"Why's he squriming around so much?"
"Shh! You crackflank! You'll wake him up! Besides, he's probably drifting in and out of the magic plains."
"The magic plains?"
"Yeah! It's where all unicorns go to gallop together when they sleep. You see, they all share the same dream cuz their thoughts connect through their horns and stuff."
"No way!"
"Yes way. That's how they're able to build such large armies and take over countries and stuff!"
"You... d-do you think he's come to invade us?"
"I dunno, Nexx. But I'll protect you if he tries to attack us—"
There was a heavy set of footsteps across the cabin.
Roque and Nexx spun from where they stood in a bedroom, flanking a mattress where a pained Crimson lay in his sleep. The door-curtain parted ways, revealing Tweak. The crystal stallion's body still twinkled from the starlight he had absorbed during his trek outside. He took one look at the two antsy colts in front of his guest and grumbled.
"Don't you two have better to do than stirring up a commotion?"
"We're not stirring up anything!" Roque exclaimed. "Honest, Pa!"
"Nexx was telling me about the Magic Plains!"
"Shhhh!"
"Well you were!"
"Get! Both of you..." Tweak pointed towards the main body of the cabin. "Go talk to Ma, then head on to bed."
"Awwwwww..."
"I mean it. You're up late enough as it is."
"We could have stayed up later if you hadn't opened your shimmering mouth," Roque muttered.
"Hey!" Nexx hissed.
Tweak watched them pass by. He closed the curtain behind them, flexed his stony joints, then turned towards Crimson. Marching over, he carried a bucket of wood over to a stove and fed a few more tiny logs into the warming fire.
"Nnnngh... mmf... Rainbow..."
One of Tweak's shiny ears twitched. He turned and gazed over his shoulder.
"H-heading south..." Crimson murmured, tossing and turning. "Must... c-catch Rainbow..."
"I'm afraid it's nighttime, sir," Tweak uttered, closing the stove with a naked, burn-proof hoof. "That would be rather difficult without sunshine or a rainstorm."
Crimson's eyes squinted open. He gazed curiously at the bedroom that he was in and the covers over his figure. "Wh-where am I?"
"Aurum Province," Tweak said. "The western reaches, to be more specific."
Crimson gulped and tried sitting up under the covers. He failed. "I can't honestly say that I have heard of it."
"Hardly a surprise," Tweak remarked, shoving Crimson back down with a firm hoof. "There isn't much here in Aurum that's worth your conquering, unless you want to get involved in the politics of Killas and Searonese."
With a shudder, Crimson said, "I am not Ledomaritan..."
"Then why were you flying south from the Confederacy?" Tweak squatted beside the bed with a suspicious leer. "Did you have a reason to escape their airspace? Are you a prisoner of sorts?"
Crimson bit his lip and stirred. "I... very well am one, in a s-sense..."
Tweak's eyes narrowed. The next comment came out of him like a wad of spit: "You're a deserter."
"I am alive," Crimson said. "And possessing a great deal more honor and pride than most ponies." He stirred under the covers until he lifted his dismembered limb. His eyes went thin as he observed the bandages over the shivering stub. "I... tr-try and tell myself that it is worth it."
Tweak said, "My wife and I have had experience in treating unicorn wounds before. There was once a Ledomaritan company sent down here to drive out the Diamond Dog gangs. They hung around for as long as their Queen saw it fit, and then they were dragged north to fight the tattooed horde." His crystalline nostrils flared. "To say the least, they didn't quite finish the job. We've been hounded by the... hounds ever since."
"The Confederacy has become a huge weapon of war," Crimson murmured. "Weapons don't think."
"Is that why you abandoned your superiors?"
"No!" Crimson briefly growled, then calmed down a bit. He gazed thinly at Tweak. "I abandoned my superiors because I couldn't abandon my fellow stallions. We were in a place where we were told to do the unspeakable to innocent ponies, and it was my job to get them home."
"Well, from the looks of things, that didn't exactly turn out well for you," Tweak muttered.
Crimson grimaced, avoiding his gaze as his eyes softened. "No... and neither did some of my soldiers."
"You were a Captain, then?"
"I was a brother," Crimson murmured. "A comrade and a friend." He clenched his jaw as a frown crossed his features. "I was too trusting, and two of my soldiers betrayed me because of it. I failed them, and I failed myself."
Tweak's glittering brow furrowed as he rubbed his chin. "Hmmmm..."
Crimson weakly looked up at him.
Tweak saw the glance, and he said, "I have not known a warrior of Ledo to admit failure so easily."
"I am not from the Confederacy," Crimson hoarsely emphasized. "I am from Franzington."
"Never heard of it."
"I intend for it to stay that way," Crimson uttered with a nod. "I have discovered too many terrible things in this world that would gladly rip the place apart. I would be there now, if it wasn't for... for..." His voice trailed off, as did his eyesight.
Tweak said, "A friend of yours was captured, I'm guessing." He pointed out the window. "Carried south to Searo."
Crimson nodded. "Out of everypony I've fought to protect, she's the only one I know to still be alive. A bounty hunter named Roarke carried her away from a battle and into her ship. I saw the pegasus dangling from the snares of the metal mare's vessel."
"Pegasus?" Tweak remarked.
Crimson went on: "She's on a journey that's bigger than anything I've ever done in my life," Crimson wheezed. "And because of my stallions, that's all been shattered. I have to free her. I owe it to her to make up for my mistakes..."
"And what of your home? Do you have a family?" Tweak squinted. "Surely you owe it to them to return..."
"And what would I be when I returned?" Crimson muttered. "I've... I've lost so much..." He covered his face with his remaining forelimb and winced. "So many resources... so many stallions... so many good friends and..." He shuddered. "Rainbow Dash was right. It's possible to be too loyal. I... I should have been selective. I should have turned strangers away and made sacrifices, like a good leader."
Tweak glanced at Crimson, then at the bed that he was in. "I... always figured that sincere hospitality was what made good souls out of ponies."
"And I-I thank you for taking care of me," Crimson muttered. "But... I've crashed the managlider, and now Rainbow Dash is beyond reach. It's the last failure... the final straw..." His tired eyes reflected starlight as he gazed melancholically towards the window. "There is nothing left to me. When I return home, my wife and foals will try to love me, but all they'll embrace is a husk, empty of promise and warmth and..." He gritted his teeth, hissed slightly, then murmured, "Eagle Eye... Phoenix... Z-Zenith.... You could have had so much more. I'm sorry. I'm so... so sorry..."
He fell asleep before the grown stallion could come close to crying. Even in slumber, his breathing was fitful.
Tweak looked at him. Stretching his legs, he walked out of the bedroom with a sigh. "I don't know who you are, but I'm sorry too, my friend..."
Tainted Past - Armored Saint
No. Bad Crimson. You are not Shell.
Quit your whining. Eat a Snickers bar or something. Crying and weeping and giving up is not solving any problems. Crystal bloke needs to whack him over the head with some crusty bread and a frozen husky.
Seriously. Crimson needs to stop acting like a crazy fool. Nothing can make you feel inferior without your consent. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams, and Crimson is trampling all over his and impaling them with a model of Salisbury cathedral.
Though seems there are dogs in the area. Means Eagle Eye is in the area. Means there is a possibilty of reunion. Means something might be salvaged.
Well the Diamond Dogs are in this place... I sense perhaps a reunion of Crimson and EE sometime soon?
Dear Celestia, Scolon, the feels are drowning me!
Great chapter nonetheless.
A day with out a chapter, and you repay us with this- this pile-o-emotions...
Crimson doesn't seem the type to give up so easily.
C'mon, Crimson! You're stronger than that!
Dammit, where's Jake? He needs to give Crimson a pep talk.
Crimson, Never for a SECOND think you failed. Not as a leader, you didn't. Trust me.
Still trying to get a read on... well, on myself. We'll see how it plays out.
Forty four-count side-straddle hops, or jumping jacks to civilians like you, ):(. Knock 'em out!
It seem like crimson needs his own Eljunbryo.
Either he finds the faith to keep fighting despite everything or he becomes a stallion bent on revenge with nothing to lose. Both would probably solve the Ledomartian problem, but what will be left after its all over?
Perhaps this family living in the same peace and happiness he wishes for his own will re-light the fire.
Moar Belle!!!
Also happy Saint Patricks day everypony!! :-)
I have a feeling IC is trying to make all the characters that met Rainbow experience the same things she did that started this awesome expedition. I have a feeling that all of our characters will head east, and will all be surprisingly close together but will never actually get back together again.
Belle will leave because she thinks she has nothing left to lose,
Pheonix will try to follow Belle east,
RD will escape and find out that Belle did too and go east after her,
Crimson will find out RD escaped and head east after her,
EE will likely see Crimson heading east and try to catch him,
Pilate will head east after Belle,
That's what will surely happen to these characters, they will all go east but never meet. They will all be badass but will never succeed. They will all be Austraeoh and Eljunbyro, therefore making them the combination, Innavedr.
Oh come on Crim, don't get down in the dumps
Crimson isn't quite in a good spot, is he? But he's close to EE and Josho. If they escape, it's going to be together.
I get the feeling this reunion is going to be great.
Crimson, Eagle Eye, and Josho are all in the same area. They have to run across each other sooner or later.
Belle, Phoenix, and Pilate are all headed to Blue Nova. It's only a matter of waiting for all of them to reach the city.
Then, once the two teams are formed, they'll all join up on Dash.
The band is getting back together!
2280770
My most sincere hope is that something like this happens. I would jump for joy if somepony said those lines (or a close approximation of them).
2281538
If you are right, my friend, you will win all the internets, because that would be awesome!
Come now Crimson, all is not lost!
Well good news, I can post again! Crimson is probably Try to save the farmers by taking on the Killas at the same time that Josho and EE try to escape.
That filly in Blue Nova will meet Bella and Phoenix. Dash and the metal mare will head to blue nova later, After RD Becomes the pony equivalent of a halo spartan.
As always Great Chapter!
2280407>>2280770
I don't know which of these ideas I like better!
Crimson needs a kick-start. It's Rainboom time, Dashie.
This is Australia...
2282345 Right now, it appears that Zap's idea will happen, but mine is more likely because IC can get so many more feels out when they almost meet up, but don't. There's Belle finding out that Pilate is alive, but not being able to reach him. There's all the groups finding evidence of other groups, but not reaching them. Then we can know what's really going on and we shall have the feels that the characters will not because they have no idea that the others are there as well. For example, Pilate could stumble across RD's hatchet and not realize that it was the one Belle dropped a few chapters back. Or, Crimson could stumble upon the brush EE used the day before and lost when the Killas attacked. Plus, RD can go all metal mare and perhaps be shot at by some characters without either party realizing who the other is.
2283228 Yeah, someone pointed that out to me earlier. I must've confused the two of them.
You were the best leader, a pony could ask for, you just got shoved into serious shit. That anyone managed to make it out alive is an accomplishment. Now, even though you don't realize, you've got some ponies who need your leadership.
2282663
True that, sir.
that was a very good intro for tweak. better than the intros for a lot of the side cast. bravo.
I'm a province now.
Hmmm, I noticed a slight parallel between Crimson and Shell, although whether that is intentional or not remains to be seen.
Crimson is a leader who, like he said, was too loyal. He took in his men and looked after them as best he could; tried to get them all home. Shell is a leader who brought victory to his men. He was a hero of Ledomare, but he gradually gave up everything for the country and became the figurative shell we see now. The two of them really could have been the same character, if not for the defining moment where Crimson fled Ledomare to preserve his integrity and his values. If he had gone on, if he had killed those innocents. . .
It's also worth noting the physical parallel between the two. Both are crippled to some extent; Shell by his broken leg (what a beast to keep going despite the agony) and Crimson by his missing leg. Furthermore, the cost of his leg and the (apparent) loss of his men has begun to wear down Crimson's resolve. We may see a defining moment in his character soon where he once again faces a choice to stick to his moral and values or give in.
If you wanted to go over-analysis on it, you could even draw attention to their names. Crimson is the colour of blood, which has connotations of life, love and humanity (if you bleed, you're human; a mortal) as well as connotations of violence and bloodshed. Shell has connotations of emptiness, like the creature (the spark) that was once there has fled, although the shell can be re-filled. Crimson, that life force and emotion is what Shell used to be, while Shell is what Crimson would be if those things left.
Oh, and swell chapter.
2283568can Honeytiger be a province too? Or something? Even some crazy dudes toothbrush?
So unicorns go to the Fade? Seems legit
Poor Crimson. Ponies don't even need to be dead for drama - everyone just has to think they're dead, and the tears hit the fan. Live for your family, Crimsy. For Eagle Eye and Dash, too I guess. And Phoenix, if he ever gets forgiven by the others. Clearly everyone needs a personal Pinkie Pie right about now. Onward!
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So Crimson still feels extremely guilty about what's happened to the Foxtaur, although I can't exactly blame him. I'd feel pretty terrible in his situation too. But he can't let it get at him forever. He's got to get up, dust himself off, and do his best to bring everyone back together again. If he does reach Rainbow, she'll have him go with her to get Belle and Pilate after they thrown down the Killas and get back EE and Josho. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
2280130 Guilt is a force far more powerful than reason. He is tremendously strong, but also gentle-hearted. I for one am glad to see he is more of the latter than the first.
So now we know that the Crystal Ponies are not as isolationist as one would have thought. We also know - which I find highly interesting - that the Killas are much more than some stray Diamong Dog gang but probably an entire population, especially when their presence is significant enough to concern the Searonese. Now I wonder: concern the Searonese as enemies, rivals... or servants?
2299589
What needs to end up happening is by the time Dashie reaches the midnight armoury, she has a solid contingent of ponies willing to do whatever it takes to get her where she needs to go. Loyalty as friends, not as soldiers, as friends. If the midnight armoury is truly as unbreachable as Luna claims it is, Dashie is going to need a helluva lot of skills, strength and brains to get it open.
My feels... I'm shivering, goosebumps are forming. But I can't cry! They just... Won't... Come... Out...
-Spirit
Crimson, once you give up, you're a failure. So don't.
*internally screaming at how close they are but don't know it* So crimson is recovering and hell probably take action soon enough. I'm going to say that the first pair to meet up in this story will be EE & J with crimson. But that's just a hunch. Also, I just remembered the first chapter. I wonder when that will come into play.
Poor Crimson. You are no villain. You tried your hardest, but it wasn't good enough, and there's no shame in that. You can't hope to fall entire armies by yourself...
Meant to say this a chapter or two ago. Maybe the lavender light could also point out danger? Blue Nova is hardly a place you want to go if you were being taken as a prisoner there. The only smart reason I can come up with is that when Shell inevitably learns that Belle and Phoenix escaped, he likely wont think that they would be the type of pony to head straight into the lion's den. I could see him thinking that they are in the forest trying to get far from Nova and then going on a wild goose chase.
poor Crimson
Nopony's perfect, Crimson. You'll find a way.
Man... I'm tearing up right now
Just a few chapters I was thinking "that commenter's name sounds like it would fit in the story".
Crimson, you have only failed when you stop caring about those beneath you.
05/09/2017 15:15 UTC
FAVORITE STALLION: Tweak!
FAVORITE FOAL : Lime Tec!
FAVORITE FILLIES: Scootaloo and Kera!
FAVORITE SHIP: RainbowPetals /Emberdash!
CONCLUSION: Im a sucker for side characetrsXD
8505769
This entire thing can be considered a self-on-self aidefiction. To itself.
FAVORITE STALLION: Shell (Sue me)
FAVORITE FOAL: (little guy RD saved from the chaos bat)
FAVORITE FILLIES: Kera, Flower Gears
FAVORITE :SHIP Steel Wing (just kidding! XD) EmberDash, Belle&The beast, and finally GoldenDash.< (That seriously needs to be a fucking thing. Like siayan mode Dash!)
CONCLUSION: I'm a fucking mimic. Nom nom, boi
Interesting that Crimson brings up the idea of being too loyal. I have noticed that such a thing exists.
Also, there have been unicorns that have made it to Sapphire Country, but Tweak seems to imply that unicorns generally don’t exist around here. He also implies that Ledomare had something to do with the Killas rising to precedence. How? I’ll just have to find out.
This is some interesting stuff, which entices my curiosity.
8645374
Petal Dash hyehehehe
Favorite ship, need more of it