“Mon dieu!”
“Queen Verlaxion, spare us...”
“Omigosh omigosh omigosh!”
“Whoop! Where did all the water go?!”
“Everypony—” Rainbow gnashed her teeth.
“Please, blessed Queen, lend us your mercy—”
“We're buried! We're buried down here!”
“I said—” Rainbow barked loudly. “—calm down!” Her hollering voice produced an endless echo rippling off in every direction. It had to have been the uncanny acoustics that brought silence to everypony on board the Swan Song. Once the commotion had ceased, Rainbow realized the entire group was resting perfectly still.
“Harpy, at the risk of stating the obvious, but we're stranded somewhere,” Sinrar said in as calm a voice as he could muster. “And I do believe that place is underground.”
“And it's full of immaculate gold metal and dormant machinery, right?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Erm... oui.”
“What's the matter, Rainbow?” Nick said, his breath trembling. “Can't you see for yourself?”
“It's... it's too bright for me,” Rainbow muttered.
“Too bright?!” Flare stammered. “But... but I-I can barely see my own muzzle!”
Twilight's voice wafted closer to Rainbow. “What's the matter, Rainbow?”
“It's Yaerfaerda, Twi,” Rainbow said, squinting hard. “It's... it's reflecting off of everything.” The mare winced, stumbling across the Swan Song's deck. “Could... could you describe where we are to me?”
“Are you joking?” Theanim Mane's voice cracked. “We're inside a giant metal chamber full of—”
The sound of a hoof whacking Theanim's skull echoed across the nearest wall. “She wasn't talking to you, imbecile.”
“Augh! Gfffmmf... what?!”
“Shhh!” Nick hissed. “Let her do her thing.”
“Okay...” Twilight floated slowly around Rainbow. “The water... is all gone. I mean, we're definitely beneath the lagoon, but this place isn't flooded or anything.”
“The walls, ceiling, and floor are made of gold?”
“Yes, Rainbow. Just... uh... just like you described before.”
“Oh, I forget.” Rainbow smiled awkwardly. “First time you've ever seen this sort of a thing with your own eyes, huh?”
“I guess you could say that. The tower where you found me sunk into the ocean before I could get a good look. Remember?”
“Right.”
“Who... who is she talking to?” Theanim hissed. “Is it that 'Twilight' again?”
“Shhhh!” Sinrar rasped. “Shut up and take pictures, ya goggled bastard.”
Theanim cleared his throat. Rainbow heard a shutter snapping several times from behind her.
“I see... Rainbow, I see a series of platforms,” Twilight's voice said. “I'm... n-not sure what's supporting them.”
“Are we on one of them right now?”
“Yes. The Swan Song is just... lying still on what looks to be a giant bridge. Gold metal. Lots of... intricate lines.”
“Uh huh...”
“I think... yes... I think I see a closed aperture above us. Like a circular door. It must have been where the whirlpool sucked us through.”
“Straight above us?”
“Yes.”
“Then... what happens if...” Rainbow flapped her wings and hovered straight up. “...I approach the seal again?”
The mare became aware of a faint ruby light pulsating along the edge of her peripheral vision. She felt several drops of moisture pelting her spine. The crew of the Swan Song gasped and stammered in fright.
“Down, Rainbow!” Twilight yelped. “Fly down!”
Rainbow Dash touched down on a gold surface next to the Swan Song. “Lemme guess...” She coiled her wings to her side while she tilted her head away from the source of the blinding light. “...it was opening up the lagoon.”
“Uhhh... s-seems like it.”
“Well, at least we know our way out of here.”
“Way... out of h-here?” Nick produced an audible gulp. “But... but that would drown us!”
“Not necessarily,” Rainbow Dash said in a louder tone. “I was always meant to enter here. There should be an easy exit for all of us as well.”
“Always... meant to enter?” Theanim stammered. “But... but I-I don't understand! None of the Order's records mention anything about... about...” The stallion's breath came out in shuddering bursts. “What is this anyways?! A structure?! A laboratory?”
“It's something older than Verlaxion,” Rainbow muttered. “And Celestia.”
“Tres magnifique...” Sinrar slurred.
“But... but Rainbow,” Nick's voice raised. “If this is anything like the places you've told us that you've been to before—”
“Right. I'm on it.” Rainbow side-stepped towards the source of the light. She pointed with a hoof. “Twilight.”
“Yes, Rainbow?”
“What is...” Rainbow winced from the blinding white light. “What's straight in front of me?”
“A wall.”
“What kind of a wall?”
“Uhm... solid gold. Wide. Encompassing. It... uh... it appears to be blocking off both the platform as well as the chasm below.”
“Uh huh...”
“There are... lines in it, Rainbow. It's asymmetrical. I think I see circular patterns. If I didn't know better, I'd say it was a symbol of sorts.”
“You don't say...”
“Want me to describe it to you?”
“No, Twilight.” Rainbow shuffled forward. She heard more shutter snaps from Theanim's camera as she approached the blinding light. “I want you to guide me forward.”
“But... but it's a wall, Rainbow!”
“No, Twilight. It's a door.”
“Wait... d-do you mean?”
“Yes.” Rainbow nodded, shuffling slowly forward with wings outstretched. “Yaerfaerda's so close I could practically lick it. Bet it'd taste like marshmallows too.”
“Rainbow, be careful. You don't know what'll happen when—”
“I know exactly what will happen, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “I just need you to let me know when I'm getting—”
An audible gasp emanated from the location of the Swan Song behind her.
“What?!” Rainbow snarled. “What's happening?!”
“The door!” Twilight breathed. “The lines and circles are lighting up! A deep red, ruby light!”
“Is it opening?”
There was a rush of air.
“Twi?!” Rainbow barked, bracing herself against a wave of hot air. “Is it—”
FLASH!
Rainbow lurched forward, floating through a cosmic expanse.
“—opening?!” She blinked awkwardly, looking left and right at undulating bands of starry nebulae. “Ah jeez... wouldn't you know it?” She gnashed her teeth. “The kaizo kicks in.”
“So I see that the circle hasn't broken.”
Rainbow gasped and looked straight forward.
She saw a curved horizon full of mountains, deserts, oceans, and rivers. A bright light loomed beyond the edge of the disc—a perpetual dawn.
“Your flight is never a lonely one, and yet it is.” The voice echoed across the heavens, reverberating through Rainbow's ears. “Either way, ever bold and ever awesome, you've found more reasons to make progress.” A shimmering aurora rippled to life, and faded as soon as its spectral bands appeared above the lengths of Urohringr. “The circle seeks to complete itself. How very... very fascinating.”
Rainbow blinked, and then her brow furrowed. “You again...”
“We cannot speak for long, Austraeoh,” the voice resembled Whitemane's, and yet it didn't. “For someone is listening.”
“Listening?!” Rainbow gawked. “Who?!”
“Someone who doesn't understand the need to foal yesterday,” said the voice. “Whether she wishes to support or tear asunder, we do not know, and we cannot risk. But you can... and must.”
“Heh... great...” Rainbow Dash bore a tired smirk. “...for a second there, things were getting easy.”
Every day is Yaerfaerday.
My money's on "she" being Verlax.
Wait, so there's a new symbol, and we don't even get to see it? IC pls
No, actually, I do not think it is.
Remind me: Has the word 'Ynanhluutr' been uttered in-story yet? I'm pretty sure there hasn't been a symbol for it so far.
Also, considering that Verlaxion is obviously aware of this place and put her voodoo on it, I'm guessing Robo is right.
Sheesh, and here I thought it's going to b—
Well, RD beat me to it.
Disc? Not clear what we're seeing. I assume it's the undivided Urohringr. We are seeing the inside of the ring, illuminated always by the central star. Correct?
Now what does this supposed to mean? Is it referring to Urohringr itself? The machine world trying to get the 12 segments back together? That would imply this voice is not that. Is it referring to Rainbow Dash and company, somehow?
Now who can be listening in on this conversation? I note that Twilight does not seem to be there.
Well, now we know for certain that Verlax is the next boss.
New from Machine World delicacies: Purple marshmallow flavour - extra rare.
At least mysterious Whitemane-esque voice uses the right A-word.
Well, that's...intriguing.
6053678
I second that motion.
Verlax is gonna be a butt isn't she.
"She" is probably Verlax. But now, this voice... It can't possibly be her own imagination, now. It's something else. But what? Or who?
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Huh. So Rainbow physically can't see this close to the White Yaerfaerda, and needs Twi to guide her. Which raises the question of how she'll explain she has an invisible purple unicorn floating around her to the rest of the group.
Looking forward to next chapter!
That reminds me, how many gallons of water has just been draining into that hole in the ground? That thing has got to be open for at least several decades.
Stupid dargonz and their silly tendency to complicate things.
6053657
Or some crazy new villain we haven't heard of yet.
I also do declare today to be Yaerfaerday. May it become a venerable tradition.
You know Rainbow's gotten used to mysterious voices when her initial reaction is “You again...”
Even when the voice said the right 'a' word.
6053840 Shell's late wife.
6053903
Noooo!
6053657 I agree. I distinctly remember Chryssi talking about Verlax having some kind of freaky tracking magic that allowed her to sniff out changelings. And that is something that is beyond the scope of most magic users.
Ok Whitemane is back, or the thing taking her form anyway, and now somebody (Likely Veralax) is watching their communications, this is very intriguing.
Listening in? Verlax, maybe? Oh, you naughty peeping dragon
6053687
I'm pretty sure it hasn't.
Well Verlax would not be vey cunning if she couldn't mind read now would she.
Anyone else have Aria of the soul start playing in their head as soon as the form borrowing voice thing started talkng?
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr
She's totally talking about Verlax.
No Verlax, don't do that, just let Rainbow be. Trying to mess with Austraeoh only leads to trouble. Also headbutts.
Silly, Rainbow. Why would anything be easy?
Whoever is listening is probably Verlax. Although, here's to hoping we find a new flame and get Rarity out of this.
The old gods shall return
derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/3/23/277023__safe_rainbow+dash_animated_artist-colon-lamia_eyebrows_eyebrow+wiggle.gif
So if I'm guessing both ominous factions right, Verlaxion is able to spy in on the very Spirits? That'd be impressive. Then again, there has been mention of some ominous female in an earlier revelation dream as well. Someone that might be directly and causally linked to the Sundering somehow...
Hang on - FACT CHECKER! I summon thee! I think it was somewhere before Stratopolis that this was mentioned in one flashback, am I right? Please?
Weere hanging over the edge of an abyss, dont anybody move. Dont none of you get out neither. Ive got a plan.
Upon opening the door:Im sorry Dash, your marshmallow is in another toaster oven.
Forgot to mention a possibility about the camera guy. Polarisation. If he has a glare filter on it, its a vertically polarised filter to block out the horizontal polarised sun reflection. If Twilight affects light differently so it sums to zero instead of full, theres a trick by the use of a calcite prims, polarisation splitter, will give overlapping blurry images, so you use filters on each path, and recombine, giving a dull, but sharper image? Sorry, this annoying head cold makes it hard for me to remember the old stuff needed for complex optical phenomena from a couple hundred years ago.
I've been wondering why Whitemane is so important for a tiny princess of a tiny principality.
My bet: she isn't. All this time, the visions have been someone greater, wearing a face that would be familiar to Dash.
Calling it now.
6054775 Wasn't that mentioned at the tower? Or maybe I just read some comment.
6053903 No.
Actually, yeah sure. Bring me back while you're at it, I deserve a family reunion with a parent that will despise my life choices...
6053698 I'm still hoping that we don't go three for three of divines needing to get punched in the face, just getting to talk to one without needing to fight them would be nice.
6054798
Damnit, you're right.
I am forgetful, apparently.
Those of you who are good at riddles... solve the riddles!
Those of you who are good at other things... panic! Now is the time to panic!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! flails
6054966
inb4 pilate
6053719 Or how much water's been draining at the waterfalls at the end of the world...
6053678 6053702
That, or Spookle's just given a bad description of a previous symbol:
Austraeoh
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/austraeoh/images/4/46/Symbol_austraeoh.png/revision/latest?cb=20150513194132
Innavedr:
vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/austraeoh/images/f/fb/Symbol_innavedr.png/revision/latest?cb=20150513194144
6054557
It's hard to say. When Lasairfion tells her weird story about eggs and spheres, she mentions the goddess Nagu'n, but she seems to be on the good side: "Circles break and give way to shadows between starlight. Ever since, task most noble it is of Nagu'n to restore balance between shards of Urohringr." Other than that, I can't find anything like what you're describing. The instigators of the Sundering have always been either anonymous pegasi, or an amorphous cloud of chaos. The significant female "entities" that come to mind might be Nagu'n, Endrax, your namesake Nevlamas, Tchern, or Chrysalis, but I can't find much evidence to support the connection you're thinking of. v0v
6056966 What I think of was never even mentioned by name. Just one of the flashbacks - I think it was Whitemane - where the Sundering was first mentioned and some 'she' who was put in connection with that. Still, I assume my rites are too vague even for this mighty spirit! Pact still stands, I guess my soul is yours now. I'll hand it over as soon as the guy it's currently rented to gives it back.
I knew that the group would be fairly dumbstruck. But I wonder if Twilight was there while Rainbow had that vision. I don't know if I missed something, but I don't think I noticed anything saying she wasn't there. I guess I'll find out next chapter.
Haha I love catching up on this story.
Well, that 100% confirms it.
east horse meets space horse - part 2
Reminds me of Terranigma...
This isn't a conference call, Verlaxion.
6611237 best comment
Get out, Verlax.
Verlax thinks herself clever and in control, but the reality is her cleverness only makes her mistakes that much larger, and also prevent her from seeing the truth.
07/29/2017
18:12 UTC