“You're sure of this, Land Walker?” Kaji said, blurring his wings as he pushed the fishing raft out onto the rippling blue surface of the Atoll's lagoon. “I've seen the shade your feathers turn at the mere mention of fish meat.” He grinned slyly. “You favor only the greens, yes?”
“Dreit. I mean...” Rainbow bopped her head, teeth gritting. “Yes. I just wanna see the source of the whirlpool up close.”
“Uhhhhh...” Flare looked back from the front of the boat where she and her wings provided extra steering. Several other rafts full of mane-less ponies were skimming out onto the waters beyond them. “You do realize that the whirlpool is gone, right?”
“Yeah.” Rainbow nodded. “But there's a Shard of Verlax...ion down there somewhere, right?”
“She wants to see the Shard!” Silver grinned, telekinetically untangling a fishing net with his horn. “Hah! Why didn't she say so from the beginning?!”
“Maybe she's nervous about basking in the glow of Verlaxion's righteous might!” Sora said, sharpening a spear. “Who can blame her, really?” He chuckled. “Silly land walkers...”
“'Dreit...?'” Twilight mouthed, floating alongside the raft.
“Stuff it,” Rainbow muttered. “I got my wires crossed.”
“Huh?” Kaji looked over.
“Ahem.” Rainbow leaned forward in her seat. “No. It's not that I'm... tickled pink to be in the presence of one of Verlaxion's gift. I just... uh...” Rainbow Dash looked over the boat's edge, nearly blinded by the whiteness of the glowing Yaerfaerda symbol in her vision. “...I just have a major interest in what's at the bottom of this lagoon.”
“Well, good luck with that, girl!” Flare said with a wicked smirk. “I doubt you have the gills for it!”
“Eh?” Rainbow blinked. SPLOOSH! She winced from a sudden spray of water. Rubbing her muzzle dry, she looked all around. “Hey... uh... where did Sora go?”
“Where else?” Silver gripped a spear and some netting, took a humongous breath, and plopped backwards into the lagoon.
Both Rainbow and Twilight leaned over to look past the edge of the boat. Silver and Sora were mere dots at that point, disappearing beyond the murky depths.
“Holy smokes...” Twilight's muzzle hung wide open. “Look at them go...”
“That's... pretty cool,” Rainbow said.
“They're the best at it,” Flare said. She smiled sheepishly, her feathers twitching. “The... uh... the wings actually get in the way.”
“You don't say?”
“Yup!” Kaji leaned back, kicking his legs up in a lazy fashion. “But we definitely make up for it with the sporting! Isn't that right, Flare?”
“Hah! Ultimo can never shake us!” Kaji reached across the boat to brohoof the stallion. “Like barnacles!”
“Like barnacles! Hah hah!”
“Whoop!”
“They've been down there an awful long time,” Twilight murmured, her eyes still squinting to see beyond the blue depths.
“They'll be coming back up, right?” Rainbow asked.
“Eh... sure...” Flare stifled a yawn. “A few minutes from now.”
Rainbow did a double-take. “A few minutes?!”
“No point in stabbing fish if you can't make like fish themselves!” Kaji said. “Takes years of practice to hold your breath like we do! A land walker like you is welcome to try... but... heheh... don't blame us if you take on more water than your friends' ship earlier today!”
Rainbow Dash clenched her jaw, eyes hard.
“Rainbow...” Twilight gulped. “Don't get ahead of yourself...”
“I'm not one to back out of a challenge,” Rainbow stood at the edge of the boat, cracking her joints while also coiling her wings tightly by her side. “Especially when Yaerfaerda is right there.”
“You speak a strange mantra to prepare yourself, landwalker,” Flare said. “Maybe you'll be wanting to take your jewelry off?” She pointed at Rainbow's pendant. “Those shinies are only going to way you down.”
“Yeah. Not happening.” Rainbow gasped and took the plunge. SPLASH!
Rainbow lasted for a full thirty seconds underwater. She immediately splashed her way to the surface, wheezing and sputtering—much to the chuckling observation of the Nealenders seated in their boats all around. Rainbow watched with a sullen expression as they waited and waited. At last, their companions returned, complete with rows of twitching fish skewered along the lengths of their spears. Silver alone had no less than eight skewered on his metal pole. Now that the first group of divers had surfaced, the second set leapt out of their boats, plunging deep into the lagoon's blue depths.
After sharing a mute glance with Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash leaned back, inhaled as heavily as she could, then dove again.
She lasted longer this time, mostly because she wasn't trying so hard to kick or thrash about beneath the lagoon's surface. Two or three more dives into the water, and she was able to last about a full minute. She'd start by kicking herself in the desired direction, then she relaxed her straightened body so that she glided forward at a slow, manageable rate. This way, she was able to observe the sunken landscape around her without too much stress or struggle.
What she saw was a delightfully uncanny scene, even for a pegasus with as many aerial miles below her belt. There was no discernible “bed” to the bottom of the lagoon, for the bottom was everywhere. A vast arrangement of coral structures stretched upwards, with jagged and eroded limbs coated all over in vibrantly colored life. Gazing at the bottom of the lagoon felt like staring into a glittery paintbucket that had been swirled and swirled beyond easy recognition—and then doused with a thin blue dye. All throughout the erratic coralscape—the craggy promontories and peaks and bridges—countless tiny fish swam in flurrying, scurrying schools. Most of them were tiny specimens, but there were a few larger creatures shambling through the thicker swarms. For a brief moment, Rainbow panicked—fearing that something rather large and toothy might be gliding beneath her at any moment.
Rather than panic, the pegasus followed the dramatically swooping movements of the Nealenders. Not until she was underwater with them did Rainbow Dash finally understand the beauty and physique of these ponies. They swam over coral, under coral, and in and out of deep trenches with incredible ease. The way they twirled and curved their bodies for better speed made them all look like expert pegasi—putting even the Wonderbolts to shame. The fact that they accomplished all of this underwater was a great shock to Rainbow. She was far too awestruck to develop even a drop of envy.
“I can't tell how far down the lagoon goes,” Twilight Sparkle's voice said. “Can you?”
The sheer clarity of the phantom unicorn's speech startled the last remaining bubbles of oxygen out of Rainbow's lungs, and she kicked and thrashed her way to the surface while a wincing Twilight loosely followed.
SPLASH! “Duaaaaaaah!” Rainbow inhaled upon breaking the water, then fell into a fit of coughs and sputters.
“Hah hah hah hah!” Sora continued pulling fish off his spear and bagging them in their boat's net. “Not so easy, is it, Rainbow?!”
“Keep at it, girl!” Silver winked, moisture still dribbling off his shaved head. “You've got siren blood in you! I know it!”
“Yeah?!” Rainbow coughed and sputtered some more. “I wanna see a siren do a sonic rainboom in ten secondsssrkkkt!” She went cross-eyed and hacked up more water.
“Easy! Easy!” Sora smirked while Flare and Kaji swam back to the surface, carrying fresh spears of fish. “You can't grow gills overnight!”
“She's not half-bad, actually!” Flare said, her lithe body dribbling with moisture as she slowly climbed onto the boat. She gave her tail-less flank a shake, then smirked back at Rainbow. “The mare learns fast! I can tell! I've been watching her!”
Rainbow Dash blinked.
“Hah!” Kaji laughed, hoofing Sora a clean spear. “You'll never dive deep with wings that stiff, girl!”
“Hah hah hah hah!”
“Whoop!”
Rainbow winced. She exhaled, relaxing her wings just in time for when Twilight surfaced.
“You okay, Rainbow?”
“Uhhhh... uhhhh-yeah!” Rainbow nevertheless coughed once or twice. “Never b-better!”
“That was completely and utterly my fault,” Twilight said, ears folded back. “I didn't mean to startle you like that.”
“Hey. No sweat.” Rainbow Dash treaded water. “I just... y'know...” Her ears twitched. “...didn't expect to hear you that well.”
“Well, I'm phasing through the water just as much as any other solid surface,” Twilight said. “It's not like the pressure is restricting me any. Plus, who knows?” Twilight shrugged, her form looking dry as a bone. “Maybe you hear me on a different level, just like you can see me on a visual spectrum that other ponies can't.”
“Yeah... too bad I can't talk to you back,” Rainbow said. “While we're underwater, that is.” She blinked, thinking of something. “Say... any chance you can be my wingpony?”
“Heh...” Twilight smirked. “In this case, don't you mean fin pony?”
“Cement ant ticks, egghead,” Rainbow muttered. “Yaerfaerda and—presumably—the Shard are both down there, and I gotta get a good look at it. But I'll bet my eyes don't work down there as well as yours can, and I certainly can't give a shout for when I see something like a tunnel entrance.”
“Right!” Twilight saluted before the bobbing mare. “I'll be our eyes and you be our ears!”
“Cool.” Rainbow smiled. “This could totally work.”
“Uh oh...” Sora glanced over at Silver. “She's talking to herself again. I wonder if she's got the bends.”
“Good for her.” Kaji winked at Flare. “It means she's not so stiff anymore.”
“Ha ha ha!”
“Stiff?” Twilight's face scrunched. “What in the hay do they mean by that—?”
“Down ponyscope!” Rainbow's voice cracked upon the cusp of an inhale and—
SPLOOSH! She dove deep, yanking Twilight straight down with her.
Time to explore the great underwater world.
Man, when was the last time Dash was swimming underwater and not in a state of distress?
Weigh?
Out of all the unicorns who have lived in islands for all of their lives, you're telling me not one of them has created a spell for either breathing underwater, or taking air from the surface to the depths?
This is the part where some unicorn has a water-breathing spell and has purposely not told Rainbow Dash. Alternatively, it could be the part where Twilight suddenly starts using magic again for no apparent reason.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Oh, so that's why they cut their manes and tails: to reduce drag.
5963408
They seem to like headbutting each other more than learning magic.
*cue Sonic drowning theme*
5963397
Ah, my second pokemon game. (Blue version FTW!)
5963397 I love you.
Huh I just realized, the whole time RD's been on this island and with these ponies, she's been getting a pretty good eyefull with all the mares having shaved their tails off. Now there's good chances of more awkward stiff wing moments and potential Twilight noticing.
5963408
That's what I was expecting too, but perhaps RD just has to ask the Nealenders about it. They don't seem like the brightest bunch, so they may need prompting to tell her. They seem pretty content on watching her try to emulate them, and getting a good laugh out of it.
so, down periscope reference.
Also:
Heh, Rainbow just can't help herself.
Hmmm.... for some reason I keep picturing the diver scene from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Been a while since I read it, but I don't recall it ending very well for the diver.
Twilight is going to catch on to Rainbow's... mmmm... let's say "points of interest", one of these days.
So far, nothing new, other than the shard/source of Yaerfaerda is now almost within reach.
So basically . . . it's a sea bed that looks like the terrible and tragic death of Rainbow Dash. Or maybe it looks like her spread out across the entirety of the sea bed. Both are terrible mental pictures. Why must my mind connect "paintbucket" and Rainbow Dash . . .
5963425
It makes a lot of sense, actually . . .
5963408 They seem to consider using magic for hunting or fishing as cheating.
So, like looking at an abstract painting of RD?
5963416
Come to think of it, have we legitimately seen Twilight even try magic yet?
Its a real pain that a whirlpool needs serious depth to form properly, and near every atoll formed on top of a wave planed seamount, eroded basaltic, granitic core of a volcano, meaning its flat in the middle. Of course, if you managed to get something akin to a thick walled lava tube, or an entrance to an artificial structure, then a central deep shaft is more reasonable.
i.imgur.com/kj5s7Km.png
It seems like Fact Checker's commenter's stats has sent everyone in a frenzy, I don't remember the last time there were this many comments this often.
5963483
I think that's Floydien's fault.
5963550
Or maybe you're just a popular guy.
Huh. I'd always imagined that Pegasi would actually have an advantage underwater. I thought the wings would be able to act as an extra pair of limbs to push through the water even faster.
5963562
No longer will I go to Home Depot and look for paintbuckets; I shall ask an associate, "Where's Rainbow Dash?"
5963545 No, but I initially assumed she didn't try it because she didn't feel a connection. But, come to think of it, IC never actually told us if she felt such a lack of connection. It's possible, but there is yet no evidence, that Twilight might unlock her magic during one of those fits of shaking. Another possibility is her unlocking magic when Rarity is gotten.
If you're not careful, Dash, you'll be serving Poseidon in his watery halls. Don't die.
5963482
After perusing my copy I have come to several conclusions:
1) I have the discredited translation
2) Captain Nemo might be Rainbow Dash.
In the scene, a shark attacks a pearl diver, so what does he do? He frickin' jumps into the water and fights the thing with his bare hands! Well, he also has a knife
Rainbow now has a knife, and a tendency to fight monsters to defend the defenseless. She was also "Captain" of a ship that explored the world after picking up an "intellect" and his assistant who swore fealty to him (Belle and Pilot) and a whaler (Roarke, but could also be Josho and EE)
With all these, ehm, exposed mares, you'd think RD's mind would wander off a bit more.
And I can say from experience that coral reefs are quite beautiful sight.
5963397 That was very nostalgic. Thank you
At least she's learning quick, that is a good sign. I really thought she might be able to use the loyalty pendent to make like a breathable air bubble or something to that effect.
I wonder exactly how she's going to get to the symbol. Must be a grotto or something with air down there
5963673 I was wondering if that would happen, as well.
5963571
I suppose they could partially pluck their wings & oil their feathers for a more hydrodynamic shape that stays together underwater.
5963622
A mysterious island? We're set right up for another Verne novel, (actual spoiler) the secret sequel to 20000 Leagues. It's like Swiss Family Robinson, except that the intrepid party (a journalist, an engineer, a butler, a sailor, his son and a dog) arrive by balloon and instead of building a tree-house they make nitroglycerin. Captain Paintbucket was lurking on the island hating everyone, but was motivated by watching their friendship to secretly help them; later, he carries a mine out onto the seabed and blows up a pirate ship that's shelling our heroes' sea-cliff fortress. I think the parallels are obvious.
Rainbow Dash can see ALL THE BOOTY! Damn those wings myst be stiff as steel.
5963653
Oh, god, I hadn't even realized what that meant. I'm ashamed that I couldn't pick that up just because it wasn't explicitly stated.
5963397
Sapphire was the best one, with the best pokemon. Gen IV was the last generation that wasn't terrible. All the remakes that have been done were good.
Capital! We've seen cities gracing the skies, we've seen intricate machineries in the bowels of the earth. Now we even get to see the serene peace of the ocean floor. Now we just need to see space and we have a straight!
Well, serene if not for Ultimo, who may or may not he an ancient war machine recently reactivated.
Also, you'd think dashie would be able to hold her breath longer. Wouldn't often flying at high altitudes make a being more efficient with their oxygen consumption?
Also, if we're doing 20K Leagues, I require a giant squid fight. If we aren't doing 20K, I still require a giant squid fight.
That makes me wonder: will there be any deep sea exploration? That would be smashing!
This is becoming Durandana with each passing second.
5963738
On the dark side, your wish for SPEHS might be granted. Hell, I'd love to see some of that myself.
5963738
Sure we've had plenty of airships, and sure a submarine would be cool, but how do you think RD would feel about being trapped in a pressurized steel container at the bottom of the ocean?
She's right at home in an airship- but I see her freaking out in a sub.
5963482
You know, I find it rather odd that everywhere outside of Equestria, the comparatively less harmonious and accepting parts of the plane, are totally cool with same sex pairings. It's just another whatever thing, and Rainbow took complete advantage of that with Roarke. Since Equestria is supposed to be the center of everything great and nice, it's easy to conclude that everyone that lives there should feel the same way as well. It wouldn't make sense that Equestria didn't accept two mares or two stallions coupling up.
Yet Rainbow hasn't told her friends about her inclination, friends that were born in the most accepting, most harmonious part of the plane. What is Dash afraid of?
Ah, geez I missed a lot. No commenting for three days.
Now for shards of Verlax-ion and stiff wings. Caught up and ready for more!
edit: What happened with the commenting? I read someone said that Fact Checker did something. . . what else did I miss?
Still don't know why Rainbow is so reticent for Twilight to learn about her preferences. I mean, I know Rainbow was still in the closet pre-kaboom, but still. Does she think Twi won't be able to handle it?
Oh well. It's only a matter of time. Especially with every bit and piece on open display around these parts.
Finally caught up, darn classes. In the meantime this Shard is very intriguing. Keep diving, Rainbow.
A tunnel entrace, as in a hint of a cave? And underwater. This ought to be fun. Go, Rainbow Splash!
But give it a million years, and you'll evolve into seaponies.
5963858
You rang?
(OK good, it works, thanks for testing it)
It kinda feels weird for Rainbow Dash to get called "Land Walker". I mean, the guys using the term probably actually fit it more than she does at this point.
It's official. IC has been playing FFX recently.
5963809
5963867
Equestria is harmonious maximus, but the millenia dynasty insures a strongly conservative culture of traditional values are reinforced with each generation of inheritance under the watchful eyes of the nobles with the sticks up their asses.
Rainbow Dash is still the only weather pegasus in existence on this side if the Grand Choke!
GET TO
TEACHINGSHOWING OFF YOUR MAD CLOUD SKILLZ RAINBOW DASH!!!Show these pagans what a hoax Verlax pulled off with her weather control bullshit!!!
So, with all these chapter titles, something tells me IC has been plaing a lot of FF-X recently.
Dash is an explorer of sorts. Sora+Dash=Dora. Therefore I will call this ship Dora the Explorer, and there's nothing you can do to stop me.
If a ship happens underwater, is it a called sub?
5963436
Coral beds are a beautiful thing. Now at least if Rainbow gets eaten / drowns / suffocates / experiences death by snu-snu she will at least die in a beautiful and symbolically fitting place, right?
5963550
*must comment more to make scoreboard*
Anything that can be measured can be gamed.
But more seriously, Saturday was the first time that I had free time that coincided with a new chapter.
It ebbs and flows, though this series is more incentivised than most.