//------------------------------// // And the Lightning Strikes // Story: My Little Mages: Duration Disruption // by Foxhelm //------------------------------// As the patrons had started to panic, Ragamuffin got a megaphone and began to speak in a voice that sounded forceful yet also calm and gentle. “Everyone, please remain calm.” The tone of his voice caused most of the patrons to ease slightly. “Now I know t’ ings can be frightin’, but we’ll ‘ave the ship running as soon as possible. For your safety, we request that you return to your cabins and remain there. Parents and guardians, please keep a close watch on your charges. Crew members are passing out flashlights and will gladly escort you to your cabin.” As Ragamuffin spoke members of the ship’s crew did what he announced. “We realize that this is a major inconvenience, but your safety is our primary concern.” Everyone slowly but calmly started towards their cabins, leaving Ragamuffin, a handful of the crew, Sci-Twi, and the Rainbolts. Ragamuffin lowered the megaphone and turned to the remaining crew members, “Tell the first mate to make sure t’at t’e s’ip’s engines are manually off and need the manual override to start up. I don’t want t’is the boat to go 100 knots as soon as we get ‘er goin’. I’ll be at the w’eel once everyone is off the deck.” He ordered. One of the crew members nodded and left. “Drop the archers and get the stabilizing buoys out, t’is mig’t take aw’ile.” A couple more left with a nod. “Get the engineer down to the engine room, and if he’s there, see how you can help him, and make sure he gives meh updates, I’m on channel three.” A couple more nodded and left. Ragamuffin turned to the last crewmember with him. “Tell the second mate to get ready to call for help. We mi’t not need to make a distress call, but that’s not a chance I can take. Let him know I’m on channel three” The last of the crew nodded and left. Ragamuffin wanted to smile, proud at how he managed the situation thus far, but he stopped himself as he looked out at the ocean and gave a sigh, “Well, calm seas make poor sailors, t’ey say.” It was then that Ragamuffin recalled that the performers that were still on the deck. “Sorry ladies, but you…” “You’re the captain?!” Rarity exclaimed in shock. She then started to fane herself with her hand, “I spent most of my day with…” she started to stammer before she fainted and was caught by Applejack. The paladin rolled her eyes before she pulled her arms back and allowed Rarity to fall to the stage floor. It took Rarity a couple of seconds to collect herself and get back on her feet. “Why didn’t you tell me?” “If you took a few seconds to actually look at his epaulets you can see the four golden stripes thus signifying he’s the captain,” Sci-Twi informed as she adjusted her glasses while her eyes were closed. Ragamuffin gave modest laugh as he rubbed the back of his head. “Sorry for misleadin’ ya, Miss Rarit-y into thinkin’ I was just a normal part of the crew.” “Don’t be, my father led my mother to believe he was just a rugby player, only to show during the first game he played while they were dating that he was his team captain.” Rarity said as she closed her eyes and brushed it aside with her right hand. Everyone turned to Applejack with slightly raised eyebrows and lips turned down as if to ask, ‘Did you hear about this story?’. The paladin gave closed-eye nod as if to confirm the validity of the story. “As cute a story that is, I think he’s waiting for us to head to our cabins.” came Indigo after the paladin’s silent affirmation “Actually, ladies, I was gonna escort you and make sure you were safely off the deck,” Ragamuffin said as he took out his flashlight. “S’all we,” he said as he pointed his light in the direction of the nearest door into the ship. To the shock of only the young captain, Pinkie grabbed each instrument and placed it into her hair. As he was about to ask, “It’s Pinkie Pie, don’t question it. We mustn’t have you lose your mind,” Rarity said before she couldn’t help but coo “my captain.” She placed a kiss on his cheek as she and the others allowed Ragamuffin to escort them to their cabins, Rainbow in the rear, she didn’t need to see the cold shoulder from the rest to remind her how badly she messed up. Within twenty minutes, everyone was back in their cabins, sans Rarity and Rainbow, Rainbow had just opened the door to see her ‘sister’ on her bed with her mouth wide open and snoring. Rainbow took a breath, “Glad at least one of us had fun.” she said to herself. Just as she shut the door, Scootaloo seemed to bounce up, “What the?” the young monk asked. “Take it easy, Scoots,” Rainbow said as she went to her own bed and lied down. “I really messed things up with the whole laser show thing with the Elements of Harmony and Rainbow of Light.” she mused. “Well, it was a pretty awesome show,” Scootaloo said as she tried to cheer Rainbow up. Rainbow gave a weak smile, “Thanks Scoots. But with the ship dead in the water…” the elementalist replied. Scootaloo rubbed the back of her head, “Well, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and me had a great time today.” Scootaloo saw a small smile on Rainbow’s face, but then saw it fade as Rainbow turned away as if she was trying to get some sleep. Scootalo gave a sad smile as she went back to bed. Shortly after escorting Rainbow to her cabin, Ragamuffin arrived with Rarity at her cabin. “Well, Miss Rarity, I gotta get meself to the helm and get the ship goin’.” He gave a nod and started to turn away but his shoulder was grabbed by Rarity. The enchantress turned Ragamuffin to face him and planted a kiss on his lips. “Stay safe.” Rarity said as she placed both her hands on his chest. She then opened the door to her cabin and stepped in and closed the door behind her, leaving Ragamuffin with a half-drunk smile. There she spotted Sweetie Belle asleep in her bed. Rarity wanted to tell her about her experience, but maybe it was too soon. As everyone had gone to their cabins and carried out Ragamuffin’s orders, a dark cloud slowly drifted towards the ship from just beyond the horizon. In the cloud, there was a sudden glow of light blue that looked like two ribbon-like horns. Then from in the cloud, there was a massive flash of lightning making the glow turn to black against the sudden white field. Hours later, at most likely was morning, the ship’s engineer was still working on the engine, but most of the ship’s power was restored. This was mostly noted as most of the crew and the passengers were in the buffet and eating. Sitting at one table were Applejack, Apple Bloom, Sunset, Princess Twilight, Sci-Twi, Sweetie Bella, Scootaloo and Fluttershy. “Pinkie and Lemon still banned?” Sunset asked. “No, Pinkie’s just still really mad at Rainbow about the cake,” Fluttershy answered. “I asked her about asking for another one, and she went on this long explanation about limited resources for what the cooking crew has access to and the allocation to make the most of each dish to satisfy the most passengers, I didn’t really get it,” Fluttershy said as she shook her head. “I think Pinkie was trying to say was that the chief can’t just wipe up another of those cakes because all the ingredients needed to make an addition cake then what was rationed were already allocated.” Sci-Twi chimed as she tried to help by clarifying. “So how are you doing, Applejack?” she asked as she turned to see the paladin devouring her food not too dissimilar to a man on the edge of starvation and clearly happy about it. “Ah made this potion Zecora taught me, and after AJ drank it she passed out like a log and now she’s like was back on the farm.” Apple Bloom informed as Applejack got up and went to get more. “Ah just hope doin’ t’at ain’t like a half-trained mule.” the artificer added. Everyone turned to her in confusion. “Just when yall think yall understand it, it’ll kick yah in the head.” Everyone then gave an ‘oh’ as if they suddenly got it. Apple Bloom rolled her eyes not believing the lot. “So where’s Rainbow Dash?” she asked. “She’s still in the room, I think she’s still down in the dumps,” Scootaloo answered. Applejack then returned with more food, most noticeably a fairly large triple-decker burger with cheese, bacon, ham, and fries with melted cheese and bacon bits. “Well, at least we don’t ‘ave tah shame ‘er now. Besides if she didn’t want to awesome all over the place, Apple Bloom wouldn’t have had time to make that potion, Ah wouldn’t have been so willing tah take it and now Ah walk this ship like Ah was strolling down Main street.” The paladin said before she bit into her burger. After taking a few more bites, “That’s a good burger.” She sighed in slight bliss. Everyone was slightly perplexed at this. Before the paladin continued to eat, “Ah’m gonna forgive her once Ah finish this meal.” Everyone else went back to their meal in silence. Elsewhere in the buffet, Sunny, Sour, Indigo, Sugarcoat and Lemon were also eating. Lemon was enjoying a slice of the triple choco-berry blasted butter biscuit bundt cake, while Sour seemed to have calmed down from the petting zoo incident. “Dare I ask, are you two over what happened yesterday?” Sugarcoat asked. “Nope.” Lemon said, “But I am willing to move on if Rainbow apologizes.” Sunny, Indigo, and Sugar then turned to Sour, “I wanted to see George’s family, and animals can sense when I am angry,” Sour informed as she ate from the whole roasted piglet that was her meal. Indigo, Sugarcoat and Sunny looked at each other silently saying “A rock could tell when Sour was angry”, before saying “stay quiet she’s in a good mood.” If Sour noticed that she was too engrossed in her meal to say anything. Once she finished her current bite, “So if Rainbow is willing to say she’s sorry, I’ll accept it.” Pinkie then entered, her hair flat. “Good morning.” she sighed as she walked over to the buffet table. She sighed at the sight of the cake. She didn’t get a slice and elected to grab something else, just a piece of toast and some eggs. She then joined her friends at their table. “No bundt cake?” Sunset asked as the jester sat down. Pinkie sighed, “Being mad at Rainbow doesn’t make me feel like me.” She replied as she poked at the eggs with her fork. Pinkie then took a shade of gray with another sigh. “I’m going back to bed.” She said and got up without eating her food. “Looks like we should forgive Rainbow,” Sci-Twi suggested. “Only if she says she’s sorry and asks for forgiveness. Otherwise, she’ll never learn.” Princess Twilight commented. Just then Ragamuffin arrived some of his own food and sat down in the seat on Pinkie’s left, “Can’t stay long, but quick update. T’e engine’s gonna start up soon and we’re gonna ‘ave to go a little faster t’en plans to make up for the lost time. So until we’re back on track, you s’ould stay in your cabins.” He informed as he started to eat. “Excuse me, Captain, but maybe trying to make up for the lost time by trying to reach where we would be might not be the best course of action. I’d recommend cutting out the planned stop in Manahattan and turn around earlier.” Princess Twilight pointed out. Sci-Twi shook her head before she countered, “That’s not recommended,” she started. Princess Twilight looked to her and the two entered into a conversation, “There’s not enough fuel to make that trip, the stop in Manahattan is in part to refuel and there’s not enough remaining energy from the solar power generated from the panels stored, especially with the current cloud coverage.” She said as she pointed towards the window. Princess Twilight rubbed her chin for a second, “It is true that we have a lot of cloud coverage, but that’s not an indicator for how the weather is going to be later today.” This exchange left even Ragamuffin slightly dumbfounded. Ragamuffin then laughed, “Well, ain’t t’ey clever.” Ragamuffin complemented before he finished his meal. “Not that’s any of old Ragamuffin’s business, but are you twins?” He asked. Sci-Twi and Twilight looked at each other and started to stammer unable to form an answer. Ragamuffin elected to just move on as he saw he wasn’t going to get an answer. “Well, best be off to the w’eel. Ladies, I ‘ope you’re still enjoyin’ the trip despite t’is ‘iccup.” Ragamuffin then got up and gave a nod fair well. With the captain gone, the girls silently returned to their meals, “Why the long faces?" Came the voice of Starlight as she joined the group. She was dressed in a bunny suit and not the costume for children. Before anyone could ask, "I promised Trixie that I would help her with a few of her performances. I should read the fine print." Starlight confessed with a groan. This brought a massive laugh from Pinkie as brightening a shade. As everyone else snickered. “Can I see the show?” Sweetie Bella asked Rarity. Rarity patted her sister on the head, “When you’re older.” “I don’t remember sending you an invite,” Sci-Twi commented as she tried to figure out why and how Starlight was on the cruise. As Starlight ate her meal, “You didn’t, my passage on this cruise was a gift from my father. Sort of an unreceived Hearth's Warming Gift.” putting the bespectacled girl at ease. After finishing some of her meal, “So back to you, why the long faces?” She asked. She then took a look around the table and noticed the absence of Rainbow. “Rainbow’s still in the pond after her stunt last night and everything else from yesterday.” she surmised. The older woman, sans Applejack who was clearly continent as she devoured her meal, looked down towards the table. Their silence spoke volumes. “Not that’s any of my business,” Starlight provided the caveat, “but if this was in my student counselor office, I’d say that you would feel better to offer Rainbow your forgiveness. I remember this time...” Starlight then trailed off and stopped, “Sorry school policy, unless a law is broken or a there’s a clear and present danger to the student or others I can’t say more.” she then started to laugh nervously. “A few of the boys did a ‘Hottest Teacher Ranking’ list.” Applejack commented in a deadpan. Starlight only blushed as she got up and walked away nervously. “Knew it.” Applejack smirked. “Teachers’ of Friendship hotness ranked by their students.” came a familiar voice from behind the paladin. They all turned to see Vignette on her phones. “Not really newsworthy, or share-worthy. All in all a rather juvenile thing, but who was number 1?” Vignette asked as she turned to the group. “The answer would surprise yah.” Applejack replied with a small smile on her lips as she tapped her chest just below her clavichord and patted her right thigh. “So what brings you here?” she asked. “I was cooped up in a warehouse for days, I needed a real va-ca.” Vignette sigh before she returned to her phone. “By the way, the explosion of The Elements of Harmony and Rainbow of Light is currently the most trended everywhere and is not slowing down,” she said as she showed her phone to the group. “You all should do something like for next year’s Whirling Constellation Music Festival.” This left everyone blinking in shock of the recommendation. Vignette then got up with a sigh of bliss, “Well, better get back to my cabin. If the captain is right, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride.” she then left the buffet. After a solid second of remaining shocked, “That’s two cameos of people we’ve meet.” Pinkie commented somewhat flatly. She then shrugged. “I wonder who else will show up?” she asked as she returned to her meal. Sunset’s eyes then widen. “Juniper!” she said before she got out of her seat, “I can’t believe I forgot to invite my own sister!” she then dashed to the table where her other sisters were. This left Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie and the CMC utterly confused. The seven turned to the two Twilights. Sci-Twi adjusted her glasses, “You see the father of the Shadowbolts is also the father of Sunset, and he… well…” Sci-Twi trailed off. Applejack then raised her hand to silence Sci-Twi before she started to stammer, “Let meh guess, he was an actual stud.” the paladin commented. Everyone, sans Apple Bloom, turned to the farm girl in confusion. “That’s what yah call a male farm animal, usually dogs and horses, that’s set aside to be the father.” Everyone then gave an oh as they connected the dots. “Yah’all should send a year on meh farm.” she groaned and returned to her meal. As Sunset arrived at the table where the Shadowbolts were eating, “Listen, have any of you seen Juniper?” the pyromancer asked in a slight panic. Sunny was the one that spoke up, “Why do you ask?” she questioned her elder half-sister with a slightly raised eyebrow. As Sunset started to stammer in apparent nervousness, “Yes, I have seen our half-sister. She’s been around the whole ship often doing this.” Sunny elaborated as she brought both of her hands in front of her face and made a rectangle with both thumbs and index fingers.” “It’s called framing. Well, technically it’s spot framing.” came Juniper’s voice as she, dressed in a pair of short shirts and a mostly unbuttoned and short-sleeved button-up shirt with the bottom tied off in the area of her bosom came and sat down in the open spot of the table on Indigo’s left. With her meal Wallflower Blush with a simple and easily overlooked plain green sundress. “But that’s not the point. I am getting ideas together for a movie. And Wallflower will be my leading lady.” she added as she placed her left hand on Wallflower’s shoulder. “Listen, Juniper, sorry I haven’t really interacted with you yesterday. I know you’re here in part because Sci-Twi invited you.” Sunset with a sigh of regret. As the pyromancer turned to Wallflower and prepared to speak “Don’t even,” Wallflower started as she raised her hand silencing Sunset. “You promised to be nicer towards me, then you dragged me onto this boat, you left me with this movie-crazed lunatic,” she said as she pointed to Juniper. Juniper was about to protest, but it died in her throat. However, Wallflower didn’t let up. “And you didn’t even bother to check on me after you, your friends and your and the loon’s sisters decided to light up the night sky without thinking about what the release of that much magic could do.” the girl vented. After a second she lowered her hand. “Now you can apologize.” she as she crossed her arms in front of her chest. Sunset closed her eyes and took a breath, “I was wrong to pretty much leave you in the hands of Juniper and to not check on you after the show.” Sunset stated. “I am sorry.” Wallflower then gave a nod of acceptance. “Aren’t you interested in the movie I want to make?” Juniper asked. Everyone else looked at each other and shrugged before nodding. “It’s a period piece, circa 900’s AC....” Juniper started. However, before she could continue, “T’is is your captain speakin’, the en’ine up and ready to go. To make up for the twelve or so ‘ours we lost, we’re goin’ to be goin’ at top speed soon. For your safety, please return to your cabins.” came the voice of Ragamuffin over the ship’s PA. “We’ll be startin’ up the en’ine in fifteen minutes. If you haven’t finished your meal, feel free to take what you haven’t finished back to your cabin. Thank you for your patience.” the captain finished. Juniper pouted due to the interruption. “So maybe later you can tell us your movie idea?” Sunset offered as she left the table. A couple of hours later, everyone had returned to their cabins, sans the CMC and the Rainbolts (minus Rainbow Dash), all of whom were gathered in Sunset and Sci-Twi’s cabin, with everyone playing war. “Well, I think Juniper’s movie sounds lovely.” Rarity said as she placed her card down. Applejack was the next to play, she rolled her eyes, “Of course you’d like some poorly thought out romance story.” the paladin commented. Once she set her card down she saw that it was a match to the card played before Rarity’s card. The paladin then slapped the deck, “Sandwich!” she declared before she added the pile to her deck. “Besides who would she get to be the guy?” the paladin asked as she placed her top card which was a challenge card. Apple Bloom was the next to play and started to play cards to answer the challenge, which she did and challenged Scootaloo who failed to beat the challenge but the pile was taken by Sweetie Belle as she was the one that saw a sandwich. As Sweetie Belle played her next card, “Well, from what I’ve seen and heard of Flash Sentry, he can easily pull off the role of the actual love interest.” Sci-Twi commented. She then froze as she recalled what she and Sunset had already asked of Flash the previous day. “Of course it would be more of a he’s the first person to actually treat the protagonist as an actual human being.” she then gave a weak apologetic laugh as she turned to Twilight. Twilight only shook her head, “If Flash does agree to the role, I won’t get jealous.” she then placed a card. Just then there was a loud boom of lightning. “That’s odd. Even with the storm that was creeping up on us when we had breakfast, at the rate the ship is going we should be clear of any storms.” Everyone else mostly shrugged their shoulders save for Applejack, whom, almost unbeknownst to everyone else started to look pale. For no reason that could be immediately fathomed Applejack slapped the growing pile of cards as Pinkie was answering a challenge and there was no match or sandwich, “FALSE SLAP!” Pinkie shouted, “You now have to pay a penalty card.” the jester added as she looked up to face Applejack, however, once she saw the paladin’s face. “You okay AJ?” she asked her softening voice betrayed her concern. Applejack placed her deck of cards down and with her left hand held her head as she looked at her right. “I don’t feel so good,” she answered before she moved her left hand so that she rested her right thumb in its palm. “My thumb feels like someone’s pricking it,” she muttered before she went silent. She then silently mouthed a prayer and her eyes flashed granny smith green for a second. Once the flash was over, Applejack was on her back shivering and quaking as if she was overwhelmed by something. “AJ!” Apple Bloom shouted as she rushed to her sister’s side. “Speak to me.” the artificer pleaded in tears as she witnessed her sister convoluted. “Somebody help!” she pleaded as she grabbed AJ and held the paladin’s head to her chest. Applejack then stopped moving and slowly seemed to regain control of herself as she tried to catch her breath, “That’s no normal storm.” the paladin stated. “There’s something evil about it,” she added as she started to sit up on her own. “We should inform the captain.” Rarity said as she was the first to head to the door. However, she didn’t get far before her hand was grabbed by Sunset. “Maybe before you go running after your new fixation, we should see what we're dealing with. Also, check the barometer,” the pyromancer said as she pointed to the barometer in the cabin. “It’s over 760 millimeters mercury, there shouldn’t be a storm.” Sunset then turned to the others, “Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, you three stay here. I’m going to check this storm out. Anyone with me, show with a raised hand.” Everyone looked at each other. “Well since Applejack keeps winning these card games, it would be fun to actually do something aside from site around.” Indigo chimed. The adults then all raised their hands, some more enthusiastically like Pinkie and Lemon, others more reluctantly, like Fluttershy. After donning their life preservers they left the cabin and cautiously made it onto the deck. While they could feel the speed of the vessel as it went along, they were able to maintain their balance as they each got out. And even though they knew there was no reason for a storm, nearing the ship was a massive typhoon with lightning cracking among the clouds. “This is weird,” Lemon remarked. However before more could be ascertained, Fluttershy screamed at the sight of the storm that was surrounding them. “What is it?” Twilight asked as she noticed Fluttershy’s panicking state. “This isn’t a normal storm. It is an elemental, a storm elemental!” the druid shouted in fear. Everyone looked at her in utter befuddlement. Fluttershy sighed, “Not even either of the Twilights or Sunset.” she muttered under her breath. “While Fire, Air, Water, and Earth are the four primary elements in our cultures, other cultures count Wood and Metal as Elements, sometimes Light and Darkness are recognized as Elements, Ice, while solid water is often treated as an Element in it of itself and Lightning or Thunder is also treated as its own Element, and there is also Void, Aether, Space, Consciousness, Energy, and Spirit, depending on the culture are also recognized as Elements.” “Fluttershy darling, while that was very informative, that doesn’t explain how there can be a Storm Elemental.” Rarity pointed out. “I think she was trying to point out that our understanding of just Fire, Earth, Water and Air as key elements for our existence. It would, therefore, steam to reason that in certain cultures, a storm can be viewed as a separate element in it of itself.” Twilight expressed. “Abit of stretch, but given our track record… sure why not.” Pinkie chimed in just before a bolt of lightning cracked the sky. While most of the girls tried to duck as best they could, Pinkie remained standing and squinted at the storm elemental that was assaulting them. “Is it me or does this elemental vaguely look like the Storm King.” Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Fluttershy gave a ‘huh’ as they lifted their heads. And almost uncannily the storm began to shift the structure of the clouds and began to take on a roughly familiar visage with the insignia of the Storm King becoming much more visible. As the storm’s form began to look more and more like the marauder, the wind began to howl as if it was speaking, “Tempest! Bring Me Tempest!” was heard. “Was that?” Rarity asked. “No, it can’t be. He was petrified and shattered into a hundred pieces.” the enchantress protested against her own understanding. “Do you mind filling in the rest of us?” Sour asked just before another bolt of lightning cracked the sky. Twilight was the one to answer, “One week before the most recent Summer Sun Celebration a Magicborn forsaker that went by the name of Tempest Shadows led an army of a yeti-like humanoid called storm guards and captured Chantalot in the name of a man that called himself the Storm King. The day before the Summer Sun Celebration he used the Staff of Sacanas to drain the power of me, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance, all the leaders of Mystica’s allies, the Pillars of Virtue, my brother Grandemarshall Shining Armor and my niece Flurry Heart,” the demigod listed off. Sunset then spoke, “Were you still a demigod after he used the staff?” the pyromancer asked. “No, Twilight was transformed back into a normal Magicborn.” Applejack answered. “Why do you ask?” Sunset froze at the answer for a solid second, “Twilight, how much do you know about the Staff of Sacranas?” the pyromancer asked cutting to the heart of the matter. Twilight’s silence answered the question better than any words she could speak. “The staff transfers a piece of someone’s soul into a weather formation.” Sunset said, “And if he used it after stripping you of your demigod state, a piece of each of the Storm King’s metaphysical parts were transferred into the storm he had. We need the staff to disrupt the storm and put this storm elemental down!” Twilight nodded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can, see what you can do about the storm.” Twilight then closed her eyes and was gone in a flash. Everyone turned to Sunset to know what she was thinking, “We need either a demigod or rarely powerful elementalist to use the staff.” she said. Sci-Twi got up and went towards the doors to get back in. “We need Rainbow Dash. She’s the only one other than Princess Twilight who can use the staff and she’s the most powerful elementalist on the ship.” She then went back inside as the others turned to face the storm elemental.