//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: Larfleeze visits Equestria // by KingDogbertXIV //------------------------------// “Are we there yet?” Flim mumbled as he awoke from his impromptu power nap. Opening his eyes slowly, he noticed that the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 had come to a stop a few feet from a large crater. “Wake up, brother. We’re here,” he said excitedly, nudging Flam. Flam’s eyes fluttered open as he leaned forward and levitated his hat back on top of his head. “Let’s check it out,” he yawned. “I wonder how much we’ll get for it,” Flam said as he and his brother got up from the couch. “Hopefully enough to buy elixir-making supplies,” Flam replied, hopping off the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000. “That reminds me of what I was saying before I saw the meteorite falling,” Flim started as he hopped off the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 and heading towards the crater. “We could buy supplies from Filthy Rich’s store,” he finished before turning his attention towards the crater’s center. “’Meteor,’ you mean. It’s a meteor until it touches land,” Flam explained, bringing up the rear. “Once it touches the ground, then it’s a meteorite.” “I…don’t think this is a meteorite, Flam,” Flim shakily said after a moment. He then raised a quivering hoof towards the crater’s center. “What is it then?” Flam asked, trotting closer and peering into the crater. The crater’s center held what appeared to be an orange railroad lantern fragmented into several pieces and two orange rings. Coiled around the items in a protective stance was a ten-foot long, bright orange serpent with a marking on its head that resembled a circle with short lines marking every diagonal 90 degrees and a v-shape at the circle’s top. “I have no idea,” Flim said, still spooked. “I’ve never seen anything like it. In fact, seeing as how it fell from the sky, I…,” he trailed off, lowering his hoof. “What?” Flam asked, staring as the serpent moved a bit around the objects. “Flam, I think this thing is an alien. If that android article is any indication, then there has to be intelligent life outside this planet,” Flim answered, slightly calming down. “Do you think it comes in peace?” Flam asked, creeping closer and into the crater. “Are you mad, brother?” Flim shouted. “How many snakes come in peace?” “There only has to be one,” Flam retorted, inching closer to the crater’s center. “Wait,” Flim said as he trotted into the crater and up to his brother’s side. “We need to be careful about this.” “I’m staying sharp,” Flam said, quickly glancing at Flim. Taking a few steps closer, Flam turned his attention towards the serpent. “Hello. We come in peace. Do you come in peace as well?” he asked. In an instant, the serpent shot up and was now staring directly at Flam. “Run, brother,” Flim shouted. ”Flee before it eats you.” “My name is Flam and the panicking one is my brother Flim,” Flam said, not moving an inch as the serpent scooted closer. “This is place is called Equestria. To specify, we’re in the White Tail Woods.” At this, the serpent arched its neck and slowly approached Flam, just stopping a few feet away. “I noticed that your lantern is broken,” Flam started. “I can fix it for you, but I would like to be compensated for my work.” “I can’t watch,” Flim squeaked, covering his eyes with a foreleg. “I would also like to know what those rings are,” Flam said. “Care to share?” “Mine,” a raspy voiced loudly hissed. “Not yours.” “Did…it just speak?” Flim asked as he lowered his hoof and opened his eyes. “No offense, but you lack the limbs to either hold your items or fix your lantern. Us ponies, however, do. We either make a deal or I take the rings and the lantern and sell them,” Flam asserted, pawing the ground. “You have great greed in your heart, Flam of Equestria,” the voice hissed as the serpent coiled around Flam and stared him pointblank in the face. “Your ultimatum intrigues me.” “You want greed? My brother and I are ‘traveling salesponies nonpareil.’ Just a month or so ago, we swindled some hippie couple out of the land that their spa was built on. We’re hoping to scrounge up the money to buy elixir-making supplies. We’re going to sell said elixirs to fillies,” Flam said as Flim nervously crept closer to the scene. Flicking its tongue, the serpent glanced towards the orange items, then back to Flam. “Your avarice impresses me, equine. Even more, I sense that you plan to repair the battery and sell it and the rings, thus betraying me for wealth.” “How did you know?” Flam asked, recoiling a bit. “Come to think of it, you haven’t told us a thing except that you’re impressed by how greedy we are and that the lantern is a battery of some sort.” Hissing, the voice stated, “Knowledge is precious. I don’t share it.” “I introduced myself and my brother. I even told you what we do. Aren’t we entitled to the same courtesy?” Flam asserted. “If I shared knowledge, so can you.” The serpent then narrowed its eyes and hissed, “I am Ophidian the Tempter, the living embodiment of the Orange Light of Avarice. I was given life and strength from the envy, gluttony, and greed of every sentient being. I was trapped in the Orange Lantern Central Power Battery until it was damaged in a battle.” “By ‘Orange Lantern Central Power Battery,’ you mean the lantern that’s in several pieces, right?” Flam asked. “How did you fit in that thing, let alone even get into it in the first place?” “A being known as Larfleeze from the nearby planet Okaara trapped me in there eons ago. Trapped In the battery, I was forced to serve Larfleeze,” Ophidian explained. “His greed will compel him to seek me, the battery, and the rings out and reclaim them.” “What exactly do those items do, Ophidian?” Flim piped up. “I have spoken enough already,” Ophidian declared. “I’ll make you a deal, Ophidian,” Flam started. “You tell us about the rings and battery and we’ll help you with your Larfleeze problem…somehow.” “Your proposal is…acceptable. The Orange Lantern Power Rings were created as weapons to channel the Orange Light of Avarice. The rings use Avarice energy, supplied by the Orange Lantern Power Battery, which takes the form of Orange light. The rings are only as strong as the wielder’s greed and imagination,” Ophidian explained, uncoiling itself from Flam. “What’s the catch to wielding these weapons?” Flim asked, eyeing the rings. “The wielder is infected with insatiable avarice and ravenous, endless hunger,” Ophidian answered. “So the wielder gains power but loses all rational thinking except for wanting things,” Flam mused. “Yes,” Ophidian confirmed. “With the power of the rings, you will be able to take anything and everything that you desire.” “How do we wear the rings without fingers?” Flim asked. “I’m not wearing a ring on my horn until I’m engaged.” “The rings conform to the wearer’s limbs,” Ophidian answered. “What do you think, brother?” Flim asked as he faced Flam. “Should we try them on?” “It’s worth a shot,” Flam replied, holding up his right hoof. “If you say so,” Flim shrugged, holding up his right hoof as well. Facing Ophidian, he stated, “We’re in.” At this, Ophidian levitated the two rings up to the brothers’ hooves. “Flim and Flam of Equestria, you want it all. Welcome to the Orange Lantern Corps,” the serpent said before touching the rings to the brothers’ hooves.