//------------------------------// // There're Still No Brakes // Story: Odrsjot // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// “I’m moving! I’m moving!” Josho grunted as he pushed a cart full of equipment onto the Noble Jury from an adjoining platform. “Don’t get your pretty saddle in a twist. I wanna get out of here as much as you do.” “Every minute we waste is another mile or two that the Xonans will have carried Rainbow and Kera into Tattoo Territory!” Eagle Eye grunted as he strained to pull a cart half the size as Josho’s. “Nnngh!” He struggled behind the obese stallion, his petite limbs covered in sweat. “Roarke’s given us the coordinates! Now we gotta… unngh… take off!” “We don’t even know where we’re going, kid,” Josho exclaimed. “We could be taking a massive left turn at Seclorum’s for all we know.” “Still, the sooner we… g-get out of here… the b-better!” Eagle Eye hissed. Ebon Mane past Eagle Eye, pulling his own cart. He paused and cast the stallion a worried glance. “You need some help with that, EE?” “No!” Eagle gasped. “I must… p-pull my own weight… for Rainbow Dash!” He strained and strained, legs quivering. “The mares… n-need us…” Ebon smiled. “You know, there’s no shame in asking for help.” “I’m not… g-gonna be… weak!” “Who said you were, buddy?” “Then let me do m-my part!” Ebon shook his head, smirking. Adjusting the rigging on his shoulders, he continued pulling the scrap metal towards the edge of the loading dock. Dearest Mother, This is a stressful time, and yet I’ve never felt more relaxed in all my life. It helps to be in a place where you know who you depend on and who depends on you. These ponies… these friends of mine don’t know when to quit. Three of our closest companions are stuck far behind enemy lines, and yet every member of this ship is ready and willing to give their all for a seemingly suicidal rescue operation. Their faith and commitment to each other astounds me. I am lucky to be counted with their lot. “For glimmer’s sake!” Floydien snarled from where he sat in the cramped cockpit. “Just drop the excess steam containers in the room of paper spit!” “The navigation room?!” Pilate stammered. “But, Mr. Floydien, you can’t allow it! If one of the cartridges bursts and spoils all the books inside the library there--” “Then striped boomer will have to wipe his flank with something else!” The zebra’s muzzle hardened into a frown. “That’s not what I mean and you know it…” “The world is in short supply of paint buckets. Let boomers dead and gone worry about words that are dead and gone. The room of navigation will become room of steam reserves. The boomer has seen one chamber of Nancy Jane’s womb; the boomer has seen it all.” “Mr. Floydien…” Pilate scuffled forward across the metal floor. “I must insist.” “Beloved, let it rest,” Bellesmith said, reaching a hoof forward. “But… but…” Pilate turned towards her general direction with a pouting expression. “The books!” “You know how much I love good reading,” Belle remarked. “I love Rainbow Dash and Kera more.” She smiled. “If that’s the only place we can afford to put the backup steam containers, then shouldn’t we accept a solution when it’s presented to us? Especially with such little time?” Pilate sighed. Shuffling about with the aid of his manasphere, he trotted firmly onto the open deck. “What I wouldn’t give for a week when we could fly by squirrel wheel.” A shrill barking sound. “My apologies, Simon.” “We should be ready to disembark soon, Mr. Floydien,” Belle said, turning towards the front of the cockpit. “I know that this is not the sort of thing you had expected to be doing after we escaped the clutches of Prime Enforcer Shell, and you undoubtedly have many things you wish to accomplish with Nancy Jane back in your possession, so I would like to apologize for--” “Is boomerette going to stand there spitting or help with paint bucket retrieval?!” the elk snapped, his red eyes thinly glaring past the cockpit windows. “Floydien has a family to save, after all.” Belle smiled, her eyes slightly moist. She leaned in and gave his massive body a hug from behind. “You’re one in a million, Floydien.” “Gaah! You are touching the coat of Floydien! Stick to boomer’s side of Nancy Jane!” Belle giggle and galloped off to resume the labors of preparation. Ebon watched as she breezed by, and he breathed in through a pleasant smile. There was a time when I felt useless, as you likely know, mother. There was a time when I felt alone and without hope. In many ways, I still feel like the same weak, needy stallion. But somehow, I am able to blend in here. I’m not sure why I ever doubted it to begin with. With these ponies, I feel an impenetrable resolve. I suppose it is a good substitute for strength. Only time will tell, and thankfully these ponies have a great deal of just that to offer me. “You mean it?!” Props leaned forward as if her toothy grin weighed a ton. “You’re gonna stick around with us?! Like… super-sticky-wicky stick around?!” “Yes, I…” Ebon glanced towards the side. Past where Josho and Floydien were loading a last container with the help of Simon, Eagle Eye made eye contact. With a calmer breath, Ebon said, “I think I’m stuck with this ship for the long-haul.” He gulped and smiled at the mare. “Just like you.” “Wooo to the hooo!” Props leaned in and hugged Ebon, spinning the three of them around twice. “Squeeeeee! I knew it! I just knew it! We’re totally destined to bump beauties!” “Nnnngh--Ahem…” Ebon parted the hug and chuckled at her. “What?” “Hearts, silly!” Props stuck her tongue out. “We’re like long lost twins of the spirit string! Some cosmic cat’s waiting to tug at us and it’s oh so supertastical! I can’t wait for us to reunite with Uncle Prowse again!” “Heheh… yeah…” Ebon smiled. “And you can sure bet that after we bust Rainbow and Roarke and Kera out of their mess, we’re totally gonna find him and--” “The Kingdom of Zabaduzabadu!” Ebon frowned. “I thought it was’Zadubadabu.’” “That too!” Props side-galloped towards the nearest stairwell of the ship’s top deck. “Heeeee! I’m leaking with heart juice! I can’t wait to plaster it all along the walls of Nancy’s womb!” “Yeah…” Ebon turned about and waved at Eagle Eye. “You do that.” The ex-mercenary waved back, smirking placidly. There is no limit to what we can do or where we can go. It isn’t steam that runs this ship, or skystone crystal, or any magically glowing book. It’s our charisma, our trust, and our camaraderie that keep breaking the clouds before us. I worry for any Xonan, Ledomaritan, or “Nagu’n” that think they can stand in our way. Eagle Eye crawled into the cockpit from the windswept top deck. “That’s it, Floydien! We’ve broken free from Gray Smoke’s air traffic!” ”Good riddance to all that soot!” Props’ voice said over the ship’s sound-stone powered intercom. ”The city’s great and all, but it doesn’t have the same ol’ lift when my Uncle isn’t around!” “Another day another spitwad,” Floydien grumbled, adjusting several levers with his hooves. “Floydien is ready to try out this new propulsion. Is Nancy’s womb jacked up?” “Snkkkt…” Pilate doubled over, hissing. Belle looked over. “Darling, are you alright?” “Ahem… yes…” Pilate tilted his head back up, fighting a furious snicker. “As fine as I’ll ever be, I suppose.” “Hmmm…” Belle smirked. “Don’t worry. We’ll get Rainbow and Kera out of there.” Pilate tilted his head towards her. “Who’s worried?” Belle blinked, then smiled rosily. “Right…” With a warm breath, she gazed forward. “Right.” ”Ready to shoot some steam, handsome!” Props’ voice sing-songed. “Now’s your chance, Mr. Floydien,” Ebon said. “Kick it.” “Settle down, sailboat boomer.” Floydien charged magical energy through his antlers and into the flight panel. “Floydien never kicks his beloved. He nudges her.” The ship’s manathrusters powered down, and the vessel wobbled slightly. After a slight drop, Belle stifled a shriek--but the ship recovered swiftly. In place of the dwindling skystone reserves, a loud ventilation of steam was keeping the vessel upright. “It’s working!” Eagle Eye chanted. “It’s working!” “One thing at a time, lavenderette!” Floydien growled into the nearest sound stone. “Blonde boomer?” ”Purring like a ghost kitten bursting out of a volcano! Let’s see how she accelerates!” “Yes, let’s,” Ebon said. “The fewer psychotic analogies, the better.” “If boomer insists.” Floydien pushed a lever forward. The Noble Jury accelerated successfully, maintaining altitude as it sped up faster and faster. The ponies on board cheered, their merry voices accompanying the airship as it burned its way southeast and away from the hazy mass of Gray Smoke behind. Yes, Mother, for the first time in ages, I no longer feel anguished or distraught. I feel loved. And where there is love, there is hope. Wherever you are, I certainly hope that whatever you’re fighting for is just as noble. No pun intended. Sincerely, -Your son, Ebon