"So... uh..." Ebon Mane leaned towards Pilate. "Are you really blind?"
"Yes. Most assuredly." The zebra turned in the general direction of Props' and Jasper Clark's bodies. "Could somepony explain to me what you three are doing here?"
"I was attending a conference at Gray Smoke—" Clark began.
"The most clouderiffic cloud city there ever is!" Props added with a giggle.
"...right. Ahem. There was a symposium for like-minded physicists to gather around and talk about the latest technological advances this side of the war front. I was supposed to give a formal address on the potential profit in utilizing hyper-accelerated mana streams in Ledomaritan freight shipping—"
"Come on, Jasper," Ebon droned. "Don't talk him deaf. He's got enough to worry about as it is."
Props giggled.
With a groaning voice, Clark said, "Long story short, I was accosted by unicorns attempting to pass themselves off as Gray Smoke merchants. They hauled me onto a ship, where I met Props and Ebon Mane here."
"I was knee-deep in a tangled auxiliary engine gear array!" Props cooed. "When they grabbed me, I was so sad that I couldn't get my work done! But then they gave me even better work here!"
"Needless to say, Props, not all of us are thrilled to be here against our will."
"Pffft! Don't be such a grumparoo, Clarkaroo! I see your ears twitching with excitement whenever you look at the energy readings they send us! Either you're making love to physics in your head, or somepony's giving you a tummy rub! And since I learned my lesson on the first day, I think we all know what the real reason—"
"AHEM... And Ebon here..."
"I... uh..." The younger stallion chuckled. "I was making a delivery of soup cans and flour to Props' ship when she was taken, so they took me too."
"Yeah!" Props' hooves could be heard bounding over towards where Ebon stood. "Me and Ebony go way back in Gray Smoke! Why, we're practically identical twins! Except I'm an innie while he has an outie—heeheehee—if you catch my drift."
Pilate nodded. "I take it that you all have—"
"My gray smoky drift! Heehee!"
Pilate smiled nervously, cleared his throat, and continued. "I take it that you all have been brought here to do something specifically?"
"Affirmative," Clark's voice replied. Through Simon's pulse, Pilate momentarily caught his head nodding. "My mental skills and Props' expertise have certainly been put to the test. And as for Ebon..."
"He's been keeping us in good favor with the guards by keeping their bellies full!" Props exclaimed. "Isn't that right, ya slick-maned rascal?"
"It's certainly better than execution," Ebon said with a shuddering breath.
Pilate grimaced. "Blessed Spark! Is it really that bad of a situation?"
"Nightshade Industries means business, but they're not enforcer material. Er... if you catch my drift."
"Believe it or not, I do," Pilate said with a nod.
"I wasn't always making food in the mess for them. When I was first dragged here, I was expected to be nothing but a normal prisoner—just to shit down and keep his mouth shut. But I... eheh... have a way of persuading ponies. I won their confidence, and now I'm serving tons of stallions everyday. Serving food, that is..."
"Uh huh..."
"I've managed to hear bits and pieces of gossip here and there. It seems that most if not all the guards of this place are in on what's going on, which is kind of remarkable, considering how little the public knows about it."
"Knows about what?" Pilate asked.
"Well, it appears as though Madame Nightshade is expecting to send a vessel east to the battlefront," Ebon Mane said. "This isn't out of the ordinary. Nightshade Industries supplies the Ledomaritan forces along the eastern front all the time. Only, what's strange about this occasion is that they didn't want to use a vessel from their own stock. Typical Nightshade freight zeppelins are typically slow, and they didn't want to construct something to Ledomaritan military specifications, or else the Enforcers might catch on."
"Catch on to what?"
"That they need a glider for this delivery—a very fast, swift vessel that could outfly both Xonan and Searonese aircraft."
"So..." Pilate pivoted over towards the others. "They're having Mr. Clark and Ms. Props here construct a newer, faster, secret aircraft?"
"Hardly," Clark said. "Rather, they're having us augment a preexisting craft."
"Oh?"
"From what I overheard from the guards," Ebon explained, "Several vessels have been seized by Nightshade's security, all for bogus reasons, mind you. I'm guessing that they were looking for a ship privately built that—with a few modifications—could be made to do the swift delivery that's needed."
Props spoke in: "Cuz if they requisitioned the nuts and bolts to build one from scratch, the Big Whigs at Ledo would notice and start sniffing Nightshade's whigs!"
"And a few months ago, they found a vessel fast enough to work," Clark added. "That's what Props and I are here for."
"We're building a cage!" Props sing-songed.
"A cage for what?" Pilate's brow furrowed. "This... delivery? Is it alive?"
"Quite frankly, we don't know what it is. Some sort of vibrant, out-of-this world energy signature. I'm not sure how the company got their hooves on it, but it's the most amazing thing I've ever read about. No pony in the Company is gifted with containing this sort of unknown element. Pffft—it's most certainly thrown us for a loop! But, think tanks do as think tanks are, and we've almost come upon a solution."
"They're certainly barking up our tree trunks enough to make us get the job done!"
Pilate trotted forward. "And this... energy is going to be taken east? What—is it a weapon?"
"Nopony's saying," Ebon explained. "But a few stallions outside of this room have dropped the name of Prime Enforcer Seclorum."
Pilate rubbed his chin in thought. "Prime Enforcer Seclorum... Prime Enforcer Seclorum..."
"It would seem that he and Madame Nightshade have history with one another," Clark said. "I do believe her less-than-fortunate brother served under him in the war."
"The name sounds vaguely familiar." Pilate lifted his head. "I would very much like to help you three get out of here, as impossible as that may sound."
"Hey..." Ebon's body shrugged. "You're a zebra with a metal forehead who floated here with a magical squirrel. You're the best thing to come this way since I talked the mess hall into scrounging up butter garlic and cinnamon."
Pilate talked past Props' giggles. "But, first and foremost, would you be so kind as to let me see the blueprints of this... 'cage' that you are working on?"
"Most certainly. Although..." Clark's body shifted. "Can a pony like you actually read it?"
Pilate smiled gently. "I'm most certain I can."
Hmm... I have a feeling I know what this secret cargo is... But I also doubt that they'll be able to obtain this cargo...
Got an extra "H" hear somewhere...
If it's a cage I can most certainly confirm that this cargo is an organic living creature.
That's all i got from this story...
So that's how they planned to deploy Chaos Dash. I was wondering how they expected to get her to battle without being shredded themselves.
Ewwwww.
I get the feeling that it's something from the Machine Layer, previously mentioned. Could it be the flames that RD seems to absorb like cotton does to water? I don't believe those have been studied before, and heck, it seems like each of them can power huge machines for quite a long time.
Though technically, you'd be breaking conventional warfare law by dropping Dash in a tube onto a battlefield. I mean its just not fair.
I repeat, Props' character for this story is absolutely awesome.
2644222
Hmmm...now that Dash has escaped again, you don't suppose they'll re-purpose this same device to capture her, do you?
Well, I guess that must be what the book is pointing to. Like the new characters, even if I'm a little worried at how swollen the cast is getting.
2643827 But I want Kera to be Pinkie Pie 2.0
2644462
The lavender light has thus far pointed in the deus ex machina way out, which has also happened to be the flame. Also curious that Grey Smoke is a cloud city when there are no Pegasi, unless it's akin to Blue Nova where everything is floating on mana.
2644462 Don't worry; the vast majority of them will have died by the last installment.
Interesting... the energy in question is probably related to the machine/fire or Dash. Curiouser and curiouser...
2644462
Just to expand on this a bit:
Nightshade, for nefarious profit driven purposes, is experimenting. Say that this other enforcer found about about Blue Shelf and Belle's sequencing, i.e. what Dash is. It follows that said enforcer goes to Nightshade, explains how there is this potential weapon and that they can try and beat Ledo to the punch in order to make some bits of it. They experiment on Simon, Floydien, Kera and others in order to attempt some sort of magical transfer or otherwise imbue an equine with this energy and/or mimic Xonan mana properties. They need a ship to get behind enemy lines, and they need a way to transport a subject over there. That subject is most likely Novus, as he is being set up to be this emblem for Nightshade.
Perhaps Nightshade found some flame in her neck of the woods, or perhaps the book is acting simply as a homing beacon on what Belle needs. Consider that the light has always shown Dash the right direction for her, and that has coincided with the machine world and her trek east. Suppose that the harmonic light homes in on destiny via harmony, though, and not something specific to the machine world. For Belle, destiny is her beloved within the Nightshade HQ. The book and light point that way in order to create a chance meeting, as it lights the way for Dash to create a chance circumstance she can use to save the world.
Props is best Pinkie Pie!
If you catch my drift.
2644926
Like that compass in PotC!
A cloud city where there a no Pegasus ponies around? Now I'm intrigued. I have a vague feeling on what the cage is for. Better not be what I think it is.
Props seems like the kind of pony I'd want to keep away from power tools and live wires. Machinery in general. Pretty much anything that could wound in any way.
Props reminds me of another very happy mechanic...
And a Cloud City you say?
The Prisoner - Iron Maiden
Mother of god, Props is channeling Pinkie - specifically Skirts' version of her - to a tee. Case in point:
It's like something right out of Dredgemane.
As far as plot goes, I'll have to echo what others have already and far more eloquently said: I suspect some connection between this mysterious new energy source, the machine world / flames, and the goings on at Blue Shelf. My previous guess had been that the book was guiding Belle to Kera (assuming, as I have, that Kera is "Innavedr"), but perhaps that's not the case. It'll be interesting to see what happens when Dash gets into this knot of twisted threads.
Props and Clark, along with a bunch of other little bits here and there, remind me of one pair with a Pinkie twist:
fc01.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2013/125/b/7/here_and_now_by_avarick-d64994w.png
Of course, I could be wrong.
If Kaylee from Firefly and Ed from Cowboy Bebop got gene spliced with Pinkie Pie, it'd turn into Props.
I love it.
And that Jasper is certainly a dashing and awesome fellow.
is anyone drawing these ships? they look amazing in my head. i would love to see fan art.
2643441
Happens to everyone
Aannnnd looks like all the theories have been said already. Damn. Oh well, nice chapter
I'm confused and curious about the prospect of a cloud city in a land without Pegasi. We'd better get a chance to see this "Gray Smoke," Colon-el.
Well now I know why Ebon reminded me of Eagle Eye. Damnit, I told you to stop turning me gay.
STAHP ALREADY! I DON'T WANT THOSE PICTURES IN MY HEAD!
2644222 2644926 But... no. With this chapter, have we not the confirmation that what happened to Rainbow was not part of Nightshade's doing? Shell worked for the High Council, whereas Nightshade goes her own ways. Ebon Mane explicitely stated that they are hiding their plans from the Enforcers as well.
Ceterum censeo Searinem delendam esse. With a wrench, if need be.
I'll echo the sentiments of others who've said that Props reminds of a certain Dredgemane filly who saw the bright shinies.
As for the contents of the chapters... I'm intrigued. Perplexed, confused, and maybe even a little mad. But mostly intrigued. And confused. Definitely confused.
2644499she is pinkie pie she can have more than one replacement.
If this "craft" still can fly... somehow I suspect our band will be stealing it!
C'mon, Pilate; a vibrant - as in colourful - out of this world energy source? That needs to be controlled by a cage in a super fast flying vehicle? How do you not know its for Rainbow Dash?
2644102
I laughed way harder at that typo than I probably should have.
The plot's getting so thick we're going to need a Rainboom to cut through it soon. I'm really wondering how all of this is going to pan out, and just how mangled this cast of characters is going to get before all is said and done. Only one thing for it - onward!
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get some more interactions between the Pilate Quintuplets, as I am now going to call this group. Props has a Pinkie Pie-ish personality, so that's something to note. Also, I still can't be sure if this package that's being delivered is a crystal pony yet...These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
I think we all know what they want to put in that ship.
Too bad they won't get to her.
-Spirit
2644222
Just so you know, it was said in this chapter that Nightshade was trying to evade Ledo looking into them, and Chaos Dash was under Ledomaritan control. Ledomare wanted to use her as a weapon.
So, as you already know now, this is not for deploying Chaos Dash. Unless I'm wrong. And in that case . . . dammit.
What is this group hiding?
img5.tgdaily.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/original/stock/oh_my_rsa_nsa_1.jpg
THEY HAVE THE ELEMENT THINGY IN THE MIDNIGHT ARMORY!!!
nah i doubt its that. But i am intrigued indeed...
It took me a second, and then it hit me
I gigglesnorted
Something tells me this craft is going to have a big part to play in the future
I'd say they wanted to transport Dash to the frontlines double- quick, but the Ledomaritan council would've told them to do that, so it must be something else...
A cloud city? Naw, don't believe it, Pegasapolis is a myth.
Man, it really sucks to be a scientist (or to be standing next to one) in this country.
So Nightshade is even less pleasant than the Enforcers? Yikes.
Ooooo, I bet this is finally the Noble Jury I've heard so much about.
And it's going to be powered by extraworldly energy source?
Reference!
Chekhov's glider. RD has picked up quite an entourage of friends who seem bent on coming with her, but walking is too slow. I'm going to guess that this is the part of the story where the heroes acquire an airship.
5 bits says it's made of chaos metal and the element is Harmony
8065688
Is this where the nebulous 'Noble Jury' comes from?
8652813
So the hype with this entire series' origin starts here...?
MINDBLOWN?!