Gatling Rain On a Steam Filled Morn

Storm Wind picked up each tool, wrench last, and placed each in the toolbox, letting his favorite ambidextrous style wrench hang at his side, where it belonged, then latched the tool box and turned to the captain.

Storm Wind was your average heighted teenager stallion. Greyish coat, no horn, no wings, same Victorian engineer get up as any stylizing engineer on a ship.

"Sorry to break it to you, but just looking at it, two bolts are broken, the main steam pipe has dropped somewhere out in the field, and to top it off, your magic tank has a bullet puncture. No magic means no steam, no steam means no movement, and if you are missing the whole pipe, no way to get it working, even with that puncture fixed.", Storm confessed.

The captain let out a breath of sadness, then swallowed hard.

"We've still got a left engine..."

"Won't be good enough.", Storm interrupted, "If you don't have two, you can't compete in the cross country race. Sorry, but unless you have the parts in cargo, there is no way you'll be able to stay in."

The captain nodded, and took out a bag of bits, then weighed it generously.

"Listen, I'm willing to pay you however much is in this bag to please keep quiet. This is old Berta we're talking about. She's the first engine to get this ship moving before we renovated the Hurricane after the third fight, and added this old model to the left side. I can guarantee, that with a little luck, and hard work, I can win at least sixth and get a twentieth of the pay back."

"You already entered, and if you drop out now, you'd get more than what you will even if you make fifth."

"But it's not really for the money, anyway. I need those parts."

"Listen, sir, I understand, but I've seen this too many times to let you go on. Really, I'm not trying to discourage you. Wait until next month, and you can compete if you have replaced the necessary parts."

The said engine moaned loudly for a second and stopped, catching their attention. Nothing.

"Alright, you might also want to-"

The restraints holding the engine snapped with a loud Clank, and the engine dropped out, falling a few hundred meters before a loud explosion rang from the bottom of the canyon.

Storm turned to the captain, who now had both hands coverign his face in grief.

"It's over...I can't repalce that part, I'll have to sell my ship!", he ranted.

"Listen!", Storm tried to calm him, "I know how to get you another engine. Now, I'm not guaranteeing that it is new, as I've seen it, and it's been through quite a few battles, to be exact, but, nonetheless, I've seen it work, and it's pretty reliable. so, as long as you can come up with at least five grand, they will let you keep it, but you're not going to like this next part."

"...Please don't tell me it's the pirates..."

Storm stayed quiet.

With a sigh, the captain swallowed the lump in his throat, and shook his head, looking down.

"I'll be crazy for it, but, I'll take it. Tell me where, and I'll be there tomorrow."

"Oh, I'm not it, but, I can give you the location still."

Pulling a folded piece of paper from his pocket, storm handed it to the captain, and he examined it closely.

"It's not far in their territory, but, wave a bit of money, and they should let me in."

"So, what are you, Equestrian?"

"Neutral. I fly under my own white flag."

"Well, they shouldn't be too hard on you, so long as you meet the right guys, but, for now, that's all I've got knowledge of."

"I won't ask where you got it from. Well, I'll pay you fifty bits as thanks, both for telling me what was wrong, and giving me a bit of help."

"Thanks, but I don't need it."

"No, really, just take it."

"Alright, then. thanks."

"Just keep to your job, Storm Wind. I've seen you work more miracles than one on these ships, I know you won't fail. See ya round."

Storm smiled, "See ya, Bullet."

Grabbing the rope which had been latched to the ship, he swung down and dropped onto the deck, then followed it out, until he was past the right engine, and hollered to the ship, assuring it a safe take off, and that is what it did, slowly rising off until able to take off at full steam.

Making his way back to the office he had been assigned, he was surprised to find his door cracked open, and opened it warily, seeing no one inside.

"Hello?", he called.

"Up here, Stormy."

It was his boss. He was the only one who called him Stormy, so far.

Going up the stairs the voice had come from, Storm came face to face with several redcoats. In other words: pirates.

"Ey! there 'e is!", a mare called, dropping her arms.

"Yes, this is Storm Wind. My best mechanic, but also my youngest worker."

"He seems like he could barely lift a wrench, but I'll take your word for it, seeing as you gave him middle office."

"Uhm, could somebody explain what's going on?", Storm asked.

The mare laughed.

"Well, boyo. You sure are one that will need to learn to figure things out quick. We've got a ship waiting on the dock that needs something to be fixed, before the race begins. We've tried everything, and in the end, threw our old engineer overboard for sabotaging the main engine. So, we need someone to fit a new magic converter into it's compartment."

"...That's three layers of work! I'd have to restrip the wires, open the tank up with a torch, put in a new pin nozzle, switch the magic line with another, hook up the converter, wire by wire, then put it back together and seal it all up with a blow torch!", Storm explained, having taken only a glance at the butchered engine.

"Heh, well, kid, you sure know your stuff, but, as race rules go, we can halt the start time till later to get a sabotage taken care of, that is, if we know about it, and we do."

It was true. the race rules were designated by his own boss nearly half a year ago when the race course was set up, and the docks built into the side of a mountain.

"...Alright. Then you have to supply me with whatever I need.", Storm crossed his arms.

"Fine. So long as it doesn't cost more than third."

"It won't nearly cost as much as third gives you. I need a new tank of torch fuel, the replacement converter, magic line, and pin nozzle, AND...well, that's pretty much it."

The mare dropped a box of the requested items in front of him.

"There you go. Get to work."

Storm nodded, and did just so.

About fourty seven minutes later, the mare came back while he was stripping the wires, and stopped the other crew members outside before walking in, then closed the door behind her.

"Hey."

"I'm just now getting to the wires. Replacing a pin nozzle is not easy."

"Well...", She leaned against the engine, observing what he was doing, "You're pretty good at this."

"Yeah, I've been doing this since my dad taught me."

"Well, it's the best I've seen."

"Heh, thanks.", Storm smiled.

"Listen. I don't like being a pirate."

"Well, some just can't handle the brutality and stupidity."

"I know. I'm one of them. But, I didn't exactly make the choice to join them either. I was brought in with my brother, who, as we were young, really hated the Equestrian side. But, after seeing him go down during a gunfight...Everything's changed."

"So, what do you want to do?"

"Leave. Get off this ship, join the Equestrians, and hope to never see the red flag again."

Storm set the converter into the engine, and bolted it down.

"Well, it's not exactly that easy."

"You could help me though."

"I'm just an engineer."

"I know, but, you know these docks."

"Yeah, dock, dock, office, dock, dock."

"By that, I mean, you know how to hide someone."

Storm stood and began repiecing the engine parts on.

"It's not that easy, and you know what the pirates do to those who leave, and those who help."

"Kill them on sight. I know. I watched them do it to a young mare who didn't want to be on the ship anymore. Stripped her of her clothes then threw her overboard."

"I don't want to take that chance."

"But I do, and currently, I'm still a pirate, so, I'll be ruthless if I need to."

Storm set the hatch onto the casing, and stopped, letting his head rest on it.

"Come on. I just want to sneak off, and you're the only one who can help.", Sally begged.

Storm thought about it, then picked up his wrench, tightening the bolts.

"...I don't know. Where do you plan on going, exactly?"

"Well...Can't stay here, so I guess I'll leave."

"Not very many ships leave in the middle of a grand prix."

"Well, then, I..."

"Tell you what. I've been building a small ship for about eleven months from parts that fall below from the crashes, gunfights, and even the mishaps, like that poor captain's left engine. Take a spot on it as part of the crew, with me, and we can leave together."

"What about your boss? what about your job?"

"He asked me to leave."

"What?"

Storm set his wrench in the belt on his waist, and put on the blow torch equipment.

"He said I was too young to hang on a boarder. Some fights get rough, and things can go astray, kill those who aren't even fighting. He keeps saying I'm too young for the job, but would be perfect for a job as an engineer on a ship."

"So, he basically wants you to stay safe."

"Yeah."

"so, do we have a deal?"

"I will hide you off the ship, in the rungs of the dock below. They won't be able to see you, and the rope tethering us, can serve as a better way down than the ladder. Just wait until no one passes by."

"Alright, thanks. I just hope that you don't get caught."

"I'm great at keeping secrets. don't worry."

She smiled, and grabbed hold of the rope, checking for anyone on the dock before swinging down. Once on the dock, she hurried onto the side, and grabbed onto the rungs, finding a comfortable position against the large girders to lay in waiting.

As Storm finished sealing the tank, the door opened, and a rather angry captain walked in. You could tell it was the captain, because he wore the hat that said his name on the side in gold stitched letters.

"Hey, kid!"

"Uh, yes sir?"

"Are you almost done?"

"Yes, I'm actually completely done, You can fire her up any time now."

"So you fixed everything that traitor sabotaged?"

"Yes sir. Everything, form the-"

"I don't care what you fixed, just get off my ship. Now, my boys said that Sally had passed through here, alone. You must have seen her, blue coat, sky wear of the latest."

"Uh, yes, she actually left out a few minutes ago. No one must have seen her yet. If she's not on deck, she's probably blowing off some steam somewheres on the ship, alone."

"Thanks kid. Sounds just like what she would do."

Storm nodded, and finished packing his tools, then swung down the rope onto the dock, making the way back to his office leisurely.

Not even a few seconds after he closed the door behind him, his boss walked downstairs, and back out, up to the announcement station, "Just in time Stormy!"

About a minute later, he grabbed the microphone and his voice was broadcast throughout the narrow canyon, signaling the beginning of the third match in the grand prix.

"Let's get started, fliers! Start your engines!"

A loud roar echoed through the canyon as seven engines began working, having been fueled previously with the needed magic, and sent through the loud conversion into the engine, driving propellers and turbines, both.

"In three! Two! One! GO!!!"

Some started off slowly accelerating, and others, getting off to a good start, aided by turbines, instead of propellers, nonetheless, with the force being put forth, every racer was out of sight, and around the bend, leaving the docks, once again, empty.

"I'll admit, that was the best under-pressure announcement yet.", Storm's boss walked in, closing the door behind him.

A few seconds later, a knock came from that exact door, and he turned, opening it to a familiar blue mare.

"Oh. Did they forget you, or something, miss?"

"No, sir, they didn't."

"Then...why are you here?"

"I can answer that.", Storm piped up, "She wanted out of the pirates, so I helped her."

"Ohhhhh, boy. Do you know what you have done?"

"Yes, they'll come looking for her, but not if we leave first!", Storm said with a smile.

"Kid. If there's anything more demotivating than a gun to the head, it's definitely not that smile. So, what plan do you have of getting her out of here?"

"Well, that's just it, Mr. Sprint. I'm leaving too."

"Oh, well, it seems that I was misunderstanding. So, you actually plan on leaving, huh?"

"Yes."

"Well, before you go, mind showing me your way off this continent?", he asked.

"Gladly.", Storm smiled.

Having brought the two followers to the end of the farthest right dock, Storm stopped on the elevator and waited for them to follow, before bringing them down to the bottom.

Once there, it wasn't far into where they were going. A large crack in the mountain, making a big enough cave to fit a freight air ship inside. The illusion was, the massive amounts of junk stashed there from the many past crashes, battles, and incidents at the docks.

But something always stood over it all.

"You know how we always used the small airship to move the junk out of the canyon, Mr. Sprint?"

"Yeah?", the stallion responded, looking at the heap of junk.

"Well, I assure you, I didn't take her apart, but I used her as a model of sorts."

"You built one?"

"You should see for yourself."

Walking up the winding wall ledge, Storm brought them both into a sight that peaked over the first heap, and into a cleared out area where in the center, a massive, unlaunched airship awaited, looking like a gem among gold.

"So this is where you go every night?", Sprint asked.

"I live here, or rather, in the captain's quarters. I find it a bit more comfortable, how I have it, than the old bed you gave me."

"Well, I won't argue. Where did you get the wood from?"

"I salvage a lot of it from several different ships, but it took a long time getting the right color and sizes. Eventually, I had a full wood covered deck with a metal underneath, and voila, she was beginning."

"Wait...You even got cannons set to the sides!", Sally noticed.

"Well, when sailing under any flag, gotta be prepared."

"You do know that most have asked for whatever could be salvaged, right?", Sprint asked seriously.

"That's where I chose the right thing to do. I gave anything that worked perfectly, and took anything that was too out of shape. Some don't work quite yet, but they're in the cargo right now."

"You can easily fit seventy on that ship. are you sure you and that mare can handle it alone?"

"Mr. Sprint, I built it! Took months, even with the help of a crane airship, but I still made it, piece by piece. I know how to fly it, and I have even set it to make it possible for small party launches, like with just me and her."

"Stormy, you're the smartest kid I've ever come across, but, It's still a dangerous world out there, even if it's not as much as on those docks, just you alone, working on ships."

"I know."

"Well, if this is goodbye, then, Stormy, it was wonderful working with you."

Sprint held his hand out and Storm took it, shaking it lightly.

"Likewise, Mr. Sprint. And thanks for taking me in."

Sprint smiled, "I couldn't have just left you like that."

Storm saluted to Sprint and the two hugged, departing for the last time.

"Alright.", Stormy began, turning to the ship, "We have less than thirty minutes to get her running hot, and out of this cave."

"She's nearly as big as a freight ship, are you sure she'll get through?", Sally asked, taking his side.

"I've measured the entrance more than fifty times. If she doesn't fit, it's because this mountain moved."

"I'll take your word for it, but we have to move now."

"Alright. See ya round Mr. Sprint!"

The stallion nodded to him and Storm took off, Sally in tow.

Getting on the ship was easy, as a rope ladder hung low to the ground, half flat on the ground. When on deck, they both rushed to the captains cabin, and stopped.

"So, you ready?", Storm asked.

"Aye, aye, Captain Stormy."

"Good. Now, I need you to go down and loosen the intake valves."

"I've never heard of an intake valve starting a ship."

"Well, It's not exactly the Mark 1 Twilight Victorian, anymore."

Sally smiled, "I see. I'll get to it. Where are they exactly?"

"Just go below deck, down the two stair cases, and there should be two Magic tanks, untouched."

"Alright.", she head towards the hatch.

"And as for me.", he spoke to himself, looking at the cave entrance, "Let's get the Eloise out of here."

Climbing the stairs, he reached the wheel, and put a good grip on the handles, then looked at the gauges that sat next to it.

Nothing.

Storm flicked them, and each began to move slowly, signaling that the magic was flowing freely through the system. He had never tested it before, so, he's crossing his fingers mentally. As the gauges reached into the green, he pulled the left most lever to his right, and the engines began to spin up, a soft whir coming from the hull, then a loud hum as the two enclosed turbines sped up. Pulling the right most lever, the turbines turned downwards, and the ship began to rise, until...

Boom.

A loud explosion sounded from inside the hull and the left engine cut off, the ship lowering in response.

"No!", he cursed himself.

In the moment, ship working perfectly, the last thing you want to hear, is an explosion.

The ship settled back into the harness it had sat in for ages, the hull grinding against it sligthly as it was righted with the hull.

"No..."

turning around to check the equipment on board, the gears turned slowly, each not having anything to do with the insides, other than to show that there was movement. each fitted in the diameters of each five centimeter hole, showing what was off, and he noticed one. The engine was jammed. The left to be exact. The one that sounded like it blew up.

Removing his wrench, he twirled it once, then hit the exact gear and the engine whirred to life, which, was saying a lot for such an action of anger. But, nonetheless, the left engine began workingjust  as Sally walked up the steps.

"Is she running alright?"

"Should be.", Storm returned to the wheel, pulling the left most lever, and raising the ship faster. Once at level height, he pulled two levers at once, and pushed down a pedal that stuck where it was, another of the four moving up.

Pushing the right most left lever, the engines dipped forward, in turn, moving the ship forward as it balanced itself, moving slowly through the gap.

He did it.

He launched his own ship.

Passing by the docks, Storm hurried to the edge, and waved to the stallion on the roof of the office building, who had been waving for some time now.

"I'll come back!", Storm called out.

Returning to the wheel, he grabbed the right most lever, and moved it, watching where he slotted it into, and squeezed it's handle, allowing the turbines to spin faster, pushing the ship forward.

Pulling the second to last left lever, two large metal wings slid from inside the hull, he pushed the right most lever, and the engines dipped forward all the way, pushing the great mass of a ship out of the canyon, and the updraft carried him up, over the dusty plains.

So far so good.

Shifting another pedal down completely, the ship began speeding up even faster, and was soon going forward, creating a strong breeze that nearly pushed you back.

"You did it!", Sally yipped excitedly.

"Yes! The Eloise is up and flying!", Storm said in excitement.

"Oh my Celestia, this is so wonderful. I've always wanted to say that!"

"Well, if you really want to, we could grab a blue flag.", Storm suggested.

"You'd really do that?", Sally asked, suppressing a scream.

"Sure, why not. Make it a bit easier on ourselves, not have to fight the good guys."

Sally screamed in joy, grabbing Storm. Giving him a big kiss, she giggle happily.