The bonfire lit ashore the Nealend Atoll that night was the brightest and merriest any visitor had ever witnessed—or any local, for that matter. Natives from all trots of life—or swims—gathered as much kindling across the beach as they could, piling it high atop the billowing flame until the very surfaces of the Lagoon shimmered brighter than the starlight above. Foals danced back and forth across the rising tide while adults whistled and hollered, their frenzied eyes pasted to the sprawling tower that had graced their midst. There was no shortage of Verlaxion's name being shouted to the tropical winds in exultation, and even a few of the once-stranded Continentalists joined in on the inebriated reverie as soon as one of the stallions broke loose a special stash of bottled cider.
Sinrar and Theanim—however—were a great deal more subdued. Even Nick, despite having a thoroughly ecstatic pegasus attached to his hips, maintained an air of calmness. Flare dipped in and out of the quiet party, allowing herself a chance to breathe and smile alongside the day's inexplicable explorers, but—for the most part—she took to the air, flying brisk laps around the tower and returning sweatily to the beach to bask once again in the flickering blaze.
Sinrar and Nick casually shared a coconut mug of cider between them while Theanim fiddled with his goggles. Regardless—while the celebrations continued—the three stallions kept their collective attention focused on a certain daredevilish mare from afar.
“My, what dashing companions,” Rarity remarked, squinting across the fire-lit sands towards the heart of the festivities. “Even the elder one has a certain degree of calm mystique to him.”
“Yeah, well...” Rainbow Dash reclined on a lone hammock situated between two palm trees. “You weren't around when he was smacking everypony with a cane.”
“I beg your pardon?!” Rarity gasped, floating to Rainbow's left.
“Heeheehee!” Twilight hugged herself, floating to the right of the pegasus. “Ohhhhh Rarity...” She smiled, her lavender cheeks turning rosier. “You've missed so much. Every time Rainbow and I try explaining something, I realize we'd be better off starting all over again.”
“So I've gathered,” Rarity remarked, fidgeting in mid-air. “I almost feel as though I'd be better off not knowing more.”
“It's okay if it takes a while to get the gest of it all,” Rainbow said.
“Well, it certainly seems as though I have no choice,” Rarity remarked, blinking in Rainbow's direction. “This journey of yours contains a remarkable degree of importance!”
“Er... well yeah...”
“I mean... to think that so very much rides on your shoulders, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity exclaimed. “Not just to bring back our seemingly deceased friends from the ether, but to also single-hoofedly reboot this dying world, as t'were—”
“Sssssssssss...” Rainbow winced, hissing like a deflated tire.
“Oh...” Rarity leaned back, her ears folded. “Oh dear. Even from beyond the grave, I have quite the flare for rubbing things in, don't I?”
“You're far, far away from the Boutique, Rarity,” Rainbow said. “No need to scrub the spots out of anything.”
“Phweeeeeeee...” Rarity whimpered, eyes sparkling in the firelight. “Don't remind me.”
“If you think too hard about the situation at hoof, it's easy to feel dismayed,” Twilight said. “But that's the magic of having each other to lean on for the first time in months!” She smiled hopefully. “Little by little, we're restoring the Elements of Harmony in spirit, and I just know that it'll give us the strength we need to restore everything in body as well!”
“Yeah, well, one thing at a time, Twilight,” Rainbow muttered.
“I'm with Rainbow,” Rarity said, nodding. “It's rather difficult at best for me to digest the big picture, and I'm not the one who's carrying the rest of us in flight!”
“Pfft...” Rainbow rolled her eyes and smirked. “Not like you and Twilight weigh anything, Rares.”
“It's a figure of speech, darling.”
“You're a figure of speech, ya friggin' vampire.”
“Eh?!” Rarity did a double-take. “What are you going on about?!”
“Heeheeheehee!” Rainbow Dash hugged herself, swinging in the hammock. “Ohhhhhhh Luna Poop...” She wiped the corner of her eye dry, smiling. “You can't believe how long I've wanted to say something like that without feeling miserable.”
“As you can see, Rarity,” Twilight droned, smirking towards the other side of the suspended pegasus. “Distance and airtime has driven Rainbow a teensy bit batty.”
“Well, I must say.” Rarity floucned her mane and looked nervously over her shoulder. “Her friends and their fellow cohorts must surely think Rainbow's mad.”
“Hmmmm?” Rainbow glanced towards the bonfire, her eyes catching the distant expressions of Nick, Sinrar, and Theanim. “How so?”
“Well...” Rarity shrugged. “From their perspective, you must be carrying on and on verbally with pure shadows.”
“Meh...” Rainbow shrugged even harder. “They've seen me acting worse.”
“Even more insane than you appear now?!”Rarity stammered.
Rainbow pointed. “Just ask the egghead.”
“Ohhhhh ho ho ho ho no.” Twilight shook her head. “You're not getting me to pontificate on those early, ludicrous hours of washing ashore in Kihutaja!”
“Why?” Rarity squinted. “What in Celestia's name happened?”
“A whole lot of double-yoo, tee, and eff,” Rainbow slurred. “With a sprinkle of shoving young students around on a university lawn.”
“My word...!”
“Basically...” Twilight squirmed. “...Rainbow was more frazzled than on the day that you entered the Best Young Fliers Competition and forced her into a jittery, babbling mess.”
“Snkkt!” Rainbow nearly bit her tongue. “Frickin' egghead!”
“Well, it's true!”
“Egads...” Rarity fanned herself. “That had to have been truly chaotic indeed.”
“Meh and a half.”
“Perhaps I should be glad that I hadn't... erm... resurfaced in time to witness that.” Rarity managed a smile. “Still, I must say, you seem quite in control of things at the moment, Rainbow.”
“She's been in control of things for months and months,” Twilight said in a proud voice. “The fact that you and I are even here is proof of that!”
“Hrmmm...” Rainbow gazed up at the stars, her nostrils flaring. “I only wish that was totally true.”
“Oh please, Rainbow, darling, do go easy on yourself,” Rarity said, floating casually alongside the mare. “After all, you did manage to bridge communication with the Princesses during your lengthy sojourn, yes? That right there is an accomplishment worth being proud of.”
“Yeah, well, that was all Luna's doing.”
“Even so, it shows commitment and loyalty that you've managed to stay connected with Equestria for this long,” the fashionista said. “And... because of you, my... my family... I mean... they... th-they know that—”
Rainbow nodded. “Luna and Celestia made it clear to me that they'd be informing your loved ones of the recent turn of events.” She cleared her throat. “I mean, not to jerk their emotional chains or nothing... but at least they don't have to imagine you're dead anymore.”
“Yes...” Rarity exhaled, her eyes moist. “That's... quite comforting to know.”
“You have no idea,” Twilight said, her voice wavering. “I even had the opportunity to hear my Mom and Dad.”
“Oh, did you?!” Rarity beamed. “Oh, Twilight, that's absolutely splendid!” Two blinks later, her face grew long. “It must have been awfully draining.”
“Yeah...” Twilight rubbed her cheek, nodding. She took a deep breath and bore a fragile smile. “But it's so nice to know that my family is doing alright. The next time we bridge communication with Luna—”
“On... the n-next full moon, yes?” Rarity remarked.
“Uh huh.” Rainbow nodded.
“—we'll be sure to get your mother, father, and Sweetie Belle to speak with Rainbow Dash!” Twilight exclaimed. “Surely, we'd be able to make that happen on the second night! Or the third one, at least!”
“My my... what an elaborate circumstance,” Rarity remarked. She then turned to gawk at Rainbow. “One wonders how you ever managed to keep sane, Rainbow...”
“Yeah, well...” The mare shrugged. “I've had plenty of help along the way.”
“Oh yes?” Rarity's eyelashes fluttered. “Beyond Celestia and Luna, you mean?”
“Right.” Rainbow smirked. “All things considered, I've been pletty lucky.”
“Mmm-hmmm-hmmm...” Rarity chuckled daintily, a smile plastered to her muzzle. “If you insist.”
“No really. It's like a friggin' spotlight tells me where to go next,” Rainbow said. “And, besides, if all else fails...” She shrugged. “I just follow the sunrise.”
“How poetic.”
Rainbow belched. “Guh... yeah. If you say so.”
Rarity sighed.
“Uhm...” Twilight fiddled her hooves together. “About that, Rainbow...”
“About what, Twi?”
“Err...” Twilight smiled nervously. “I... I didn't bring it up earlier because we were so busy trying to calm Rarity down and explain things to her. Plus, I didn't want to sound impatient or uncaring, but... but I'm practically dying of curiosity now.”
“Oh yeah?”
Twilight's purple eyes reflected Rainbow's curious face. “Do you see it, still?” she asked. “Has Yaerfaerda moved?”
“Huahhh?” Rarity breathed, blinking. “Yiffy Fur Day?”
“And if it has—” Twilight continued. “—what does it look like now?”
Rainbow stared at Twilight for a few seconds. Suddenly, she sat up, startling Rarity in the process. Flapping her wings for leverage, the petite pegasus looked around. Her ruby eyes scanned the dark east horizon through the immediate tree line and jungle foliage. At last, after a prolonged half-minute of peering, she lingered on a spot towards the southeast.
“... ... ...”
Wordlessly, Rainbow tilted her head down.
At last...
She saw it, like a dim pinprick situated below the horizon... below the waves.
Its hue flickered towards Rainbow Dash, bright and bouncy, sending a sharp jolt through Rainbow's muscles.
Almost immediately, the pegasus' eyes widened. Then, ever so slowly, her muzzle curved, producing a smile that wanted to go on forever. “Heh heh heh...” She chuckled. “Hah hah hah!” She laughed. “Ahhhh ha ha ha ha ha!” She hugged herself, nearly falling out of the hammock.
In the distance, Sinrar and Theanim flinched. Nick smirked, took a swig out of his coconut mug, and stumbled off—looking for Flare.
“Ahhhhhhhhh hah hah hah hah hah hah!” Rainbow swung from side to side, kicking her hooves up in the air as her tail whpped about.
Rarity and Twilight exchanged nervous glances.
“She's... she's hysterical!” Rarity squeaked.
“Rainbow?!?” Twilight throated, trying to throw her voice over the salvos echoing out of Rainbow's mouth. “What on earth has gotten into you?!?”
“Heeheehee...” Rainbow wiped the tears away, grinning with mirth. “Why... of course it's her color! Snkkkt—heeheehee...!” She hugged herself even tighter. “Who's else could it be?!? Hahahaha!”
Twilight and Rarity lingered in confusion—until a knowing gasp echoed between them. They exchanged wide-eyed glances.
“Whewwwwwwwwwww...” Rainbow rolled off the hammock. “I need a drink.”
THUD!
Hey there, Pinkie.
Well, she kinda went nuts back in the desert, but then she sorta had other friends (ones you will hopefully meet one day) to talk to that only she could see. Kinda like now. Except you guys can actually talk back.
Thud means violence. Therefore, Shell is back, boys!
On a serious note, it sounds like they explained some of the story thus far to Rarity. Or at least the moons and Luna communication.
My predictions:
Upon reaching Pinkie's light... It bounces away. This goes on for 18 chapters.
Or gist. Or you could meet halfway, and Rarity gets the geist.
Get it? Geist? Like ghost?
...well, I thought it was funny.
Hmmm...how were the points patterned out on the map again?
6068239
I like this idea. 'Tis interesting.
But of course, it is Pinkie Pie. Who else could it be?
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
EDIT:
A wild foreshadowing appears!
It uses Theory Confirm!
The Comments Section uses Scepticism! Theory Confirm is not very effective.
I vote for Rarity to be nicknamed Spirity.
6068239
You
monstereldritch abomination!'Bright and bouncy' pretty much gave it away.
Hello, sugar pone.
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lllp4cfC4M1qch7fe.gif
RD is laughing hysterically... Does this mean it's Pinkie next?
edit: derp... I missed the obvious hints.
Pinkie in da house... And you thought things were crazy now... Of course you could quickly end up with deflated, I can't throw parties, pinkie.
Hmm -- this seems to be going in the opposite direction of End of Ponies.
An incorporeal, invisible Pinkie Pie?
I don't know who to feel most sorry for.
o boi
pink ecstasy horse inbound
Honestly, Pinkie's reaction to the whole sp00ky ghost thing is something I am very much looking forward to. It should certainly be interesting, to say the least.
6068295 In B4 same story
It's so very weird, ruminating on the fact that she's known the Jury for longer than she's known the Elements...
6068295
Minus the fact that RD should be in-between Rarity and Pinkie.
6068239
i1048.photobucket.com/albums/s361/Lupe1897/37871725_zps3f03779b.jpg
Just watch.
When they resurrect Pinkie and try to explain everything, she's going to recall every major event that has happened in the last 6 books herself as if she was there the entire time, will already know what the agenda is for the rest of the journey, and call it a hunch.
6068265 That .gif freaked me out a bit. Pinkie was dancing perfectly in time with the music I was listening to.
Since the symbol appears underwater, assuming it is not close nearby, they probably won't be able to get to it by diving. Submarine? At least it's an excuse to keep these landlubbers around.
6068406
6068339
So not only will Pinkie recall [he who shall not be named], she'll also know who whitemane is, all about Dredgemane (...), but also remember the pony sex crater - and how it correleates to Nealend Atoll. But for some reason, she'll have no idea about Sam, Axan, or Verlaxion. She will also probably like floating upside down.
inb4 she'll be able to touch things
6068350 Damn, that's kinda messed up.
The rest of the elements will probably come back a bit worse for the wear at the very end, but it's Rainbow that will be the most damaged by her journey.
......I wonder...
Do you think Rainbow will remain in Equestria?
Even if Applejack turns out to lurve Rainbow Dash back, I can't see Rainbow having any peace after all is said and done.
She'll either head back to Roarke, my favorite couple, or make her life journeying around the world, restless.
Note: 2 years ago when the Call of Duty game had their main villain be named Roark it made me fan girl a bit at the name. Everything turned out horrible, but it's left me with a sense of an AU to this AU if that makes any sense.
6068232
NO
Also, the Day of Pink is upon us.
Now that is just terrible.
Yessssss I'm pronouncing it right!!!!!
___
But what if it isn't Pinkie?
I vote Spirity along with AppleTank.
There really is no alternative. The world is about to get it's mind blown. Pac Man better watch out, cause Pinky is on her way.
6068295 I was thinking the same thing. That's why I figured, last chapter, we'd see Pinkie next.
Yes yes yes.
6068770 6068257
I don't recall who first used the name Scarity, but I think as long as a name is not confusable for two ghosts of The Five, all are welcome.
I, though, laughed most at Spikes interpretation of Yaefaerda: "Yiffy Fart"
Oh, dear, Scares is potentially hear a grown up Spikey-Wikey
And now, inb4 RD does more swimming for Pie
Well that's one way to say it I guess
I'm also going to assume it's Pinkie this time, just because I think AJ will be saved for last
Yes please!
6068350
Hmm . . . now you've got me thinking. If I'm correct, a year passed since the Summer Sun Celebration during The Elements of Harmony because there was Winter Wrap Up after that and then the Gala for the finale of season one, which is definitely a springtime event . . . or I would believe it to be.
I can't be too sure on fandom time elapsed since the first episode of season one and the first episode of season two, but I know that from the end of Austraeoh to the first half of Eljunbyro, when we figured out how long Rainbow had been out, at least over a month had passed. It may have been three because I keep vaguely recalling that being so, but I do believe that means that there is a very good chance Rainbow really did know the Jury longer than the spooky five, as they shall now be named.
However, I need a fact check for the time gap between Austraeoh and Eljunbyro.
I love it when I guess right. I'm so ready for Pinkie! May we journey swiftly, and soon. These chapters are gonna become amazing here soon.
Now, the question we must ask ourselves is whether or not Pinkie can hug Rarity and Twilight so hard that they can't breathe . . . even though they're ghosts.
Pinkie's next!
I guess Twi will fill Rare in on Dash's journey while they rest in the pendant. Though I am curious to know her reaction to Roarke most rare/awesome.
Oh. Dear. Celestia. Pinks is next.
So I have the feeling Theanim isn't gonna stick around and join the Ninth just yeat, he's gonna report back to his order first and they'll run into him again sometime after Pinks.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Just as I thought. Fluttershy gets to be second last, what with her being Dash's foalhood friend and all.
Was that an Appledashery reference?
6068350
Actually, if memory serves, she spent a year with the Elements and only five months with the Jury. It has, however, been at least a year and a half since the Discord incident, so her time without the Elements or the Jury was roughly equal to her time with the Mane Six (mostly thanks to the ten months of sequencing in Blue Shelf).
In this chapter ):( continues to display his mastery of plausible deniability.
I've been reading every Ynanhluutr chapter twice; normally, then with invisible ghosts!
i.imgur.com/pgzhqqM.png
Big, scary, and pink?
Pinkie pie comin' at ya!
Calling it now, AppleJack is the last one to come back, for dramatic revelations and whatnot. Which reminds me.... does anyone remember the order they all, to be blunt, "Turned to dust"? That could be the key here.
Everybody's fuzzin' over the colour, is no one set off by the location of the light? The Six Points are all supposed to be in Rohbredden, so my first association with 'extremely far away and extremely far down' - the other side of the world - doesn't really work out. Then just where the hell is it? At the bottom of the ocean perhaps? The light side was the convex one, but surely with them being so close to the edge the bend of the world couldn't have that much of an influence? Or is the point at the edge?
...nah, I vote for ocean or bottomless abyss.
Raise a drink, a drink, a drink, for Pinkie the Pink, the pink, the pink, the saviuor of, the Equine ra-a-ace.
Dash is going t be going effectivly into hysterical laughter as she remembers all the pranks on the way down now. About the only time shes not going t be laughing crazy, is when she is drunk, or punching pirates.
Next up is Blankie Pie!
Phantomina Diane Pie!
Inky Pie!
Pinkerboo Pie!
Pinkelpie Pie!
I'm going to settle on Pinkerboo Pie. Her being a ghost is gonna be EPIC! Much insanity will be had by all!
Vamparity confirmed.
Drink, dance, dream
Feel like the wind was made for you
live, listen and talk
using for that the heart
6068938
10 months
6069902
Thank you. I knew I really needed a refresher. But that's what you are for. So that would mean that there's no way Rainbow could have known the jury longer anyway unless nearly a year passed while they traveled. And I know now that months passed between Urohingr and Yaerfaerda. I believe that's where I got three months from, but alas, my memory fails me. I don't need a check on that, however.
So . . . I suppose it's plausible, but it depends on how long one thinks the first season lasted in their time. We saw at least Autumn and winter, so we can be sure six months passed while Dash was in Equestria. I believe that the Gala would be at the end of Spring, so that'd complete the season arc or a year.
But who knows. I do love thinking about it, though.
6069297
By this do you mean it was the inside edge or the outside edge of the ring? Because it just occurred to me that we've always assumed that it was the inner side.
6069214 Twilight was second to last, and Applejack was last. So no.
6068500 Alternatively, Dark Side.
6069964 I have a diffuse memories of our resident physics nerds - Al and Hap - solving that conundrum with the fact that if it was the contave one, the eastern horizon would look like this:
scientificgamer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/halo.jpg