//------------------------------// // Chapter 8 // Story: Larfleeze visits Equestria // by KingDogbertXIV //------------------------------// “That should do it,” Flam muttered aloud as he used his ring to fit the battery’s glass window into the battery and fuse the two parts together. “It took some finagling, but I think I fixed the battery,” he then announced. “Now what, Ophidian?” Flim asked as he and the serpent dissipated their constructs. “How do we charge our rings again? You never quite clarified.” “You must touch your rings to the front of the battery and crave the battery’s energy,” Ophidian answered. “The rings will then absorb energy from the battery.” “So it’s yet another thing where it works by being greedy?” Flam asked. “How do the rings know what we’re thinking?” “The rings channel avarice, one of the seven parts of the Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum,” Ophidian started. “The Emotional Electromagnetic Spectrum is an energy field that is fueled by the emotions of all sentient beings. Sentient beings channeled and created seven unique forms of energy based on their emotions, with a certain color unique to the emotion. This created me, the rings, and the battery.” “So there are six other colors that have rings and batteries for them?” Flim quizzed, levitating an apple to his mouth and biting into it. “Yes,” Ophidian answered. “The White Light of Life is where the Emotional Spectrum originated. In the beginning, the universe was absolute darkness. At one point in history, the White Light was introduced by an entity or entities unknown even to me, and for 700 years, the universe was nothing but a blinding white light. The darkness, however, fought back against the light, eventually dividing it into the seven colors of the spectrum that exists today. The colors are: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. Each color is associated with a different emotion and each have an entity like me. Now, I have spoken enough on this matter. Larfleeze is coming and you must prepare.” “You keep saying that,” Flam pointed out as he got up and levitated the battery up to his front and raised his ringed hoof up to the battery’s front. “Here goes nothing,” he muttered as he touched his hoof to the battery, closed his eyes, and began to focus. Instantly, the battery lit up and shined orange light out from within, bathing Flam in an orange glow. Flim lowered his apple in curiosity as he watched as the ring on his brother’s hoof began to glow as brightly as the battery. A silent moment passed, and then both objects stopped glowing as abruptly as they had started. Flam then opened his eyes, withdrew his hoof, and levitated the battery over to Flim. “Your turn, brother.” “I assume that your ring is now fully charged,” Flim said before putting his apple down, levitating the battery up in front of him, and touching the battery with his ringed hoof. Flim then closed his eyes and furrowed his brow in concentration. Just as before, the battery and the ring both lit up, glowed brightly for a moment, and then stopped glowing abruptly. Flim then opened his eyes, put the battery down, and inspected his ring. “It feels…stronger now,” he commented before putting his hoof down, levitating the apple back up to his mouth, and taking another bite of it. “Your rings are now fully charged,” Ophidian announced, rearing up. “Yet, there is still one last thing you must do to prepare.” “What is it?” Flam asked, facing the serpent. “Can we take a break or a nap or something before we do it?” Flim asked. “We’ll be in a better condition to fight Larfleeze if we take naps now.” Sighing wearily, Ophidian relented, “Very well. Sleep if you must.” “Thank you,” Flim said before turning around and trotting, half-finished apple in tow, to the Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000’s couch, jumping onto the couch, and then plopping over onto his side, letting his apple fall to the floor in front of the couch. “Wake us up in an hour or so,” Flam said before he turned around, trotted up to the couch, and lying down on the couch next to his brother. Within a moment, both brothers were asleep, leaving Ophidian alone with its orders. --- “Larfleeze, Zecora,” Apple Bloom called as she trotted to the top of the hill and into the zebra and alien’s view. “I’m back. I brought along my brother, Big McIntosh,” she added as Big McIntosh trotted up to her side. “Did you bring any food, small pony?” Larfleeze asked as Apple Bloom and Big McIntosh trotted down the hill and up to him. “No,” Apple Bloom answered. “Larfleeze, meet my brother, Big McIntosh. Big McIntosh, this is Larfleeze.” “Hello, Larfleeze. Hello, Zecora,” Big McIntosh said, waving. “The small pony said that you would help me and feed me,” Larfleeze snapped, cutting off Zecora just as she was about to say something. “I promised that only if you behave yourself,” Apple Bloom pointed out. “Eat or do anything you’re not supposed to, and you’ll be on your own without help and food.” Scowling, Larfleeze grunted, “You said something about a party, small pony.” “I did,” Apple Bloom confirmed. “My sister was immediately suspicious of inviting you to the party. I said you would behave. In the end, though, it’s your choice as to whether or not you want to honor our agreement and get our help. It would mean a lot to me if you kept your word and didn’t ruin my friend’s party.” “When do I get food and help?” Larfleeze asked. “Never with that attitude,” Apple Bloom scolded. “To tell you the truth, I’m not that convinced that your head’s on straight. Simply put, I don’t trust your word. You have three options, Larfleeze: behave yourself at the party; hide in the barn with my very capable brother until the party’s over; or go out on your own and find your stuff on your own. The second and third options sound like the safest choices. The first option is a giant gamble. Though, out of decency, I’ll let you pick what option you want.” “The first one,” Larfleeze said, fidgeting. “Alright,” Apple Bloom sighed. “You’ll sit between my brother and either my sister or her friend, Twilight Sparkle. They both can handle you if you act up.” “Eeyup,” Big McIntosh affirmed. “Now, before we go, I reckon you owe Zecora an apology for her hut’s damage,” Apple Bloom said firmly. Turning towards Zecora, Larfleeze muttered, with a pained grimace, “I’m sorry about your hut, rhyming zebra.” “I forgive you if your apology is true,” Zecora said before backing up a few feet. “Now, I must bid you adieu,” she added before turning around and starting her way back to her hut. Larfleeze, still looking pained, turned his attention back towards Apple Bloom. “Shall we?” Apple Bloom asked, motioning for Larfleeze to follow her and Big McIntosh back to Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom then turned around and started back towards the farm. “I’m coming, small pony,” Larfleeze grunted as he started behind Apple Bloom. Big McIntosh then started walking behind Larfleeze, following the filly and the alien back to the farm.