Chapter 9: The Fourth Element
Mira had been standing/floating there, watching Twilight through her own eyes as well as Thomas's and sharing her view with him.
It was interesting. Large things and very insubstantial things stood out to her like a sore thumb but small, solid things were harder for her to see. She could barely make out Twilight, but she could see the magic she was doing, it was like a cloud around her of charged air.
Luckily with Thomas's help she could see much more clearly; he had a better attachment to solid things.
After Twilight completed her spell Mira waited there for a second but then she suddenly got an overwhelming urge to go over to the flame, which she could see, and touch it. She had no idea why, it just seemed familiar to her in some way.
"Wait a second," she said, and floated towards the candle.
As she left Thomas she could feel some of her sight fade. But that didn't matter; she could still see the flame.
Reaching out an intangible finger towards the flame she said to herself, I bet I look like sleeping beauty about to get zapped.
Suddenly there was a rush and she could feel herself being drawn into the flame. She wasn't being pulled in all at once but some of her was being definitely being siphoned off.
There was a WOOSH and Mira saw the flame shoot up and flail about, almost as though it were stretching. Then it looked around a couple of times and started yelling.
That's right, the flame started yelling, but if that wasn't the weirdest thing. The weirdest thing was... Mira knew that voice.
"What's going on here?! I hate MLP! Mira is that you? Get me out of here! I'm not a Brony and I'm never going to be one!"
Mira, despite the fact that she was touching a flame with her non-existent finger, felt her body (or rather the constituents of her body) go dead cold.
No! Please anyone but him. He's going to hate me for this. Why Michael?!?!
Michael was Mira's younger brother, and he hated MLP and the fact that his sister liked it.
Mira, not knowing what to do, started yelling at him though their mental connection.
Yes Michael, it's me. I don't know why you and I are here, and I'm afraid I can't get us back so you're just going to have to man up and get over it. Now-
"I'm not getting over this, I don't like your stupid ponies and I'm not going to shut up until you get me out of-"
Michael shut up now or when we get home I swear I am telling Mom you were the one who set fire to her garden last year!
That shut him up. It had been an accident. Michael had always had a thing for fire, that's why he had burned himself twice on their last camping trip. But the incident with the garden had been an accident. Mira had promised she would never tell a living soul.
Now you listen here Mr. I don't care how much you hate the show or not, we're stuck here till we defeat some awful monster or something. Then I think we can go home. But until then you are just going to have to put up with this whole thing. Now I can keep the ponies as far away from you as you want but NEVER EVER... mention anything about bronies or the show to them or else I promise you, that incident with the garden will be the least of your worries.
Mira could feel herself being siphoned off a little more and she put a cork in the flow. She could feel Michael roll over and give in.
Fine! But this doesn't change anything. I still hate the show.
Well good for you, I'll get you a medal that says "I totally hate something I know nothing about." Now if you'll excuse me I have to figure out how to explain your stupid move.
Mira detached slightly from her brother and she could feel him start to diminish.
"Hey! Don't leave me!"
You'll be fine.
Mira felt a cloud of something descend around her and reaching out to Thomas she could see that Twilight had a fire extinguisher and was dousing the table to put out several fires Michael had started on the bookshelf behind it and on several of the books on the table.
"Mira Help! I can't breathe!"
Mira wrapped herself around her brother or order to keep him from being smothered and yelled at Twilight, "STOP IT! You're smothering my brother!"
Spike tried to grab the extinguisher from Twilight but he was batted away as she continued to smother both the living and inanimate flames. Several of Twilight's friends looked at each other, trying to figure out what to do. Luckily Fluttershy dropped back down to the ground and kicked the extinguisher out of Twilight's hooves.
Twilight gave Fluttershy a startled look and then, glaring at Mira and her brother (who she could actually see), she started screaming.
"YOU TORCHED MY BOOKS!!! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WENT INTO COLLECTING THEM ALL? SOME OF THOSE WERE ALMOST PRICELESS! WHY I AUGHT TO-"
By now Twilight was six inches off the ground and her mane was on fire, of it's own accord. However, she never managed to finish her sentence because at that moment Thomas stepped in.
YOU CAN HAVE MY EARNING FROM AJ AND ANYTHING I'LL HELP RARITY FIND UNDERGROUND.
Twilight's mane went out and she landed back on the ground.
"Are you sure Thomas? I don't think you should have to pay for this jerk."
MY SPECIES HAS TO STICK TOGETHER
"Not bad," said Rainbow, who was still hovering above their heads.
WE MUST ALL HANG TOGETHER OR MOST ASSUREDLY WE WILL ALL HANG-
Thomas erased that part and just wrote.
WE'VE GOT TO STICK TOGETHER IF WE'RE GOING TO BEAT THIS WHATEVER IT IS THAT'S COMING.
Twilight nodded her head and said, "I guess you're right... But you buster-" she pointed at Michael, "Should be glad someone as nice as Thomas is around to bail you out of hot water!"
Who's Thomas?
Mira eased up her hold around her brother so he wouldn't drain her to oblivion and said, He's the stone elemental. He was also the first one who found the ponies. You're the last. We also have some guy named Lucas, he's the water elemental.
Keep him away from me.
Don't worry he's stuck in a jar. He can't touch the ground.
Better for me. How come I don't have any legs?
Mira took a closer look at her brother and could see that he did indeed have no legs. He had a head, torso and arms but it everything else narrowed down to the wick of the candle.
We're all pretty much in the same boat. From what I've gathered, Thomas can't see anything that's not on the ground, I can't really see anything small and compact, and Lucas can't see anything unless it's submerged. Not to mention I can't touch anything, Lucas is stuck in a jar and Thomas can't talk.
That explains the chalk board.
Mira took a look at what her brother could actually see and was surprised.
You've can see everything! she said, And not just all around you. You can actually see like you have eyes.
Well I am a light-emitting source. I probably see like my whole body's an eye.
Mira nodded mentally and let go of her brother. He could be pretty smart... when he wanted to be.
"I want to apologize for my younger sibling's actions," she said, "He doesn't always think before he acts."
"Hey!" shouted Micael, "I'm standing Right here and I can hear everything you’re saying..."
But as he talked he shrank down until they couldn't hear his voice.
Mira gave her brother a quick touch of air to feed off of and said, Little tip: don't talk, you use up your air.
Yeah, I got that...
"Yeah but what did he mean by MLP? And what in the name of all things apples is a brony?"
Mira didn't know what to say. She reached out to Thomas for some ideas.
Tell them it's a term for someone with an open, accepting mind. And MLP is an abbreviation for a set stories back in our world with creatures similar to them. If they ask what the stories are about, tell them they wouldn't get it, what with it being another species and culture and everything.
Mira repeated what Thomas told her and the ponies seemed to accept it, only Twilight seemed interested.
"You're going to have to tell me some of these stories later," she said, "I love new stories, and learning about other cultures..."
NOW WHAT? wrote Thomas.
"Well I know that you said he doesn't like us," said Rarity, "However it's only good manners to introduce yourself. So why don't you introduce your brother Ms. Mira?"
Since she was composed completely of air with nothing to block it, Mira couldn't cough. She tried but all that came out was what felt like a puff or air in all directions.
"This is my brother, Michael. Like I said he doesn't always think before he speaks so don't listen to everything he says. He can be a nice guy and pretty smart sometimes though... when he really tries. He can see everything unlike Lucas or Thomas or I and-
"Woah! Wait a second," said Rainbow, "What do you mean you guys can't see everything? What exactly can't you see?"
"Never mind Rainbow," said Rarity, "Let Mira finish."
"Wait! You know?" said Rainbow, "Am I the only one here who doesn't?"
"I don't either," said Fluttershy.
"It's not that we don't trust you Rainbow," said Twilight, "But you haven't really been that nice to Thomas or his friends ever since they got here."
"What, do you think I was going to like prank him and stuff?" said Rainbow.
"Well..." said the rest of the ponies, except Pinkie.
"Come on guys. Pranking a blind dude?! That's low."
Mira felt Thomas reach out to her and heard him say, Tell her. We've got something important to do and that requires trust.
Mira agreed and said, "Thomas can only see things on the ground and I have trouble seeing really solid things. As you all know, Lucas can only see underwater but my brother can see pretty much normally. However we can share our sight to some degree."
"So can you see me?" asked Rainbow hovering a little ways off the ground.
"Your lighter bones mean I can actually see you a lot better than AJ" said Mira.
"Bad guy. Plan." said Michael, trying to conserve his air.
They quickly filled him in on Zecorra's prophesy and what they were up against.
After that Mira laid down the most likely plan of action, "First of all we need to warn the public to get to safety."
"We can head to the capital and let the princess's know what's coming," said Twilight, "Then we can find transportation on to Baltimare and Horshoe Bay."
"Perfect," said Mira, "Then I can scout around and see if we can spot it coming. Know what we're dealing with and all that."
"Fine," said Rainbow, "So when do we leave?"
"As soon as possible," said Twilight.
"Twilight do ya mind if I get some stuff from ma farm first?" asked Applejack, "I got a few things that might be useful."
"And I'll go pack us a lunch for the trip," said Pinkie, hopping out the door.
"And I might have something for our new guest as well," said Rarity, leaving the castle with a secretive smile.
That's that stupid fashion pony isn't it? said Michael, If she tries to put a dress on me there's going to be nothing left of it... or her.
You might be surprised, said Thomas, letting the flame lick at his left index finger, She's not the stereotypical fashionista. I know she certainly surprised me first time I watched the show.
I told my sister I'm never going to be a Brony and you aren't going to convince me, said Michael.
I'm not trying to, I'm merely saying don't be surprised if she surprises you.
Michael snorted and almost blew himself out.
A little while later Pinkie showed up with a huge basket which Thomas was sure was full of an inordinately large amount of sugary confections.
Applejack showed up a little while later with some handy metal flasks with carrying cords.
"Thought these might make carryin' around you lot, easier," she said, setting them down.
Rarity was the last to come back, she had what looked like a bunch of dirty old sacks on her bag.
"Where did ya get those?" asked Applejack, "An' what's in 'em?"
Rarity set them gently down on the ground and said, "Many years back some of my ancestors were also in the gem hunting business, however they took thing a little more seriously then I do. These would dig around in dusty old mines and this is some of their equipment. I had it buried away in my basement, and I thought that Michael here might find something useful."
Rarity opened one of the sack and dumped out what looked like an assortment of random mining equipment, she nosed around through it a little until she found what looked like some kind of lamp.
If he could have, Thomas would have been grinning from ear to ear at that moment.
"What is it?" asked a confused Michael.
"It's a carbide lamp," said Twilight Sparkle, who was loading herself up with ancient monster literature, "Miners used them years ago because it's nearly impossible to blow out the flame."
"I figured it might make you feel safer," said Rarity, "After all you do seem to be the most vulnerable of your friends."
Thomas expected some cheap reply like "They're not my friends," or "I'm not vulnerable," so he was surprised when Michael said, "Thanks," and left it at that.
Spike lit the carbide lamp, after they had filled it, and touched the flame to the candle. When he drew it away the candle flame went out and the carbide lamp's flame seemed to change color.
Now Michael spoke with a slightly louder, rushing voice, and he didn't seem to need to stay quiet as much.
Thomas picked up the flasks, the basket of food, some extra supplies AJ brought, Twilight's saddle bags and headed towards the train station.
"This is going to be so much fun!" said Pinkie, bouncing along behind her friends.
"Cut it out. You're spoiling my good mood," said Michael.
Pinkie raised an eyebrow at him and said, "You better watch yourself buster or else next time you come into the family room while you'll older sister's watching me and try and give her a hard time, I'll reach out and knock you upside of next Tuesday."
"And she can do it too," said Mira, "She's known for breaking the fourth wall."
Michael didn't talk the rest of the way to the station, but that didn't mean he wasn't thinking.