“Belle, what do you think you're doing?”
The mare glanced over at her, then at the controls of the airship that she was operating. “I'm adjusting our course so that we can head southeast.”
“Uhhh...” Kera blinked. “That's in the direction of Blue Nova.”
Belle smiled awkwardly. “I'm well aware of that, Kera.” She gestured towards the rear of the cabin where twelve foals were scrunched together, some of them asleep from exhaustion and stress. “From what they all told me, it's safe to bet that we were positioned northwest of the maretropolis when we escaped Nightshade's zeppelin.”
“No, what I mean is, why in the blue balls are we going to Ball Nova. Er, I mean Nova Balls. I mean—”
“Maybe you should get some shuteye yourself, Kera.”
The filly stomped her hooves. “I don't need sleep!” her voice cracked. “I need to know that you're not going to fly us into a brick wall or an army barricade or a mountain full of evil mana golem experiments or somecrap!”
“I think I've proven to us all that my flight skills aren't that bad.”
“Bellesmith, I know it's hard to believe, but I'm actually serious...” Kera trotted over, her tattooed face round with concern as she brushed a hoof across the mare's fetlock. “You're starting to freak me out.”
“In what way?”
“Ever since you woke up from what that Nightsux lady did to your head, you've been... been...”
Belle raised an eyebrow. “Awesome?”
“Yeah.” Kera grimaced. “And I'm not used to you being awesome.”
Belle shrugged and looked forward out of the cockpit. “I'll try to take that as a compliment.”
“For real, though. Are you okay? You sure you're right in the head?”
“I've never felt better, if that's what you'd like to know.”
“You sure?”
“Kera...” Belle chuckled and ruffled the pony's mane. “What did I talk to you about earlier?”
“You mean about risking all of our puny necks by going after a stallion whom you don't owe a single darn thing?”
“I told you that everything is going to be alright,” Belle said. “And it is.”
Kera sat back on her haunches and foled her forelimbs in a pout. “And just how can you promise me that?”
“Because I didn't know before what I know now.”
“Which is...?”
Belle clung tighter to the controls as she glided the vessel over forests, valleys, and mountains that may or may not have been purple in color. “All my life, this Confederacy has done things to intimidate and frighten me. At first, I was blind to it. Then I met Rainbow Dash, and I was terrified by it. And now, I have shared her breath, her memories, and her spirit. And you know what?” Belle smiled. “Nothing frightens me anymore.”
“You're sure of that?”
“Heh. Kera, young or old, if you're one hundred percent certain of something, that means you're no longer living.”
“I just don't think Phoenix deserves a second chance as much as you think he does.”
“It isn't all about Phoenix,” Belle said. She glanced over her shoulder at the foals, then back at her flight pattern. “If I can get inside Nightshade's tower one more time, I can find out where their parents are being held.”
“You think we can actually save all of them too?”
“I'm willing. How about you?”
“Erm...”
“Be honest.”
“I don't think this is the best idea,” Kera muttered. “We've risked so much as it is.”
“Ah... Now, you see?” Belle pointed at her. “Nopony can be completely fearless. Not even you.”
Kera squinted up at her. “And yourself...?”
“I may no longer be scared, but that doesn't mean I'm stupid.”
Kera couldn't help it; she giggled.
Belle smiled wider. “Huh?”
“You're crazy. You really, really are crazy.”
“I'm free, Kera. I was born free, as were you and each of these children. I'm saving Phoenix because he doesn't deserve to be punished for doing something righteous. None of us do. Think about it, in the whole of Ledomare, are there any other ponies in the position to do what you and I and these foals are about to do?”
“Meh.”
Belle sighed. “How did I know that you were going to say that?” She shrugged. “Very well. All I'm going to ask of you is to mind the ship for a while.”
“Mind... the ship...?”
“For when I go into the tower to get Phoenix out.”
Kera nearly vomited in disbelief. “You're going to march into Nightshade's building alone?!”
“Well, I certainly wasn't going to bring along a marching band.”
“I don't care how awesome you are! That's suicide, Belle!”
“I am not committing suicide, Kera.”
“And just how do you know that?”
Belle carried a distant look on her face as she murmured, “Because somewhere, in a dream that hurt more than reality, I tried it. And it brought me nothing.” She gulped hard, her eyes moistening. “I have a chance to do something that my beloved will never have. I'm not going to waste it.” She gazed down at the foal. “And I am not about to waste you. Once we find a way into the city, we'll stop at the tower. I'll leave the ship to you. If things get too dangerous, you'll have the means to get out and bring these fillies with you.”
“What if they come after us?”
“They won't.” Belle smiled. “They want me, not you. That goes for the enforcers as well. Besides...” She gritted her teeth as she said with a slice of menace, “It will never get so bad that they'll come after you. I'll make them hurt before it ever gets that far.”
Kera shivered slightly as she said, “Somehow, I-I kind of believe you.”
“As long as someone does.” Belle suddenly blinked, for she felt a warm cheek nuzzling her hoof. She glanced down.
Kera was hugging her. As if feeling the touch of Belle's eyes, she grunted, “This is just a one-time thing, okay? For luck.”
“Right...” Belle smiled and ruffled her mane before accelerating the vehicle further southeast. “Luck.”
You get a voice crack, and you get a voice crack, everypony gets a voice crack!
SHit's about to get real. All three parties are converging.
dis don be gud...
Thirty push-ups, ):(. Knock 'em out!
TO PHEONIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO SAVE THE DAY AWESOMELY!!!!!!!!!!!!
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i've actually been doing all the stuff you yell here. somehow i can say that i have managed to keep in shape by reading pony fanfiction. what has the world come to, drill sergeant?
"in a dream that hurt more reality"
"Hurt more than reality"???
Belle's headed to Blue Nova? Shell's blockade is trying to keep order?
Too bad 'blockade' doesn't start with the letter A
2953477
A damn good place.
Awesome.
Kera is adorable
Kera doesn't sound too bright right now, hmm?
Nawwww. How adorable.
Looks like Belle has come to terms with her life. IC is the best a pseudo-philosophy, after all.
I wonder how RD will react to Belle's sudden increase in awesome-sauce. Highlander, or double the explosions?
I, for one, vote for more explosions, if you can.
Just three items on tonight's docket:
1.) Kera is pretty goddamn cute when she wants to be.
2.)
Be careful. Your Nietzsche is showing.
3.)
i.imgur.com/oOMsaCs.gif
This chapter reminded me of something, and I finally figured out what it was.
This chapter reminds of of the scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, just following the motorcycle chase, when they reached a crossroads. Indiana Jones wanted to go to Venice to recuse Elsa, but his father insisted they go back into Berlin to get the grail diary.
It probably doesn't mean anything relevant... it's just funny what things can reminds you of sometimes.:)
Time for some metal gear Belle.
2955023
Ugh, where's Otacon when you need him?
Well, that solves the issue of her being separated from Pilate for a longer period of time (IC, you fucking troll, don't you dare...). Now all we need is for RD & Co. to jump in guns blazing and hooves flying and Shell dying and Nightshade crying while Roarke is plying her trade in the sky as a merc killing jerks on the ground where we've found Evil Prime wasting time chasing stripes through the pipes.
Did I leave anything out?
2955737
I feel very sympathetic towards Phoenix right now. Sure he made a mistake, but he has been doing everything he can since then, to atone for it. Imagine losing something like your magic ability. If I were a quadruped with such an ability (and no opposable digits), and I had a choice between losing my magic like Phoenix, or losing a leg like Crimson, I would much rather lose a leg.
2954806
Best reaction gif for #3
Best, most adorable luck ever.
Kera is best filly.
Sweetie Belle is still best pony.
But Kera is best filly.
we only have 41 chapters to go, and they haven't met yet?! I'm getting a little scared here.
Normally I'd find a line like this strange, but in this story it was surprisingly unsurprising.
All it took was some bloody awful psychological torture for Belle to come to terms with her life. Can't it ever be easy?
Still, if Belle and Rainbow Dash meets whilst both parties are alive, should certainly be interesting. Same with Pilate, wonder what he'll make of his newly glazed-in-awesomesauce beloved?
2957495
Psychological torture = awesomeness?
2955737
You forgot Josho and EE.
2957185Vomit. Vomit everywhere.
I can't help but think that when/if Pilate and Belle reunite, Belle is going to freak out thinking that she's under Nightshade's dream thingy again considering how certain she is of his death.
I feel sorry for a lot of characters in this story...thankfully it's only pity I feel for the opposition.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
I suppose that Belle's most recent bout of sequencing strengthened her connection with Dash. Good thing too, since she's heading right back into Blue Nova. We'll need her awesomeness to be at it's maximum for the smackdown that's sure to occur. Also, I enjoy Kera's dialogue with Belle here. It's another one of those rare, emotional Kera times. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
2954847 2957495 V for Vendetta. V for Vendetta all the way. The Wachovski siblings would love this series.
"You said you wanted to live without fear. I wish there'd been an easier way, but there wasn't."
And old Floydien slip ain't even around. Kera has no excuse.
And silly Kera, Belle has been awesome in her own way up until now. Dash's way is just a lot more...vibrant, shall we say. Really looking forward to the next bits - its time for Phoenix to rise from the ashes of his humiliation and defeat. Or something.
Onward!
Aw, but marching bands are awesome!
Anyway, five down, fifty-something more to go. Goddamn, I really shouldn't stop reading these things.
2953477
2953544
I, on the other hoof, am doing jack squat shit none of these. And unless jake gets his army ass over to BABSCon, that's going to remain unchanged.
Also, emotional Kera.
-Spirit
I fucking love Kera.
You can do that? Maybe I'd better stop hanging out on r/nottheonion.
So Belle is trying to reconcile the overwhelming Dash that was awakened by Nightshade's probing with her own personality. A bit of a mind-battle, as it were. I love how it gets to Kera though. Finally, a way to keep her in check!
Oh god, that was fantastic.
Quest perk gained: Dash of Awesome
XD