Seraphimus stood silent—like a sentry. The former Talon Commander was perched on the edge of a bridge overlooking the lower spires of the city. Her expression was calm, albeit her pose vigilant. She breathed calmly through the passing hours... until a petite blue figure shuffled up in her peripheral.
The griffin spoke without turning her feathery head to look. "Have the last vestiges of the spider's venom worn off?"
Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. "I... uh..." She shook her head. "I really can't pretend to say how long it'll be before that stuff is out of my system." Her ears twitched. "Or if it'll leave my system at all."
"I wonder..." Seraphimus peered at the spidery shadows far below—fleeting and swift. "This 'Commander Gwen' who came before you so many centuries ago... were the Spindlers so certain of her standing as the destined 'Austraeoh' as they are currently of yours?"
"I... haven't bothered to ask Merula about that," Rainbow said.
"Why not?" Seraphimus' headcrest lifted inquisitively. "Are you afraid to find out that their long-beloved Song is subject to tragic amnesia?" She turned to squint icily at the pegasus. "That the only reason they call you the 'Austraeoh' is because they're programmed to?"
"If you're having second thoughts about what we're all doing here, you can just tell me, Sera," Rainbow Dash said. "You've never been much to beat around the bush, so why start now?"
Seraphimus turned her gaze away. "All I know now is... is th-that the Goddess Verlaxion was a falsehood..." Her charcoal eyes closed sadly. "...and the same can be said of my life."
"Your life isn't a falsehood."
"You don't have a point of authenticity to claim such," Seraphimus muttered. "Your entire existence isn't a complete failure."
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. "Am I waiting for a 'yet?'"
Seraphimus reopened her eyes. She squinted at Rainbow Dash. "... ... ...I've only agreed to provide my services to your journey no less than thirty-six hours ago." She inhaled sharply. "I suppose—in such a short time—I've only managed to alienate your companions with my needless pessimism."
"It's not needless," Rainbow Dash said. She trotted closer to the griffin, still fighting faint traces of dizziness. "And if all you did was say 'yes, Rainbow Dash' to everything I or my friends suggested, then that wouldn't make you a very good ally."
"Then you have reconsidered your stance on the Bloodwings?" Seraphimus' eyes hardened again. "For the sake of survival and perserverance—you will abandon all whimsical notions of somehow befriending such a heartlessly murderous faction?"
Rainbow Dash opened her muzzle—but hesitated. After a prolonged breath, she leaned back and murmured, "If I told you that I'm still open to negotiating with them, would you turn back on your pledge?"
"... ... ..."
"Because I simply can't promise exactly what I will do when I come face to face with them, Seraphimus," Rainbow Dash said. "Believe me—if an opportunity pops up for me to grab a Shard of Endrax from their place—or from any place—I will jump on that crud as soon as possible. But we simply haven't got the luxury—"
"You are right about that very last part," Seraphimus said. Her head nodded. "If nothing else."
"Heh..." Rainbow smirked slightly. "It's pretty refreshing, actually."
Seraphimus raised a curious eyecrest.
"Your 'pessimism.'" Rainbow Dash trotted the rest of the distance until she too was perched on the same ledge as the griffin. "I friggin' dig the Herald. Really, I do. But—sometimes, I swear—I'm friggin' spoiled by how much they're willing to do for me."
"They are faithful to a fault," Seraphimus remarked, nodding. "And I would be lying if I said that I didn't find the majority of them insufferably short-sighted."
"Mmmmmhmmmm..." Rainbow rubbed her temple, glaring out into the ancient urbanity. "Jussssssst the conversation I was dreaming of having today..."
"But Logan—the one who is casually labeled as 'Big Show'—he is made of stern might. The stallion's far wiser than he pretends to be." Seraphimus' eyes wandered. "... ... ...and Jordan..."
"Mmmm?" Rainbow looked at her.
The former Commander's headcrest drooped. "He is as honorable today as I always remembered. I simply... allowed the cloud of Verlaxion's deception to pollute my once iron-wrought respect for him. Even his actions at the Edge... and his relations with the wyverns..." She slowly shook her head as her beak hung open with painful realization. "...none of it seems to hold the same gravity any more. He held steadfast to his principles—while all this time mine were held hostage." She gulped, her talons tightening beneath her. "Keris... my good Lieutenant... all those times I should have listened to you..."
Rainbow took a breath, tail flicking. "For what it's worth, Sera... I wouldn't have gotten as far as I have today if it wasn't for Keris' wisdom and courage. He intervened in ways that neither of us could have afforded. You trained him well—"
"His legacy shames me."
"You trained him well." Rainbow frowned at her. "His strength, courage, tenacity, and respect for justice? He got it all from you. Just... y'know... he didn't have the same albatross around his neck that you did."
Seraphimus threw her a confused look.
"I... I didn't mean that in a redundant way." Rainbow gestured at her own neck. "Cuz—like—I know that an albatross has feathers... and a griffin has feather... at least a neck part. And... well..." She rolled her eyes and slumped in place, sighing. "Never mind. It's an old Equestrian expression." Her eyes derp'd briefly. "I think...?"
"I... believe I understand you," Seraphimus said with a nod. Then, in a somber tone: "I only wish that I did back when I could still make amends with my Second-in-Command."
"He handled things nicely with you in the end," Rainbow Dash said. "As well as a dude could manage with the entire weight of Rohbredden on his shoulders." She smirked. "Did you know the last thing I ever did to him was punch the crap out of his face?"
"Is that a fact?"
"Heh... yeah. Dude wanted to make it look to all the other Frostknife Elite like we had fought a battle to near-death." Rainbow shook her head, chuckling. "The Herald can praise me all they like, and—admittedly—it has been pretty awesome to keep moving forward, saving nations and civilizations whenever I can afford to do it. But to do what Keris has done? To stay in one place and be forced to clean up? And be so dedicated to it?" She ran a hoof through her mane. "That's loyalty of a whole 'nother sort. I know I'm headed into the bloody crucible of three nasty armies, but I still don't want the kind of job that Keris has ahead of him." A gulp. "Or Professor Theanim Mane, for that matter."
Seraphimus gazed silently at her.
"I'm... I'm sorry I couldn't leave Rohbredden in better sorts as when I found it, Sera," Rainbow Dash said. She hugged herself, shivering slightly. "I mean... I guess it's a good thing that Verlax is gone and such... but... things could have gone so much better. Well... I guess they couldn't... but I really wish they did. And I really wish I didn't have to be the spark that set so much stuff ablaze back there... past the Edge..."
More silence.
Seraphimus calmly asked: "I suspect we are to disembark soon."
Rainbow looked up at her. "How'd you know...?"
"For once, Jordan hasn't been following me like a hawk," Seraphimus remarked. "Which means he must have found something more important to do for the time being. Such as helping the rest of your companions prepare for a long-delayed departure."
"I think we've been guests of the Spiffy Spider Club long enough." Rainbow nodded. "As if it wasn't clear from my meeting with Abaddon, I don't think there's much left for the Austraeoh to learn by staying here."
"You are not content to hide in the one place in all of the plane that's relatively safe and guarded." Seraphimus nodded. "An admirable trait."
Rainbow smirked devilishly. "I think if you start paying actual attention to me, Sera, you'll find lots more 'admirable traits.'"
"That remains to be seen." Seraphimus' charcoal eyes hardened to diamonds. "Precisely where is our next destination? To pursue futile negotiations with the Bloodwings? Or seek out other options?"
The longer Rainbow sat under the griffin's piercing gaze, the harder she bit onto her lower lip. Eventually she wrenched her eyes away from Seraphimus', exhaling with a burst. "I'm gonna tell Flynn and Logan... th-that we'll be heading towards Omega."
Seraphimus sighed. "...towards the Bloodwings and their fabled tree."
"No." Rainbow pointed with her hoof. "Not yet."
Seraphimus raised an eyecrest.
Rainbow looked at her again. "I wanna find the ocean. Do reconaissance. Figure out if there's any truth to a swift and safe passage to Petra... or other places." She swallowed. "I want to actually meet these Dihmers for once. See what makes them tick."
"See if they have any information to provide in regards to the Trinary War?"
"Precisely." Rainbow stood up tall. "And then... if I find information on the sarosians—any information that might spring hope for acquiring a Shard as peacefully as possible..."
"Yes...?"
"... ... ...one thing at a time, Seraphimus." Rainbow's brow furrowed. "I'll pass judgment when the time comes."
"You're making a big mistake—"
"By what? Having an open mind?" Rainbow cocked her head aside. "And how did forsaking one work out for you back in Rohbredden?"
"... ... ..."
"Remember... an open mind is a door that works both ways, Sera," Rainbow said, cracking a grin. "I'm just as open to saying 'buck the bloodwings' if we end up learning enough to validate such an attitude. But we'll gain nothing by going into this with one ironclad predisposition and one alone."
"I do suppose there is some logic to be had in that."
"Good..." Rainbow Dash extended a fetlock. "...because I was hoping there'd be some logic to be had in you continuing your pledge to us. If I can promise to have an open mind to all possibilities... then maybe you can have an open mind to all outcomes?"
Seraphimus looked out into the city yet again. She weathered a sigh. "I suspect some action on my behalf would do well to support the words expressed."
"Just ask yourself one simple question!" Her grinning teeth glinted in the twilight. "'What would Keris do?'"
Upon hearing that, Seraphimus merely glared.
Raibow's smile faded as her ears drooped. "... ... ...too soon?"
Seraphimus stared her down. "Lieutenant Keris... did not have to contend with giant spiders and eternal night." She finally shook Rainbow's hoof. "Let us make quick with this Omega excursion of yours into an inhospitable wasteland plagued by monsters."
"Heeeeey... that's the spirit!" Rainbow Dash patted Seraphimus shoulder. "Adventure! Awesomeness! Sound effects!"
Seraphimus marched past her, snorting. "I will be smug when I am dead."
"That t-too!"
I get unreasonably exited when I see this get updated.
A deluge of good points coming out of characters during this little break. This is pretty interesting in that Rainbow and company know quite a bit about what they're going into, at least relatively speaking.
And so with an understanding reached, our heroes prepare to take a treacherous journey into the unknown.
Don't miss our next episode "A Kind of Logic" or "The Omega Mare!"
Hopefully they can figure out what keeps the Bloodwings off the Dihmers back, and possibly see how to make that apply to them.
Don't tempt fate, Sera.
Also, I wish we got a look at how Keris is doin'.
(And Roarke too, tbh...)
Time to get going on this little journey!
To the ocean! Taking bets now on the name of their upcoming ship/boat/raft/piece of driftwood.
Also, Sera doesn't mind being called Sera. Yay for progression.
time to set off.
Sera and Dash connecting.
Something tells me, that when all is said and done, Sera is going to be standing next to Dash with a very powerful bond. Not quite as powerful as the bond Dash had with Belle and Bard, but still a powerful bond nonetheless.
-Through the path long forgotten, into the darkness long begotten. Ofolrodi.
8780280
I bet it that if RD names it, it will be called: The Roarke! Or The Jury! Both in honor of her past adventurers.
8780162
Me too.
):( has trained us well.
Too smug to die
Sera is really coming around. She's starting to actually respect Rainbow Dash. That right there shows she's not as much of a failure as she thinks she is. Better ponies than her would never be able to see the truth after what she's been through.
I am really hyped to see how the biggest question of these last few chapters turns out: is it too soon to start shipping SeraDash? If Roarke is anything to go off of (I miss her.) she's totally Rainbow's type.
There's some delicious irony in that statement.
I wonder if a spoder will tag along with them to maybe act as a guide of some sort?
Yay friends forever and ever!
Dash has a halfway sensible plan, and the universe trembles for she has started to exercise the greatest power of all. Not the power of friendship or awesomeness, but the incredible power of common freakin' sense! Truly with this new forged ability nothing on the Dark Side will stop her.
And, uh, Sera, just a friendly FYI, given that we've got more than enough hints that souls are actively being prevented from passing on its entirely possibly you could die and still be an active part of the story. So just saying, don't paint the bullseye on your face any harder than you need to. Ariel is already getting a head start on that with all her love and support for Dash painting a Texas sized target between her eyes, we don't need Herald's unofficial newest member doing it too.
Seraphimus X Logan Ship Confirmation Chapter Counter: 10
Ocean, water spiders have all been eaten?
Get too much A in your Smug, and you get Smaug.
8780736
Doubtful, that would be like sending up a beacon of their location given the Bloodwing's penchant for hunting (nearly) anything with a pulse.
And the Winter children do need all the numbers they can get.
8780601
I'd veto that ship, considering Sera had a husband and chick, probably means she don't swing that way.
But I'm sure Swan Song would still welcome her to the Prismatic Harem.
Something something something, everyone is Rainbowsexual.
Alright, so here's the plan:
How about this? We will encounter points matching the light side map on the other side, like inverse castle of Castlevania.
i39.tinypic.com/ay6qo6.jpg
The mountain with the emeraldine fort could be equivalent with Verlax's mountain, and the spiders' city could be equivalent with some other big city of Robhedren. Then comes an ocean that matches the one at the blight, with the dihmmer city equivalent to the university. And so and so until we reach the Midnight Armory oposite central Equestria.
8780250
Have you read Austraeoh Abridged?
Well seems like it is just about time to say goodbye to the spider people. A less fortunate part of traveling so much, all the goodbyes to good peoples that you meet.
I have to remember this one, it looks like it will be useful in the future.
In the Ninth Book of East Horse, Imploding gave to me
Nine spiders singing,
Eight Bats of Saros,
Seven glowing circles,
Six weeks a-Choking,
FIVE WAYS TO FLY!!!
Four warring sides,
Three great days,
Two Companions,
And a Rainbow that’s flying East.
Geb has clearly been taking lessons from RoboRed on how much caffeine one should have in their bloodstream in order to keep pouncing on these new chapter updates before everyone else. I salute their dedication.
8780937
I am not sure that I have, why do you ask?
Off we go into the wild blu--black yonder, flying high into the sky...!
I miss the guy almost as much as the jury.
8780736
Do they even have a long enough lifespan, consider Merula got replaced twice already?
8780162
When Chaos!Dash is involved, unreason is the name of the game!
8780462
Judge of Searo
8781092
it talks about what the noble Jerry is up to
Once more into the night. I bet Flynn will be only too happy to leave the spiders behind.
And Sera has entered her next step of Vegeta-fication. I'm surprised more people haven't made this comparison already.
Keris really was a damn good character, I miss him.
Compromise!
Very smart, if things go south knowing how to get the hell out of dodge will be a blessing and a half. It also means if things go well one can immediately get a move on to the next step.
11/17/2019
16:20 UTC
That’s....actually quite smart of her. Going with Tim’s comment on this, it’s wise to find an escape route in the case things go sour. In addition, it gives them a layout of the land...so to speak, and it would also serve to check the information they garnered at the Oceanside.
Well at least you sort of accept this now. That's...progress.
Yeah, no kidding. Keris was completely on the level, but you let the crazy blind you.
I mean...that's a pretty astute thing to say for Rainbow. At least she's not totally going down Harmony Only road. Then I'd be more worried.
Man I miss Keris. He'd have been a great ally on the Dark Side. :(