“Help us write the combat action plan,” said Bear.
Rarity blinked. “What?”
“We’re putting together contingencies for all-out battle,” said Jenny. She invited Rarity to sit with the rest of them. There were a few documents and photographs laid out on the surface of the table.
“This is the layout of the area,” said Veronica, indicating a map with markings on it. Not being a pegasus, Rarity was unused to overhead views of land.
Veronica went on. “We’re setting up control points and coordinating plans. I think everyone agrees that we should probably be prepared for anything?”
There were nods from around the table, including Rarity.
“No such thing as overkill,” said Morgan.
“I agree,” spoke Bear. “I’ll be getting us some air support.”
There were various noises of happy surprise from around the table. Seeing Rarity’s confusion, Rob clarified, “Airplanes dropping bombs on things for us.”
“Where would you get something like that?” asked Rarity.
“The Oregon Air National Guard has F-15C’s in place near Portland,” said Veronica, consulting her notes. “A better choice for ground attack would be either the A-10’s from Idaho ANG, or the F-15E’s from Mountain Home Air Force Base. Those would take a while to get here, though. A compromise might be the EA-18G’s from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.”
The phrase “Oregon Air National Guard” was the only part of that Rarity recognized. She remembered seeing fighter jets marked with that phrase flying around. If they looked impressive then, perhaps being loaded with weapons would make them very formidable indeed.
Rarity did not have watch duty that night and took the opportunity to fall asleep early. It was fortunate, because the next day was very long and complicated. A trip back to Mount St. Helens was planned, and she laid out casual clothes and hiking boots to wear the next day.
In the morning, she went with Rob into Portland to buy a car. It had been decided that a second vehicle was needed for the six of them.
“Cars are just part of America,” explained Rob. “We might as well be teaching you how to buy one. It’s part of your overall experience.”
Rarity had been given specific instructions not to let him buy any vehicle taller than her height. She was unaware if Bear had been joking, but pulled Rob away from a display of trucks. The two of them entered the dealership’s showroom, where two polished cars were on display.
Rob pointed to the black one. “This is what we want. Seating for six in a pinch, and almost double the horsepower of the base model.”
Rarity looked at both vehicles, unable to discern a difference other than color. Her mind wandered to terminology. Looking back at Equestria, the use of the term “horsepower” was rather ironic. Of course, had she not seen things from the human perspective she would never have realized it.
It was rather unfair to the salesman to be haggling prices with a psychic, although Rarity watched with interest as Rob negotiated the deal. She thought that she was missing a bit of the entire car-buying experience, suspecting there was more research involved than just walking in and pointing at one.
Based on the salesman’s surprised and pleased reaction when Rob handed him a credit card, Rarity also decided that many large purchases were probably not paid up front and in full. At the same time, she always appreciated a good shopping spree, especially at someone else’s expense.
The car was wheeled outside and Rob paused to finalize the paperwork. Rarity opened the door and sat down behind the wheel, relishing the smell of newness. She put on her seat belt, as was prudent and legal.
Rob returned, and by the look on his face it was clear that he had intended to drive. Rarity gave him a pout and he rolled his eyes in submission. That look always worked on males.
Sliding into the seat next to her, Rob shot her a look that was one part irritation at her manipulation and one part irritation that it worked on him. Rarity found a control that looked like the shifter and put the car into gear.
“Careful,” said Rob. “This car—”
His words were drowned by a sudden roar from the engine as Rarity’s foot slipped off the brake and her heavy boot trod on the accelerator. Shrieking in surprise, Rarity jammed both feet on the brake, bouncing Rob off the dashboard.
“Sorry,” she said, her voice an unintentional mimic of Fluttershy.
Rob picked himself up and put on his seat belt. “I told you it had double the horsepower.”
“That could have merely been going from ten to twenty,” said Rarity, getting the car moving, more gently this time. “Honestly Robert, how was I to know?”
Rob muttered something that sounded like it would have been an insult to a native human. He remained mostly quiet for the rest of the trip, occasionally giving directions to guide Rarity’s driving back to the mountain.
For her part, Rarity was glad there was something smaller than the SUV for her to learn to drive, even with the engine’s sensitive power output. She relaxed somewhat, still getting used to being smooth with the controls.
Back at the Mount St. Helens parking lot, the two of them got out and once again bypassed the safety lines. Loowit was waiting when they arrived inside the crater.
“You can go entertain yourself,” Loowit told Rob. “This is just between Rarity and I.”
“All right, I’ll leave you girls to your playdate.” He turned to go, stumbling slightly as a minor tremor ran through the ground. Rob looked back, clearly deciding that perhaps he should try a little more respect the next time he spoke to the volcano goddess. He kept going towards the parking lot.
“Now then Rarity,” said Loowit. “What do you know about geology?”
“If I do say so myself, I’m quite skilled at working with precious stones,” replied Rarity. She thought for a moment. “Heat and pressure from volcanoes can create diamonds, correct?”
“That’s true, although my mountain isn’t the best suited for that. I’m not patient enough for how long the process takes, either.” Loowit chuckled. “I speak to you about geology because it’s what I have to offer. I understand that your magic is rather more abstract.”
“Unicorn magic is internal,” Rarity confirmed. “I’m not a scholar of the subject, but another race—earth ponies—draw their own kind of magic from the soil.”
“Hmm.” Loowit studied Rarity. “As you’re from a completely different place in the universe, I doubt your methods are compatible with mine, but perhaps something can be adapted. Here, try this.”
Loowit raised her hand, calling a small conical pile of ash to form next to her feet. Rarity looked regretful. “I’m sorry. I can’t use magic, as it leaves a distinct signature that can be used to track me.”
Laughing, Loowit gestured to the walls of the mile-wide crater they stood in. “I can guarantee that nothing gets in or out of this place without my consent. You’re safe here.”
Encouraged, Rarity concentrated her telekinesis and built a small pile of ash of her own. Loowit judged it. “You’re just moving the particles, not interacting with them. A planet is a complicated system of interwoven parts, some of them living. It's better if you really get yourself inside the web and participate. While you might be a guest, you’re still walking the Earth and can take the opportunity to get really in tune with it.”
Rarity thought she understood, but realized it would probably take a significant amount of practice for her to fully take advantage. She nodded. “I suppose I could work on that. Is there anything else you’d like to teach me? Other than geology?”
Loowit smiled. “Don’t forget, I also know a thing or two about fire.”