With a loud creak, Bellesmith finally swung the door to the engine room open. She winced and ducked a scalding wave of steam jetting overhead. Crawling across the rattling floor, she coughed and sputtered, “Props! Propsy?! Tell me where you are, girl!”
The ship shook and buckled all around. Pipes burst as the lights flickered.
Belle nevertheless pulled herself deeper into the chaos. “Props?!”
At last, a dainty voice wheezed from the opposite end. “Mareco!”
Belle spun towards the sound. She scurried, dove past a series of falling pipes, and braced herself against a collapsed bulkhead. “Props?”
“Phweee!” The mare smiled crookedly, struggling beneath a rattling slab of metal. “This thing weighs more than Zaidy Waidy!'
Belle blinked. She waved a chiding hoof. “You know, Props, if we all survive this—”
A burst of sparks announced an exploding console overhead.
“Can we neigh about it later?” Props squeaked. “Nancy's womb is having a c-section!”
“Right!” Belle gripped the metal slab with both hooves. “On three... lift with me!”
“Okay!”
“One... two... three...”
Both mares grunted, pushing the heavy beam. Slowly, they rolled it over so it was no longer pinning Props to the floor.
“Guh!” Belle heaved for breath. She leaned down, dragging a hoof across one of Props' lower fetlocks. “Is everything okay? Can you feel your legs—?”
One hoof jerked, bucking Belle in the lower abdomen.
“Aaugh!” Belle winced, then frowned. “Props?!”
“Sorriez!” Props stifled a giggle. “I'm super ticklish!”
“Rainbow's nearly here!” Belle yanked Props up to her hooves. “We gotta get back to the top deck!”
“Rainbow?!” Props gasped, teetering.
The two shook as the vessel buckled around them again. “Yes!” Belle exclaimed. “And if she's here, then that means—”
Props gasped, gazing at the dim iron cage. “The book!”
“Huh?!” Belle spun, her eyes widening at the dead tome. “Oh no!”
“That's—like—super super important, right?!” Props stammered.
Another line of pipes burst overhead, fogging up the room even thicker. Belle gritted her teeth. “Props, help me!” She galloped over and started yanking at the lid to the bent cage. “We gotta get it out!”
“But we're gonna crash!” Props rushed over, squirming anxiously. “Are you crazy?!”
“No!” Belle gritted her teeth. “I'm Eljunbyro!” She pulled at the cage door with all her might, her eyes locked on the dormant runes of the tome inside. “Now help me!”
“Okay okay!” Props scrambled around for a crowbar or a lever or a tool of any sort.
“Spark help us,” Pilate stammered, clinging to the inner frame of the cockpit. “They're certainly taking their sweet time...”
“I know I've dreamed and dreamed for months,” Zaid said, wrestling with the controls. “But now would be a very bad time for both our mates to begin lezzing out!”
A deep growl issued out of Pilate's throat. “Mr. Zaid, I can officially state with utmost confidence that my patience for you has finally run—”
FWOOSH! A blue figure landed between them from the windy chaos outside.
Pilate gasped. “Rainbow!”
The breathless mare spun to look at him. “How'd you know?”
Pilate smiled weakly. “I can recognize your scent anywhere.”
Rainbow blinked, took a single sniff of her left leg, then shrugged it off. “Look. I'm getting you guys out of here. Where are the girls?”
“Below deck!” Pilate stammered. “Please, Rainbow, get them first!”
“And leave you guys in the cockpit?! But I'm already here!”
“It's okay!” Zaid sputtered. “I can keep us flying upright for a little longer!” SNAP! The controls finally snapped off, hanging loosely in his grip. The stallion blinked. “...then again.”
“I can only do two at a time anyhow!” She yanked Zaid out of the seat by his mane and then hooked her forelimbs around both ponies' sides. “Less thinking and more doing! Hold on!”
“But Rainbow—!” Pilate sputtered.
“Rrrrr-HAAUGH!” Rainbow shot out of the cockpit like a bullet. Carrying both stallions with her, she spiraled towards the skystone above, twirled, and kicked off it with her hooves.
Zaid and Pilate winced as the desert world and amber sky twirled around them. Suddenly they were plunging, diving into the Noble Jury's shadow. Zaid's eyes reflected streaking mountain peaks and crags of rock.
“Coming in a bit fast!” Zaid sputtered.
“No easy way t-to do this!” Rainbow squealed, fighting the wind as she plunged with the weight of all three.
“Look for a deep ravine!” Pilate shouted against the hot air currents. “Any sediment should have collected where the wind's blocked—”
“He's right!” Zaid yelled. “There are some sand dunes at three o'clock—!”
“I see 'em!” Rainbow gnashed her teeth. “Hold your breath guys! Even after we've landed!”
“Huh?!” Zaid gasped.
“Do what she says, Zaid!” Pilate bellowed. “This isn't going to be very—”
“Nnngh!” Rainbow spun her body back, descending in an upright position. She dropped both stallions, and their bodies went plunging into the soft mounds of orange sand. A second later, Rainbow skirted several meters ahead and landed. Her body squatted low, her legs bending, coiling, then—“Grraaugh!” The earth exploded in a crater around her, shooting sand outward for hundreds of feet as she propelled herself once more for the sky in a streak of prismatic fury.
Zaid and Pilate winced as they were thoroughly doused with sediment. Seconds later, they swam out of the fresh rim of dunes, struggling to breathe. Zaid squinted upwards, watching as the Noble Jury hurled itself towards a line of mountains. A spectral comet billowed directly after it.
“Please...” Pilate wheezed, his ears shaking the sand off. “...save her, Rainbow Dash.” He gulped. “You always do.”
Zaid bit his lip. He glanced at his hooves, discovering that he was still clutching the dislodged controls to the Noble Jury. “Hoo boy...”
Rainbow Dash flew and flew.
The Noble Jury came within screaming distance.
The sky darkened as she sensed mountains occupying the horizon directly ahead.
As she fought once more against the laws of physics, she sensed a slight flicker to her left.
She nervously glanced east as time slowed down around her.
The Yaerfaerda beacon flickered at a monumental distance, its lavender light pulsating steadily.
“... … ...” For the first time since Rainbow Dash perceived the otherworldly symbol, she smiled while observing it. With a devilish smirk, she beat her wings, reveling in the harmonic resonance issuing out from her pendant. In no time whatsoever, she was once again catching up to the battered hull of the Noble Jury.
“I got something!” Props hobbled over, waving a metal pole in her grasp. “I've got something!” A burst of steam shot at her skull, and she flinched. “Aaackies!”
“Hoof it over!” Sweating, Belle motioned for the metal rod. Once she had it, she slid it between the metal bars of the cage's lid and pressed against it with her whole weight. “Rrrghhh... gnnngh!” The metal door bent ever so slightly, though the bar began to buckle. “Almost... g-got it...” She panted and winced. “Can't... c-can't let Rainbow down! She needs this!”
SWOOSH! “I need what?”
Props spun, her muzzle exploding in a joyful grin. “Dashie!”
Tossing her mane back, Rainbow trotted forward. “Belle, we need to—OOF!”
“Heeeeee!” Props squeezed Rainbow in a dear hug. “You came back for ussss!”
“Snkkkt!” Rainbow winced, shoving the blonde mare off. “Sometime when we're not about to die, okay?!”
“Awwwww... but it's so cool that way!”
Rainbow ignored her, trotting up behind Belle. “Belle. Belle. Come on! I'm your guys' ticket out of here!”
“I'm sorry, Rainbow!” Belle heaved and hissed, fighting to pry the cage open. “I let the book go dormant! It's all we've got to go on when it comes to Austraeoh! But don't worry! I can get it out!”
“Belle...”
“We can figure out the n-next step!” Belle shivered all over, struggling with the bar. “We can help you! We all can! We—”
A gentle blue hoof squeezed Belle's shoulder.
The mare spun about, her chestnut eyes twitching to a stop, meeting Rainbow's gaze.
The pegasus smiled warmly. “Let it go, Belle.”
The mare winced. “But... b-but...”
“I don't need the book to know where my path lies.” Rainbow inhaled deeply. “I've always known. And so do you and Pilate.”
Belle panted and panted, her eyes glossy.
“You have to let it go,” Rainbow said. “You have to let me go.”
Belle's eyes welled-up with tears. She dropped the bar with a clatter and plunged forward.
Rainbow caught her in a close hug. The mare sobbed quietly into her chest while the pegasus stroked her head and mane. All the while, the Noble Jury collapsed around them, its lights finally dying out.
“Uhhhhh...” Props squirmed in the shadows. “Guys?”
“Shhhh...” Rainbow leaned back from Belle. As she did so, her ruby pendant lit up the lengths of the ship for one last time. “Don't worry.” She winked into the rosy aura. “I've got this.”
Belle bore a bitter sweet smile as she allowed Rainbow to wrap a forelimb around her.
Rainbow snaked her other hoof around Props. Then, turning one final time from the tome, the pegasus kicked off, threading her way through the doorway and out through the smoldering hangar beyond.
Pilate leaned on Zaid as both stallions hobbled up to the top of a craggy hill. Zaid gazed south, craning his neck. When he spotted a pulse of ruby light, he smiled and squeezed Pilate's shoulder.
The zebra could only tilt his ears in the direction of the southern horizon as several large explosions ricocheted across the skies.
Rainbow descended gently on their location, carrying Belle and Props with them. As she came to a gentle stop, both mares stumbled over and embraced their respective beloveds. Then, with forlorn breaths, those who could see spun to look south.
Rainbow pivoted about, squinting breathlessly.
All was still and plain.
And then...
A brilliant plume of crimson fire and heated sand filled the sky, blanketing the horizon with glass and glitter. Then, at last, the haze of debris settled, leaving a black mark against the northern faces of the rising mountains. The thunder dissipated, gobbled up by the spacious volume of the Val Roan desert.
The Noble Jury was no more.
I have to hand it to Belle making it across to Props without any props. Now Props has burns on her face, but I doubt Zaid or Prowse would have cared.
Rest in peace, Nancy Jane.
Rest in Pieces, Nancy Jane...
No pushups this round, ):(. Tonight, we remember...
I feel like I should do some sort of Viking chant for the departed, but I don't know any.
Never forget
I'm not sure why Belle was so determined to save the book. It's only use has been to power the Jury—enough said. If the contents of the book were so damn important, why did it go unread all this time?
But a far more important concern has come to my attention. Based on the average chapter length so far, the projected word count of the completed Yaerfaerda is only 394,691 words. This would make it shorter than Urohringr by over 43,000 words. How is this possible?
It is incredibly difficult to miss the symbolism of this chapter. Especially as it explodes around you.
I am very surprised everything went so smoothly, some serious shit has got to be coming up.
Fuck.
Sayonara, Noble Jury. How will we welcome people who catch up on the story now?
This is the closest we've come to one of the protagonists dying since... what, Imre? Goddamn.
IC seems to be doing everything in his power to cement Rainbow's leaving everyone behind. I'm not sure whether to accept the apparent inevitability of that tearful separation, or continue to heed that little voice in my head saying that something unexpected is going to happen, for better or worse.
Tonight, we shall all raise a glass and lower our heads for the best damn skyship ever built by hooves and hands.
Dashie to the Rescue.
Noble by birth, humbled by death.
GET REKT
Noble jury, a lightly armed highly ajile ship, faces off against 2 Goblin battleships and suffering grevious damages, finally succumbs.
Gentlemen.
i43.photobucket.com/albums/e358/KclCmdr/Motivator/Thunderchild_00_IronShrineMaiden.jpg
Thunder Child.
The beginning of the end.
Gentlemen, it has been a privilege flying with you.
So be it.
Then out spake brave Bellesmith
The Captain of the Gate;
"To every mare upon this plane
Death cometh soon or late.
And how can one die better
Than facing fearful odds,
For the ashes of her fathers,
And the temples of her Gods."
This is the end. My only friend, the end. We shall miss you dearly Noble Jury. You were a good friend and an honorable craft. You shall forever fly forth in our memories.
That's one way to mark the end of the first half of Dash's journey..... Noble Jury, it's been an honor to be along for the ride.
I feel like this is the end of a big piece of these stories.
lik dis if u cri evertim
we all make sacrifices for others, but some make sacrifices for us as well. . . and i see the meaning of what was going on in Rainbow's head the last two books. i think she's wrong though. it wasnt her and belle and pilate that would have to let go, it'd be floydien. i am sad now. . . and another revelation. what if floydien's drive to protect the noble jury was actually preventing him from returning to his true, normal self as well? . . . i'm really getting a kick out of figuring stuff out here, if you cant tell.
You've only been Kera's parent for some months, Belle.
It's too early for dad jokes.
i.imgur.com/acXzYRb.jpg
(salutes)
5566114 It's never too early for dad jokes.
MY SHIP
Fire and fury,
The Noble Jury.
Goodbye, old friend.
Well everyone who was on the ship is alive soooooo....
We had a good run, didn't we?
Noooo!
RIP Noble Jury
Nancy Jane: August 2013 - January 2015
May Floydien not kill Zaid
While Nancy Jane may be gone, the Jury lives on.
5565674
Considering he said that no one knows how this one will end I suspect your little voice is right, in at least one way.
;_;7 RIP Nancy Jane
I have a feeling this isn't what ):( meant about nobody expecting the ending to this book... We still have something ahead of us, mates. Don't take off your seatbelts just yet.
5565674
*Obligatory ''Let It Go''-joke*
Provided that Floyd won't skin Zaid alive, hopefully he'll go after a certain Gamma ship.
thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/angry-moose-head-cartoon-who-was-very-staring-grinning-40305534.jpg
Rest In Pieces NJ. Hopefully you left us something salvageable.
The Jury rests at last.
*Raises a glass* To the Noble Jury. She saved lives. She saved cities. She saved countries. And she saved our hearts and souls. To her friends, a symbol of harmony and hope. To her enemies, a symbol of fury and retribution. And to her crew, she was happiness and home. Let her accomplishments stand as her epitaph across the nations. And may her loss be mourned by those that knew her. Godspeed, Noble Jury. And thank you.
(;-;)7
That is all.
5565625 you say that, but if you hadn't mentioned it, I would have missed it entirely.
Rest in peace, Nancy. You will be missed.
5565625
And that is why I love you. Because someone has to state the obvious, and who better than a blind zebra?
Belle sure has come a long way since the days of Eljunbyro, hasn't she? Gone is the timid, frightened mare, and look at the diamond that was buried underneath.
The Noble Jury may rest in pieces, but the Jury itself is not so easily shattered. You can't kill a concept.
5566900
Rainbow literally says it's time to let her go.
My favorite character is dead :(
Rip in many, many little pieces oh noble vessel
Damn. That last line hits kinda hard.
Damn man, just... damn.
5565624
I'm guessing that it'll come to about the same word-count, but the word-count will start dropping off in the next books, right until they're about the size of Austraeoh again. Y'know, completing the whole theme of going back to beginnings.