My eyes fluttered open. I was clad in a silken nightgown. The stars of Emeraldine twinkled above me, full of nebulaic color and cosmic splendor. This was Verdestone; I understood now. I also understood who I was, and who I wasn't.
"She is lacking faith," I murmured.
Above me, Whitemane's angelic features smiled. She gave a gentle nod. "You are the means of rekindling that spark, child. You can bring the wind back to Austraeoh."
I panted, gazing down at my hooves. My coat was a golden yellow. I reached up and felt a stubby horn in the center of my head. A lump formed in my throat.
"You can help her save this broken machine of a world..."
A whimper escaped my lips. "Pilate..." I breathed heavily. "My beloved. I want to save him..."
"Tell me, child. How long have you been doing benevolent things for an industry that knows nothing but hate and pain?"
I looked up at her, my lips quivering in the starlight. A tear rolled down my cheek. "Ledomare has always been a source of strength, a foundation of science and—"
"To what end?"
I said nothing.
Whitemane lowered and nuzzled me dearly. She quietly murmured into my ear, "There will always be an end to things, my child. It is up to us to make something beautiful out of it. Tell me, where is the beauty in your life?"
I grimaced. My eyes clenched shut as I felt my head drifting towards the stone of the balcony. "It's... it's always g-galloping away from me... away from us. We were so close to finding purpose, and... and th-they took it all away." I sniffled and sobbed, "They're always taking so much away..."
"Shhhh..." Whitemane nuzzled me again, like a mother to her foal. I could feel the regal smile in the tone of her voice. "They shall not take away anymore. You have been robbed for the last time."
"I'm... I-I'm so weak... so helpless," I exhaled in hoarse bursts. "I don't know how to make it stop—"
"It is not about stopping, but about beginning," Whitemane said. She caressed my chin so that I was gazing up tearfully at her. "Re-energize the spark. Bring Austraeoh back from the depths. Give her the wind—the faith that she needs—and she will do the rest." She smiled, her eyes full of stars. "You and your beloved will find harmony."
"Harmony...?" I murmured.
"Yes, child. After all..."
o_o
Yet she's still dreaming or sequencing, being with Whitemane and all.
Subject: Whitemane
Suffix Title Obtained: "Master of the Ellipses" (Courtesy of Subject: Silvadel)
Preview: "Whitemane, the Master of the Ellipses"
-Minty
Yeah, harmony in death maybe. Let's not get our hopes up here.
1758089
Why do you hate Zebras?
1758097
Hey! I have zebra friends... you've just never met them.
1758097 Cause he's a speciesist!
There's something strangely uplifting about this chapter and the previous one and I'm suddenly excited for the future.
Now that is suspence. Cutting of a character in mid sentence. You make me sad
1758084 no italics.... so she can't be, so we are finally back to the real belle!
1758699
Nah, she's still dreaming in this chapter, trying to figure out if she's Dash or not.
So the sequencing is coming to a close...
i missed belle so much. glad that she's back.
Is it just me or is that "finding Harmony" thing sound a little ominous? Have I been reading this fic for too long? And Whitemane just loves being enigmatic, now doesn't she? Well can't stop now, Onward!
1758707
Yeah but
...so she's now, I think, finally aware of rift between herself and Dash.
1758707
Yes, but she can tell the difference between dash and herself now.
Oh hello, we're back in Verdstone. Seriously, Whitemane seems to be able to do a lot suddenly.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So it looks like Whitmane is going to finally stop jerking Belle off into random sequencing Dash flashbacks now. The scene where Whitemane shows how insignificant Ledomare is to Austraeoh's mission is a very cool moment. It also appears that Belle has come to a realization of sorts...figures we aren't told what it is. Yup, more Imploding style writing. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
"to what end"
that is a very powerful line.
New bearers of the elements maybe?
New Quest: Bring Austraeoh back from the depths.
That's strange... How is Whitemane so powerful anyways? I mean, remember during Austraeoh how she said she was only a hybrid Alicorn, that she wasn't like the Princesses? It seems that she has abilities to prove otherwise.
2213172 She's still a half alicorn.
Dat cliff hanger. and glad to hear that belle will find her beloved.
So many cliffhangers...
My epic-senses are tingling. Something awesome is going to happen.
Hmm, I believe there is more to Belle's story than simply giving wind to Austraeoh and living happily ever after.
4418834 I sense it too..
Getting back in the game.
Put on Piper at the Gates of Dawn. The full discography, in order, for my marathon.
One album per night.
I can do this.
Oh, faith, well that makes sense too.
If this were dubstep, we'd be right in the middle of an epic drop right now. Something tells me you're about to crank it up to 11.
Well, we've hit full Belle!Dash, and things are only getting better. Onwards, my friends! Excelsior!
I am hearing every anime victory theme playing in my head right now, belle comes back to us now, at the turn of the tide
(Though would say Whitemane is much more the Gandalf)
Bring Austraeoh the wind! Ignite her faith! Gotta be one of the best series I've ever read, and I'm only on book two. Too much, too great, it must go on.
~SolidFire
I think you meant to say "horse bursts." ba dun tss
I'm not sorry
AFTER ALL WHAT...?
Before this flashback started I couldn't wait to hear how Rainbow Dash had started her adventure and how she got here, but now I can't wait to get back to Belle. :D
So has every power worth mentioning. But not all of them are worth serving. It is what they do with that power that decides whether they are worthy of the souls that toil for them.
04/29/2017 22:18 UTC
AFTER ALL WHAT?
7848383
EXACTLY
8500578
Iiiiiiiiits tiiiiiiiime!
LETS GET THIS BALL ROLLING! WHOO! PLOT PROGRESSION TIME!
God this chapter can literally be summed up by a Matt Fax track or something
Oh hey, she finally got out of the sequence.
Is... Is Whitemane gaslighting Bellesmith??
cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/767510355689078847/842205328296116254/gobY7Mcaq2mM1hOXxxJt2Ndm7T1dGxluK3akaw14VlQ.png
Even if what she's saying is agreeable, I adore how blunt Whitemane is essentially being. No overtly flowery or poetic mantra, just essentially, "The place you live in? It's shit. The things they do? Also shit." It's a more subtle but notable contrast between her and the other princesses.
Friendship is magic!!
Side note, legitimately good to have Bellesmith back. I was really enjoying her part of the story.