//------------------------------// // Barreling through the storm. // Story: The Magic Lamp // by Silver Butcher //------------------------------// Kirin, Llama, and Breezie Spike all popped into existence atop a speeding train in the middle of Cozy's rainstorm, Llama opened his mouth to get some water, Kirin began screaming in delight, and Breezie struck a superman pose. "I'm on a train," Kirin Spike cheered "Oh it's been millennia," "It has not been that long," Breeze chastized "It's only been a little over ten thousand and thirty or so years," Breezie squinted before shrugging "I dunno that sounds right so I'm gonna stick with it, so where are our distraction targets?" "If we're on top of the train," Llama rationalized, he swung his head down and swung his face into the roof "They must be in the train," "Congratulations Einstien," Kirin retorted to Llama, "Never would have figured that one out on my own," "But Your me," Llama countered "So technically you did figure it out on your own," "Oh, can we cut it out with that stupid joke?" Breezie pleaded "It's starting to annoy me, so it's also probably annoying most of the rest of us," Inside the Train, safe from the raging storm sat Fluttershy, Seabreeze, a handful of other Breezies, Thorax, and Rainshine. "I Never really got time to get to know him," Rainshine said with a sigh as she and Thorax talked to one another, "But he has been a shining light of inspiration to me, I just hope he never finds out about the whole spring of silence fiasco, not my proudest moment as a leader," "Spike is single handily responsible for setting me on the path that led to me becoming the leader of the changelings, and that was before he had magic mind you, trust me, he's worth being an inspiration, the thought of getting to see him again is what's been keeping me going these past few years, it's been lonely without him, I can't even begin to imagine what you must be going through though," "Well, I can at the very least assure you that your friend Ember hasn't made it easy these past few years," Rainshine grumbled irritably "She's been very forward with her demands that Spike be sent to live out his endless years in the Dragonlands when he should be allowed to pick where he goes, and I can't imagine she'll be happy when he decided to come live with me," "Spike is a very caring Drag...Genie," Thorax scratched his chin for a moment "He'll probably work out a shared custody deal, travel around, and spend a week or two with each of us individually on a visitation rotation," "So long as he's happy he can go where ever he pleases," Seabreeze cut in, his four followers agreeing with him in their native language. "Regardless of what he wants, we should give Spike some time to enjoy being free," Fluttershy said with determination "He's been stuck in that lamp for a long time, I'd hate to imagine the psychological trauma he's gone through, spending so many years trapped and alone," "I wouldn't say alone," Llama noted, he and the other two Spike using magic to watch and listen to the group from the comfort of a few seats over "I always have myself for company," "I hate you," Kirin retorted bluntly as he looked out the window. "We're you," Breezie retorted, Llama looked over to the group and found they hadn't heard him as the Breezies had seemingly started singing a drinking song against the wishes of Sea Breeze. "Oh well," Llama shrugged "We switched the train tracks so now it's slowly heading inland instead of to the port side town that will take 'em to Saddle Arabia, that should slow them down by a few days at least, and since we have to slow 'em down for as long as possible I guess this bit of us get's just to chill," "5th Dimensional Chess?" Kirin offered the Llama as the game that had been the direct cause of their Cosmic Powers materialized on the table. "I think I'm gonna go play with them a little," Llama decided after a moment "We have free reign so long as we keep them from going the right way for as long as possible," "You and I then," Kirin noted as Breezie took point across from him and Llama went to cause havoc. "...sometimes I miss him sure," Rainshine said as she and Thorax did their best to get to know one another "My brother was abusive, and maybe with time he would have grown to be a better person, but Spike was right to be against giving him eternal life, he was put to work building an irrigation system when we first arrived in the grove but ended up killing 4 other Kirins in a failed escape attempt then ended with him impaling himself on a stolen spear," "I'm sorry to hear that," Throax said "My brother and I didn't always have the best relationship, but thanks to a little help we've managed to patch things up, we still fight sure but I suppose I should be grateful he didn't take the path yours did," "Seems those two are getting along fine," Sea Breeze noted as he took a swig of Breezie ale, a thimble of milk with one speck of sugar within it, "Shame the same can't be said about the Dragoness, she seems to harbor resentment towards all of us, save for the Changling," Sea Breeze was about to take another swig when he and all the other Breezie's suddenly froze "Why is the train going faster?" He demanded, as his four followers began panicking. "Looks to be going the same speed," Thorax replied as he looked out the window. "I'm a Breezie, I always know when I'm close to harsh winds, and the ones caused by the movement of the train are starting to pick up, slowly mind you, but it's never done this before," "Maybe they've been ordered to pick up the speed so they can shut down the train lines," Rainshine pondered curiously. "I can go and ask the conductor," Fluttershy offered, "You guys hold down the fort for me ok," "I'll go with you ma'am," Sea Breeze said at once as he took flight and placed himself atop Fluttershy's head. Fluttershy left Thorax and Rainshine to tend to the remaining Breezies and headed to the front engine to speak with the conductor. "It's really picking up speed now," Sea Breeze mused with concern "If this continues we could de-rail should we come across any turns," "All the more reason to speak with the conductor," Fluttershy replied calmly "He's probably just trying to get home and out of the rain," Fluttershy made her way through two empty train cars before arriving at the front engine, said engine had a sign signifying that all where welcome to enter and speak to the conductor. Fluttershy obliged and entered the control room. instead of finding the conductor she was met with a very fluffy-looking pony with its head sticking out the window, no other pony in sight was controlling to now noticeably faster train. "What is this?" Sea Breeze demanded as he looked around in a huff " Where's the pony in charge?" Fluttershy walked over to the pony with their head out the window and poked them softly. "Excuse me have you...seen...the..." Fluttershy's voice fizzled out as the Llama before her reeled its neck back in from the window and twisted it around to look her in the eye. She stared silently at its' Emerald Green eyes and it's eyeliner before fully realizing who was standing before her. "Spike?"