//------------------------------// // Chapter 2. // Story: The Desert Prince // by Sparky Brony //------------------------------// ‘Who am I?’ Her question causes me to freeze on the spot. Gulping slowly, I look around, the growth is now knee high, with all kinds of plants racing for their share of the light, lush grasses and reeds that normally sit on the water’s edge of an oasis, ferns with wide spread leaves, and even palm and date trees are growing all over. There doesn’t seem to be much of a rhyme or reason to the plant growth, it’s just there. I take a step back, my ears flattening side to side as my tail tucks between my hind legs. I back away a few more steps, trembling, “I don’t know,” I can feel tears in my eyes, “And the fact that I don’t…scares me.” I shake my body out forcing my wings to my side, “It scares me more then you know.” Irfan steps down from the wagon, squinting in the setting sun. “Truly remarkable.” He noses the grass growing at his feet, “This will not last long.” “My Lady!” A filly gallops up, she’s quite a bit younger than most of the other horses here. I am going to have to get used foals here being miniature adults. “Report from the other scouts. There apparently was an underground water supply, it’s now flowing to the surface. There is a pool forming less than a mile from here.” She looks at me, then back at Ghaliya. “It actually is a good spot for camping for the night.” Ghaliya looks at me for a long moment, then at her. “Have the wagons brought to this new oasis. Though take care to keep damage to vegetation to a minimum.” For some reason, I find her care of the new vegetation comforting. It helps me relax a bit and calm down from the stress of the magic. Magic, to think I did this. She moves over to me, “Well, looks like we know what your cutie mark represents.” I shift a wing to reveal my mark as I glace back at it. “I don’t get it.” She looks up at me. “Wings protecting the planet.” She traces a hoof along it, getting a blush from me. “Your mark represents life. It represents us all. As Princess Celestia’s mark is the sun, the bringer of life to our world, you represent that life yourself.” She points around as the wagons slowly start to trundle past. “This proves it. Your magic is geared for life. That is your special talent, as the ponies say.” I find myself backing up, my wings extending in fear again. “I don’t know what I did! I don’t even know how I got here. I’m so confused, what the hell is going on here?” I trip over something and go sprawling. I end up in a heap, legs and wings akimbo, and tears flowing down my face. “What is going on here? Who am I? What am I?” I wail. In moments, I’m embraced by Ghaliya once again. She brings me close, and wraps her forelegs around me tightly, whispering softly into my ear as I cry myself out. Finally, I think much of the stress has poured out of me, I snort loudly, “I’m sorry for that outburst.” She leans back to look into my eyes. “Why should you ever apologize for tears?” “You shouldn’t have to see me like that,” I moan softly. That gets a loud sniff from her. “Ki, you are a very special pony. Do not worry if your emotions bubble close to the surface. You are our guest and under our protection.” Finally, we are both on our hooves, while this feeling is still somehow unusual to me, I’m starting to accept it. I fold my wings at my sides, they seem quite comfortable that way. Irfan steps up. “Master Ki, Lady Ghaliya, the caravan has moved to the new oasis in the desert. I suggest we catch up with them and prepare for the night.” His gaze settles on me. “And you, young prince, need to continue learning the magic inherent in you.” I cross my eyes looking up at my horn. “But what if that happens again?” He snorts, “Doubtful, you’ve made a connection to your magic, and while casting under undue stress could cause problems in the future, the technique of the oneness that I was teaching you will shield you from that happening again.” I get a nuzzle from Ghaliya as we start walking towards the camp. The passage of the caravan has certainly caused some of the grass to be crushed under the wheels of the wagons, the winding course does show that they did try to prevent too much damage as they passed. The trees are enormous now, the grass is fully grown and waving in the breeze. Ferns and flowering plants are everywhere. The air smells of moisture and life. I find my nose flaring as I inhale, the smell is absolutely beautiful. After the day in the arid air of the desert, this is as close to heaven as I have ever experienced. The mile walk is conducted in absolute bliss. Tall palm trees wave in the breeze, no indication at all says that this didn’t exist a matter of hours before. We descend into the gully where a large, deep blue pool is forming. Water is gushing from an outcropping of rock into the pool. The pool has several horses around it, many standing knee deep in the water, drinking. Hadi gallops up, bouncing around us, then gallops back to the pool. The sounds of the camp being erected are those of happiness. The horses seem to be giddy with delight. The oasis we had stayed at last night pales in comparison to this one. Several square miles of lush vegetation, an enormous pool growing by the minute, and a beautiful beach that has a fire is being constructed for the night. Ghaliya leads me down to that beach, Irfan spending the entire time telling me more about the magic I seem to possess. “Irfan, you don’t have magic yourself, how do you know all of this?” “While magic is rare among the horses of Saddle Arabia, and yet quite common in Equestria, we do have knowledge passed down in books and scrolls. I am a scholar, I have learned so I can teach.” He continues with his lesson as the sun makes its slow way to the horizon. As dinner is placed before me, I can touch my magic when I want to. Irfan’s voice drones in my ears as he helps me again embrace my magic, my horn glowing a deep green color. “Okay, see the fork? Reach out with your magic, feel it. You will know everything about it, it’s size, strength, you will be able to feel the fine details of the metal that it is made of.” He says softly as my aura slowly envelopes the small piece of silverware. “Yes, that’s it. Okay, now…very gently, pick it up.” I focus on it, I can feel it, even the slight vibrations of the metal within. It truly is silverware, brightly polished silver formed into cutlery. I try to lift it. To my credit, it does move, but just barely shifts to the side. “Okay, just a little more strength.” I narrow my eyes and focus, the chiming of my magic is ringing in my ears, I hold my breath as the fork gently levitates into the air, surrounded by my magic. “I did it!” I exult. “Good, now use it to pick up some food. That pineapple looks good to eat, doesn’t it?” I nod as I float the fork towards the small golden chunk on my platter. After a few attempts, I’ve speared the morsel. Though that gets a bit of a gasp from me, adding the chunk to my magical aura has me learning the nature of it too. I can feel the shape, the very nature of the fruit on my plate.Concentrating very carefully on the fork, I watch it intently as I slowly lift the prize from the plate. A loud thud and sound of foliage being matted down fills the air.This is greeted by the voices of half a dozen guards converging on the unseen intruder. Startled, my horn flashes brightly as the magic surges. What used to be my fork shoots straight up with a loud bang, a small rainbow circle forming around it and expanding slowly before dissipating. Where it flew off to, I have no idea, but the vacuum it left in its wake from its acceleration sucked the entire contents of my plate up into the air with it.Unfortunately, the food only was sucked up a few meters before falling back down.Closing my eyes, I feel myself getting pelted with the different foods. Groaning slowly, I flatten my ears, and open my eyes again. Looking up I can see a pineapple ring stuck on my horn. Giggling softly, Ghaliya shakes her head, before leaning forward and biting the pineapple off my horn. Standing up she shakes her head. “Still a little crunchy.” “Hey, hey, hey! I don’t mean any harm!” Comes the voice of the intruder. “Now as to this disturbance…” Ghaliya is on her hooves, her head forward with her ears back, her tail lashing in anger as she turns towards the disturbance. I follow her as she trots towards whatever is happening. “What is going on here?” comes Faris’s voice as he trots from the main camp. “An intruder,” one of the guardsmares says gruffly, cocking back the serpentine on her miquelet. “Hey, I was just investigating, this oasis isn’t on any of my maps, hey, let go of me, you stupid horse!” I lean back as a bit of a scuffle starts. “Hold still, this can only go badly if you struggle!” Faris growls as he wades in. “What is going on?” I lean over towards Ghaliya. She looks back at me. “Your little magic surge has attracted some attention.” She waits patiently as the guards finally separate and carry a large form towards them, which is tossed at Ghaliya’s hooves. “We’ve restrained the intruder, my lady.” I look down at the form and gasp, white feathers and a sharp beak, along with a feline body, tail lashing. Ghaliya leans down. “We don’t see many griffons around here.” The griffon struggles a bit in the ropes wrapped around her, “Yeah, because we don’t like to be down on the ground in this dreary place.” She looks up, her eyes defiant, “I see your caravans moving all the time. Don’t have a reason to come down and visit.” Faris mocks, “No respect or manners? You are in our territory, Griffon, you need permission to simply cross our borders. You are in the presence of a lady of a great tribe, Sayyida Ghaliya Bint Hashim Al-Khaybari Al-Banu Arsalan Al-Sumudeen, and you affront her at your own peril.” It is as if the griffon had stepped on a cactus, eyes widening in shock and realization. “L-Lady Ghaliya?” “Indeed, I am,” announces Ghaliya, stepping forward. Ghaliya looks at me for a moment, then steps forward. “Warriors, release her. You, griffon, announce yourself. Name, clan, purpose. Speak quickly, for our grace is not guaranteed.” The griffon rolls her eyes as she stands up as best she can with the ropes binding her wings and her forelegs together at the knees. She bows. “I am Geurina, we don’t have clans, but I’m a courier and member of the Griffon Independent Mail Corps.” Ghaliya scoffs, “And you have proof of this?” “Of course I do! You had better have one of your lackeys get them for you before your bill gets too big. Some creatures are just happy to be set free. Griffons, however, expect to be paid for the time we are held. Time is money after all.” Ghaliya narrows her eyes and nods at Faris, who shoves down the griffon, sneering, “The lady told you to not take our grace for granted. For your disrespect, you shall have to wait for our inspection to reveal your proof.” I glance over at Ghaliya, who nods at her guards, who root around in the Griffon’s pack. After a few moments, a sheet of parchment is brought up to her. She smooths out the parchment and reads quickly, finally she looks at the griffon, who seems stilled by the look on her face, “This has my uncle’s signature.” “You are his niece?” She nods, getting the griffon to bow awkwardly before her. “Forgive me, my lady, for I spoke and acted badly.” Ghaliya sniffs. “You are this time. Let it not happen again. It is all in my name. In your language, Lady Ghaliya, daughter of Abdullah of the Khaybar, of the Lion tribe, the steadfast ones. And you would think that any caravan would be zealous in protecting the trade they partake in. Be more careful in the future, remember muskets are plentiful but mercy is scarce in the desert. Had we been on alert, it would have been counted as no sin for any of us to have shot you.” That gets a shrug from the griffon, “As I said, I don’t make it a habit of landing in the middle of a caravan, even in motion. For that, I apologize.” She remembers herself. “My Lady,” Geurina apologizes with a deep bow, touching her beak to the sand. Ghaliya nods and smiles. “Release her.” The guards only take moments to untie the griffon, who stretches her forelegs and flaps her wings a few times before settling them at her sides. “Thank you, my lady. Do you know anything about the origin of this new oasis?” Ghaliya turns back to head towards our spot on the beach. I follow, along with Irfan and the griffon. Apparently, somehorse has been busy, the mess I had created was cleaned up, and a new platter of food has been placed. I settle down next to Ghaliya. The griffon finds a comfortable spot and curls up. One of the horses offers her a platter, which she politely declines, then she roots around in her pack and brings out some dried meat. Though she does accept a water skin. Irfan gets himself comfortable next to me, continuing his teaching. Quickly I’m able to pick up a new fork and stab a piece of pineapple. This time I’m able to guide it into my mouth. Munching happily, I look over to see the griffon looking at me with wide eyes. “You have an alicorn here? An alicorn stallion?” Ghaliya nods. “We met him yesterday.” “And he’s already got a place of honor at your side.” Ghaliya nods, her cheeks glowing. “Where I offer him to sit is none of your business.” That gets a huff from the griffon, “He is your fresh picked date, my lady.” She ignores the exasperated huffs from Ghaliya and looks at me. “So, what caused the new oasis here?” I shake my head. “I’m not exactly certain what happened.” She rolls her eyes. “Yeah, it wasn’t here three days ago when I flew over, and it’s here now, and your caravan happens to have stopped here. If there’s not a connection, you can pluck my feathers.” Ghaliya gestures to one of the attendants, who comes forward and offers bread to the griffon. She takes the bread in her claws, sniffs it, then breaks it open. “Camp bread, always good to have plenty of bread. Thank you, my lady, you are a most gracious and generous host, a river to all who cross your path.” She stuffs half the loaf in her bag and digs into the other half. So this is how even the most irreverent of outsiders treat Ghaliya, just who is this mare and how has she earned such a reputation? I don’t have the will to dwell on this; I’m too hungry. Ghaliya returns to her meal, and I spend most of the time trying to learn how to make things float with my mind and magic. Though the very concept is rather crazy to me. Geurina finishes the half the bread and clicks her beak a few times. “You do know, my lady, with an alicorn stallion running around, the only other alicorn around will likely come sniffing, looking for him.” Ghaliya nods. “I know, we are still trying to decide what to do; he just got here.” The griffon tears into another piece of jerky. “Ya know, you might want to cover up the wings, my lady.” She munches for a moment. “Can’t do anything about his size, or his horn, but some robes like some of you horses wear in the sun might be good.” Ghaliya brings a hoof up, cradling her chin, then she looks at me. “That might be a good idea, especially around ponies when we trade with them.” Geurina snickers, “You can fly, right?” “No.” She smiles. “Well you don’t know how to fly, so covering your wings might be an idea.” She clicks her beak a couple of times. “Though I could teach you the basics for a few gold.” Ghaliya cuts her off. “He will be taught to fly in due time, Griffon, and I would appreciate you not antagonize my guests.” Holding up her claws defensively. "Ye-yes, of course, sorry, my lady. Besides, learnin' to fly isn't as simple as reading what to do in a book, always best to have someone up in the air with you. I figure you'll hire someone when the time’s right…, my lady?" “He will be taught to fly in due time. He needs to get a handle on his magic first and foremost.” Irfan speaks up, “I’m quite certain robes can be tailored to cover your wings when they are folded, but easily moved aside and kept out of the way when you decide to use them. I will have to do some research, to find out how to care for those wings. You will have to learn about preening, and basic wing care.” I extend a wing, “They look too small to fly with.” I murmur softly. Geurina extends a wing, “Yeah, so do mine. But luckily, we have magic. The same magic that allows us to fly, also allows us to land on clouds. You probably can even do weather control. Something griffons aren’t very good at.” Finally, the dinner is finished. Ghaliya stands up as her platter is taken away, “As a guest, though your arrival was unusual, we offer you a night of protected and peaceful rest. And as you are an approved courier, I will authorize a payment of twenty-five silver and a full extra skin of water to you, provided you will keep that beak shut about the alicorn here.” Geurina sits there for a long moment, finally she clicks her beak a couple of times, “I’m not going to turn down a week’s wages to keep my beak shut. You’ve got a deal.” She leaps forward, ignoring the tensing of the guards, and offers a claw. Clearly the concept of mortal peril doesn’t bother her. Ghaliya shakes the claw gently and the griffon looks over at me. “Keep those wings covered around Equestrians and you’ll be just fine. I won’t betray you.” She looks back at Ghaliya. “The payment’s fine, but I'm not one for hanging around with ponies, not even the pegasi; too cheap, too concerned with parties, and way, way to singie. You can't even pay them to stop singing.” Ghaliya nods as the griffon turns away. Faris comes up to me, only to have Ghaliya say, “I don’t think he needs to be across the camp, Faris.” As Faris sputters, Ghaliya gestures for me to follow. As we walk, she moves up next to me. “I had another tent erected next to mine. Faris can guard my purity all he wants, and I have no intention of discarding my maiden’s chastity. But I make the decisions on what I want. And with your magic surge, Irfan will be across the way from your tent. So, if you need help with anything, either of us can help you.” I nod as we get to a set of tents. The largest, cream colored silk with long tassels all around the roofline, is the one she indicates as hers. Another one, smaller, but just as luxurious, is pointed out as mine. She gestures for me to follow her into hers. I look back, Faris is standing there, nearly freezing me in place with the look on his face, but I duck through the folds of the tent. “Ki!” comes a familiar voice. Hadi bounces towards me. He pronks around me, then hops over to Ghaliya, who has reclined on a set of pillows comfortably, a steaming cup of tea sitting before her. I look at Hadi, then at Ghaliya. “He’s yours?” She smiles, looking at the colt as he runs around the tent, bouncing from time to time. “No, he is not mine. I have no foals as of yet. Maiden, remember, unless you wish to make a case to be my husband, and I accept. He is an orphan. I took him in.” He runs over and curls up next to her, gleefully accepting nuzzles from Ghaliya. “I guess you could call me a foster mother for him.” She gestures to another cup of tea sitting on a stool. I am his mother by the laws of our people, however. When he was young, he did feed from my breast.” “How did you-” “There are plants in the desert that can make the body think it has carried a foal for a limited time. I would not be the first, and I won’t be the last, mare to use this to care for an orphan and make sure he has the best start in life.” She’s bristling a bit. Too personal? “Enough of that. Magic exercises, go.” I form the flame in my mind’s eye, feeding everything into it, and after a few seconds, my horn is glowing. Irfan did say practice is a necessary thing. I reach out, and gently pick up the gold trimmed glass. My aura enfolds it and it floats to my lips. The tea is almost too hot to drink, but only almost. It’s at quite the perfect temperature as far as I’m concerned. I look over at Ghaliya, who is nodding approvingly. For a moment, I lose concentration, my horn growing dark and the teacup bounces on the carpets, splashing the remaining tea around. I find myself blushing as Ghaliya laughs, though she quickly reaches down to nuzzle the drowsy Hadi. “I think it’s time for sleep, and I’ll have some robes made for you, sound good? You’d look great in a thawb… and few horses not trained from birth can tie a turban that doesn’t look like bird vomit, so an ekal and a ghutra, and a bisht for the cold nights,” she murmurs, mindful of the colt. I nod. “Sounds good.” “I shall make a fine almost an Arabian out of you yet, Ki.” Then she nuzzles the colt a little more forcefully, getting him to stand and allowing her to get up as well. She moves over to her cot, indicating for Hadi to follow her. In moments, they are snuggled up together, covers keeping them warm. I move over and nose the tent open. I take two steps, then nearly collide with Faris. I end up on my rear, my wings spread in alarm. He snorts, “You should be more wary of your conduct near our lady. You are too affectionate for comfort. Only by her approving discretion and my silence, and your status as guest, are you shielded from our people. But she is not. Reputation is everything to an Arabian, and rumors are as deadly to it as musketry is to flesh. However long you stay with us, remember we have to live with whatever impact you make. It would not be unwise for her to either take you as her husband or counselor. It will never be said of her that she is a careless flirt. Don’t you be getting any ideas about the Lady. She is betrothed.” My eyebrows rise. “Betrothed?” He nickers, “Yes, betrothed, her uncle, the Padishah of Saddle Arabia, has decreed her future stallion. One of my jobs is to ensure she remains pure, alive, unspoiled, uncorrupted.” I look back at her tent. “She’s just being friendly.” “To the eyes of a pony, but by our standards, she may as well be presenting and winking. Oh, I know, and if you say or do anything improper, you will answer to me, understood?” I stand up, looking back as I fold my wings deliberately at my sides, finally I turn to him. “I just got here, I don’t know what the hell is going on.” I step towards him, “I don’t have any romantic interests in anyone! I’m still completely confused about why I’m here, what is going on. I’m simply trying to survive. And the Lady Ghaliya has been very helpful to me.” I finish with a growl. “Are you threatening me?” Faris says dangerously, his hoof going up to a ruby set in the armor on his chest. I notice the straight, slender, triangle blade of his takouba across his side. Startled, I find I’m floating in the void, my horn is glowing. I shed myself of the magic quickly, “No, but your assumptions have pissed me off. I’m going to bed now.” He snorts, “See that you do. And stay in your tent. The guards will check on you, and my tent is right there.” He points at a tent a couple of spaces down. I nod and head into my tent. Though I have to stop in surprise. This is far better appointed than my tent from the previous night. Heavy silk walls, tassels hanging around the outside, and also from the peak of the roofline inside. Two large lamps are lit, and more tea is steaming on a stool. I move over and use both hooves to pick up the teacup, allowing me to drink deeply. Once the cup is empty, I crawl into my own bed and draw the covers over my body. Two days here, and I’m no closer to any answers as to why this happened, or even how. I focus and embrace my magic, turning down the wicks of the lamps, plunging my tent into total darkness. Well, there’s always the morning. *** Ghaliya has informed me that the typical trip between the Father of Gazelles City to the City of Gardens is typically eighteen days. They met me about half way at the Al-Hasa oasis. Then I’ve realized the reason this caravan is so big. With five hundred forty-five miles of distance to travel, a lot of goods must change hooves for something like this to be worth the effort. Ghaliya has informed me that their trading in the Father of Gazelles City was extremely profitable. And after paying all involved, she will have a tidy sum left over. The next few days have been me continuing to learn my magic with Irfan’s help, playing with Hadi, and sleeping in the tent next to Ghaliya’s with Faris looking disdainfully at pretty much anything I do. The griffon had taken off early the next morning, twenty-five silver richer for her trouble. Irfan has tended to be a nearly inexhaustible source of information. After clearing the oasis I had somehow made with my magic surge, the landscape did not really change all that much. Rolling sand dunes as far as the eye can see. She’s informed me we are a good distance away from the ocean, something she’s only seen once in her life. The pace of the caravan is rather relaxed, we typically make it about thirty miles a day. Starting soon after sunup and going until the sun is low in the sky. Travel at night is not really encouraged, wouldn’t want one of the camels, or even one of the horses, stepping in something in the dark and breaking a leg. That would be a disaster. Though the wagon we travel in once the sun gets high is quite comfortable. We usually spend much of our time there talking. Her talking about her foalhood, living in the royal palace. How she got interested in trade, and the first time she went out in a caravan. She had snuck out and hid in one of the wagons full of silk as the caravan had left, and then walked with the other horses. It wasn’t until three days out that she had been discovered. The master of the caravan had been apoplectic, a royal family member sneaking into his caravan! He couldn’t afford to turn around but had sent his fastest courier with apologies and a promise to bring her to the palace once he returned. And boy, her ears had been pinned back once she got home. Her laugh when she recalled the look on her uncle’s face was full of mirth. Though after that, she had started working to build her own caravan. And had taken on quite a bit of business. Her uncle, and her father, had finally relented and let her do this job. "Me getting married has nothing to do with love; it’s just another part of the business and the game. I will bear his children, do his business, and safeguard his honor. And likewise for me, he will give me children and pleasure, he will house and feed me, he will uphold my honor, and see to my household when my father and brother can no longer.” I shift, trying to get a little more comfortable, lighting my horn, I bring a cup of water to my lips. “Don’t like that idea?” She snorts, "I'm happiest when I'm traveling, running free. I want to journey, to see new places, new equines. I dream of seeing the zebra and donkey tribes. The idea of being married simply bores me. I am lucky my father is short of sons, or else I wouldn’t be able to convince him to send me as his agent. And well, having this kind of freedom is sweet like halva, and power is like drinking in an intoxicating saffron tea.” I look down. “How long have you been doing this?” “About ten years.” I nod as I take another sip. After a bit, she looks up. “Usually Hadi is back by now.” The concern in her voice gets me to perk up. She gains her hooves and walks past me, prompting me to rise as well. As I exit the wagon, the horses pulling it slow down, stopping not too far behind us. “Oh my.” Ghaliya murmurs, “I hope he’s found good cover.” "What?" Leaning forward a bit, I look into the distance before us, a large mountain ridge stretches across the horizon as far as the eye can see. Shifting colors of dark brown, grey and black, the mountain seems to be alive, like some great storm cloud rolling forward towards us. Its tops shifting and changing as it gets closer. “Sandstorm!” Faris shouts, the warning spreading fear though the air.The other horses immediately react, pulling the wagons close together. The horses yoked to wagons are quickly helped to extricate themselves and the covered wagons of the caravan are quickly filled as the horses board them. The camels are told to lay down and shelter themselves, as they place covers over the camel’s heads and huddle together to weather the storm. Ghaliya steps further forward, with me tagging along beside her. “That’s not right.” She murmurs softly. “It’s moving too fast.” She gasps and turns around. “Faris, it’s not a sandstorm! It’s a Jinn!” Faris turns back to look at her, “A Jinn? There hasn’t been one around here in centuries.” “Unless you’ve seen a fire in a sandstorm before!” I look where she’s pointing. The dark clouds rolling and churning towards us are laced with fire. Crimson and orange turning sand dust into molten glass and crystal shards. Faris steps up with us, “This is not good. What do you think it wants?” “Gold, goods, what else?” Ghaliya shouts as the wind starts to rise around us. Faris raises his voice, “Everyhorse, hang on!” As the abyssal force rolls on, lit by its raging fires, I find myself tensing.With only moments remaining before it hits us I can hear the screams of fear and crying behind me. I do the only thing I can do, I lift my wing to shield myself, my face, flattening my ears to the roar of the storm. The expected impact never arrives. I stand there, wing over my face, waiting, listening. “Ki,” Ghaliya says softly, “Look.” I look ahead, a dome shape, in the color of my aura is holding the storm at bay. I find that I’ve leaped into the void, and the dome sparkles as the storm assaults it. I glance back, I’m covering the entire caravan. I can feel the drain of the effort on me. I’m doing this. Suddenly, the strength of the storm doubles, and I’m driven to a knee under the onslaught. Lighting from the billowing dark clouds strike the dome over and over, yet I can also feel that the assault is weakening. I ignore the others as I struggle to my hooves. I step towards the dome as the attack continues to falter and stand defiant, “You cannot win this,” I growl. “Oh, come on! An alicorn? Since when do you get alicorns to protect your caravans?” Comes a loud voice from the storm. The clouds start to move, all drawing in towards a point before us. Faster and faster the clouds billow towards the point, a form starting to coalesce in the darkness. Finally, the last of the clouds slam into the shape, revealing it fully. Standing on two legs ending in hooves, with dark gray fur on its body, though the head is vaguely cow shaped, though with large curved horns reaching skyward. Blue flames licks along his head where a mane would usually be. He comes forward and bangs on the dome. “Hey, I just want what is owed to me for you passing through my land.” Ghaliya steps up next to me, “These are not your lands.” The jinn snorts, jets of fire emitting from its nostrils, “My lands are whatever I say they are; I am an all powerful jinn, you are a bunch of horses.” He glances at me and frowns. I find myself smirking. “A bunch of horses that stopped you in your tracks.” He looks at me. “Yeah, the only other alicorn on Equus moves the sun and moon, of course you are a demigod.” Ghaliya smiles. “Well, you are on your side, and we are safe in here.” She looks at me, evidently worried if I can hold the dome. I nod, getting a soft sigh from her. “Yeah, yeah, but while you aren’t moving, you will be losing money. How much are you willing to lose, huh? I can keep you here all I wish.” Faris steps up. “Away, foul beast, we are merchants merely conducting trade.” The jinn looks at Faris, then at Ghaliya. “Seriously? You think that’s gonna work?” Faris snorts as Ghaliya instructs, “It’s okay, Faris. We will handle him. Get the caravan ready to move again.” Faris grumbles, but he turns away. Ghaliya steps to the edge of the dome. “You want to negotiate? We can do that.” The jinn taps the dome. I can feel the impacts. I try something, and an electric discharge leaps from my shield into his fingers, getting him to leap back and curse. He glares at me, and I smirk right back. “Ki!” Ghaliya rebukes softly. “The fight is over. We will negotiate our passage through his land. We are merely merchants.” She looks at the jinn, “Though if the price is too high, then we would have to consider talking to the Padishah of the City of Gardens about a jinn roaming loose so close to the city. I would think a search party would be sent out…” The jinn is holding out both hands to mollify her. “Okay, okay. I can be reasonable. Drop your shield and we can discuss the terms.” I lean over to Ghaliya. “Can he be trusted?” “Normally, no. But he knows what a search party would be able to do. Swords and muskets are not pleasant for jinn, but all cities have powerful wizards who could make him dearly regret trespasses.” She looks at the jinn, who wilts a bit under that look. I nod and look at the jinn, then I stop, “I’m not exactly certain how I did this.” I know I’m sustaining the shield with my magic, but just letting go of the magic doesn’t seem to be the right solution. Looking at it, I can see weaves of power forming a tapestry of magic. It’s not just being sustained by me, but the magic that I’m tapping into is also holding onto the form. I narrow my eyes as I work to unravel the magical fabric before me. And in a few moments, the shield collapses. The void crashes away, and I’m awash in my own emotions, I start to pant, “Oh. Wow.” Irfan comes up. “Channeling magic requires your own energy. Before, you’ve done small things, basic levitation, generating a small fire. This is the first really big and draining thing you’ve done.” I nod. “It feels like I’ve run twenty miles at a full gallop.” He nods, “You need food, hearty stuff – tea, dates, bread and you’ll be right soon.” “Oh, wait, you were nearly wiped out?” The jinn growls, “I should have kept it up.” I whirl around. “I’d have held on as long as it took,” I growl, though Ghaliya stops me with a look. “The fight is over.” She pierces the jinn with a look. “Are we here to negotiate? Or do you really want to fight further?” She glances back at me, and something about that look spurs my hooves to move. In a matter of moments, sweetbreads and other calorie heavy foods are placed before me, my growling stomach spurring me on as I munch happily. Before long, Ghaliya steps aboard the wagon, with a small form at her side. Hadi leaps over and grabs me in a hug. “I saw the jinn, but I had to hide, there was no way I could take him on! But you took him on all by yourself! I knew you were strong!” I look at him seriously, “I don’t think I could do that again for a while.” I glance up at Ghaliya. “That took a lot more out of me than I ever thought possible.” She settles down as the wagon starts to move. “There is something to be said for negotiations. The jinn ended up being quite reasonable. For a pittance, we will be able to move through his territory. Though I will have to bring this up with my uncle once we get home. Jinn this close to the city is cause for concern.” “Why?” I say around a cinnamon bun I’m shoving in my mouth. “While the Padishah is responsible for the entire nation. Security around the city must be maintained. Merchants and travelers must feel safe as they move around. Otherwise trade will fade, and then we can have some real problems. Arabians are a contentious lot. We hold no text like a pretext, even all the way to challenges for the throne. We really don’t want a civil war, started all because a jinn decided to take up residence a mere day and a half from the capitol.” I nod, seems pretty reasonable. I light my horn, picking up a few dates, only to get a gasp from Ghaliya. Startled, I lose my magic, the dates falling to the carpet. “What?” Ghaliya stands up and stalks towards me slowly, her eyes wide. “What are you?” I frown, “I’m me. I’m just a pony.” She snorts softly and shakes her head. “No pony I’ve ever met or heard of has eyes like that.”