"Beats me what all the hubbub is about," muttered one stallion to the next. He took a sip from a levitating bowl of potato soup and glanced aside at his two companions. "But whatever it is, it's pulling away almost all of the local enforcers."
"I swear, last month, we had at least three military zeppelins parked in the city," another said. The uniformed stallion leaned forward and poured himself another helping from the kettle. His muzzle smiled in the flicker of the crackling campfire. "Now there's less than one per week. It's a breath of fresh air, if you ask me."
"I've heard rumors," the third said, polishing a spear in the crook of his hooves. "Something big is going on down south. They already sent the Steel Wing to the Sapphire Province."
"The Steel Wing?!" A stallion gasped, glancing over from his bowl. "Spark Alive! Could it be a Xonan incursion?"
"Nah, most likely a bunch of unruly metal mares acting up."
"Ungh. Why does the Queen even tolerate those rust-wombs?!"
"I know, right? They make our jobs all the harder."
"At least Madame Nightshade knows better than to hire their kind. I tell you what—if it wasn't for the Industry, I'd be back west herding antelopes out of the Cyan Crystal Valley."
"Hah! I didn't know you were employed in the Central Relocation Programs."
"Straight up!"
"I was north of Crystal Valley about ten years ago, making room for a quarry being funded by the Council of Ledo. Boy, I tell you what... bison aren't so peaceful once you tell them to skedaddle."
"At least they don't shoot blue sparks at you."
"These ones did."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah. Antelopes aren't the only Valley locals who got the mana treatment."
"Ugh. The Confederacy's never going to live those experiments down. I swear, the Council better get started on that non-equine draft soon or we're all screwed."
"I was almost drafted myself once."
"Oh?"
"But I was rejected. Y'know... cuz of my left front hoof and all."
"Heh. Lucky you."
"Luck has nothing to do with it. I'm just glad Nightshade Industries gave me another chance. Easiest job in the world."
"Not lately, it hasn't been."
"Meh. We'll reach our quota. Just gotta keep our eyes peeled. Not that it matters."
"Why doesn't it matter?"
"Madame Nightshade's got all that she needs as of late, hasn't she? I don't even know why we're bothering to search these villages."
"There've been a crapton of Mintian monks traveling about. Odds are they picked up hitchhikers. Who knows who might be hiding away in these buildings."
"Meh. Whatever. So long as we get a good night's sleep. I hate busting doors down when I'm half awake."
"Not even a coma could help you with that, jackass."
"Hardy har. Pass me another bowl."
"Now I know you're not gonna sleep."
"Nnnngh..."
"Heh heh heh..."
Bellesmith heard every single word, because over the past forty seconds, she had successfully snuck her way into the encampment and was within a hoof's stretch of the three stallions. She sat now—squatting behind a line of crates that bordered the campsite between the fire and a large wooden wagon. She bit her lip, her eyes glittering upon the sight of the kettle and its deliciously steaming broth. Her nostrils flared, and she looked all around her immediate vicinity.
At last, her eyes stumbled upon a large pebble. She picked it up in the crook of her hoof and—breathlessly—launched it clear across the campsite so that it clattered against an oak tree beyond the light of the fire.
Almost immediately all three stallions turned their heads. However, they didn't so much as stir from their seats.
"Hmm... you hear that?"
"Sounded heavy."
"Meh. Probably a dying squirrel."
"Yeah. Spark, I hate squirrels."
"Uh huh..." They resumed sitting and eating.
Belle hissed under her breath. She looked around again. This time, she found a length of fabric dangling out of a wooden crate right next to her. She bit her lip in thought. Then, with a flurry of hooves, she opened her saddlebag and produced Rainbow Dash's flint and tinder. Next, she yanked the cloak out of the crate. It was a tiny thing, the appropriate size for a young foal. It was also etched with numerous runic shapes, but her hungry mind barely registered it. In swift order, she produced sparks with the flint and tender and set the fabric on fire. Then, careful to not burn herself, she wrapped the smoldering material around a rock and flung it in the same direction.
It landed with a thump, although this time it set fire to a cluster of bushes.
"Hmmph..." One of the stallions hummed before gulping down some soup. "Another squirrel?"
Another uniformed unicorn glanced over. "Nah." He turned back to the meal. "Just a brushfire besides the wagon."
Silence.
All three jumped up at once. "Ah jeez!"
"Fetch the water!"
"Don't let it get to the mana crystals!"
They galloped awkwardly away, leaving the campfire and the kettle of soup completely unguarded.
Bellesmith smiled pleasantly. Desperately hungry, she rushed forward to take advantage of the moment. As she did so, an edge of the saddlebag bumped into a crate. It fell over, spilling its contents noisily. She froze and crouched low, hissing under her breath. Thankfully, the stallions were making such a commotion in the act of putting out the fire that they didn't notice her clumsiness.
Breathing with relief, she lifted the heavy crate back up with her forelimbs, hoping that it'd look less suspicious placed back where it once was. As she did so, she nearly tripped on a pile of spilled horseshoes. When she looked at it this time, her gaze lingered. The horseshoes were all foal-sized, and what's more, they had the same runes as the tiny cloak she had thoughtlessly set on fire.
For the first time in hours, she thought of Pilate—albeit it was not a melancholic thought but an educated one. At last, the nature of the runes struck a familiar part of her mind.
"Are these... Xonan...?" She fidgeted. "Where did the stallions get these?"
She had already wasted enough time. In a single breath, she bounded over to the kettle. With the crook of her hoof, she held the serving spoon and dipped it deep into the steamy broth. She opened a satchel of her saddlebag and prepared to drop in as many solid potatoes as she could—
"Hah!" A telekinetic grip yanked her away by the hoof. "What's this?! A thief?"
"Aaugh!" Bellesmith gasped as she was dragged over towards one of the three stallions. The other two were marching back from the smoldering remains of a fire that had quite easily been put out.
"I knew something was up!" the uniformed pony grumbled, frowning at her. "By the Queen, I hate these parts. It's worse than the lower streets of the city."
"Where in the heck did she come from?" Another remarked, squinting at the sight. "I swear, we're not on our game these days—" He suddenly gasped. "Holy crud."
"What?" The other turned to frown on him.
"What do you think? Look at her horn!"
"What about it?" The stallion who was gripping her turned again. His eyes reflected the stub in the center of her crown, and his jaw dropped. "No way..."
"You kidding me, right?" Another trotted over and sized Belle up and down. "Could she have escaped from Madame Nightshade's place?"
"Nah, it's gotta be a coincidence," the one stallion holding her said, his eyes nevertheless squinting. "Besides, she's too old." He leaned forward. "Just where the heck do you come from, lady?"
Belle was biting her lip. She glanced at the stallions.
She stared at her.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes. For a brief moment, she saw blurring pastures and mountaintops, as if she was flying. She decided to with the flow... and promptly headbutted the unicorn in front of her.
"Aaaaugh! Sonova..."
So, mana comes from a treatment? Odd. And all the conversation has me wondering. Who is Nightshade? What other unicorn has a broken horn? Where the heck do these ponies come from? Goodness gracious, I hope we get an explanation.
Wait... what?
Oh hell, Nightshade is experimenting on Xonan foals, guess that's where Kera came from.
2371220
Simply that Ledo's foray into mana experimentation is nothing new. Belle's time in Blue Shelf is not as unique as one might have presumed previously. Seems Ledo is also contracting some of this out to private companies.
What this also does is explain Floydian some more, and his peculiar behavior. I would venture that his quest is that of finding the facility he was experimented on in order to maintain his new mana powers and/or get revenge. I doubt highly that "Nancy Jane" is a living creature, that in mind.
Fun, subtle references in this one: Industry, foals, sounds a lot like a certain town with an obelisk. Seems Belle is having her own little Austraeoh adventure.
Ah, nothing like a good case of Morton's hoof to placate the draft committee.
Damnit. She was so close to getting that 1500 XP "Undetected" bonus.
But extra points for skulbashing that dude.
*nods sagely*
Belle is learning the ways of the Rainbow Dash.
Always respond to danger by headbutting it, if at all possible.
2371239
That's likely, but what would this Madame Nightshade character want to do with an earth pony, anyway?
2371329
Xonan's use runes for mana/magic manipulation, similar to how O.A.S.I.S. works by activating runes on the skull plate that are channeled through the mana-orb. The orb is just a conduit, a tool, the runes on the skull do the translating and manipulation. Thus, Ledo—Nightshade—would be curious as to how the Xonans utilize this type of magic, and how Ledo can exploit it. I imagine the use of foals is to see where in the development process they gain real ability. The four stallions mentioned I imagine are guard or foalnappers.
Kinda confused at the 'stared at her part'. And look, Belle's really acting a lot more like Rainbow Dash now, though less talkative.
Belle fails the dine and dash.
Joking and theorizing aside, though, this was one of the better chapters this week. Interesting snatches of foreshadowing and worldbuilding, mixed with a dash of amusing dialogue and physical comedy.
2371239
Seems that the Ledonaritans are getting desperate.
Really desperate. And that makes them even more dangerous, doesn't it?
Hah! Called it!
Good chapter, though, Scolon. It'll be interesting to see the dynamic between Belle and Kera, for sure.
By the way, if you see Skirts, tell him that the first three paragraphs have been translated.
2367514 How dare you insult my people.
And it all ends on a headbutt to the face. Even with a short stub of a horn that has to hurt a bit.
Used shoes and clothes? Mutliation? Imprisonment? Death related name?
Sounds like a concentration camp or something.
Funeral Bell - Black Label Society
Great, here we go again. Belle is going to get captured and taken to this Madame Nightshade and there will be all kinds of abominable horrors and-
"- and promptly headbutted the stallion in front of her."
... Oh.
Dash mode engaged.
Good luck, stallions. You'll need it.
with Bellesmith acting like rainbow dash the whole time, maybe in an off-chance she could have gained her combat ability as well.
That was maybe not the best idea. Now she's pissed them off even more, and given that they're Ledomaritan, word of Belle's capture will almost certainly reach the Council and, inevitably, Shell. And yes, she's going to be captured. Even if the one she headbutted is out of commission, there's still two more that can immobilize her. Now she has to find a way out of yet another prisoner situation. Though to be fair, this is probably the least threatening one she's been in.
Mana-treatment, eh?
Welp, at least we know where Floydien lost his marbles -.-
Just a thought, what happens if you mana-treat a unicorn with a broken horn, or give her access to Xonan channelling techniques. . . ?
Fuckin' squirrels...
2371239
Dangit, I keep forgetting about Kera.
Ha! The best of Dash has rubbed off on her.
Madam Nightshade? I like the sound of that.
2371239
This could have something do to with this passage from the first chapter that I only noticed on reread:
Kera's uncomfortable with her own body, it seems. Unless she really her dislikes mane color, it sounds like she's been the subject of some experimentation. I wonder what might be under her hoodie.
I...I finally....caught up...*collapses* Wait now I actually have to wait for new chapters and deal with cliffhangers...NO!!!!
She was this close....
potatoes!
2375004 Welcome to the club. We have cookies.
And pie. You can't have a club without pie.
Classic.
2372050 Insult to injury. Your end is neigh! Your end is neigh!
fc04.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/165/a/9/fluttershy_is_crazy_by_kittie1999-d3iy7kb.png
2374277 The part of Dash that hasn't yet rubbed off on her are the wings. Bellesmith going berzerk is like a WoW addict trying to do a school shooting: runs into the main hall, starts yelling 'FIRE BALL!', then realizes he has no mana.
2373289 Floydien is the Gollum of Ledomare. I bet that's the real reason he stole O.A.S.I.S.: My precioussss, yes, yes, yes.
And so Belle too, becomes a Stabby Stabby Horse!
or at least, a Pokey Pokey one...
Floydien now makes much more sense.
Nightshade is going down at or before the end of this....
If ya really want to do magic experiments, get a bloody volunteer! Not kids off the street
Well that's one way to deal with them, I suppose. Those stallions better watch out - Belle's there to eat potatoes and kick ass, and she's all outta potatoes...
And experimenting on kids? Grade A douchwaffle material right there, folks. Free the orphans, Belle!
So much for your stealth mode, Belle.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So it appears that we have some new companions joining our journey. They'll turn out to be friends, hopefully. Also, I'm just going to disregard all of that stuff about Nightshade and such - I don't think it's important. Also, it's safe to assume the cloth and horseshoes belong to the Xonan filly living in the city. She's in Blue Shelf, probably, since that's where these stallions probably found the stuff. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
It seems like bell is about as good at stealth as rainbow dash
We learned something very important today. Belle is terrible at doing the Dash way. But then again, she did headbutt one of the stallions. Let's see what happens...
-Spirit
Belle, you were so close!,
Entry III:
I have made camp for the night. Nothing to report.
I like these guys. Funny dudes. Nice background info here as well.
Is this Madam Nightshade some sort of Xonan foal-knapper? Why else would her men have the garments of Xonan foals?
And another thread is woven into the tapestry of mystery.
Interesting.
Also, I'm really curious about who this Madame Nightshade is, and why young mares with broken horns brings her to mind. Now that's a question with some potentially dark answers.
Ahh, yet another character operating under the "What would Rainbow Dash do?" plan. The world may not survive this awesome trend.
But... then where are the foals?
My hope of Nightshade being a good pony was promptly crushed with the discovery of children clothes
6436588
And now both Crimson and Belle are following the path of WWRDD. Mwahahahahaha!
I actually did not notice this part the first time around, would have saved me quite a bit of surprise later on.
05/10/2017 00:09 UTC
Arsen.
Hmm...for a second there I thought she was gonna throw the Flint.
Oh well, I suppose msytery magic cloaks work just as well. Not taht burning magic runic cloth will ahve any unforseen consequences or anytjing.
nice move, Belle. Becoming more and more like RD every day~