I wasn’t sure how long we’d been travelling?  Hours?  Certainly we should have reached the Fluttershy clinic by now.  Glory and Lacunae lifted me up and floated me out onto the deck.  I heard the waves and felt the wind… and as I floated there in Lacunae’s magic, I felt something else.  A warmth playing all up and down my body. “What… what is that?”

“What’s what?” Glory asked.

“I feel all… warm?  But not like it’s from a fever,” I said as Lacunae began to wash me with a sponge.  I was swollen and sore like damn, but I had to admit that it felt better than lying in that cot.

“That’s the sun,” Thrush said.

The sun?  But… we must have been far out at sea.  “Where are we going?” I asked softly.

“Told you.  Surprise.  We should be there soon,” Glory said.  I was set down on a blanket.  As I lay there, despite everything, I felt a little more peeved than usual at the Enclave’s cloud cover now that I felt the sun’s warmth playing on my hide.  “I always took it for granted,” Glory said softly as the engine hummed.  I nuzzled up against her, and her wing slowly stretched over me, keeping me warm.  I wasn’t sure how much time passed like that, but gradually, things began to cool off.  Then the talisman slowed and stopped.

“Need to give it a little while to warm up.  Starting to form ice,” Thrush explained.  We lay there on the back of the ship as it rocked in the waves.  I could hear my heart beating.  Thump thump… thump thump…

“Is it night?” I asked softly.

Glory murred.  “Mhmm.”  Thump thump… thump thump…

“Can you see the stars?”

“Oh yes...”

“A lot of them?

Thump… thump thump… thump…

“All of them,” she replied.

“Are they beautiful?”

“Yes…”

Thump… thump… thump…

“Thank you, Glory.”

“For what, Blackjack?”

“Trying…”

Thump…  thump…

“Blackjack?”

Thump...

“Sorry…”

…

I should have fought.  I should have held on longer as she shook me and called my name.  But I was so tired, and I could see the stars.

They were calling to me.

I let go… relaxed…

And died.