“Well... that about does it for supplies!” Nick grunted, slapping down the last of several crates. Night had fallen over the east port of Kihutaja, and the misty air above them was penetrated by golden swaths from the three surrounding lighthouses. A series of lanterns flickered along the marina's docks, illuminating the exterior and interior of the Swan Song. “Thanks to the old codger's wily haggling tactics, we've won ourselves rations, rope, and even a pretty snazzy mane.”
“Took you long enough to gather all that bull hockey together, dipstick,” Sinrar rasped. He paced along the outer deck of the trimaran's central compartment. “Meanwhile, I'm sweeping up a mountain of dust and dead feathers from your beloved dinghy here!”
“Hey... give her a break!” Nick shrugged. “She's been hanging out here on her lonesome for years. All of that time without my close attention and I'm pleasantly surprised she still stays afloat! Heheh...” He instantly winced, blushing as he looked Rainbow's way. “Not... that you g-guys have anything to be afraid of, or something. She's totally seaworthy. Even airworthy!”
Sinrar gave him a double-take in the lanternlight. “Airworthy?”
“Well, Professor, the swells out there can get... uh... pretty steep. And when this baby gets a full wind...” He gestured forward with his hoof. “Fwoooooosssssh! Y'know?”
“Mrmmff...” Sinrar adjusted his beret with a frown. “Fast and stupid. Just like you.”
“Heehee... thanks—Heeeey!” Nick frowned.
“What I wanna know is this...” Rainbow hovered lower beside the mast with Twilight floating alongside her. “If Dr. Dude had so many ancient coins on him—”
“Have, ya ignorant harpy!” Sinrar spat. “What?!” He folded his forelimbs with a huff. “You think I would have dealt my entire card in one go?! Hah! I know these waters like the back of my hoof! Odds are we're gonna have to bribe our way past more coral-huffers if we wanna get anywhere!”
“So... like...” Rainbow squinted at him. “...why didn't we use the coins to buy us a slightly less cramped boat?”
“Well...” Sinrar leaned back, scratching his chin. “If you aren't the mare with the velvet tongue.” He grunted. “Do you want to attract that much attention or waste that much time getting to the First Seed?”
Twilight glanced aside at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow sighed, her ears folding back. “You have a point.”
“I do... don't I?” Sinrar smirked. “And just what... or who might an adventurer from the west be wanting to avoid attracting?”
Rainbow's lips parted. She avoided the old stallion's gaze, fidgeting in midair.
“The Swan Song isn't 'cramped,'” Nick muttered, pouting. “It's just built to be cozy.”
Twilight leaned in. “We could shove off anytime, I'm guessing.”
Rainbow cleared her throat, turning away from Sinrar. “So... uh... how soon will she be ready?”
Nick shrugged. “I could get her ready in less than three hours. But... do you really want to set sail at night? I wouldn't.”
“For once, the little larva has a point,” Sinrar wheezed.
“Well, that's just as well.” Rainbow nodded at Twilight, then at the two stallions. “I sorta... have somepony to talk to for one final evening anyways.”
“Ah, but of course.” Sinrar leaned back on his cane, smirking. “Any chance we might be able to entertain the Princess' delightful and wise company yet again, harpy?”
“Eenope!” Rainbow Dash shot straight up. “See ya guys in a few hours. Try not to fall into the drink in your sleep.”
“Heehee!” Twilight waved as she was dragged skyward after Rainbow. “Bye bye!”
“They can't hear you, Twilight.”
“But they heard you!”
“Meh.”
Sinrar watched until Rainbow Dash flew out of sight.
“Hrmmfff... I wonder if I should really be throwing myself bollocks deep into the ocean on a whim of a nutcase,” Sinrar grumbled.
“I dunno...” Nick brushed his bangs back and smiled aside at Sinrar, eyes sparkling. “In a way, I think she's... charming.”
“You would think that, ya rudder humper. Now help me find the lavatory.”
“Huh?”
“This little skimmer of yours has a place to do business, doesn't it?”
“Funny that you should ask.” Nick picked up one of three containers from his stack of supplies. “Which bucket do you want? They... uh... they only had two sizes. Eheh.”
“Awwwwwwwwwww phooie.”
“Simply put, Rainbow Dash, we have no choice but to await your next report,” Princess Celestia's voice rang through the night air. “From what Luna and Spike have told me, you're about to embark on a most daunting voyage.”
“That... uh... that remains to be seen, Your Highness,” Rainbow Dash said. She perched on the top of the port's centermost lighthouse. Between each blinding swath of light, she gazed out at the distant speck of Yaerfaerda. She sharply inhaled the salt air and continued, “As cruel as it sounds, I don't plan to take these guys any farther than I can throw them.”
“Oh?”
“They're not exactly seasoned Ledomaritans or battle-hardened Xonans,” Rainbow Dash said in a dull tone. “I... shudder to think what too much excitement might do to them. Especially the old guy.”
“But they seem very helpful,” Twilight said. “Not to mention willing to help us out! If you ask me... heheh... I think they just need an excuse for adventure.”
Rainbow smirked. “Twilight has a good point. These two wouldn't have tagged along if they weren't up for the challenge.”
“Then they volunteered on their own?” Princess Luna's voice inquired.
“Yup! Well...” Rainbow winced slightly. “The younger one needed... eh... a little bit of encouragement.”
Twilight giggled.
“Well, Rainbow,” Spike spoke, “So long as they've got you hanging out with them, then I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.”
“Oh, I'm not worried,” Rainbow said, lying back in a lazy lean as she smirked over at Twilight. “Just a bit twitchy.”
Twilight winked.
“All in all, we're just about ready to set sail! Nick's got the boat almost fully prepared, and Professor Sinrar is antsy to start navigating our way there. We should be able to make it to the first Seed with no problem. It's just the trip itself that might take a while. Whatev's.” Rainbow shrugged. “Anything's gotta be a walk in the park after the friggin' Choke.”
“And after you have reached the First Point of Interest, Rainbow,” Luna said, “Then what?”
Rainbow shrugged. “I guess Twilight and I will have to take it from there. I... uh... I think we'll know pretty sure right away if there's any point to what Luna and Spike have proposed.”
“I believe in you, Rainbow Dash,” Spike said. “You and Twilight can bring the girls back! I just know it!”
“Heh... let's just hope you're right, dude.”
The air was silent for a while.
“It would seem as if there is very little left to discuss,” Celestia's voice calmly said. “At least in regards to your next venture.”
“Yeah. I guess.” Rainbow scratched her head, glancing aside at Twilight. “Plenty of time to catch up, though, am I right? I mean... I've told Twilight plenty, but I'm pretty sure the girl's dying to hear from your mouths just how Equestria's been fairing since I took off for the horizon.”
“Yes! Please!” Twilight gulped, leaning forward from where she drifted. “I mean... tell them, Rainbow! I wanna hear all about home!”
“Heh... Twilight's repeating everything I just said,” Rainbow stated. “In her usual egghead way.”
“Rainbow...”
“Heheheheh...” When Rainbow was done chuckling, she suddenly how silent everything was on the Princesses' end. “Luna? Celestia?” She gulped. “Your Majesties? Everything cool?”
“... … … well, we had mulled it over, collectively, Rainbow Dash...”
Twilight blinked, looking concerned.
Rainbow's brow furrowed. “Mulled what over, Princess Luna?”
“At first, two evenings ago, we were all doubtful that Twilight Sparkle had truly manifested before you. I was doubtful. But after the evidence you've provided—and Spike's and my sister Celestia's gentle insistence—I eventually accepted the most recent turn of events. So, with Celestia's blessing, I sent an entourage to Manehattan as swiftly as I could.”
“Manehattan?” Rainbow made a face.
“It was where they had both chosen to move to after the tragedy a year and a half ago, you see.”
“Who... who are we talking about, Princess?” Rainbow asked, exchanging blank expressions with Twilight.
“Do stand by.” Luna's voice grew distant, muttering something as if from a million miles and a room away. Then, after an awkward pause, a pair of voices shuffled up, shuddering to speak:
“Twilight...?”
“Twily, precious, are you really there?”
Twilight Sparkle gasped sharply. She flung a pair of lavender hooves over her muzzle as pupils shrank. The ghostly unicorn shivered all over.
“We... we came as soon as we heard. At first... we didn't know what to believe. Princess Luna tells us that we won't be able to hear your voice... but... but th-that you can hear ours...”
“And we just want to tell you, first and foremost, that we love you. That we miss you. And that we're with you every step of the way.”
Rainbow Dash gaped at Twilight.
By now, Twilight had completely melted. Tears poured from her eyes, and she hiccuped to speak: “I hear you! I hear you loud and clear! And... oh goddess...” She wiped her cheek, shuddering. “I'm... I'm alive! I'm alive and I love you both, Mom! D-dad! I've never stopped loving you!” Her twitching eyes met Rainbow's.
Rainbow smirked. With a warm tone, she spoke into the air, “Twilight says she's alive and she loves you both, Mr. and Mrs. Sparkle. She never stopped loving you.”
“And... and we're gonna get me back! Someway, somehow, we're g-gonna get us all back!”
“We're gonna get Twilight back to you. One way or another.”
“I love you...” Twilight sobbed. Laughed. Laughed and sobbed. “I love you so... so much. Don't... don't worry.”
“She loves you and tells you not to worry.”
“Everything's going to work out... one way or another!”
“Everything will work out...”
The breaths on the other line shuddered.
“Oh Twily, somewhere... somehow... deep inside... we knew...”
“St-stay strong, our little Princess! We believe in you! And we believe in Rainbow Dash!”
Twilight struggled and struggled to keep her muzzle dry, but kept failing. Despite her emotional wreckage, she eventually found an even breath.
Rainbow sighed through a smile. She gazed up at the stars, then spoke, “Luna... we still have lots of time. This... this doesn't have to end anytime soon, does it?”
“Not even in the slightest. Spike?”
“Hey, Twilight. I know you're listening. Your Mom and Dad wanted to... y'know... fill you in on stuff. Stuff that's happened while you and Rainbow have been away. Think you're up for it?”
Twilight could scarcely squeak. With a wet smile, she simply nodded her head faster and faster.
“Heh...” Rainbow leaned back with a proud grin. “She's all ears. Let 'er rip.”
“Okay... Uhm... first off... Twily... your Brother. Shining?”
“You won't believe this, but he's married. The wedding happened about a year ago in Canterlot Castle. You'll never guessed who he's betrothed to.”
“Who... wh-who... who...?” Twilight hyperventilated.
“None other than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza!”
“Princess Cadance, Twilight! You remember her, don't you?”
Rainbow looked at Twilight.
Twilight scanned the heavens with her eyes. Her lips pursed. At last, she shrieked in a girlish tone. “Omigosh! Cadance! Cadance! Cadance! My foalsitter!” She clapped her hooves, her grinning face turning red. “Squeee! Oh Goddess, Shining had a crush on her for forever!”
Rainbow tilted her head. “Twilight remembers, folks. But still...” She arched an eyebrow. “A foalsitter?”
“Well, they were originally going to spend their honeymoon in Dream Valley, but some strange events started unfolding in the frozen north. So Cadance and your brother Shining took it upon themselves to investigate. I was a bit worried at the time, but then I realized that your brother is at his best when he's staunchly defending the security of our nation.”
“Plus, he now has the most beautiful wife in the world by his side.”
“Let me explain it, dear. Anyways... Shining and Cadance take a train to the Frozen North, and you'll never guess what they found...”
Rainbow Dash spent the whole time gazing at Twilight.
The unicorn leaned forward, her face plastered with a jubilant smile, and as the words of her parents rolled on, she nodded and nodded... and that grin grew wider and wider until the tears were no more.
c2.staticflickr.com/8/7211/7361701956_3be35c3c5b.jpg
...
Ladies and gentlemen, behold the tamest cliffhanger IC has ever bestowed upon us.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
The Crystal empire returned! All hail King Sombra!
Hm. So they're not voyaging west, after all? Could have sworn...
Well, I guess no chrysalis cadence, as she was preoccupied elsewhere.
Wonder how king sombra plays in this alternate universe. Hopefully we'll find out next chapter.
Something tells me, probably not.
5906046
I think quite some time had passed before they set out west.
Plenty of time to get married and discover a lost kingdom.
O hai, Sombra.
Hey, since the plane is shorter in the Northern and Southern directions than Eastward and Westward, does that mean that a being capable of resisting the chaotic forces there could make the trip shorter that way?
Sombra is going to appear in the Midnight Armory is what I'm trying to say.
Harmonic Ascension confirmed?
Also, are we going to hear news of Sturke at last?
Was it ever mentioned that if Sombras crystal trap intercepted unicorn teleportation specifically, or any form of material passage in general, including Spikes postal fire breath? Would be intresting if he went up to help, got caught in the trap, and just posted the Crystal Heart almst directly into its operation point because thats where Cadence or Party Favour or Cheese Sandwhich wouldve been standing.
We now direct you to a heart breaking moment.
Stand by.
Stand by.
We apologise for the lack of epic heartsplosion due to technical difficulties.
A concussion torpedo down the exhaust port.
I wonder if Sombra will appear in the series. Also, I thought Shining flew west with Cadance...
Sinrar is the rich grandparent who likes to spoil his grandchildren, Harpy and Loveboat. He has no qualms about it, either.
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i tried
Aw, that was sad. I really hope IC doesn't pull an SS&E on us and give us the bad ending instead of letting the characters live happily ever after. It would really be awful if their hopes were... shall we say... dashed.
5906165
so hard and got so far but in the end it doesn't even matter?
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oh, har har. nice meme.
5906180
I...
Umm...
You...
Never mind.
5906202
Yes, yes, I know. I just really hope that he doesn't end this like he ended Background Pone.
Soul-crushing disappointment after sitting through an extremely long story.
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Feels. That is all.
No pushups this round, ):(. That Night Light/Twilight Velvet exchange earned ya a break.
First winter is coming, and then the frozen north?
Today is game of pone day.
Awww but I wanted to hear how everybody stopped the big baddies from the past seasons without Twilight and the Mane 6 there to do it themselves
5906233 I don't know if I'd say it was disappointment. I mean it was a very well crafted ending... It certainly wasn't a happy one but that doesn't mean it was bad.
I didn't sign up for these feels. Goddammit.
And now, we sail.
5906488
Actually, I'm pretty sure by reading this story you have implicitly given consent for IC to kick you in the feels and steal all your fucks
Oh hey, it's right here:
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Dammit IC.... the feels. You haven't made me shed a tear yet... but you've gotten close.
Edit: This situation has been rectified. BP broke the dam.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Yea. Feathers from the dying swan.
5906785
Same here. I never cry over books, songs, movies and stuff, but damn if my eyes didn't get watery over some chapters.
5906580 every time i try to close your GIF, it duplicates
i now have a few hundred of them....
5906918
Apparently I'm magic?
5906063 Resisting the chaotic forces and resisting the massive amount of magical flux and sheer freezing temperatures are two different things. Even Hitler couldn't make it into Russia successfully.
Shit...I damn near teared up when I realized they brought over Twilight's parents.
Did audibly gasp, though.
Also, damn you for the cliffhanger.
5906233
I wouldn't say it was a disappointment, but it was definitely soul-crushing.
5907103
Disappointing? Nah.
Soul-crushing? Meh.
Bittersweet? Absolutely.
Personally, that's how I'm expecting this series to end: In bittersweet fashion.
5907215
I say "soul-crushing" because I felt tight in the chest the more I read that final chapter and afterwards, depressed. I felt as if my life force had been squeezed out of me. That's soul-crushing.
There was bittersweetness in there, definitely. But to me, it was more soul-crushing than anything.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if this ended bittersweetly. I guess that's the difference. I can see Austraeoh having a bittersweet ending. I didn't see it coming at all in BP.
5906572 Ugh, why don't I ever read the fine print? I never asked for these feels!
5907269
Personally, I found it to be bittersweet. It depends on a reader, I guess.
So far there's only three fanfictions I've found ''soul-crushing'' and back then I haven't even discovered Fimfiction yet.
That was really nice. Not nice things will be coming soon.
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It's all conning back, hell, maybe you might be up to the current episodes soon!
5906854
Sinking Swan.
Watch as IC completely throws a spanner in our expectations by not talking about the crystal empire, the heart, or sombra at all.
5907541 That's exactly what we should be called!
5906097
I hope so too. That would require them to have contact with Cadance and Shining, though... actually, now that I think about it, doesn't Luna talk to them as well?
I wonder why Rainbow hasn't asked Luna to talk to Scootaloo again after that one time in Eljunbyro. Or why Scoots hasn't asked Luna, for that matter.
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They got married first (Eljunbyro chapter 109 says that they're engaged) and headed west later (Odrsjot chapter 11). I'm guessing the Frozen North business was somewhere inbetween.
That was a nice reuion, I was wondering when Twilights parents would show up.
I just got feels in the balls.
Ow.
5906165
Chaos Strips, son.
5907076
I've always thought of Sombra as Stalin, though. Wouldn't that give him an edge?
And besides, he has that ethereal form, we don't know what's up with that. As far as we know that could help him go through the chaotic forces that shroud the edges of the plane.
And this made me melt. Thanks.
Eh...not that this is a big gripe, but I don't really like references to cannon. IC doesn't write in character very well, but I like how he does write, so it kinda breaks my immersion when we have these references. This epic story has a life of its own, and I view it as such....again not really a gripe, cause I love these books.
I'm not crying! You're the one who's crying!
I'm so glad Twilight gets to hear her family again.
Okay, I guess I am crying.