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"ALL ABOARD!" Firestrider shouted, giving the coal one quick puff of flame from his horn to get it lit. Without hesitation, he hurried to the one car still connected to the engine and looked over at the supply of rockets he had in store. 'I hope there's enough to get us clear...' He thought. He grabbed a couple of the smaller rockets and made his way to the back of the car. "Alright, Lightning Dust! Let me know when we got bugs on our tail! I'll light a rocket, then you grab it and guide it home!" he called up to the pegasus. "Make sure you let go before these things blow, too. I don't want to see actual 'Lightning Dust' today, got it?"
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Lightning rolled her eyes, then smirked and pat Firestrider's head. "But you are seeing the actual Lightning Dust, in action soon enough." She stood atop the fireworks cart and waited til there was any sign of Changelings, which might be soon enough as the smoke from the stack of the trial will most likely give them away. She held steady as the train started to slowly get up to speed. "Just watch me pal, I'm not your run of the middle pegasus ya know."
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Charmcaster looked back at her new friends and smiled. Firestrider was honest and true. She could trust him to see them through. Then she looked up at lightening dust. Even though charmcaster was not a brave or reckless pony, lightening dust's bravery was catching, and charmcaster felt like she could do anything. As charmcaster checked the gauges, she realised how much the two had become to her. She never felt like this for anyone but family before. She felt she would lay down her life for them. 'we're making great time. We're nearing the guard post at the edge of canterlot. Once we're past that, we can run full speed. Hopefully, the changelings will stay away from us and we get out ok. The less rockets we have to use, the more we'll have once we have a game plan on fighting back.'
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Lighting Dust watched the sky feeling good that there weren't any Changelings after them...yet. "Well, you' dbetter spped it up now, cuz we got company coming our way!" She saw a swarm heading for them in the distance. "I knew it wouldn't be long before they saw us. The smoke gave us away. Better start lighting some rocket's Strider, but save the big ones for later. I have an idea for in case of emergency."
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Firestrider nodded and straightened his hat once again. "Let the games begin." he said. He went over to one of the smaller rockets and lit the fuse. After making sure it would stay lit, he grabbed it and tossed it up to Lightning Dust. "Let 'em have it!" he called up to the pegasus. He looked back to Charmcaster, who was busy keeping the engine going. 'I hope this works...' he thought.
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'ok then, firestrider, use this to tie yourself down.' charmcaster said tossing him a rope after tying herself down. 'leave enough room to move so you can do what is needed. If i am to put the train at high speed, we need to be anchored. Lightening dust can fly, so she's safe, but if we fly out going around the curves too fast, we will be safe.' charmcaster shoved more coal into the furnace causing the fire to burn hotter and the train to go faster. 'ok that should do it. All we can do is pray that we don't run out of water.'
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Lightning Dust grabbed the rocket and held on as it took off, saving her strength and using her wings to lazily guide the rocket at the Changelings. "Present for ya!" she lets go of the rocket, hitting a Changeling as it pushed it back into a small group and exploded. "aw yeah, good start!" She dives down quickly, landing back on the cart. "Ready for more when you are Firestrider!"
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Charmcaster started to go through her saddle bag and took out a canteen, took off the lid and held it up to lightening. 'here lightening, have some. It'll help you out. It's a tea my grandmother made me. I get tired hiking. It helps pick me up when I'm tired.'
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Lightning Dust took the canteen from Charmcaster and down a swig of it's contents. "Ugh, that tastes weird, but it did help, thanks." She tossed the canteen back to her and stood ready. "Alright, ready when you are Strider."
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Firestider finished anchoring himself down and lit another rocket. "Let them have it, Lightning!" he said. He looked over at Charmcaster and said, "Don't use too much of that Charmcaster, we might need it later." He looked at the swarm that was rising from Canterlot. 'I hope all of that isn't for us...' he thought, 'If it is...we may have to think of a new plan...stat.'