"I don't get it," Eagle Eye said.
"Shhh!" Crimson insisted.
Biting his lip, Eagle Eye crouched low on his branch. Perched next to the muscular stallion, the petite unicorn leaned over and whispered, "I don't get it. You said you sensed an entanglement of leylines. I only see one unicorn, and her horn's shattered." He blinked his violet eyes. "Plus, she hasn't brushed her mane in over a week."
"I don't think it's the unicorn," Crimson said, pointing from their lofty hiding place above the forested clearing. "I believe it's the zebra."
"What does he have to worry about? His mane is naturally straight."
"EE..."
"Erm... S-sorry, boss," Eagle Eye stammered, his lavender ears drooping. "Is he a magical equine? I've heard of several hoofed creatures to the west who are capable of wielding magic even though they have no horn."
"Look for yourself. I can't exactly tell what's on his forehead."
Eagle Eye crept forward on the edge of his branch. Squinting, he murmured aloud, "A black tattoo—no, that's metal. It's a plate, and there are inscriptions on it."
"Runes..."
"Pardon?"
"Ponies to the north practice runeforging," Crimson said. "It's said to imbue a wielder with magical powers, connecting them to an otherwise inert leyline."
"So, he's, like, a magical zebra?"
"That's one way to put it."
Eagle Eye shifted the weight of the sword and shield on his vested flank. "Could he... could he pose a threat?"
"There's no real way to tell," Crimson spoke aloud, looking at the area around the clearing. "They must be capable of defending themselves if they made it all the way here on their lonesome."
Eagle Eye nodded. "They'd normally be timberwolf fodder... or food for an ursa major."
"Still, I could have sworn there was another pony with them."
"Another pony?"
"Hmmmm..." Crimson rubbed his chin and gazed towards the edges of the clearing. "An escort. A guide, perhaps. Whoever it is, it's a pony who can move fast."
"Maybe it's another unicorn—but with a functioning horn! A teleporter! That could be what you've sensed... uhm, sir."
"No, it's definitely coming from that zebra," Crimson said. "I sensed it first thing this morning."
"Why can't I sense anything? Or Phoenix or Zenith for that matter?" Eagle Eye blinked. "Is it because we're not at Prime Enforcer level training?"
"I doubt you've encountered leyline entanglement before. It was used a lot in the Blue Plateau campaign."
"Ohhhhh." Eagle Eye smirked. "You always have such amazing stories to tell of liberating the Ledomaritans of that region."
"Yes, well, I learned a lot."
"You were certainly very brave."
"That'll do, EE."
"Ahem. Yes, sir..."
"Are Phoenix and Zenith in position?"
Eagle Eye squinted towards a line of trees far beyond the clearing. "Yes. Twelve o'clock and two o'clock sharp. They're staying put just like you told them to."
"Are they? I can't even see them."
"I assure you, boss, they're there."
"Astounding." Crimson gazed softly at the smaller unicorn. "Your sight never fails to amaze me."
Eagle Eye hugged the tree branch, letting loose a breathy giggle. "At least I'm good for something, right?"
"You're not as clumsy as the others say you are, EE," Crimson muttered, squinting back down at the two equines. "Not so long as you put your heart into the matter."
"Well, that's what I'm here for, sir! To give you lots of heart!" Eagle Eye saluted. "After all, you carried us three back from carnage and imprisonment! The least I can do is—"
There was a cracking sound. Eagle Eye's branch lurched several inches.
Crimson blinked widely.
Eagle Eye gulped, frozen in mid salute. "—hold on tight?"
With a sickening snap, the branch broke and Eagle Eye went sailing down to the forest floor like a lavender comet.
"EE!" Crimson hissed, gnashing his teeth.
"Gaaaaah—Ooof!" Eagle Eye landed roughly between Pilate and Bellesmith.
With a shriek, Belle hopped up to her hooves. Gasping, Pilate stood up and planted his body in front of her, tilting his ears every which way.
"Who goes there?!" the zebra shouted.
"I... uhm... I—Ow!" Eagle Eye winced, his limbs flailing as he struggled to stand. "I mean you no harm—Ow! Sonuva..."
"What in blazes?" Pilate stammered.
"Who are you?" Belle asked.
"I... I..." Eagle Eye glanced up at her, his coat bespeckled with leaves. He blinked at Belle's cranium, then murmured, "I really like your mane..."
I REALLY LIKE HER MANE
Eagle Eye is caught. Is not big surprise.
Meanwhile, Rainbow is probably going to come back with some of the terrifying creatures we've yet to see. Since the forest is supposed to be dangerous, and as of yet there has been no dangers presented.
It makes me wonder. What are the AWOL blokes going to do? Try and save Eagle Eye's arse or hang back and observe his mental torture at the hands of Dash's
insanityswag?Hoo boy. Pilate's about to get real possessive...
Great chapter!
2015350
Something tells me there's not much to worry about from Eagle Eye.
2015363 Now that you mention it... I do believe that you have determined correctly. Still, it would make great comic relief.
Well as long as they don't try anything stupid like capturing Bellesmith and Pilate, then Rainbow might just be all fine with it and they can form a merrie little band.
(Oh) Pretty Woman - Van Halen
Your messy, unbrushed mane.
please don't kill me
And so we finally see the most important question of the entire saga.
What is Eljunbyro? No.
What is the world-ending crisis that Dashie must fix? No.
Will Dashie survive at the end?
This is ):(, of course she won'tNo.No, all these mysteries are trumped by the one question that we may never have answered:
Will Crimson ever return Eagle Eye's undying love?
No push-ups, ):(, but if you don;'t answer at least one of the above, I will bust out the knife hand and you will hurt...
For some reason, I find the mental image of this very funny. Not sure why. Just... ears goin' everywhere.
I'll just leave this here.
Also, what's with all the blue? Blue Shelf, Blue Plateau, Blue Nova. Hell, evidently my coat of arms is blue, if that zeppelin is to be believed! Either Blue Shell gets way too much commemoration, or the Queen just really likes blue.
2015363
>implying implications are implying
2015872
Call it part coincidence, part thematic consistency, part symbolic of the depressing tyranny, and part obscuring the distinction between good and evil. In a way, it's also a contrast to the red Element of Loyalty. That said, I'd be hesitant to rest a real thesis on that particular color choice. The narrative only provides tangible evidence for the idea that blue is just an identifier for Ledo. The other possible interpretations are no less valid, but are less supported.
2015327
Swag torture. I like it.
*goes to write that down*
2015327
It was bound to happen. Dashie's party increases by at least one.
This is Australia...
Rainbow Dash didn't need to go look for fruit... it's falling right out of the trees!
Hmm... Eagle Eye is a little bit... fabulous, no?
2015837
We already know that Pilate and Belle are Eljunbryo, which are the ponies meant to being the wind back to Austraeoh.
2015872
...what's wrong with being blue?
2017491
He's fantastically fabulous and far too adorable.
EE .......
I know the whole deal with this author using runes the way he does goes a fair ways back, so I wonder if he ever played Runescape...
> Magical black man
> Magical zebra
> Iseewhatyoudidthere.jpg
Eagle-Eye is adorable.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get more humor here, which is always good. I'm liking the amount of diversity in Imploding's writing in this arc. Also, Eagle Eye is becoming very adorable very quickly. And clumsy. But I've been reading Imploding's work for a while now, and I'm pretty sure that, when we least expect it, EE will rise up and be the hero who saves everyone. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Hey look! A pony in the middle of this forest! Well what do ya know?
May the shenanigans commence...
Onwards!
Ohai
Eagle Eye is best male Sweetie Belle. I have a feeling I'm going to like this ragtag bunch (and by a feeling, I mean I already do). Onward, and let the S.S. Shenanigans set sail!
Such humour Also, Sweetie Belle reference! ALso also, also also also. Okay, I'm done.
...
...
Anywho...
Eagle Eye was caught. Big surprise there!
So much for introductions, huh?
this reminds me of Robots when rodney fell through the window into the bigweld conference room, slammed right in front of Kappy, blushed, while evryone else was like O3O
Crimsoneye
I SHIP IT
I SHIP IT HARDER THAN APPLEDASH
OR JOSHELL
5523190 The real question remains unaswered, though... Do you ship it more than Goldash?
5962496 I... I really like your Mane.
I see what you did there .jpeg
Eagle eye can see many things, but he see why foals love the taste of cinnamare toast crunch?
Oooo, are these guys going to be able to let our normal party know about Pilate and the entangled leyline issue? That'd be convenient.
That's one way to introduce yourself.
6345004
Deus ex machtreena .....
I'll let myself out
Oh, what a proper gentlestallion you are. And such a darling mane too!
Said to a pony named Belle. I see what you did there.
2018228
Woah! Is there anything in this story not named after a commenter?!
There is nothing wrong with caring for your hair. I use Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner myself. It really brings the luster out in my mustache and beard, an doubles as a great shaving lather for my scalp too.
2E is never a bad thing. He, being who he is, just accidentally tipped off everyone to where his entourage is. Also, the ending to this chapter he me laughing for a good 30 seconds. I could totally see this happening:
“Do you have any last words to say, Eagle Eye?”
“I really like your mane?”
And no one finds that amusing
...
I like this chapter.
Noo que tierno
2015872
I have a blue shelf
With a blue plateau
Blue is the colour of all that I wear
Blue are the streets
And all the trees are too
I have a zepp'lin and she is so blue