the legs are weakened, there won’t be a rescue mission, we can’t leave, there’s, uh…” Twilight broke down.
Spike looked around the area for someplace warm and safe. Both of them were clearly overtired, and the night wasn’t expected to be friendly, so overnight accommodations were in order. Still, the islands remained barren of everything but sand, ice, and water.
But then his eyes fell on the storage container, where it’s goal had been to keep the extra supplies for the crew untouched from the elements of nature. Twilight and Spike could remain warm, cozy, and safe for however long their stay would be; hopefully not forever as predicted, but this would remain their only alternative for the time being.
Spike trudged through the ice water in his suit up to the entrance of the steel container. Twilight inferred his direction out of the corner of her eye, but largely wanted to remain alone, and stayed. With two claws, he gripped the opening wheel with all his might and cranked.
Above the whistle and rush of wind came a loud metal clang, and the door swung open. Spike began to pull boxes aside to get to the power switch, and turned on the lights.
Once the spare boxes had been cleared, the shelves that lined the right made a walkway to the right, ending in a wall. The last two shelves were rotated, with one lining the back wall, and another parallel to it. Spike was folding a few of the tarps onto the floor to make a faux mattress, when Twilight closed the door behind her.
“Good idea Spike, this will be the safest place for tonight.” Twilight quietly smiled, before unzipping her environmental suit and tossing it on an empty shelf, becoming somber again.
“No problem Twi, hope you’re feeling better.” Spike returned a smile, sliding past her to place some boxes outside and take his water-filled suit off outside.
Twilight shuffled some of the equipment filled boxes, looking for the food in case they needed it in the near future. Spike returned, leaving his suit outside, as it would never be used again. He handed her one of the fire blankets as she settled down on top of the tarps, and he switched off the storage unit’s lights.
Spike returned to the sleeping area on the purple glow of Twilight’s horn, draping himself in the fire blanket he retained. He too settled into the tarp next to his caretaker, who still remained in depression. His eyes remained fixed on the ceiling, thoughts staving off worry by thinking of how to cure Twilight’s depression.
He reached a claw out and found her hoof, holding it softly in order to reassure her. Twilight didn’t protest, but she was tense, shivering slightly.
“It’s not awesome Twilight, but we’ll be okay. We made it here together, and we’ll make the most of this toge-“ Spike was cut off by Twilight rolling opposite him, mentally running away from him and his words.
Spike was far too kind, but it in all reality it fell mockingly on Twilight’s ears. Somehow, his reassurances were found to be confirming of the suspicions that had become her reality; suspicions where she had dragged Spike into this, got what she herself had deserved for abusing the kindness of her friends, and brought her punishment on her dearest friend.
Sure, Spike would be kind; it was his own infectious nature. But Twilight never deserved it, and she never will, because it was her fault she threw away their lives. It was also further silly to deny the fact that there was hope for a rescue. Between their already shortened food supply and the approaching winter, seeing next year was impossible. There would be no way to tell if they lived either, the thick cloud cover kept out any radio transmissions and Spike's magical letters, with it's near magical properties.
Even worse, what if they were wrong? And they would grow old alone?
No, they would have each other.
The only thing Twilight could agree on at that moment in time, was that Spike was right, and the best thing they could do was be happy together. Together, they might just make it fun.
“Goodnight, Spike.” Twilight’s voice was shaking, despite her best efforts.
It was hope, but it was about the size of the eye of a needle.
Author's Note
Congratulations, you've made it through the most difficult part of the story: Exposition! Now, your reward is a lot of TwiSpike, enjoy!
My editor Muffinpatrol has made a few songs that makes this story enjoyable, check then out below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7VmOZ4Ppj8&sns=em
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii1tc493bZM&sns=em
A voice whispered from out of the darkness, where it came from or who they were was irrelevant. But who they spoke to, was the important mystery.
"What have you done?" A solitary voice called.
"Nothing wrong! I have only begun the isolation!" Spoke another.
"I don't think they are happy at all, they distress over their lost friends." The first worried, it’s compassion for others threatened.
"But why? They say the two have to be alone for it to begin, don't they?" Wondered the second voice, curiosity consuming it’s own tasks.
"True, but maybe you should make it slightly more appealing." Offered the first.
There was no reply, as the second voice redirected it’s own curiosity to the facts presented. It was a short period of thought, but it swayed it’s own judgement.
"It is done, we shall have it your way." It grumbled, and it was resolved.
***
There was too much rolling in the cockpit for Rarity not to wake up.
Her exhaustion was the result of fatigue, as is the standard, but emotional fatigue wasn't. Nobody wouldn't agree that Rarity was the drama empress, but she'd like to think that most people considered her to have a soul; one that hurt right now.
First of all, Twilight was her friend. She was a lighthouse in an ocean of Ponyville's low standards, and could have an educated dialogue unicorn to unicorn. Her plain taste and dry interests were no concern; Twilight was a pony who cared, wanted to achieve, and kept the group stable when nobody could.
Spike was just as valuable, but just as lost. It was no surprise that he had an interest for a certain white unicorn, and while Rarity had no intention of spoiling the mystery, she had no trouble enjoying his company. Devoting his free time to doing exactly what he did as work, just to someone who he loved as much as he loved his own figurative mother, with utter devotion.
Somehow, Rarity had not delivered devotion in return, and left them.
No, she resolved, there would be a way.
Chapter 2
Twilight would not move from the spot where she had slept through the night. Despite the fire blankets and tarp mattress she had fixed together, the hard floor of the storage unit was thoroughly unforgiving. While Spike had fared better, he was far too worried about Twilight's state of being.
"You can't stay in here all day, it's about mid-afternoon." Spike groaned through a freeze-dried apple paste.
"Well there isn't much else to do but die here anyway!" Twilight shouted, her voice bouncing off the aluminum walls.
"But you're usually so creative! I'm sure you were prepared for a situation like-"
"Go away Spike." Twilight got up to look him in the eyes.
Spike turned to look at the door, and the melted water from last night's adventure, reliving a frigid memory; but it was time for a walk. Out of respect for Twilight, he suited up into the one spare dragon suit that had landed with the storage unit. Once on, he muttered some pitiful prayer about being able to reuse at least one suit, and unsealed the door.
In an surprising turn of events, Spike was blinded by, not to be expected, sunshine. No winds battered the side of his helmet, just a cooling breeze that ran along his padded knees. Once his headgear was unsealed and tossed into the sands, it was evident of no mirage, just the warmth of Celestia's sun on his scales and the fresh smell of the sea.
To the more observant, the land was still devoid of anything but a flat plain of sand, but now he could see more islands in the distance; vegetated islands across real ocean, not ice. Most of the ice had melted overnight, and could now be traversed without risk of dying, or special suit.
Spike shed his EVA uniform and dug his toes into the sand, feeling relief from his frozen arctic night. The changed conditions on the island had not shed the storm, which now formed a halo around the island, and the lander would not be returning anytime soon. Therefore, Twilight would not get up and out either.
It didn't take long, however, before the dunes began to look an awful lot like a massive blank canvas. The islands were home to no inhabitants, and it would be a long time before any would come, so Spike had by rule of finder's keepers had inherited a lot of resources.
A lot of resources to make Twilight a happy mare.
***
Rarity's planning had been interrupted by Spitfire's awakening, who returned such a favor.
"Okay everyone, time to get up." Spitfire grunted.
All of the inhabitants of the lander had fallen asleep rather quickly, as such adventure exhausts just as fast, while Soarin and Spitfire had stayed awake until they could splashdown. Needless to say, they still wore fatigue, but were determined to return faster; supplies were dwindling.
"Everybody, NOW!" Spitfire shouted.
An entire cockpit of ponies grumbled, pulling themselves up to give the flaming-maned pegasus the attention she desired. Many of them were disappointed they hadn't woken up in better circumstances, but that too was life. Soarin already began going over a checklist, giving the crowd quick looks to check their status.
"Okay, I need two volunteers to help us with the rigging of the balloon to get us home." Soarin gazed over the potential helpers. Rarity was quick.
"Applejack and I would simply love too!" Rarity pulled the earth pony over and faked a massive toothy grin.
"Actually, I was hoping for pega-"
"NO! Applejack and I need the fresh air. This room is so dreadfully stuffy!" Rarity began to whine.
"Whoa now, let's, um..." Applejack's lazily protested, fighting sleep.
"Fresh air would be good for us!" Pinkie beamed, her recovery much faster than the other earth pony.
"You two it is, but get a parachute pack ready." Soarin groaned, once Spitfire had agreed not to give any sort of support.
Once Applejack had the time to, she shot Rarity an awful glare. Both had the packs strapped to their backs, and were waiting on the curved surface of the lander, while their superiors organized indoors.
"Why did your pretty little head want us out here so badly? Something better be the matter, Sugarcube." Applejack glared.
"Now see here Applejack, we're going to rescue Twilight and Spike, and-"
"Oh no, we don't know how t-"
"Don't you DARE interrupt me again, you uncultured mess. We have to get rid of those two, and you're going to have to follow, My. LEAD." Rarity hissed, just before the door unsealed, hiding out Applejack's next argument.
"Okay you two, we've got to hook this to the support ring, and then we need you to hook in the extra supports to get this started." Spitfire directed while Soarin hovered down to the first attachment.
Rarity and Applejack held tightly to a safety rail that ran along the curvature of the lander, as the balloon began to inflate and level the pod. While it appeared the two hung limp, Rarity was hard at work.
The straps on Applejack's pack unhooked from her torso and levitated out of sight, joining the glowing aura of Rarity's pack. Applejack continued to protest silently, trying to drag Rarity's leg down as she climbed over the side of the ship. A squinted, careful eye inspected the two pilots, waiting for their attention to go, which it did.
Rarity slowly got to her hooves and levitated the packs behind the two pegasi deep in focus, straps spread wide, as if they had an unstable mind of their own, which they did.
Spitfire lurched as the first pack restrained her forelimbs and wings, before rolling off the side of the craft into the ocean, barely a scream left her. But Soarin had noticed, and his head whipped around.
"HEY! You two!" He shouted, fighting the magical pack trying to tie him down.
"A little help Applejack?" Rarity strained, a bead of sweat rolled down past the overbearing glow of her horn.
"Why should I help you, this is your problem!" Applejack crossed her arms. Somewhere, she hid a grin.
"Errgg, because we'll be in trouble for treason! If you don't do it for me, Mmnnngrrhh, do it for Twilight! And Spike!" Rarity's eyes crossed several times from strain.
"I better not be getting any more of that attitude, Miss Madam Prissy Pants." Applejack muttered.
Applejack climbed along the side of the rising capsule and delivered a swift, justified, and violent rear leg to the face of Soarin. The pack wrapped with ease and Applejack tossed his limp, drooling body over the side.
"Oh wonderful Applejack! Yes!" Rarity did a quick celebration before sliding down the side handlebars and opening the door.
The three ponies indoors featured depressed faces, accepting their fate, but were generally surprised to see Rarity. Perhaps something unexpected had happened, maybe in their favor.
"Rainbow Dash? Fluttershy? I have a special task for you two." Rarity said while giving one a look in the eye, and then the other.
"I need you to send our two captured pilots back to Canterlot, and tell the Princess the situation." Rarity informed.
While they were surely excited, the joy had turned to worry rather quickly. Fluttershy's pupils had shrunk, and while Pinkie Pie had done exactly the same, Rainbow Dash's widened.
"Gee Rarity, I didn't think you had it in you." Rainbow Dash said, genuinely shocked.
"Why thank you dear, I'd hope you'd admire my loyalty to my friends." Rarity acknowledged and not much else.
"B-but, isn't that sabotage? Won't the Princess lock us up?" Fluttershy paled.
"I'd hope the Princess respects the notion that we had to rescue Twilight and Spike out of the sheer desires of friendship, but a story about madness or altitude sickness should go absolutely fine, too." Rarity replied.
Rainbow Dash slapped a salute, before slapping Fluttershy's shaking back into order. Pinkie made them pause to administer hugs, reassuring them that the fate of Equestria was in their hooves; while there was some humor to that, it had become true on a daily basis.
"Your future with the Wonderbolts is floating in the water Dash, I'd suggest-" Rarity began.
"Go get 'em Dashie! Oh, and you better go too Fluttershy!" Pinkie bounced, before shoving them out the door.
Applejack descended into the hatch and sealed it behind her. Inside it was quiet, except for Rarity throwing switches and giving the lander it's new rescue mission. From the window, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy could be seen flying off in the direction of their homes, each carrying their prisoner.
"Well, you have control now, do you also have a plan?" Applejack mused, somewhere inside hiding away her anger, but ultimately failing.
"I know I asked a lot of you today, but this is absolutely necessary." Rarity said as she continued to work.
"It must have certainly looked nice on paper, we're in a heap of trouble when we get home." Applejack turned back to her seat.
"No, we won't, we'll-"
"You don't know that, do you? Your training for this was only reading, you never actually sat behind the cockpit, have you? Now all of us could die!" Applejack shouted.
Rarity closed her eyes, and focused on lifting the balloon into the sky, before firing the thrusters to push towards the islands. It was true, she wasn't 100% sure another landing could be performed, but this was the only rescue mission they would send. Risking another team to get two people was impractical, and with winter approaching, Twilight and Spike would die before the mission was put to motion.
"We're going to do this, it's final. Celestia intervene if you should even possibly disagree with me for something I believe in, but I don't mind a little bit of backseat driving." Rarity declared.
"Yeah!" Pinkie shouted.
The craft swung as it dangled above the Earth, and carried on it's direction in the noon sunlight.
***
Twilight levitated the fire blanket over her head, folded it properly, and stacked it on a shelf. To send reality away for too long was wrong, and so she would play Spike's game.
She was not entirely clear of her doubts from the past night, but she was a student of the great Princess Celestia; there was a certain dignity that came with the job, whether it be self-assigned or not it was necessary. Spike had also earned a bit of Twilight's foolishness too, because that made him happy, and somebody needed to be happy on this godforsaken island.
As she had always believed, laziness and efficiency were two very different things, but the main reason she was checking the weather right now was most likely fear. Her horn glowed and reached out to feel the atmosphere, and was shocked: Blue skies and sunshine.
Twilight approached the door with no suit, and unlatched the locks, swinging it open in a low hum of lavender magic. True to her scientific discoveries, Twilight was met with blinding sunlight reflecting off vibrant white sand, which she didn't hesitate to dig a hoof into and relieve the frostbite of last night.
Once she had taken it all in, she could really focus in on her surroundings. Spike was sitting, legs crossed, on a mat composed of palm leaves, where there was a larger lump covered in the large leaves.
"Oh hello there Twilight, would you care to join me?" Spike said, eyelids at about halfway, and acting more than a little coy.
"What is going on here?" Twilight asked bewildered.
"Just a slice of paradise, that's what." Spike offered a coconut half, awfully sliced so that you could tell Spike had probably whacked off the top with a rock.
"T-this is impossible! All of this is scientifically impossible!" Twilight stuttered.
"But see, I've never been one to question a good thing when it comes my way. You should probably do the same, too much worry isn't good for your complexion." Spike answered between sips of a similar, awfully crafted cup.
"Is this what you've been doing all day?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah! And you know what I've found? We're completely alone!" Spike proclaimed as he got to his feet.
He headed over a dune, illustrating where he was leading Twilight, and coming to a higher point. At the point he had chosen, he pointed out another island in the distance. While the fog still obscured it, it was not as hidden as last night, and a well-vegetated island was within reach.
"There's a whole forest of almost every kind of tree and shrub there!" Spike explained, removing the large leaves.
Spike's day at the island had resulted in a large bounty of tropical fruits. Twilight stared down dumbstruck, and Spike watched the mirrored reflection in her agape black pupils. They were bright, colorful, and delectable, something not expected of an uninhabitable place as deemed the previous night.
"This is quite the place to be stranded in, eh Twilight?" Spike proudly declared, before taking a large bite out of a fist-sized red fruit.
"Yes, it is true. I will admit it is amazing." Twilight muttered.
Spike raised an eyebrow, before recognizing Twilight's state of depression.
"Okay, you've gone on with this act too long. Tell me what's bothering you."
Twilight looked at the ground, really knowing she had gone and made something bad worse. While they were stranded, Spike was right; they wouldn't suffer as predicted. Still, Twilight was not entirely sure that it had all of the comforts of home. They had left behind loved ones, and Spike couldn't manage any solution for that.
"Spike, I think you have discovered something wonderful, but it isn't home. My brother, the Princess, our friends, Owlicious, even people we see everyday, we won't ever see them again! I can't live happy knowing I've thrown away my life and yours?" Twilight pleaded.
Spike gave her a concerned look, but he held no anger. He stared at her for a long time, squinting to see if she really meant it.
"You're off your rocker, this is great! Didn't ANYONE teach you to be happy with the gift you're given?" Spike reprimanded.
Twilight was given some pause, but she didn't dare feel sorry out of fear of Spike's feelings. Sure it hurt, but she would be a coward to not get up when it was difficult. She was the prized pupil of Princess Celestia, after all, and this was a situation for levelheadedness.
Spike tossed his finished fruit to the ground, and extended a welcoming claw, directing her to where he began to walk. Twilight got up and followed, unsure of what to do next, just when she had been so sure a second ago. From where she could see, the gears were turning in his head.
"I'm going to help you get over some personal issues pretty quickly, is that alright with you?" Spike asked.
Twilight nodded, stopping next to Spike. They had walked to the shoreline of the island, and had planted hoof and foot into the wetter part of the sand, where the tide wouldn't be for a few hours. After he had addressed Twilight, he turned to the open plain of ocean.
"THIS IS PARADISE!" He shouted to only himself and Twilight, and it was okay.
He tilted his head to Twilight, who too was standing, and watching with amusement. The formations of a grin had appeared, which was exactly what Spike had wanted. His arm reached out and waved for her to come closer, which she did.
"Try it! Shout something!" Spike egged on.
"I don't think I'm nearly as good as you are, I think I'd rather listen." Twilight sheepishly grinned.
"Nobody can hear you but us, and you can't do anything to ruin your reputation with me!" Spike beamed.
Another chord of emotional pain struck Twilight where it counted, because Spike had just lied to her again. But then again, only she thought that. Did he mean it? Spike was begging her to have fun with her, something she would be the monster she really believed she was. It was a lie she could believe, for now though.
"Okay Spike, but you have to show me what to do." Twilight smiled earnestly this time.
"Think of something happy, something important to you!" Spike answered.
She thought, but came up with a pathetic, yet sufficient answer.
"YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND!" Twilight shouted.
"YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND TOO!" Spike replied just as loud.
The winds blew and the waves crashed, but the only sound important was the giggling the two had on the shore. For a moment that didn't leave for long, Twilight had found that everything she needed was with Spike; it didn't leave, but it moved to the background. It really was a paradise, because she wasn't alone at all.
"I can't lose you, you're the only person I have left in the world. You can't lose me either, you'd go crazy! I know it's not the library, but it could be." Spike smiled.
Twilight had remembered what he had said, and how he was right all along. His plans, in turn, inspired her plans.
"Okay Spike, I'll play your game, but I'm going to make up a few parts of it too."
"That's the Twilight I know!" Spike beamed.
"Of course Spike, I'm not going anywhere." Twilight reassured, pulling him into a tight hug.
"Now, let's see how much of a house we can get up before dawn?" Twilight grinned, a deep determination they both shared.
***
"Pinkie, get Applejack up!" Rarity panicked from behind the controls.
En route to the rescue, Applejack had finally grown too fatigued from the adventures she had particular part in. She had twice deprived herself of oxygen at high altitudes, and hadn't seen Celestia's sun without glass in two days; needless to say she was a wreck. Her had had taken an undignified spot on the ground, and her hair had disheveled from far too many times of flying around. With cheeks sullen, her bright orange color deteriorated, she had left nearly everything to Rarity.
Pinkie too had occupied herself taking care of Applejack, and had little training to benefit Rarity besides extravehicular activities. Applejack's normal avoidance of Pinkie had failed once fallen asleep, so she could continue to be Pinkie, despite Rarity's attempts to concentrate.
"APPLEJACK! Rise and shine miss!" Rarity shouted.
An alarm had gone off, with the warning that the power was leaving the landing craft. Applejack had the training for engineering, and so she was needed immediately.
"Okay captain, you have my attention." Applejack murmured as she hoisted herself against one of the larger steel supports in the frame.
"I need your opinion on this little event." Rarity said, highlighting the flashing warning.
"Hmmm... Yes... See there..." Applejack mumbled, running her hooves over pages in a manual. "See, this is an electrical warning. We've been piloting this thing for far longer than it's intending, and if we don't repair it soon we'll drop like mosquitos in winter. Did you catch all of that?"
"What's the solution?" A look of grave concern washed over the unicorn.
Applejack paused to flip through more pages, mumble to herself, and pull up another page from the thick guide.
"Yessum, there's this box-thingy, and it has a lot of magical stuff. It's under the ship, so you'd have to land it somewhere." Applejack yawned.
"Well that's no solution, we're over the ocean!"
"Not if you climb around the side, which I'M certainly not doing. Pinkie, make yourself useful an-"
"No! This requires the handiwork of a unicorn! I must go, but I will need your help Pinkie."
Pinkie bounced, excited for an activity that doesn't include sitting. Rarity rolled her eyes in regret, but continued to suit up in her environmental costume, while Applejack resumed her post.
"Hey Rarity?" Applejack said without turning.
"Yes dear?" Rarity tried to turn, but failed while suiting up.
"Be careful out there, y' hear?" Applejack smiled weakly.
***
The home was assembled pretty quickly, due to Twilight's magical nature and Spike's insane work ethic. Twilight could splinter down wood with her mind's eye, by literally seeing the boards inside. Spike would then set up the structure and hammer on the outside boards, and painting when caught up. When Spike was behind, Twilight's precise magic made rope and weaved mats and such from the tree skin.
There were two bedrooms, one for each inhabitant of the island, along with room personal belongings and clothing. The rooms were then attached to a main indoor room, which was attached to an outdoor room. Even by sunset, they had moved to more fun items of interest, like dying the rugs and decorations. All of the walls were candlelit, and the faith in the construction was actually enough to move the supplies in the storage container indoors.
When Twilight had began to place her personal belongings and books into the shelves, Spike took a moment to disappear. He was gone long enough for Twilight to come after him, but not long enough for her to find him quickly. He was outside on the shore again, building a fire.
He had gathered the wood scraps and set them ablaze, creating a massive red bonfire, where he waited for Twilight to join him. His disappearance was also productive, when he handed her a dress he had weaved and dyed a pinkish-red, which still smelled of pomegranate and apple. She was overjoyed.
"Oh gosh Spike, how did you manage to do this?" Twilight exclaimed.
"Remember when I said I got one really sandy? Well, I actually did, but I left it in the pink dying tub. Rarity said dresses go well with your highl-" Spike was cut off in mid hug.
"This is the most generous thing to ever have happened to me! You're amazing!" Twilight gushed, between tight embraces.
"You can't exactly spend your stay here ugly." Spike said, gasping for air in her embrace.
True, Spike wasn't usually this suave, but he was making this time for Twilight better when it was difficult, which Twilight deeply appreciated. Spike grabbed her hoof, and lead her to the glow of the fire. For awhile, the two just stood in the sand, admiring the warmth provided as the sun set and the cold moved in. But then, Twilight moved to hold both claws.
"Come on Spike, aren't you going to ask me to dance?" Twilight grinned.
"W-what? Um, why?" Spike blushed.
"Don't you hear the music?"
For a moment, all that could be heard between both was the crashing of waves, the crackle of flames and the rush of hot air at the core, and the creaking of their new home. But then Twilight began to move her hips side to side, rocking along to a low hum in her throat. Spike's feet slid around in the sand as Twilight leaned into him, continuing to hum a song.
"Can't you hear it? Doesn't make you want to dance?" Twilight quietly smiled, whispering in his ear.
Spike began to hum along to the song too, building onto it as they broke apart from holding arms and dancing in their own way, but together. Twilight hummed loudly, making drum noises and generally rocking out. Spike couldn't suppress a giggle, as Twilight's violently purple eyes flashed at him, total joy and amusement leaking out of them.
Once Spike joined in, making crazy guitar noises and shredding the air with ridiculous power steel moves, it was over. Once Twilight split her sides giggling, as Spike had just done and continued to do, it was over. Once Twilight's half-lidded eyes met Spike's fancy and suave dance moves, it was done.
They had captured the islands, for themselves.
***
Once the sun went down, and the two deemed it was too late, they went inside. Twilight told Spike to go ahead, and she would put the fire out, so he did.
Spike had little requirements before curling up in his hammock; besides brushing his teeth and getting a glass of water, he was under the sheets rather quickly. However, he didn't get to sleep as quickly as he wanted, and he lie awake for a long time waiting for Twilight.
He had heard the door shut to the main room, but Twilight had a specific routine before going to bed that he didn't hear. So he rolled out of his bed and investigated, hopefully a move he wouldn't regret.
Twilight had assembled a desk for her to continue to work, if she pleased, but now she sat at it, crying. She had finally disassembled, all of her pent up worry completely released into sobs. Spike approached silently, but had stepped on a creaking board, and she whipped her head around to face Spike.
"Is everything okay Twilight?" Spike asked, when he knew the answer.
Her eyes were bloodshot, and tears continued to flow and soak her already drenched cheeks. While she tried to respond, it only came out as sobs and tears, and she could no longer face Spike. With her magic, she levitated one of the towels with the mission's symbol embroidered on it, and wiped away her tears, before being reminded of the lander and crying more.
Spike rushed to her side and took the towel from her, ripping out the insignia before continuing to wipe the tears for her. A gentle arm was lent to her side, which Twilight returned a weakened smile.
"Come on Twilight, we need to get past this!" Spike reassured. "You can't be in that place forever, it's unhealthy!"
Twilight sniffed, wiped her tears, and hugged the young dragon. He was right again, but she had to speak her mind.
"I have to come to terms with these things Spike, but it isn't easy for me. I know you have your entire family right here, and I'm glad you do, but I don't." Twilight said, her voice croaking with sadness.
"I'm family too, Twilight. I'm your family, and I'm all the family you'll have to need." Spike replied, her sadness finally getting to him.
"That's not true, I know somewhere my parents are out there right now. They may not think I'm lost to them, but I am. Of all the expectations they've had of me, none of them were to get stranded on some lost island."
Twilight had stopped crying, she had gone too far personally and was completely done with the present. Her eyelids were red and puckered, exhausted of shedding tears which had stained her cheeks. Spike had begun stroking her mane, and found her shivering.
She was a mare of traditions and honor, where her personal isolations worked towards a goal for the better of those surrounding her, and now she had no one to benefit. Spike had been whispering reassurances in her ear, but they now seemed to be efforts in vain, and finally gave up.
"Spike stop, please. I need to pour out my grief, I'll be in bed in a second... Just..." Twilight asked before breaking down into a fresh batch of tears. The meanings of solutions were too far away, and her worry was all consuming.
"No, you have to leave this somewhere! Don't keep doing this! It's wrong!" Spike pleaded.
Twilight sniffed, and gave in to Spike's worry, forcing herself to become stronger so she could reason with the dragon. Spike waited with shimmering emerald eyes, and Twilight caught herself waiting for a response too. She sighed, and began.
"I'm sorry... Gosh, just, I'm so sorry... " Twilight sniffled, before smiling a faint smile. "Funny how you can expect an entire life, to have husband and children, to grow old and have a family, and it wasn't ever real. It seemed so real, and I won't ever know it."
Spike's head had stopped churning out ideas, where he thought there was none. Yet, somewhere inside, he thought of one last thought. It was a simple thought, and yet, it was infectious, and it made more thoughts. It wasn't there before, and now it was, as it had been all along.
He took both forehooves into his claws, feeling their soft plush texture, as if they'd provide some form of confidence. He stared up at Twilight, who stared at the floor, eyes shut until she felt Spike's hands.
"T-that could be arranged..." Spike whispered.
As he had not expected, Twilight was not shocked by this prospect, implying it was something she already thought of. She looked to the side, as her worries changed to new ones.
"It's impossible." Twilight mused.
"I need a better reason than that." Spike replied.
Twilight's eyes flicked back to his, expressionlessly, violet eyes shining bright in the afterglow of the candles. It was something she had to think of, and invest a lot of thought into.
"You wanted someone to grow old with, have a family with, and I'd give you that." Spike said bravely.
"Spike, that's huge! I-I can't just do that!" Twilight worried.
Spike wrapped his arms around her torso, pulling into a hug. Twilight instinctively placed her hooves around his neck.
"I would, because I love you."
"I love you too, it's settled." Twilight smiled.
Then, both leaned in, and kissed.
***
"Okay Pinkie, just a little bit more..." Rarity mentioned, deeply focused in on realigning the reactor onto the wall.
Pinkie held the lamp, while partially supporting the large metal box Rarity was screwing in. She strained her appendages just to keep up, but she held on knowing her burden was not as great as Rarity's. In the dimmed light, a solitary bead of sweat rolled away from her focused horn.
Suddenly, the radio holstered to Rarity's utility belt shrieked static. The screws she had been magically attaching dropped, along with any other tool she had been levitating, and the accompanying gasp of pure frustration.
Still, she put on her best attitude to talk to her dear friend who carried her burden with her.
"Yes dear Applejack?" Rarity answered, surprised at the wear her voice carried.
"You better be getting back up here, we got a wicked shimmy up ahead." Applejack replied.
"We'll be there in time, we still have to finish cleaning up. Good to see you're healt-"
"Ohmygosh! Do you have any idea how HARD it is not to talk to everyone! It's EXTREMELY hard!" Pinkie shouted, within a margin of a foot between herself and Rarity in the access panel.
Rarity gave her a deadly look before shutting off the radio, but changed her countenance. Pinkie's grin didn't falter.
"Alright Pinkie, we're in the home stretch. You can put your suit on now, just don't fidget please." Rarity instructed.
Rarity finished attaching the reactor box, as Pinkie slid into the thickly padded suit, and screwed on her helmet. The work reinvigorating the reactor with magic had strained Rarity once more, and while Pinkie had done her best to assist her, the weight of it was on the unicorn's natural born talent. Talent never was complete blessing, though.
Once recharged, the lander could return to the surface of the islands efficiently, as it was unable previously. Rarity was satisfied with her work, and had entered her suit, and once her hair had cleanly entered the helmet, she opened the door. Pinkie slowly lowered a rope she had harnessed to Rarity, as she dangled helplessly over a black ocean reflecting the night sky.
Then, with all of her remaining strength, she swung to the ladder down the side of a large booster just outside the cockpit door. The access panel for all of the essentials was located directly under the landing craft, which was an extremely delicate operation to get to mid-flight. Rarity's hoof just touched the ladder, when she felt the harness dropped out underneath her momentarily.
Her widened eyes swarmed to Pinkie's location, where she couldn't see. She held herself up onto the ladder and quickly secured the rope onto the ladder rung, and tugged as the symbol. There was no response.
"Pinkie dear, are you-" Rarity asked.
Suddenly the lander swung violently in a gust of wind, and a bright pink mass fell out of the bottom.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!" Pinkie screamed.
"NO PINKIE!" Rarity shouted down, before her horn flashed a brilliant blue, shooting sparks as she cried out of strain.
Pinkie's falling form highlighted blue twice, before falling into darkness. In the distance, a heavy splash faintly echoed up to the unicorn, who pushed tears away to climb up to the cabin door. Rarity hastily opened the door, and Applejack met her, mostly recovered.
"Applejack we have to go down, Pinkie fell out!" Rarity pleaded.
Applejack didn't even look at her, walking straight past her to turn off the internal lighting, and the heating engine to the balloon.
"APPLEJACK! Pinkie's going to drown! We both know she was never good at swimming!"
She turned and gave the white unicorn a solemn look.
"Someone else is down there, we're going to keep our distance." Applejack groaned.
Rarity didn't question the judgement of her friend. She sat, because that's all that she could do.
Author's Note
As has become the standard, here's some more epic music you might like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3jM7I0IwVY&sns=em
