Even when it was thousands upon countless thousands of miles away, the Yaerfaerda symbol burned with a flickering lavender brilliance. It pierced the mountains and valleys as it receded beyond the curve of the plane.
“FOAL.”
The heavens rippled.
The earth shook.
“YESTERDAY.”
Rainbow Dash twirled amongst the cosmos. A heated wind blew at her from all angles. She could no longer tell east from west.
“What is it?!” she hollered into the desolate constellations beyond. No matter how swiftly she beat her wings, the symbol only grew more and more distant. “What do you want from me?!”
Her voice was gobbled up by an enormous rush of noise and thunder. Explosions rocked in the distances, sundering the horizon in several places.
“Why can't you just tell me?!” she screamed, eyes tearing.
“FOAL.”
Yaerfaerda descended from view. The earth split, and a wave of pale ash bathed the plane.
“YESTERDAY.”
Rainbow Dash screamed as she was overwhelmed by the skin-searing heat cloud.
“Nghh-Aaaaugh!” She sat up in the plush bed, pale and sweating. Her forehead glinted with a slick sheen.
The world flickered red and yellow... or maybe it was just her eyes.
Clenching her teeth, Rainbow Dash held her hooves over her face. She moaned for several long seconds, then sat in place, shivering and heaving.
She tried climbing out of bed, only to collapse with a grunt. Beating her wings, she made her way to the far end of the suite. Dizziness overcame her, and she had to crawl her way up to a table with a basin resting beneath a mirror. Reaching her hooves in, she splashed cold water over her face, then clenched the table—hunched over—as she waited for the dizziness to pass.
Her ears flicked, as if echoing the enormous vibrations of a cosmic cataclysm deep in the ether between worlds. When she opened her eyes, she saw a tiny pinprick of lavender light. Yaefaerda loomed beyond walls, beyond planes, beyond all barriers...
Waiting....
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. She blinked several times. When her eyes came into focus, she became aware of a large brown figure standing gracefully in the mirror's reflection.
Rainbow clenched her jaw tight.
Softly, Duchess Arcanista spoke, “Nightmares?”
Rainbow shuddered. “S-something like that... sure... yeah...”
“Enough to make you dizzy and weak?”
“... ... ...” Rainbow bit her lip.
“You're bleeding.”
“I... I'm...” Rainbow reached a hoof up to her forhead, only to wince from a sharp pain. Two fresh welts lingered under her skin. Seething, she dunked her head in the basin and splashed the red stains away.
Arcanista strolled closer, one hoof at a time. “It won't do to have such conspicuous scars on your head when you play the part of my servant—”
“Mmmff... no... n-no, it'll...” Rainbow sighed as she leaned up again, slicking her bangs back and staring at her sopping wet reflection. “It'll go away soon.”
“It will?”
“Yeah...” Trembling, she rubbed her chin and shuddered. “Always does.”
Arcanista slowly nodded. “You know...” She side-stepped until her eyes met the pegasus'. “You've never quite fully disclosed the nature of your magical predicament to me.”
Rainbow gulped, face dripping with moisture. “And I-I don't have to.”
“Truly? You think so?” Arcanista raised an eyebrow. “Because it won't benefit anypony for you to die on this mission.”
“I won't die on this mission, Your Honor.”
“But you are dying?”
Rainbow Dash took a long, deep breath. “...yes.”
Arcanista's brow furrowed. “Your companions know this?”
Rainbow slowly, hesitantly nodded.
“And yet they've followed you this far.” She leaned back on her haunches, staring at the little pony. “That's a rare kind of devotion. You must love them all quite dearly.”
“Yes, well...” Rainbow Dash clenched her jaw. “They can't follow me forever.”
The Duchess leaned her head curiously to the side.
“Duchess, when all of th-this is said and done, there may come a moment when I'll need you to...” Rainbow's voice trailed off. She tilted her head up with widening eyes.
Morning light drifted through the lush bedroom windows.
She spun and gawked at Arcanista. “Wh-what time is it?!”
Arcanista smiled gently. “Time to get dressed, my little pony.”
“Oh Constable...!”
Floydien looked up from a bowl full of noodles. He blinked, standing up briskly.
From across the sun-lit courtyard beneath the Plaza Topaz, Duchess Arcanista, “Princess Kera Tin Mehjj,” the “Xonan Advisor,” and three plainly-dressed servants could be seen trotting briskly towards the double wagons. The regally-gowned elk approached the tall, hairy moose.
“Nilla here has graciously arranged for us to make our way, unimpeded, to the High Council Building,” the Duchess said. “We have an early speech for the Xonan Monarch to make, and we do not wish to be late.”
“Yes!” The gazelle in question hobbled up with a frazzled expression. “I-I've arranged for an escort!” Nilla stammered, trying to smile evenly. “I've been promised a clear path to the heart of the Sandstone District!”
“Well hot damning dalmatians!” Jake cracked his moose joints and bore a drool-stained grin. “'Bout time we got this diplomatic show on the road! Am I right or am I rotten?!”
“Constable...” Arcanista smirked. “A bit of civility, please.”
“Pfft! You kidding?! My middle name is civil!” Jake winked. “Right next to my other middle name, which is 'Chipmunk Pounder!' Sometimes 'Larry!'” He scooped his hoof up under Nilla's rump. “Hold onto your horns, sassafras!” And he TOSSED her into the wagon.
“Yaaaaaaa—” Nilla collided with something only slightly soft inside. “Ooof!”
Jake turned towards Ebon, but the tattooed stallion was waving his hoof. “I will assist the Princess, th-thank you...” He held Kera's hoof as he helped her up into the wagon. Arcanista climbed in next while Floydien unhitched the coach from the supply cart, joining the others.
At last, the three pony mares climbed in. Last to enter was Rainbow Dash. She lingered on the steps, gazing at the polished lengths of Val Roa. The Capital City was a great deal brighter than she expected during the daytime, and she had to squint from the sheer glare of the sunlight off the bronze and copper surfaces. At last, she spotted the gate leading out of Plaza Topaz. It was flanked by a thick phalanx of deer, all with neutral expressions and flickering green eyes. All of the sudden, no less than four of the Soul Sentries jerked about and stared back at her.
Rainbow Dash winced. She clung to the velvet curtains of the wagon's entrance, shivering for some reason. All it took was one dull glance from Floydien, and she held her breath, ducked inside, and folded the curtains shut behind her. Some moose made an obnoxious crow-caw, and the coach rattled on its way towards the High Council Building.
I'm convinced the "FOAL refers to Kera. Maybe she really will have to take up the mantle of Austreoh when Dash dies?
Twenty-five four-count flutter kicks, ):(. Knock 'em out!
Not much to say about the vision there except I still don't know what.
...Also, I hope this isn't an omen of Dash's time in the Grand Choke.
RainbowDashwhatareyouplanning
Well if that isn't a warm fuzzy feeling to have...
...Ya know sometimes I get really tired of these types of characters like Arcanista. This "wise, knowing" type that we run into in every friggin village that calls everyone a foal or my little pony, like they are friggin elves who has lived for thousands of years or something. Thing is, Rainbow has done more than most all of them/lived more than they ever could and has known hardships like they will never dream of and deserves a little more respect and not with this condescending air like a child being taught an Aesops. Its been several books/adventures since she started and it would not hurt my feelings to see Rainbow act like she has this experience now. There is no need for everyone we meet to impart some sage advice to her. I would personally love to see her call someone out on it. It just seems like she is not growing as a character much on this journey, Rainbow is now a seasoned veteran of hardships and adventures, making friends and losing them, she should start acting like it. It just takes away from the gravity that these types of "revelations" have if one happens with a new character every 10 chapters of every friggin book. .
Rant aside I still love the series and look forward to chapters every day.
Necromancers? Anyone?
RD washed her hair. THE DYE IS COMING OUT. No wonder everyone's staring at her!
5263202
FFFFFF...didn't think about that.
Also, Jake! Watch your hooves! That hurt!
More mysterious words from the Dream. We are still no closer to knowing what they mean.
5263239
5263202
If the dye washed out, Rainbow would have noticed when she looked at her reflection. So, either the dye doesn't wash out that easy or there is a serious continuity error here. I can't remember what RD was told regarding the permanence of the dye.
Just remember to not talk about the
war with the goblinsand everything will be fine.There is no war in Val Roa.
5263053
If you're right (which seems entirely possible), that just leaves the "Yesterday" line. I have no idea how that might tie into it.
5263202 Dye doesn't wash out that quickly especially if you don't use shampoo. Trust me. I dyed my hair blue and after two washes it still hasn't faded that much.
Ever so classy, Ebon.
5263257
Oh, you know you loved it.
iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/425054__safe_applejack_animated_upvotes+galore_3d_wink_looking+at+you_sfm_artist-colon-mynokiarules_howdy.gif
The plot thickens...and now I'm worried that Dash's hair dye will start to come out at the worst possible time
5263337
5263296
5263509
From chapter 35, "It's Such An Awful, Awful Color":
5263382
I am a delicate girl! >:|
Oh no, this looks bad.
I just hope the Duchess didn't need to hear what Rainbow was about to say.
5263536 Oh, dear… I think I hear IC shouting holy platypus nuggets right about now.
It's okay. You can edit the chapter and we'll pretend not to notice.
And VNilla and Jake, you two should get a room already. I'll just wait here in my office and hope a certain pegasus sneaks in again.
5263599 Didn't you have some unnamed horror to feed, ya perv?
Also, I think this hair dye thing was planned.
I'm betting that those goblins picked up on the Jury's little talk with Prowse. It seems the mind controlled Soul Sentries have spotted Rainbow. Maybe they're in on the whole thing with Chrysalis. Now it's only a matter of time before all hell breaks loose.
That's rough. The universe itself is nagging her to settle down & have kids.
5263298
Don't mention the war?
With all these moose around, perhaps one can speak
EeenglishEeequestrian?5263536
5263599
There is a time jump between Dash waking up and everyone going outside. Very easy to reapply some hair dye.
5263890
We all knew a clock was ticking, and now we know it's the biological one.
5263202 you would think that the Deer Duchess would tell her that. Or maybe that was an oversight?
Chaos to the left of me, chaos to the right of me, here I am stuck in the middle with you.
Nightmare makes me think so much of what happens when a planetary structure undergoes explosive seperation, and the observer is bought tickets to Disaster Areas farewell gig.
Soul Sentries are getting jittery. not good for trigger happy energy cannon.
5264069 Maybe the dye hadn't quite started to wear off then?
hmmm, hair dye is a point everyone's picking up on.
I'm more interested in
Surely thats a sign of Changeling Mind-whammy magic there?
5263298 5263890 Val Roa is at war with Eastasia. Val Roa has always been at war with Eastasia.
5263599 Implying that Colon ever edits after publishing. Bet ya ten bits the Sun Plate / Gold Plate thing from the first few chapters of the Windthrow arc still haven't been fixed.
5263943 Shoulda stayed in the pegasus sex crater while she had the chance.
- Excerpt from Yaerfaerda Chapter 199: "End of the Line, Little Pony"
5264596
Dammit Swannie, that's not how this was supposed to imprint itself into my mind!
Splashing her face with water will not remove the dye from her mane on top of her head. Now if she dunked her head in the water,that would be a cause for concern.
Heavens above guys, getting your hair wet once isn't the same as rinsing it out. Dye that'd come out that easily would rub off on anything it touched.
Also, with the chapter title, the terms' links to the Yaefaerda become that much more closely tied.
I'm sure I missed someone saying this, but did you know that an anagram of "Yesterday" is "desert yay"? I heard there is a desert nearby, though Rainbow doesn't really seem like she wants to "yay" about it.
Not sure about "foal", apart from "loaf", or how it would go together.
Hmm... Space is shouting words at Dashie? Go home Space, your drunk.
Yet again the ominous dream, with nothing new except repetition. Hopefully she gets more next time.
-Spirit
That dream is going to annoy me until I find out what it means.
5264596 i was expecting rayvine
5264596 That was epic. Y'know, I'd almost be okay if it ended that way. Except for, Y'know, Roarke. She needs some loving too.
The winds of change are blowing stronger now.
5265424 I doubt it's an anagram, doesn't seem like IC's style.
Though I did try to reassemble the words, and the most sensible thing I got was "steel ray of day".
Still, why not go one step further? Putting the letters in "yaerfarda" which are not in "foal yesterday" and the letters in "foal yesterday" which are not in "yaerfarda" together, we get "lost ray".
...what am I even doing?
6552730 if you take the intersection of "yaerfarda" and "foal yesterday" sensible anagrams are as follows...
"dry area"
"rare day"
"rad year"
And everyone's favorite...
"yard ear"
5264596
Oh man, I still remember this comment from when I read it a year ago, and it's still one of the best comments ever.
It's interesting how Axan was originally the only bolded speaker, and over time it was more common for heavy emphasis in dialogue, and now we've reached the point where even non-dialogue gets bolded. It's like the technique's been assimilated into the story proper over its history.
"Foal Yesterday" sounds like a bad literal translation of something (presumably "yaerfaerda"). Child of the past?
Of course Rainbow needs another reminder of just what is resting on her shoulders It isn't like she has to think about it every night (we really need an eyeroll ponymoji)
07/07/2017
02:13 UTC
Wtf is up with those guys. I swear to CHEESE.
5264575
almost 4 years later, Sun Plate/Gold Plate hasn't been fixed...
I wish there could be story-specific emojis so i could place a Zaid face right here ->
You guys are...really not cool. shivers