Chapter three

Vacation Situation

I got to meet Merlin. The Merlin, and now he's gone. And all I have to show for it is a small glass bottle to show for it.

"What just happened?" Glitterlamp asked still holding the small stuffed dolphin I bought her.

"I met Merlin and he gave me a task. Find the Elements of Harmony and he'll teach me how to walk freely between this world and yours." I answered still stunned that I met the most famous wizard I knew of.

"Another adventure?" Glitterlamp asked simply and inside her excitement was growing. "And the reward is not being restricted by magical doors?" Yep, she was sold on the idea. "How are you gonna tell your folks?"

"I'll probably tell them." I answered looking to the jar of soft blue metal. A rainbow did seem to shimmer through the glass and I put the jar into my pocket then headed for the doors. "What's the worst that could happen? We find that the other people collecting the elements are the proper owners?"

"I can think of a few." Glitterlamp said looking at where I placed the element. "Just promise me no matter what happens, no matter how bad it gets. Don't drown the world in darkness like you did in Appaloosa."

"If I can help it, I won't." I said vowing. "That wasn't me you know. That was the Fragment of Sombra then."

"OK then, this world needs the Elements of Harmony just like Equestria needs it. Maybe that's the reason why magic is gone from the world." Glitterlamp mused.

Since the light was dying in the sky and night closing all around us I swallowed us in my Void and snaked through the air back home. Hard to see black against black I figured. We stepped out of the gentle folds of my Void and back into the waking world, the hallway to the living room from the room I had to share with my lil brother.

"Heya, we're back." I said waving at Sally who was watching a movie waved at our general direction.

"Do we even know where we are going to start to look for the others?" Glitterlamp asked fishing the jar out of my pocket and looked at it confused. "Until we know where the others are there's no point of starting our adventure yet."

"True, I'll see what I can find out on the internet. Strange happenings our old artifacts." I said heading downstairs trying to gauge what everyone's moods were like. I wasn't sure how people were affected by this afternoon and Glitterlamp left to watch a movie with Sally.

I sat in front of my computer and drew the perfect blank. I had no idea how I would phrase my search let alone tell what's the truth or what's a scam. The only thought I had was to somehow use the element I did have and use it to locate the others. Even then, I wouldn't know how to go about it.

"What's buggin ya?" My dad asked from across my computer station. Our computers sat in a rectangle where each of us could see the other. It made playing multi-player games much easier since we could talk to each other. "Did you two have a fight? Do, ya wanna talk about it?" He asked trying to read my features. I sat there and blinked a few times.

"Oh!" I said suddenly. "No nothing like that. More thought that you'd all be more mad." I said then fished out the small jar. "I met Merlin the Wizard and he gave me a task. This jar hold the Element of Loyalty. One of the Elements of Harmony." I began and saw that he wasn't even grinning but serious. "I am to find the rest of them, no time limits but he said that there's another group rounding them up. They, whoever they are, already have two."

"A shadow organization?" Mom asked arching an eyebrow.

"Most likely." I confirmed.

"And now you need to go away from home to find them." My little brother mused with a grin. "Sounds like it would make a good beginning to a video game."

"Doesn't it?" I said grinning back feeling a little silly.

"Well, at least we know where you'll be." Mom said from her seat in the computer stations. "It won't be like last time you disappeared. Just, you know you're both still welcome here right? You're not saying this just to save face, right?"

"No, I'm not." I replied trying to find words to say this right. "And I haven't had our honeymoon yet, so I might as well do that as well. I'm thinking of places to go for vacation."

"Heh," my dad chuckled. "And all this time you said it would never happen, sorry, things are so different though. If you need to go and deal with some magical shenanigans go ahead, you're grown up. You don't have to keep asking us for permission."

"But it's great that you keep us informed." Mom said hurriedly not wanting to throw me out the door. In truth they never could understand how a loving family could kick their kids out when they turned eight-teen.

I slept on the couch with Glitterlamp that night and I held the small silent jar and even in the dark the rainbow flickered through the glass.

"So where are your friends?" I asked the quiet room and with no response from the jar I sat it down. "Whatever."

"Nopony knew how they worked, they just did." Glitterlamp offered resting her head on my chest taking advantage of the narrow space to get close to me. "Maybe it'll tell us when it's ready."

"Maybe." I mumbled trying to sleep. Of course Glitterlamp helped me along and soon I drifted in the Void.

Morning came again and I was surprised that I didn't remember my dream. I must have been really tired. But Glitterlamp was not by my side but I felt that she discovered something. I stumbled around trying to wake up for a bit.

"Dreamer I think we should go to the mountains, the ones in Colorado I think." Glitterlamp said when I found her at my computer.

"Sounds good." I agreed.

"That's where the next one should be, Love." Glitterlamp continued. "Then it gets a little fuzzy after that."

"I already said okay." I answered again rubbing the sand out of my eyes.

"Not what I meant, I meant the next Element is Love and it is in the Colorado somewhere. Loyalty wants to be reunited and is leading us." Glitterlamp explained then smiled. "You slept really soundly and I didn't want to wake you." She tapped at the pictures of mountains on the computer screen. "Looks really cool, kinda like the other side of Canterlot."

"When is the estimated time of departure?" I asked looking at the many pictures and tried to come up with a list of things we'll need just to get there. Then again, I could use magic to ease the actual journey. On the other hand, do I make a sound when I use magic?

"That could be a problem," Vengeance mused in my head. "But, wouldn't they have tracked Glitterlamp before now then? She uses her magic to help us sleep when our memories won't let us go, never mind her use in aiding her travel." He continued then fell into a silence.

"Are we sure that we want to stress ourselves in that manner though? Or risk our precious status of being anonymous?" Pain added in his two cents. And from Courage I got a feeling like I shouldn't hesitate when I do make a choice, and make it boldly!

"Well, I think in a few day- AH!" Glitterlamp squeaked suddenly and my eyes darted to see what she was seeing. "I just remembered something." Glitterlamp said shakily. "I don't think I can just up and leave from my job."

"Yeah, jobs in Equestria probably had "adventure allowance days", right?" I joked but earned a "are you kidding me?" look instead of a laugh.

"No." Glitterlamp exasperated. "Sure, we had much more relaxed rules about," she looked around trying to find the right words. "Everything really, but I'm not unused to strict dealings either. I'll be needing to make a letter of explanation or,"

"No one on earth believes in magic or crazy adventures for lost relics as an excusable reason to miss work." I stated sadly.

"Well, crap." Glitterlamp just stared up at me. "Then a letter of resignation."

"Hey, you don't have to quit!" I started quickly.

"And let you have all the fun? And who would watch your flank when things get dangerous?" Glitterlamp smoothly but calmly replied. "I wouldn't miss this for the world. I'll talk to the manager."

It wasn't long much after that Glitterlamp left for work anyway. It was an opportunity enough to start making a list of things I might want. I did know what I would want when camping but what about traveling abroad? With no car I had, wait. I could just manifest any vehicle I wanted. Scratch that.

I sat down at my computer and searched up what type of tactics other people had for my kind of traveling. Advice came pouring through like rain not a single one seemed to agree on anything. A loose idea however seemed like carrying one extra set of clothes, a mesh clothes sack and my wallet. I wasn't sure I wanted to travel that lightly but it was a start.

Carrying the large tent I had that could fit seven was too heavy for my liking, several objects I've collected during my boy scout days were pretty heavy come to think of it. My search of camping items lead me all over the house until I found all of my old gear.

It took all friggin day! But I did it! A water proof box that held a fist full of matches, a lighter, a small first aid kit, clothes, soap, and water bottle with trail rations filled rest of the space I had left. And it was a pretty hefty back pack that held quite a bit.

"Good news." Glitterlamp sat next to me eyeing my pack. "My manager said it was a great idea for me to travel, good opportunity for selling my statues while advertising his shop."

"Really? That's really good news. Um," I was shocked at her calm demeanor since she left pretty worried, "you didn't charm him did you?"

"Really now," Glitterlamp shook her head. "I have the silver tongue, remember? It was too easy." Then she grabbed a pack of her own and started tossing in a sketch book and all of her wood working tools. "I think he wanted me to do some traveling, he's really impressed by my skill you know." I sat my pack next to the door and Glitterlamp did the same then said. "Hey, wanna go for a walk? You've been cooped indoors all day. Looking at that computer screen isn't all that fun you know."

"I haven't introduced you to video games have I?" I asked wryly but headed for the door anyway after putting on my boots.

"I think we should leave tomorrow morning. Give us time to fly." Glitterlamp smiled up at the multi-colored clouds as the sun now rested upon some horizon but the closely built houses blocked my view. "It's kinda exciting isn't it? The prospect of giving the world back it's harmony. Maybe then, people will relax about everything."

"It is kinda exciting. The Inner Three don't bicker at all with each other. But what's on your mind? Or are you tired of being inside?" I asked putting an arm around her.

"Just trying to get used to this body, and we haven't really been alone with each other." Then she tensed up and threw one hand up in surrender. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with being with your family! It's just I'm not used to living with other people, it was weird just to have you around. I mean!" Then she stammered several times trying to correct her statements then gave up. "I just want you all to myself." Glitterlamp put her arm around me again. "Pathetically selfish isn't it."

"Maybe if you were human," I gave her a peck on the cheek. "but I understand your feeling. It's hard to share your special somepony with others. And having to find someone you love, lose him, be alone for years then find another one?" I chuckled a little bit. "I'd say that would only exist in books but there's one truth in life I learned."

"And what's that?" Glitterlamp felt warm and fuzzy now.

"Reality is far stranger than fiction." I answered warmly.

We continued to walk around the neighborhood for a while longer talking about anything really, even if it was absolutely childish we didn't care. Soon it was dark enough to conceal my magic, as I was hopelessly lost in town, to create my flying disk. Then like some strange magic of her own she led me down back alleys and streets we hadn't taken then I found myself back in front of my house.

"How do you do that? Having such keen sense of direction?" I asked still smiling.

"I make a mental map, nothing to big. That," she answered. "and I walk that way to get to work. Although I do use my magic to help me get there. I try to do what you do, not exactly a teleport but close enough. I see it enough in your head enough to get a hang of it."

"Goof." I teased.

"Worrywart." She countered smiling. "Are we agreed then? We can leave tomorrow morning?"

"I suppose so, I might need to some double checking." I answered trying to rack my brain to see if I forgot something.

"What are you doing?" My mom asked my father as he pack a single bag. My blood turned ice cold and my mind shattered into a thousand needles, stranger it was all quiet but I could feel the warmth drain from my body at the scene. It looked like my dad was leaving, but it couldn't be a divorce! They loved each other so much! It can't be what it looks like! I felt Glitterlamp's hold tighten on my arm.

"Packing my bags!" Father said bluntly but politely. "You think I'm going to be missing this adventure? Especially now since there's magic involved? It's going to be a blast!" He then said excitedly. "We could make it into a whole family vacation if we tried!"

"What? And just up and leave everything! Risk your job over this!?" Mom exploded. "You aren't as young as you used to be! What if there are other dangerous groups looking for the same thing! How could you defend yourself from them!"

"Money won't be a problem, I bet Mike can even just," he snapped his finger. "Make gold just like that! Our money trouble is gone!"

"Oh," I said stunned by the idea but found myself unable to speak let alone move other than shake a little bit.

"You scared the sun light right out of us!" Glitterlamp came unglued at them. "Dreamer thought you two had a big fight and were about to have a things called a "divorce"! Look he can't even move!"

"Yes I can!" I snapped at her not liking that she was yelling at my parents but still found myself unable to even speak, all I did was shiver wide eyed as my shades slipped down the bridge of my nose. The sudden outburst made the both of them jump as they saw us in the door way to this plain house half filled with unpacked boxes. The shock slowly faded and by then the situation had simmered down to the point we were sitting at dinner talking it over.

"I'm sure Dreamer can make riches just fine, but as for coming with us? I don't know." Glitterlamp said not sure what to make of this. "I don't think any of you should go, I can tell you that traveling with him is hard."

"We're used to his shenanigans, can't be that hard." My dad insisted joyfully.

"Not like that," I said rubbing my scars that decorate both my arms. "Merlin said there was another big group looking for them, I'm not going to go unnoticed by them. They will find me eventually and I really don't want them to take cheap shots at you guys." The disappointed faces of my family was a little hard to look at as I found myself looking at anything but them.

"That's fine, I don't think I can handle a whole lot of mountain climbing." Mom said glad that I didn't want any of them to tag along. "We'll get you a cellphone so you can call us, I'm not letting go that easily."

"I can deal with the cell phone." I nodded my head.

"We'll do that tomorrow then." My Dad nodded in turn. "But let's do that after you magic our financial problems away." It was hard to tell when the sentence ended and his good natured laughter began.