The Dimensional Quest Part II: Galactic Peril

Chapter 8

Compa's medical room was empty just a minute ago.
The only sounds were an occasional drop of water from a nearby sink, as well as an overhead fan spinning slowly.
The bed smelled like a garden of lavender.
Then the ground violently shook after a loud boom.
It shook again.
It became an earthquake.
Not long after the wounded came pouring in, with faces burnt and scarred.
The garden of lavender was crushed by the foul odor of gunpowder.

Limbs are bent backward, skin is bruised to a dark purple.

"I did this," the unicorn grunts.

Suddenly her brain goes to autopilot.

She hops out of her bed, and sneaks out, trying to keep her whimpering as soft as possible.

Neptune and IF are overlooking the sea, where there are hundreds of naval ships littering the ocean floor.
"What's the damage?" Neptune asks.
"Worse than a cookie in apple juice. Lastation is still putting out fires, Compa has her hands full. Thankfully no deaths but there are a lot of critically injured," IF replies.

"What a birthday present," Neptune mutters.

"I did this," Amethyst repeats.

Neptune and IF give her puzzled glances.

"Tell me how I can help. It's the least I can do for getting people hurt."
"You didn't-"

"I did do it! I failed you, and everyone who got hurt."

Tears become puddles below her face.

Through her watery vision she sees several cardboard boxes grouped together, labeled "supplies".

"I'll deliver those."
With her magic, she lifts them up, and trots away sniffling.

Suddenly, an Atsafarian warship zooms into appearance above.
"Crap," IF gasps.
The spacecraft quickly descends, and lands with a loud thump.
"I guess they're not done," Neptune says.

Daffy and company stumble dizzily out of the ship.

"What kind of landing was that?!" Kitty shouts.
"I'm still getting used to the controls," Daffy grumbles.
"I told you to kiss the ground, not smother it! Have you ever kissed something?!"
"Yes. Unlike you, it was not a donkey's behind."
"Very funny. Well you...hey what's that noise?"
It is the sound of Purple Heart flying in then smashing into the soil.
"Freeze!" she orders.
Daffy looks her over and drools.
"Why hello, gorgeous," he purrs.
Purple Heart grabs him by the throat.
"Even more gorgeous when you're angry," Daffy adds.
He gets slapped across the face a hundred times in a second.
"Woah there. Nobody likes seeing him get slapped like me, but we mean no harm. We come in peace," Kitty reveals.
Daffy gets one more slap before being dropped, and Purple Heart glares at the feline.
"Why should I believe you?"

Kitty drops her rifle.

"We're unarmed. We just want to talk to a unicorn named Amethyst," Emily explains.

Purple Heart huffs.

"You'll walk in front of me."

Amethyst walks the ashy streets of Planeptune, handing out first aid kits, water bottles, and food packaged in cardboard.
"I'm sorry," she tells each person.
The unicorn receives confused looks, but feels less weight in her heart with each apology.
"Amethyst! We thought you were vaporized!" Emily squeals.

She wraps the unicorn into a tight squeeze, but her face remains drenched in grief.

"A lot of people aren't as lucky..." she sighs.

"What do you mean?" Emily asks, before looking down at her neck.

"The camera..."

"I had one job...and I couldn't even do that..." Amethyst mutters.

Emily sits with an arm around her.

"The camera..I think it was left in the pod..."

"I'll go look," Kitty says.

She and April speedwalk down the street, while Amethyst hides her face in her hooves.

"I don't think I'll continue on this journey..."

"What?" Emily remarks.

"I wanna be left here, then picked up when you're done."

"But-"

Emily shushes Kelsey with a head shake.

"That's okay. We'll get back here as soon as we can."

The two leave to give the unicorn space.

One of the citizens Amethyst hands a package to offers some advice.

"Ya know, trying to heal wounds you caused is better than letting them bleed out."

The pony's eyes meet his for a moment.

"I guess..." she sighs, looking down again.

"How's the horse?" Daffy asks.

"Not well," Emily says.

"Her guilt should subside soon," Purple Heart assures.

"Nep!!" IF calls as she hurries to her.

She holds a pair of keys as she catches her breath.

"I'm sorry about forgetting your birthday, Nep." IF sighs.

"Oh?" Purple Heart replies.

"Yeah. I have a gift for ya, Nep, and I think you're gonna love it."

Purple Heart returns to Neptune.

"We'll see," she challenges.

"I LOVE IT!!!"

The widest smile and the brightest eyes are on Neptune's face.

Her hands are squished against her cheeks.

In front of her sits a vehicle, headlights with the ferocity of a tiger's eye.

Its sleek body wears a coat of purple that fades into pitch black at the car's backside.

The Planeptune logo shines on the hood.

"Behold, the Nepmobile!"

Neptune hops and giggles with joy.

"As cool of a car as that is, I don't think we can travel through space in it," Emily remarks.

"What makes you think we're going to space?" IF replies.

Emily looks to the side.

"I assumed you'd want to help us defeat the aliens..."

"Ya know, I planned on having the biggest birthday party in history of ever right about now. But now, I plan on kickin' UFO butt!" Neptune declares.

"That goes for me too."

Amethyst stands at the other side of the room.

"I think the best way to make things right, is to do what I can to prevent more deaths."

Emily gives her a cookie sweet smile.

"Welcome back, Amy."