“Here you go, maggot.” A goblin dropped a rusted platter to the floor, nearling spilling its meaty contents.
Jex glanced over from where he jerked several levers of the skiff's engine. “Breakfast? Already?”
“Pfft. You don't want it, we'll feed it to the rats!”
Jex's pointed ears twitched as he frowned. “I was just wondering what time it was...”
“Don't think about the time, runt.” The goblin pointed while shuffling above deck and into the dim morning light. “Only think about doing your damn job!”
Jex sighed, returning to his work.
“Remember!” The other goblin's voice hollered from the windy world outside. “You're the property of Haman now! From your brain to your balls! So be thankful you've got something to nibble on, ya puissant worm!”
“Yes,” Jex grumbled quietly to himself. “Ecstatic.”
Several seconds passed.
Jex glanced up the steps leading towards the tiny transport's top deck. Clearing his throat, he grabbed a crutch with his good arm and shoved it towards the darkened corner of the compartment.
With a whirr of hydraulics, Roarke poked her helmeted head out and stared at the platter of red meat.
“What is the meaning of this...?”
“God knows how long you've been sneaking around before I found you, pony,” Jex grumbled. “Put some meat in ya. You'll need it in a few hours when you're trying to outrun Haman's bullets.”
“That is not necessary. I am not hungry.” With a metal hoof, she slid the container back. “And do not concern yourself about Haman's weaponry.” Her helmet glinted in cold lantern light. “He'll be dead before he threatens the likes of me.”
“I wouldn't be so casual about Haman's threats,” Jex said, nostrils flaring. “I didn't take him seriously.” He waved a limp metal hook for an arm. “Look what it got me. Or... rather... look what it took away.”
“I do not need to be taking advice from you,” Roarke coldly said. “Eat the food yourself. The more flesh on your bones, the more you can stand up to those asenine misanthropes who constantly malign you.”
“They have every right to shit all over me,” Jex grumbled. His dull eyes reflected off the machinery's condensation. “I'm nothing more than property now. Very lame property at that.”
Roarke was silent for a while. Eventually, she tilted her helmeted head and said. “You are a great deal more than nothing. Giving in to the apathy that your culture has induced will be the one true defeat.”
He turned to squint at her.
She simply stared back. “Are you incapable of comprehending that?”
“I comprehend all that crap just fine.” He squinted. “But why do you give a damn?”
“Elaborate.”
“Every time we've met, you and your Noble Jurists have done nothing but bash my brains in. My fellow Bandits no less. Face it. You hate us.” He frowned. “We're murderers and pillagers and enslavers. For some reason, that just rubs you stupid prissy ponies the wrong way. I'm pretty sure you'd want us to just roll over in a ditch and die.”
“It would simplify things, yes.”
“Heh...” Jex turned back to his engine console. “I rest my pimply case.”
“But, at the same time, I understand what it means to make profit off of the pain and enslavement of others,” Roarke droned. “And I know now that there's a better way. A harmonic way.” She slowly shook her head. “It's never too late to change... not even for the most vilest of souls. And I've been there. I've been that soul. I still am, actually, to a great extent.”
“... ... ...” Jex moaned through an exasperated sigh. “Just shut up and let me get you to Cartel lands, okay?” He twisted a knob and yanked a lever while steam vented. “The last damn thing I need is for a cyborg pony to be preaching to me and my two limbs.”
“Affirmative.” Roarke backed up into the shadows once again. “It's a great deal more complicated than ripping your throat open anyways.”
Silence reined, although Jex found himself going through the engineering motions with greater lethargy, his eyes twitching into the distance as if distracted by something that was previously both elusive and distant. With a defeated breath, he scooped the platter up and shoved some raw meat down his gullet.
“Whoah whoah whoah!” Rainbow Dash flew between Midnite and Ebon Mane. “Nice reflexes, girl, but it's time you put the lamp down.”
Midnite Bastion seethed and seethed, holding the crystalline lamp in both forelimbs like a polearm. Her eyes twitched between Rainbow and the frightened stallion pressed up against a wall of the Plaza Topaz suite. “But... b-but you saw him! J-just now!” She stammered. “His tattoos disappeared!”
“I know...”
“He's one of those ch-changelings you've been telling me about!” Midnite yelped. “He's one of hers.”
“I know.” Rainbow glared. “And—like I've been trying to tell you as well—he's on our side. He's a good guy. One of us.”
“But... b-but...” Midnite gnashed her teeth. “It doesn't m-make any sense!”
“Mother's influence over me has vanished,” Ebon Mane said. He gulped and put on a courageous smile, despite his shivers. “There are hundreds if not thousands like me all across this plane! We're free now! We're trying to stop Chrysalis from enslaving us once more! Or non-shape-shifters, even!”
“That's a rather convenient thing to believe,” Midnite spat. “Isn't it?!”
“Convenient or not, it's the truth,” Rainbow said. Suddenly, her eyes stabbed the mare like daggers. “And I don't care if you have ten years of military training or two hundred. If you don't stop pointing that thing at my friend's neck, I'm going to break every bone in your body and sell the rest of your flesh to the Lounge as jelly.”
“... ... ...” Midnite glared at Rainbow.
Rainbow Dash glared back.
With a cold breath, Midnite slapped the lamp back into the corner of the room. She stood up straight and cleared her throat. “My... apologies f-for overreacting.”
Ebon slumped down from the wall, exhaling with a puff of green flame. “Hey... no harm no f-foul.”
On the far side of the room, Mamunia and Jet stopped flinching. They exhaled with relief.
“... ... ...” Arcanista slapped her hooves together. “Well!” She grinned. “Now that we have that ironed out, who's for breakfast? Hmmm?”
“With all due respect, Madame,” Rainbow spoke up, keeping an eye trained on Midnite. “Although she's now properly filled in, there's still the issue of what to do next.”
“What can be done?” Midnite clenched her teeth. “From the sound of things, you're still too few in number. All you've managed to do here is piss off Chancellor Fishberry. She's already got enough bad blood with Arcanista as it is. Now you had to show up in Val Roa and exacerbate the issue.”
“It was a necessary gamble,” Arcanista said. “There was simply nothing we could do from the outside... not while I was still unofficially banished to my home in Bountiful.”
“And plus, it's not like we're entirely empty-hoofed.” Rainbow smirked. “I learned enough from all my snooping around to figure out that there's something of interest to the far north. I'm secretly kinda hoping it's Chrysalis' lair.”
“Her lair?”
“Yeah. Like... maybe she's controlling your father and the other two from there,” Rainbow said. “I've already radio'd my buddies on the outside. They're sending a party up there to check it out. Hopefully they'll find something really snazzy that will shed some light on this.”
“Just where up north are you talking about?”
“Someplace in the Lemuel Tundra,” Rainbow explained. “I've got the coordinates written down somewhere. Essentially, it's right where the arctic landscape rubs up against the skystone fields. So, like... super far north.”
“Hmmmm...” Midnite Bastion paced around suddenly.
Arcanista raised an eyebrow. “Does that strike a bell for you, Midnite?”
“Actually... it...” Midnite shook her head. “No. That's too weird...”
“Please, tell us,” Ebon said with a slight smile. “We're used to weird.”
Midnite bit her lip. “Months ago... almost a year, to be exact... my father sent an expedition up north.”
“General Saikano did?” Rainbow asked.
“What kind of an expedition?” inquired Arcanista.
“I presumed it was to gather skystone samples,” Midnite said. “You see, for decades, Val Roa has always been relatively weary of the Lounge's possession of skystone. It's been a constant concern that the naga might someday trade with the Cartel, giving them a rare edge in their weaponry.”
“A fear that's suddenly coming true,” Rainbow said. “At least, that's what I could tell from what I overhead.”
“Yes, I heard it too,” Midnite said. “And I still think my father's simply leading Fishberry and Sharp Quill on so that they will overplay their hoof and reveal themselves.”
“That seems rather... convoluted,” Ebon said. “Don't you think?”
“What sense would it make for Saikano to play this deeply into the others' plans?” Arcanista asked. “With the Coronation just two days away, it's putting an awful lot at stake.”
“I know... I know.” Midnite sighed, staring out the window into the dim glow of early morning. “Maybe the General sent the expedition to the Lemuel Tundra in order to extract enough skystone so that we could have a deterrant to any invasion from the south or west.”
“You mean... with some sort of secret weapon or something?” Rainbow remarked. “Have you seen something like this from the inside?”
The mare merely bit her lip.
“Midnite...” Arcanista strolled over. “I know we're asking a lot from you. But you've trusted us this far. Please... anything you have to share with us can be immensely helpful in our quest.” She slowly shook her head. “No harm will have to come to your father... or even Sharp Quill and Fishberry.”
Midnite glanced up. “How so?”
“Er... yeah...” Rainbow smiled awkwardly. “How so?”
“If we can uncover the truth in all of this and reveal it to the public, then perhaps Chrysalis' entire plan can be deconstructed peacefully.” Arcanista looked at the others. “Would you not agree?”
“With all due respect, Duchess...” Rainbow Dash smirked. “I've never encountered a single changeling plot that could be resolved with anything except explosions galore.” She shook her head. “No matter how deep undercover we go, something has gotta buckle at some point or another.”
“She's right, you know,” Ebon said with a nod. “The tenser things get, the more wound up our targets as well. Whatever solution there is for Mother's influence in this kingdom, we have to find it quick.”
“It's simply not going to be pretty,” Rainbow said. “What we need to do is get a jump on all three of the party members involved.”
“What for?!” Midnite grimaced. “To assassinate them?!”
“No. Just to subdue them!” Rainbow glared at her. “Believe it or not, sister, I'm not out to crush skulls in this kingdom!” She sighed. “We're not talking worthless goblins here. I wanna shed as little blood as possible. But nothing is ever easy... especially with those soul sentries out there, aiming their green gunk at us with every turn!”
“Yes... right...” Midnite nodded with a sigh. “The soul sentries...”
“Is there any light you can shed on them?” Ebon asked.
“You inquired if there was some sort of weapon the Val Roans are using as a deterrant.” Midnite shook her head. “The soul sentries are that weapon. They're everything that stands between Val Roa and all potential invaders. It used to be that they were just an elite force of defenders. But now... thanks to my father's work... they are the army in total.”
“Thousands of deer,” Ebon muttered. “All answering mindlessly to a military authority.”
“Sounds familiar to you, Mr. Mane?” Arcanista asked.
The changeling shuddered. “Only the precise way in which my Mother likes to work,” he said, biting his lip.
Rainbow glanced from him to Midnite. “Is what your father's expedition found in Lemuel Tundra essential to controlling the soul sentries?”
“No. I-I mean... I dunno.” Midnite ran a hoof through her mane. “I don't think so, because...” Her words trailed off.
“What?”
Midnite shivered slightly. “I've seen it done. I've seen how he makes recruits into soul sentries. And... and I trust my father and all, but...” She shuddered. “It has always... always frightened me to my core.”
The others stared at her in silence.
The sudden knock on the door sent a mutual jolt through the crowd.
“Uhm...” Mamunia shuffled across the room. “I'll get it.”
Ebon trotted over and squatted behind the sofa as the servant opened the door. Within a minute, she closed it and trotted back into the main suite.
“What's that in your hoof, Mamunia?” the Duchess asked.
“It's... it's a letter, Madame,” Mamunia stated. “An invitation to the Royal Palace.”
“An invitation?” Arcanista blinked. “For whom?”
“It's addressed to Princess Kera Tin Mehjj of the Xonan Empire, Madame.”
Jet looked over her shoulder, suddenly producing a girly gasp. “It's... it's got the Royal seal!” She looked up, eyes bright and sparkly. “From the Prince himself!”
“Wait...” Midnite Bastion pointed with a hoof. “Do you mean to tell me that your little scampy pretender has gotten an invitation to meet with Prince Eine at the Royal Palace?”
“Nyeuuuughhh...” Kera stumbled into the room, her mane a frumpy green clump of bed hair. “Morning everypony. A royal invitation from Prince Eine? Heheh... how lame.” She trotted into the kitchen... but suddenly froze in place, blinking. “Wait.” More blinks. “Wat.”
So it looks like Saikano and his party was the first to run into Chrysalis. Hopefully Roarke can get though to Jex maybe start something within the Goblin culture (even if its just a little something) after all this is over.
Good Job, Kera!
Wake up Kera, you have a prince to meet. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll recognize him. As for you Roarke, keep hiding in the shadows until we meet Haman again. Then pull out the rockets. I'll go get popcorn.
Her Royal Highness, ladies and gentlemen.
Well, it was definitely addressed to her, but I thought it was going to be a message of what he saw. Guess that would be a little bit harder to explain anyways, getting that close in contact to Sharp Quill.
I wonder if that's a group invitation to the palace?
Roarke most Relatable.
I'm gonna be amused if these two nearly coming to blows becomes a repeat thing.
Seriously, can someone art these two or something?
Hmmm...how very interesting and convenient...
Is it just me, or does this seem to be a habit of hers?
Now I really wanna see how this process is done.
5321155
Aw geez...here's to hoping that Kera doesn't blow it when she finds out who the "caterer's son" really is...
............that's a damn big lamp.........
Meeting between Kera and Eine-as-Eine imminent.
As far as the Lemuel Tundra goes, I'm not sure what to think. I doubt it's just a skystone mining operation. So, secret Hive? Chrysalis' hide-out, as Rainbow hypothesized? An entrance to the Machine World? I even considered the possibility that it might be a passage to the Dark Side, though that seems a little out there. Whatever the case, I hope Belle & Co. will stay safe up there.
5321169
No, the ponies are little.
I'm really interested in this Roarke subplot...
Uh, first, it's debatable he ever had great power or influence, and, second—oh never mind. I'll blame it on goblins being… pick an adjective.
Welding masks! Get your welding masks here! The fan's a spinnin' and the shit's a pilin'! Don't get caught without a protective welding mask!
It seems Midnite Bastion almost pushed Rainbow Dash's berserk button.
Kera will show up and Eine's gonna be like
i.imgur.com/euOVasu.jpg
"Sup?"
5321497 LOL
inb4 Roarke x Jex ship.
RoarEx
JeRke
A secretive military expedition to investigate unspecified spooky stuff in the frozen northlands? Those never, ever end well for anyone. Seriously, it's just a bad idea.
The frozen artic only has vanishing crystal cities cursed by immortal warlock kings. Not that that's bad, as I would like to see Sombra and Cheesy together.
Death in the middle of a blizzard. Just like AVP
Eines got some info for kera maybe? Filling in eine with everything? Hed be the perfect ally.
5321753
Imagine the dark magic'd changeling babies
5321497
Oh god lol.
5321523
...
iambrony.steeph.tp-radio.de/mlp/gif/89833__safe_rarity_animated_glasses_eye-twitch.gif
5321169 http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90173666/
So I just woke up from a dream about this story. Somepony discovered that if you overload the Noble Jury's skystone (which would send it crashing to the ground) it would also teleport everyone on board to a random, safe location. And everyone would be split up and go their separate ways (I mean that, everyone will get teleported to a different location). Belle spent a lot of time agonizing over the decision. They ended up doing it anyway while Rainbow wasn't aboard, in the last chapter of Yaerfaerda. It wasn't very popular with the comments section, as I recall.
It only now occurred to me that we are indeed raising a new Floyd and Midnite in the kids.
memecrunch.com/meme/RQE4/she-s-right-you-know/image.jpg?w=400&c=1
5321159
5321667
Just ask Dirk Pitt when such an expedition ended up with him having to Raise The Titanic.
I really hope Rourke is that most intresting of people, the Non Monologing British Villain. Sniper Round at 8000 foot, Moarter under arm, and grenade down the pants. As in, she is a Bounty hunter, a Very Good one. who is still alive. Therefore, by definition, Han Shot First.
You know, its been half a day so far? the air in Wizball must be getting seriously fugly, the confines splitting the thoughts of persons into opposing parties, which is made all teh worse in that the lesser of the parties is why the greater of teh paries, and the greater of the greater party, is having to be party to a party of such confinement. Anyone got some confettii?
Deer Kera, you have Eine arranged meeting. You may now panic. Grasshopper.
hmm, Kera is in for a surprise
inb4 it cuts away to Josh/EE/Booster for an entire chapter
just to fuck with us
5322077
i envisioned more of a Lantern-on-a-Stick
Like this but without the top arm
slm-assets0.secondlife.com/assets/7679588/lightbox/Paper_Lantern_Pole_HR.jpg?1367922025
Eine's skipping the movie and jumping right to the home invite. That boy does not waste time.
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/645/573/562.jpg
5322506 y u always "Rourke"
I clicked
and
suddenly
there was no
"Next Chapter" button
MY LIFE HAS LOST ITS PURPOSE NOW
5323421 Now you join the Jury.
5323421
Welcome to the current events.
Ooo impending cuteness between Kera and Eine!
Caught up, woo! It felt weird being behind.
5322762 Please never use that picture again, I need to breathe.
5322301 I had a dream a couple of weeks ago that I was reading a newspaper article saying that IC was going to stop writing this story after six books and hand it off to another author. I realized how stupid that sounded and immediately woke up.
5322301
That you dream of the comments section is both disturbing and hilarious.
Seek help, friend.
5324244 5322301
Is it bad that I'm actually a little jealous about you two having dreams about this series?
Midnite Midnite Midnite....
i823.photobucket.com/albums/zz159/Thatlittleskitty/notpayingattention_zpscd03f645.png
5324889 5322301 5324244 5324269
I had a dream about the comments once too. IC (yes, the great Eau du Colon himself) had actually replied to the last comment I had written (5322762) with a simple but succinct message:
ಠ_ಠ
My emotions were a bit of a rollercoaster. I was endlessly amused by how appropriate a response it was, completely flattered that his only comment ever had been directed at me, and utterly terrified that said comment was meant to communicate his displeasure.
Then I realized he was IC, and he never comments on shit, which set off my bullshit radar. I woke up instantly, and was all at once relieved, disappointed, and reluctantly forced to come to terms with the mundanity of my godless Colon Never Comments™ existence.
"10/10 it was awful, would dream again" -IGN
5325302
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2012/209/d/7/lyra_thumbsup_by_applebeans-d58ybwq.gif
i.imgur.com/H4nNxSj.jpg
Bing knows what's up
5325365
Was expecting Roarke to gobble that up. She has changed so much...
More Kera/Eine... This has got to be my favorite ship in the whole series.
well, pretty sure Eine's not a changeling, so the meeting should safe
Jex is changing. He sees the goblins for what they really are, although he may still be rather bad himself. Who knows? And I can't wait for Kera to see Eine and recognise him.
-Spirit
5321234 Thank you. That was bugging me too.
It's moments like these that reminds me that Roarke has come quite a long way, even though she doesn't give herself enough credit.
Oh heavens, the comments on this chapter...my sides..they hurt so bad
I'm repeating myself and everyone in the comments for umpteenth time, but...
Kera is best princess!
5321320 No no no no, You misunderstood, This is East horse Rainbow dash, She wasn't going berserk, she was FLIRTING. Unfortunately Midnite is not roarke and didn't get it. Fortunately Roarke wasn't there to see it.
Also, Is it weird I find it strangely Hot every time Rainbow dash threatens someone like that?
5911178 You really weren't lying to me when you told me to keep an eye on her. Hell, I expected jex to be dead the moment she bumped into him, And here instead she's trying to talk him into being Better than his heritage, Just like rainbow did for her.
Also, I think Kera just figured it out. XD
Hopefully team whizzball can shed some light on the issue in the north.
I get it! It's because his legs were cut making "brain to balls" a justifiable measurement of his entire person. Also we should note that he seems to be the the only imp with either... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
You've done it IC! You've managed to drive me insane.
6780795
Actually he has one leg left. So at least one leg belongs to Jex, and Jex alone. Well below the hip at least.