Rainbow Dash paced back and forth inside the narrow corridor of the Arrowfish's port side compartment. Despite the savage speed of the mana-powered vessel, it was a remarkably smooth ride, and the splashing of waves against the Mark Four's four separate prows had been reduced to a dull hum. Several evenly-paced portholes loomed to the mare's left, and they all showed a dark sky kissing an even darker horizon. Night had fallen, and the vessel skimmed its way south in an undaunted glide.
But this wasn't what occupied Rainbow's attention.
Pacing back and forth, the pegasus remained anchored to a metal door to her right, framed in iron rivets.
“You know, Rainbow, darling,” Rarity spoke, “If you need to go that badly, I'm certain there's a filly's room situated on the starboard side of this vessel. The Arrowfish appears to be a ship that favors symmetry, after all.”
“It's not that and you know it,” Rainbow muttered. “What's taking him so long?”
“You took an awful lot of photographs, Rainbow,” Twilight said, phasing out of the room in question. “And since he sold the Midnight Dreary, Doctor Mane has only the bare essentials to work with.” She smiled pleasantly. “For what it's worth, I took a look at his progress myself, and he's doing quite well. So just relax, alright?”
Rainbow sighed, slumping against the wall and wrapping her wings around herself. “Somehow, I think I was more relaxed while we were running from bad guys and kicking the occasional flank,” she muttered.
Rarity shuddered. “I honestly do not know how you can say that, Rainbow.” She fanned herself. “Just thinking about how you and Wildcard nearly drowned...”
“Well, you gotta admit...” Rainbow smiled faintly. “Things got somewhat awesome there in the end.”
“You have a most questionable definition of 'awesome,' Rainbow.”
“Well, Rarity,” Twilight Sparkle said, “When one experiences tense situations, the adrenaline produced can create a bizarre sense of enjoyment—”
“Don't you even try, Twilight,” Rarity grumbled. She pouted, staring out one of the many-many portholes. “The silver lining to all of this is that we get to meet an underwater princess once all of this is over with.”
“You mean Camelia?” Twilight remarked. “For all we know, she and the rest of the ponies in Shoggoth may be dancing to the Southern Hoof's tune.”
“Ugh...” Rainbow buried her muzzle in her hooves. “And you tell me to 'relax.'”
Twilight winced slightly. “I... I'm sorry, Rainbow.” She gulped. “I suppose I dwell too much on the future.”
“Meh. Shoggoth.” Rainbow ran a hoof through her own mane, shuddering slightly. “And you thought we were nearly drowning earlier...”
Rarity cleared her throat. “Tell you what...! What say we see what the handsome mercenaries are discussing?”
“Hmmmm...?” Rainbow looked past the figure of a limp sarosian slumbering like a pile of leather beneath a draped cloak.
Bard smiled, gesturing between him and Wildcard. “And so that's when I whalloped him big time with the guitar! ClaAaAaAang! All swift and thud-like, ya reckon? Oh boy, was that varmint down for the count!”
Wildcard nodded, casually whittling away at a block of wood. He already had six fresh toothpicks lined up beside where he sat against the corridor's wall.
“Whew boy! We sure showed him!” Bard fanned himself with his hat, smiling into the Mark Two's electric interior lighting. “Most places we drift through, punks like him are tearin' families apart and gettin' away with it, and nopony has the guts to hire anyone to stop 'em.”
Wildcard paused to gesture with his flesh-and-metal talons.
Bard's brow furrowed. “What do ya mean?! It's not like we're workin' for freelance!”
The griffon rolled his goggled eyes and hand-signed some more.
“Yeah, and what about it?” Bard huffed. He nudged one of the bulging saddlebags with his lower hoof. “We're gettin' a hefty share when all is said and done, ain't we? I mean... the Muddredgers won't be robbing us completely blind... especially after we aim to rob them blind.”
“The jury's still out on that, dudes,” Rainbow muttered.
Bard looked over. “Ya kiddin', missy?” Bard smirked. “Them underwater pretenders in Shoggoth are in league with Revan's crew!”
“Yeah, but until we find out that they've been—like—flooding random families and blaming it on faulty heating devices, I don't think we should be planning to screw them over nearly as badly as the morons who were running Rust.”
“And why the Hell not?!” Bard shrugged. “Admit it, darlin', you were built for this sort of savage homewrecking.”
Rainbow Dash frowned. “I am not a homewrecker!”
“Sure thang, and I'm Dwight Yoacolt.” Bard winked, smiling. “Dubya-Cee told me about the whole escapade y'all had downstairs. Any other mare would have been a tremblin' mess. But you? You knew your way around enemy territory like you was born there! Even under water, you had a magic compass tellin' you where to go!”
“That...” Rainbow squirmed, nervously glancing at Twilight and Rarity. “...that's something else.”
Wildcard gestured something.
“Pfft! Soak yer fat head, ya ostrich!” Bard cackled. “I mean it! She should go into the mercenary business! Like us!” He slapped his hat back on and winked her way. “How 'bout it, darlin'? Ya fixin' to become a Desperado?”
Rainbow snarled, “I don't do what I do for bits.”
Bard glanced at her bag several paces over, then back at her. “Is that a fact...?”
“My business in Shoggoth is different than yours,” she grumbled. Folding her forelimbs, the pouting mare said, “Once we've parted ways, I hope to be done with the criminal heist business for good.”
“Once we've...” Bard blinked, incapable of finishing that sentence. “But... but honey, yer a goldmine!”
“I've got far more important things on my agenda than gold,” Rainbow grumbled. “And don't call me 'honey.'”
Wildcard glanced aside at Bard, slashing his talons through the air.
The pegasus stallion blinked at him. “How could ya accept that so easily? She done saved yer life, ya fool!”
Wildcard shrugged.
“Heh... dun even pretend, mobo,” Bard said with a smirk. “I swear, one of these days, yer gonna meet a lady who lays eggs and then what?”
Rainbow squinted. “...the buck are you even going on about now?”
Before Bard could respond, the door to the lavatory opened with a groan.
Twilight twirled around. “Oh! There he is now!”
“Doc!” Rainbow Dash blurred over, hovering before the doorframe. “How... how is it?”
Theanim Mane backed out, turned calmly around, and laid down an open briefcase full of freshly developed photographs. “See for yourself, Miss Dash.”
Rainbow Dash landed, squatting low so she could observe each photograph. She whistled. “Awesome sauce... they... they look so clear.”
“Well, of course they do.” Theanim smiled calmly. “It was my camera you used, after all.”
“But... y'know... I'm out of practice with my Shutter Fu,” she said. “I was friggin' scared that they'd be out of focus or something.”
“Well, granted...” Theanim exhaled. “You could have framed several of the documents and blueprints better.”
Rainbow winced.
“But...” Theanim pointed. “I do believe we have enough material properly captured to convey the intended message.” He looked up at the mare. “Combine that with the four or five physical sheets you did manage to grab, and we'll have quite the body of evidence to present to Camelia and her Council.”
“And... and you think she'll help us out?” Rainbow asked.
“It is... difficult to say, Miss Dash,” Theanim remarked. “My experience with the Sirens is... very slim.” He gulped. “And, suffice to say, she will undoubtedly get a read on us far sooner than we'll ever get a read on her.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“Let's just say that Sirens and all of their seapony kin are quite... intellectually gifted,” the stallion said. “It will behoove us to be as honest with the denizens of Shoggoth as possible.” His nostrils flared. “In mind as well as in tongue.”
Rainbow blinked at him.
“Are you doing alright, Miss Dash?” Theanim asked. He gestured down the hall. “Echo isn't the only one who could use some sleep, methinks.”
“Yeah, I'm... I'm just...” Rainbow gazed down the corridor leading towards the bow of the vessel. Far away, like a flickering speck of starlight, Yaerfaerda lingered, growing closer and closer with alarming speed. “This whole friggin' thing in Rust was like a crazy hump to glide over. And now that we've kicked so much flank and taken names, I... I almost regret it.” She gulped. “And everything went perfectly, too. Not like I'm complaining.”
“Victory in itself is one of life's ultimate challenges,” Theanim said with a calm smile. “Though I doubt you need me telling you that.”
Rainbow Dash nodded. “I've... felt this before. In Val Roa,” she said. “I... didn't like what came after.”
“Well, if it's of any consolation, getting to the next Seed is a challenge I can't even begin to contemplate right now.” With a tired sigh, Theanim slumped down against the wall. He swiveled his briefcase around and carefully rearranged the photographs. “Queen Verlaxion has only shown up in Shoggoth to do one thing... and that is to bless the tombs of the royal Muddredger families.”
“So... you're saying...?”
“If there's a point of interest in Shoggoth, the only possible candidate is the deep labyrinth of underground shrines,” he said. “Situated at the bottom of the ocean floor, and sealed with Siren magic.” He adjusted his goggles and looked up with deep blue eyes. “Needless to say, Verlaxion hasn't bothered to make another visit in over three centuries.”
Rainbow bit her lip. Wingtips fluttering, she turned around. “I... I think I need to go for a walk...”
“By all means, my dear,” Theanim said, saluting her as she trotted away. “Arrowfish or not, it's a long glide to our destination.”
“Works for me,” she muttered, and shuffled her way down the long, long corridor.
Dash is too awesome to accept.
In a labyrinth under the seeeeeaaaaaaa
There is a Pinkie that's waiting for meeeeeeee
All you've got to do is persuade the queen to let you into what is probably the resting ground of her ancestors.
No biggie
This'll end exactly like IC wants it to end. The only question is how he wants it to end. Only way to find out is to keep reading. Let's get that next chapter soon. For the glory of Zadubadabu.
Nyooooom! Mind reading Sirens? Oooh poop! I wonder how they will react to Twilight Spookle and Scarity?
So we got actual, clear (enough) photographic evidence from the vault...
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/rsz/609_large.jpg
This has been a rather resilient bout of good luck. How long can it hold up once they reach Horsefish territory, I wonder.
Dear Bard,
We regret to inform you that, due to circumstances entirely within our control, your membership request to our union has unfortunately been declined. We apologize for the inconvenience, and wish you best of luck in your future endeavors.
Best regards,
The Prismatic Harem
Applejack, Gold Petals, Ember Spark, Rayvinne, & Roarke
6245149 I bet they won't be able to 'hear' them and will assume Dash is just crazy with voices in her head.
IC, the master troll
Oh, I'm sure nothing will go wrong in a city called Shoggoth. Just be watchful of whatever may be lurking on the roofs, Dash. I'm sure the seaponies will be perfectly normal. No cults to be found anywhere. Nope. Not at all.
Ahem, possible Lovecraftian adventures in the near future aside I wonder what will prove to be the bigger roadblock in Shoggoth, the Syndicate or the local politics with this Siren princess?
Dammit, IC! Do you really need to keep reminding us that they're all gone?
Given a long run and a very high speed? 100 mph at 24 hours is crossing the ocean etc.
Sirens?
Beware the Taco monster?
6245205
still miss roarke...
6245210 I reckon that Princess Camelia will be able to see them but not reveal it until Dash tries to use them. At which point she will turn to one of the ghost mares and speak directly to them. Causing many bricks to be shat by all.
6245205
THE SHIP MISTRESS HAST SPOKEN!
(Honestly, I was thinking it woulda been WC more than Bard)
It can't be a coincidence that Verlaxion "blessed" each of the sites that Rainbow needs to visit. Especially three-hundred years in advance. I have to assume that she knows their significance to Austraeoh, and if she knows that, I wonder what else she knows.
Also, still looking forward to Shoggoth. Dunno why, but I kinda dig seaponies.
Bard has no gaydar. At all.
Desperado Dash does have a nice ring to it though...
Come on Rares, you know Dash is an Adrenalin Junkie.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
6245205 Never change, Swannie. Never, ever change.
6245347 Urohringr really is massive, isn't it? AustraeohFactChecker!!! How far have we come? Considering that we might not be heading exactly east, here...
6245249
Somebody's been playing "Dark Corners Of The Earth".
6245439 That would be hilarious, but the idea that they hear their speaking when listening in on Dash's thoughts but don't see them is even more amusing to me. Every time Dash convinces someone that she is crazy, it amuses me more than the last for some reason.
Yay, underwater levels.
Well, at least Revan didn't turn into Shell 2.0.
"Mark Two" Arrowfish doubled up to "Mark Four" for a moment there.
Ok so it looks like we have mind reading Sirens. This is going to make this even more interesting then before. I wonder if they will be able to hear Twilight and Rarity.
Water Temple hype! And nothing happened bad with the pictures! Nothing could possibly go wrong now!
6245009
Well, actually...
6246527
Yes
Yay, they're finally on their way to Shoggoth. Hopefully they won't find out how it got that name.
am I the only one who still gets a bit misty eyed and nostalgic every time someone Pulls this line?
It's amazing how far Rainbow has developed and matured as a character since the Austraeoh days. It's completely understandable considering all she's been through, but sometimes I miss the pony that had the "never say die" attitude and would charge head first into a problem and move on without dwelling too hard on things.
Oh well, I hope Dash will at least get some down time and use the opportunity to get a few things off of her chest with some of her friends. Hopefully then she'll be able to relax a little bit.
Time for the low point in the story, the water temple.
I wonder what song they would be dancing to. Calliope music? BGM from Bioshock?
6246844 That was touching. And fitting.
You were one whom I followed on this trek. I went fast for countless miles, continuously gaining on you. And now we are here on the front lines, facing whatever may lay before us, our trust in each other and the Austraeoh unshaken.
For Harmony!!
I also can be dramatic. There have been instances where I have discoursed as long or longer than you have here.
6247924 Red Vs Blue Warthog Music?
Well they boarded the Mark Two last chapter. I don't know how this happened, but it's impressive all the same.
6245458 She is a dragon matriarch. Axan knew a lot about the Austraeoh prophecies, and the sisters have always been in very close contact from what we know.
How they get through this is going to be very interesting.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Yeah, Rainbow takes absolutely no shit.
Also, that title...
All this information about Sirens has me intrigued but also fearful. I'm not sure the entire crew, or even Dash, can convince mind readers.
Looks like she still blames herself for what happened in Ponyville.
Sirens are mind readers, eh? I wonder what they'll think of Twilight and Rarity.
6627731 I'm curious if they will SEE rarity and twilight......something is telling me they will be able to.
Huzzah, the Mark has been doubled!
(Seriously though, it's been the Mark Two for a dozen chapters now; what gives?)
And speaking of things suddenly increasing in number, the Mark Two was a trimaran. Three prows, not four.
8178945
no it was specified to have four hulls. It was compared to Nick's trimaran "with an extra hull" when it was introduced.
6246853
Nope. I still shed some tears.
Im imagining mind readers or hypnotists
Meh. Shoggoth. 😄 Pun or not?
I guess we can't use Laughter to gain Laughter, after all. That would be too easy.
For the love of. Don't jinx us will ya!