"Uhh..." Phoenix craned his neck to better see the spry young filly at the front of the group. "You sure that this is a shortcut, kid? At this rate, we're never gonna get there."
"I promised I'd get you inside the Nightshade place!" Kera squeaked as she led the mercenary and the mare through steamy, the morning-lit urban canals of Blue Nova. "I didn't say it'd be short!"
"But I swear that we've gone in circles, twice."
"Not everything is all cookie cutter and cute in these streets!" Kera said. "If we wanna get to Nightshade Industries, we gotta cut our way past the front courtyard, ya smell me?"
Belle smiled from the center of the group as she said, "Just trust her, Mr. Phoenix."
"Yeah, trust her, Mr. Phoenix!" Kera chirped, then giggled. "I swear, for a bounty hunter, you're super stiff!"
Phoenix growned. "I am not a bounty hunter! I am a mercenary!"
"You get paid for swinging swords, hammers, and other relevant heavy metals, right?"
"Er..."
"Cuz it all sounds the same to me! Heeheehee!"
Phoenix sighed, his breath fogging against fractured glass windows as they passed an abandoned storefront. "Can't we just go up from the sewers or something?"
"Nuh uh. The Nightshade building ain't attached to the lower passageways like all the others," Kera said. "This place has only two ways to enter, and that's either ground level or by zeppelin at the upper balconies."
"This Nightshade pony must be very powerful to afford such special privileges here in Blue Nova," Belle remarked.
"Eh, she knows how to get what she wants. That much is true." Kera hopped over a mound of garbage and made for a straightaway that led towards an open courtyard several dozen feet ahead. "Metal. Manacores. Ponies."
"Ponies?" Phoenix repeated, blinking wide.
"Pfft! It wasn't a stork that brought me here!" Kera said with a devilish grin.
Belle squinted. "Kera, where did you say that you were from again?"
"Eh... east of here."
"East of the warfront..." Phoenix leaned in. "Right?"
"Nah. Not that far. The ponies who raised me didn't have tattoos like me. They're boring."
"I don't believe you ever told us the name of the place where you were raised," Belle said.
"That's because it's called 'Lerris!' And it's boring!"
"Did the ponies who raised you have a part to play in having you come to Blue Nova?"
"No! 'Cuz they were boring!" Kera turned back with a frown. "Seriously, what's with all the stupid questions? Jeez!"
"I'm sorry, Kera. It's just... well..." Belle shrugged. "We're concerned about you, is all. You're... well... you're not exactly a common sight in this part of the world."
"Just the way I like it!" Kera turned her chin up and trotted proudly toward their destination. "And, for real, stuff it with the questions! You don't see me asking you a bunch of crud left and right!"
"I wouldn't mind if you did."
"Oh yeah? How'd you get your horn all stubby?"
Phoenix glanced between Belle and Kera.
"Well, if you must know, it happened seven years ago," Belle said.
Kera blinked. She glanced over her shoulder. "Really?"
"Indeed."
"You... didn't have it lopped off when you were a filly?!"
"Spark, no!" Belle grimaced. "What would you make you suspect that?"
Kera shrugged. "You seem so cool with it."
"I really don't have much of a choice."
"So many ponies in this city make a big deal about magic. I mean, I know a lot of tricks. They're cool tricks. But if I lost my ability to make things float n'stuff, I'd find another way to get on top of things. It's 'cuz of how together I am and stuff. Ya dig?"
Belle stifled a giggle and nodded. "You almost remind me of somepony else I know."
"Ew, now I know you're just making that up."
"Why's that?"
"'Cuz I'm the one and only! That's why!"
"You'll get no argument from me," Phoenix grumbled. Belle shushed him.
"So, what broke it, huh?"
Belle glanced back at Kera. "Huh?"
"Your horn. What snapped it off?"
The mare winced slightly, but ultimately said, "There... was a zeppelin that crashed near the university in Mountainfall, where I was earning my doctorate in science."
"Oh?"
"I was one of the first ponies at the scene of the accident. I was no firefighter, but the aircraft was burning and... and there were ponies inside who needed help. Me and four other equines used our magic to tear open a part of the ship's hull so we could rush in and grab as many bodies as we could."
"Well, sounds like you handled it just fine!"
"I did..." Belle sighed. "Until my third trip in. A part of the ship collapsed. I was underneath it and... well..." She smiled painfully. "When I awoke, I wasn't the same."
"Wow..." Kera muttered, blinking ahead of her trot. "That had to have sucked."
Phoenix suddenly snickered. He quickly forced himself into a straight face and waved an apologetic hoof towards Belle. "My apologies. I didn't expect that..."
"It's quite alright, Mr. Phoenix." Belle turned towards Kera again. "As a matter of fact, my recovery went well. It so happened that I shared a room in the Mountainfall hospital with one of the survivors of the crash. He was a lot worse off than I was, but I was too busy being mesmerized by his intelligence and sincerity to even begin pitying him. Even though I was released earlier, I stuck around to help him with his physical therapy. I even made it my personal project at the university to design for him a neurological device that could help him navigate his surroundings better."
"Well, hey. That's pretty cool. So you're something of a smart pony, eh?"
"So others have told me."
"Heeheehee... and yet here you are in the street with no diploma and no mane." Kera smirked goofily. "I wonder what he'd say if he saw you now."
Belle opened her mouth, but said nothing. She swallowed a lump down her throat as her trot became a slow, scuffling thing. "He... he wouldn't have much to say... not now... not ever..."
"Yeah? Why not?"
"Because... because I lost him, Kera..."
Kera glanced back. "Huh? Lost him?"
Belle didn't reply. Phoenix was dead silent.
Kera stared at the two with a furrowed brow. Suddenly, her ears twitched. She flung a glance ahead, towards the courtyard looming beyond the narrow alleyway. "Wuh oh. Now that's a big crowd."
"Hmmm?" Phoenix suddenly galloped ahead so he could stand protectively at the front of the group. "A little too early in the day to be natural."
"Can you hear what th-they're saying?" Belle asked.
"I... I'm not sure..." Phoenix leaned in. "They're all gathered in front of Nightshade Industries..." After a few seconds, he blinked, then glanced back at the two with a pale expression. "I think... something has happened..."
News travels fast, eh?
Oh my... 9 MORE slots for stories? That's just insane! If you fill all them up, I'll be impressed. Only 1915 chapters to go to do so!
Equine Wrecking Crew
Gatekeeper meets Keymaster
DANG IT GET TO THE MEETING OF DEAD PEOPLE ALREADY
Or exposition dump. Either one.
Expositionism-oh
and I wonder how bad Pilate was inflicted by that accident. Did he lose sight right there? or was he born with it?
2625183
Beggin' yer pardon, but I just can't seem to get the gist of your reasoning. Could you explain a bit, please?
Glorious, glorious exposition.
Aww, so that's how those two met...
2625378 something about a max of how many stories you can have on a single account...
2625378
If you look on IC's userpage, he has 9 more (empty) slots listed for future stories in the series. Also, he puts in 200 chapters per story (Austraeoh, Eljunbyro). With some simple math, we can see that those 9 slots alone constitute 1800 chapters, plus there's still enough room in this one for 115 more. Therefore, 1915 chapters until he's used up all the slots he listed.
whoa. well now we know how Belle lost part of her horn. This may also explain Pilate's blindness as well.
Also, it seems a little odd that Kera fends for herself alot, but doesn't know the interpretation of "Lost".
Die By The Sword - Slayer
Oh Kera why are you so awsome...
Now THAT won't be happening anytime soon.
Hooves and nuzzles will have to suffice.
So that's how they met. I sort of suspected their injuries were mutual.
I clicked that link and I didn't get it.
But then I saw the empty "slots".
That 12.
Holy cornflakes, that 12.
honeytiger will go see the empty slots now. hopefully honeytiger wont fall in.
Glad we finally know how bell lost her horn and how her and pilate met.
I kinda guessed that it had something to do with the airship accident that was mentioned in the previous story.
Keep up the great work!
I am still impressed with how well Belle handled herself during that crash. Not an easy thing to do, not an easy thing to recover from.
I'm getting all excited to their imminent meet up.
2625486
Damn. He's not even halfway there!
Exposition!
Y'know, I was kinda hoping to finish this series in less than two years. Just when I thought we were halfway, you decide to add NINE MORE INSTALLMENTS.
Next chapter, maybe?
So much for ponypeculiar doing a reading of this entire series.
Wow. Keep it up IC. This is gonna be awesome.
Wooooow! Somewhat relevant, indeed. Didn't see THAT coming!
Their reunion will be that much sweeter, having gleaned that nugget of information about their past.
Okay, now I'm pissed. I asked it earlier, and I'll ask it again? WHO IN THE LIVING HOOF CAN SUCCESSFULLY PLAN OUT 2400 CHAPTERS?! FOR A STORY THAT WON'T GET PUBLISHED AND ROYALTIES EARNED ON?! Seriously though IC, you have no idea what I would do for a writing ability like this. Also, a few feels on the Pilate back story
You read a story, formulate theories, and then:
25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3m3flLpo31qhj5ljo1_500.jpg
Unless, of course, there are some shenanigans involved. I still can't help but think that Nightshade has something to do with Belle's past. Oh well. At least she and Pilate are one step closer to reunion.
Also: twelve volumes in the series, eh? Challenge accepted, IC. Challenge accepted.
I am forever condemned to be tatoo-less and boring. My misery is now complete.
2626373
The hardest thing will be thinking of 8-word, 10-word, 11-word chapter titles for each chapter.
That and, you know, writing 2.6 million words over the course of the next six and half years.
Wait....2.6 million words....oh confound it SKIRTS IT"S ALL BECAUSE I TOLD YOU ABOUT THAT 2.5 MILLION WORD TEEN TITANS FIC ISN"T IT? AND NOW YOU HAVE TO ONE-UP THEM DON'T YOU? THAT"S YOUR MASTER PLAN, DON"T LIE
2626730
Plans? Where we're going we don't need, "plans."
2626757
The airship accident was mentioned in passing a few times back in Eljunbyro, though not in this much detail.
2626925
2626968
Yeah, I vaguely recall it, and I think I knew it had something to do with your namesake losing his sight, but I'm not sure if it mentioned Belle's horn. I was so sure that Nightshade Industries was involved in her losing it (and heck, maybe it is...it can be hard to say, with this story). It's almost hard to imagine it's a coincidence. I guess we'll see.
1915? Now that won't take us forever. Just about six years! I don't know about you, but I got a statistical 55 left of 'em. I have all the time in the world!
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3b/Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg/300px-Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg
i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/000/554/facepalm.jpg
fc07.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/199/5/6/The_engineer_does_facepalm_by_Jhnx.jpg
blog.littlebigfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/facepalm-wallpaper.jpg
I'll be feeling that one for days.
Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse, for which a heavy metal club would be an appropriate tool.
Hmm, so that's how Belle ended up with the gammy horn. Interesting. Also, I guarantee you that they'll be painstakingly close to meeting one-another for at least another few chapters.
Nine more slots? Fine by me.
Floydien happened.
Hopefully that could do a little to empty out some of the Nightshade building, or at least distract the guards.
We're getting very close to a reunion, and it would be a shame to ruin it with tasers.
2627847
And now when my friends don't believe me when I say I'll still be a brony years from now, I'll just give them this fic as extra proof....
9 more installments?!
...I didn't think Rainbow was going to survive that long.
...She doesn't. Does she?
2628883
Why would you say that? That's such a great idea and its so awful at the same time.
2630113 Zombie Dash plot device.
Eljunbyro
Book 2 in the Rainbow Dash flies East Pentalogy*. Rainbow Dash continues her journey
*or Sextulogy - we'll have to wait and find out.
Looks like I need to change that on my user page to dodecalogy
So, if there are 9 more stories in store, does that mean Dash has more than a few months to live? Because if the publishing continues at the rate of a chapter a day, this series will continue for over 5 more years. Unless IC is just messing with us, which is not beyond him. Maybe the Mane 6 minus Dash have to go west to rescue her from (plot device)? I would read that series. All the way to conclusion.
2634722 uhm you do remember that the other element bearers are as dust right?
Yeah, Floydien and Pilate happened.
Good to find out a bit of Belle and Pilates backstory. We learn things, just very slowly.
Nine more stories-challenge accepted.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So I think that it's good that Belle is opening up a bit about Pilate's "death." Again, I like the "thing" analogy - if you'll remember, back in Eljunbyro, when Pilate first fell off of the Steel Wing and Phoenix and Belle were heading towards Blue Nova, Belle's breath was described as a gasping "thing." Now, her gait is described as a staggering "thing" as well. Maybe I'm overanalyzing just a bit, but I like to think that Imploding did that intentionally. These are my thoughts so far.
Well, technically this is still right, considering that Pilate actually can't see anything. Though with his new cyber-squirrel app this seems to be changing, so we'll just have to wait and see how things go. Haha, geddit? We'll have to see? Kay, I'm done.
Also, nice addition of the Belle/horn Pilate/Blinding Beloved meetup backstory. I had almost forgotten that we didn't know about it until you brought it up again. And Belle is now even more awesome. Repeatedly running into a burning anything to save random strangers is no mean feat - Dash would be proud.
2687765
Has anyone ever told you that you have a delicious sense of humor? Seriously, every time I read one of your comments, I find myself laughing in some form or another.
2687765 Can I download this Cyber squirrel app on my phone?
So this is when SS&E aka ):( revealed that he had 12 books in all and was clearly insane? huh.
So now we know why.
Also, at the time of my reading this, IC is just over 1/3 done.
-Spirit
>inb4 Dash dies in the later stories, and we realize this story was never about Dash in the first place
Also, I think that Belle is going to kiss the fuck out of Pilate here soon.
So in this chapter we get some Belle backstory, and how her and Pilate met. Also, Kera is bringing more questinos for every answer we discover. Something tells me this filly will be very important even beyond this Arc
Well dang, we got two tidbits: where Belle lost her horn, and how Pilate lost his sight
Bully for you!
Aaaaand... Obscured By Clouds is done! Next up is Dark Side of the Moon (as if we didnt get enough of that from the rainbow tapes...)