More horns sounded off. Serpent riders shouted to one another as they flew into the gaping mouth of a cave looming before the Lightning Bearer. Armed guards stood on metal platforms lining the middlemost entrance to the Sacred Hold. They kept their mana-powered cannons trained on the captured Ledomaritan vessel as it drifted icily into the interior of the floating mountain.
Rainbow Dash and her fellow equines shuddered as a cold shadow washed over them. In a matter of minutes, the entirety of the Lightning Bearer had entered the Hold.
Kera and Zaid glanced left and right, noticing several platforms chiseled out of the inner rock of the place. Xonans marched along the ledges, several of them wearing dull blue fatigues. Laborers gathered in droves, chanting in unison as their sweaty muscles pulled and tugged at various levers and machinery. A bizarre assembly was underway on either side of the passage, with hundreds of tattooed unicorns lowering chunks of powdery gray crystal into boiling pools. Steam filled the air as the sediment was burned off these samples and then transferred to lower platforms via brass-laden tubes.
Rainbow craned her neck to look at a passing ledge beneath the Lightning Bearer. She saw as the powdery substance was then heated into a molten broth, ultimately to be funneled into casting molds where they would be hammered into small, rectangular strips. A wave of dizziness overwhelmed her, and she tilted forward. A hoof yanked her back. She glanced tiredly, only to gawk at the sight of Nightshade. The mare cleared her throat and leaned Rainbow Dash before pretending to be absorbed with the passing scenery.
Basso and Zetta stared with their jaws dropped. As the sunlight from the entrance grew more and more distance, they became aware of a glowing pattern spiraling around them. Lining the rock walls between the platforms, there was an elaborate mosaic of swirling diagrams and geometric etchings. The patterns noticeably resembled the tattoos that so commonly illustrated the coats of the Xonans all around them. When the two Ledomaritans attempted to get a better look, several serpents screamed past them. Zetta flew back with a shriek; Basso easily caught her.
Flying snakes swirled around the Lightning Bearer, their fangs glistening in the aura cast off by the glittering wall art. One by one, they hovered alongside an upper row of platforms. Their riders dismounted, and lowly Xonan servants in blue fatigues marched up to disrobe them of their armor in ceremonial fashion. The creatures--in the meantime--flew up, up, and up until they found various crevices built into the ceiling. There, they clustered together like bats to a cave wall until their scales glossed over, cloaking along with the dull brown color of the Hold’s interior.
One serpent, however, did not retire. Zytharros rode his beast towards an immense torch-lit platform located at the dead end of the Lightning Bearer’s approach. Horns echoed loudly across the floating cavern, and the captured battleship drifted to a stop. A well-decorated Xonan and his entourage of fellow officers marched up. Unlike the servants, they wore elaborate suits of segmented, enchanted armor much like Zytharros.
The rider landed his serpent on the edge of the platform. While the Lightning Bearer moored, he hopped down, stripped his armor off, levitated the plates until they once more turned into a large bastard sword, and promptly stabbed the blade into a fitting crevice within the floor of the ledge. As the noble Xonan and his fellow officers trotted up to the blade, Zytharros bowed low and spoke.
“Ledmulian meethiulun drennadenne, Arcshod Xon-Nagu’n.” Zytharros stood tall and proud as he gestured back towards the Lightning Bearer. “Trenntennium diennum thrien. Trentte Xon-Nagu’n haalasiulen maasuun thriulen Lisairfion Xon-Nagu’n.”
The stallion greeting Zytharros took a deep breath and spoke in an even deeper voice. “Dreesum…. dreesum, Zytharros. Miulien. Haasa rassuul Ledomulien trenntar dienen?”
“Dreit.” Zytharros bowed again and whistled towards the Lightning Bearer.
Two First-Born Xonans hopped the railing and galloped up the length of the platform, carrying a canvas bag. They bowed low before the two officers, holding the item out for Zytharros.
Zytharros levitated it with his telekinesis, gave the canvas bag a flick, and immediately unsheathed a long, tanned pelt colored with an elder stallion’s still-silky coat hairs. “Fortis thriulen Ledomul. Drennadarsheen.”
Zetta covered her muzzle, her eyes twitching. Basso gritted his teeth, turning to glare in Dalen’s direction.
Dalen said nothing, merely presiding over the prisoners in his charge.
The stallion before Zytharros nodded. Slowly, his lips curved. “Haalith, Zytharros. Haalith. Lasairfion threnna mesuul kanalieth menh.”
Zytharros nodded. He levitated the pelt and hung it from the hilt of his bastard sword. The leathery fabric flapped in a cold breeze from the Lightning Bearer’s exhaust ports.
“Hanaluusen metriel, Arcshod Xon Nagu’n,” Zytharros said to the smiling Xonan. “Dressum rekkhar hennu thriul.” He cleared his throat, turned, and pointed towards the top deck. “Oss tray oh.”
The stallion’s lips parted. “Oss tray oh…?”
“Dreit.”
The stallion rubbed his dull gray coat. He stared Rainbow’s way, his brown eyes fixated on her multicolored bangs. After a while, another smile crossed his muzzle. He nodded and motioned towards the officers.
Dalen’s hooves slapped together. He spun and shouted at the grunts surrounding the guards. “Hreit! Haak summ less menn hraak threen!” He stepped back and blurted, “Graat! Graat! Graat!”
The Xonans around Rainbow’s group marched steadily forward, urging the prisoners along with them. Rainbow drew Kera closer as she, Zaid, Nightshade, and the Ledomaritans shuffled along as steadily as they could. As they dismounted the Lightning Bearer and stepped onto the polished stone of the platform, the uniformed Xonans eyed them closely.
Rainbow glared at the officer who had greeted Zytharros.
The stallion stared back, his smile not melting away for a single instant.
Rainbow would have spent more time studying him, but a dizzy wave overwhelmed her. She shuddered, and it took the combined effort of Zaid and Kera to keep her steady. A murmuring commotion rose above the uniformed Xonans.
Nightshade noticed it. She also noticed Dalen trotting off towards the side, temporarily leaving the group.
Dalen marched until he stood before Zytharros and the other stallions. He faced the smiling Xonan in particular, then bowed low with the lavender book in his telekinetic grasp. In a breathy, penitent voice, he murmured, “Hraat zuul mekk rekkh hraan thriun thiel, Dizzaaz Manathen Arcshod Xon-Nagu’n. Dren daas thien Ledomulien rekkh theen.” He floated the book out as an offering. “Murk lemh Xon. Murk lemh Xon, thien Nagu’n.”
He wasn’t even finished with his words when the stallion before him merely cleared his throat and shuffled past his kneeling figure. He spoke to Zytharros in a casual voice, gesturing towards the Lighting Bearer.
Zytharros stumbled a bit, giving Dalen a side-glance before trotting over to keep up with the other officer. “Dreit, Archshod Xon-Nagu’n. Ledomulien meeseem hessa landra thrien.” The two trotted off, along with the entourage of uniformed stallions.
Dalen remained kneeling where he was. With a shuddering breath, he clenched his eyes shut. A tremble ran through his body, two, but he soon relaxed. On wobbly legs, he stood back up, and shuffled lethargically after the group of prisoners.
By this time, Nightshade was being prodded forward. She and Rainbow and others were being ushered into a long, narrow tunnel. Behind them, a loud hissing noise filled the cavern.
Roarke heard it. She was perched in the only spot of the Lightning Bearer unseen from Xonan or reptilian eyes. Nestled between the main manathrusters, she craned her neck around the outer bulkhead in time to see massive doors opening on the port side of the battleship. A pair of Xonan hovercraft drifted up, their stallions training guns on the scene as huge planks were extended from the Ledomaritan battleship and onto an adjacent stone platform. Urged on by shouting grunts and hissing beasts, nervous enforcers were forced to march single-file off the ship and onto a loading bay in the glow of torchlight.
Roarke’s eye-lenses pistoned in and out, focusing on the spectacle. She bit her lip, fumbling between which of the two groups to follow. With a muffled grunt, she kicked off the hull of the ship, clung to the underbelly of a Xonan hovercraft, and continued her stealthy vigilance.
Off to see Lisairfion, I guess. Hopefully, answers will follow.
Also, I wonder what the hell Dalen did. He kind of has a Zuko vibe going on.
The source of the chaos strips - revealed.
Hmmm...was it ever discussed on where/how those guys got the things back in Austraeoh, or was it merely mentioned that they were in possession of them and nothing more?
These Xonans are started to piss me off more and more. That's not a good thing, tattoo boys.
Hope you enjoyed the rest, ):(, cuz now you owe me forty-five push-ups. Knock 'em out!
My goodness o.o I just found this, and it's like "Oh hey, look at this."
Austraeoh > Eljunbyro > Innavedr > Odrsjot.
Some reading to do.
3461580 It''l take +750,000 words, but they'll all be worth it.
I'm still waiting for those explosions. I'm still waiting for some retard to steal her pendant.
3461580
If you read more than 5 or so chapters a day, you will eventually catch up. He only updates once every day. Every. Day. Do not miss your schedule, or you will fall behind. FOREVER.
We return to your daily Rainbow Ponies.
3461480
I think Dalen has the potential to be a rogue element. Don't quote me on this, he's probably just another bad guy, but something about him is definitely off.
Related picture of the day:
img.youtube.com/vi/XwduTfvpO1o/0.jpg
Don't let Arc get to know he's a badass - we'll never hear the end of it. And since things are after all continuously getting worse, everything from this point on can't possibly be anything but horrifying.
But you know, perhaps the princess isn't that bad. Perhaps she will be nice to them. Perhaps she's sick and tired of her golden cage and will decide to go on adventure and there will be kittens and flowers and everyone is going to die, aren't they?
The Xonans are somehow extracting, mining, refining the metal which the Ledos couldnt even scratch with all their mining and experiments? Something is really screwy right there.
Also, Nagun is dying through metal processing pollution, chaos creature contamination?
Sneaky sneaky Rourky.
So the Floaty Fortress is full of Chaos metal ore? That could mean it came from the dark side of the world.
3461580 Theory is the next fic starts with a U and will have 5 word chapter titles
Can I just say that if this is Mr. Smiles' name, it's the best name so far. Even if it does bring galloping disco warhorses to mind.
Roarke most Ninja.
…still looking forward to meeting Lasairfion. And possibly Nagu'n.
~Basso
3461580
Yeah, falling behind in this series is like shooting yourself in the foot. Since he updates everyday, you really will have to take some time to catch up. But of course that depends on how fast you read and all that jazz.
I get the feeling we're nearing the part where Queen Lassie tries to convince Rainbow that she's a pretty cool gal. I don't forsee any sympathy on my end when she's literally the queen of the racist assholes.
3462148Eh...probably. But if she's put on the right path to a better world, she could find some goodness in her. However, she'll never relinquish her master plan, however "selfless" she deems her actions.
So Chaos strips are made from crystals, hmm? Makes me wonder if there's some kind of Chaos Emerald... Nah, probably not.
Shell ETA: No signal, please try again later.
Jury ETA: No signal, please try again later.
3461580 And you won't regret it for one moment.
I wonder how Rainbow will get out of this one. I'm guessing that explosions will not work this time. Who knows, maybe Lisairfion might still be helpful. Or maybe Dalen is a double spy.
"You mean this 'Nagu'n' thingy is actually real?!"
So, my name's attached to a Xonan general or other high-class flag officer who smiles too much. Very interesting.
I hope he's sympathetic. Seems unlikely, but you never know.
3461580
See you in about a month.
3463045
Seems like that Arcshod Xonan dude is their leader. Came out to see the Lightning Bearer entering the airship dock. Taking in the sights when, oh happy coincidence, Austraeoh just happens to be on board. No, I don't think he's going to be much help. He's going to "try" to "assist" in a way that will mostly benefit him (probably entirely and leave them all as slaves or serpent food), but get denied outright, get pissed and order his Xonans to attack. Fighting will ensue, explosions (hopefully in a very Death Star-esque fashion, as was so eloquently pointed out before), then Austraeoh and Co. will bust out when the Noble Jury flies into the scene and continue eastward with Basso and Zetta in tow, as well as the book with the Flame in it. Nightshade will die a shameful death somewhere early on, probably speared in the ass or devoured by a serpent most unceremoniously.
I will see to this personally...
This is a pretty damn scary place.
3463508
Well fine, if all good to me is lost. . . Evil, be thou my good.
But seriously, having your own in-atmosphere asteroid base is definitely the best part of running a superpowered theocratic regime. I think can understand what Vivec saw in this lifestyle.
3463045
...daddy? I wonder, lol.
I hope that R.D lose her pendent on screen so we can finally see what she looks like.
And also Pwns the cultist army.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Whoa...they're actually manufacturing chaos strips?! I never really thought about their origin before...jeez. If they have the capacity to make those...Nag'un must be the real deal. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
So many different viewpoints to consider! Will there be future double crossing on the Xonan side? Will the sneaky Roarke be discovered before she can help free our favourite characters? Who will escape, and who won't make it out? Can Nightshade truly redeem herself? Will the Xonans eventually get to Kera? And, most importantly: Will the grand kingdom of Zabadabdbubububu ever be discovered?
In any case, this plot be thickening like cold porridge. Onward!
3462891 get better reception yet?
3461580 welcome to the party! Totally worth it! :)
They all know about Austraeoh... Let's go See Lisairfion.
-SPirit
I do hope this turns out well
In the heart of enemy territory now, with no place to go. Let's hope the Jury goes at a breakneck pace.
Ah, so this is where the coveted chaos metal is mined. Makes me wonder if this entire fortress is just a giant lump of rock with some juicy chaos crystals they found floating in the chaotic-ether.
Hmm for some reason, I wouldn't mind if Rainbow somehow blew this place up...the world could use one less source of chaos metal
5889487 Yet another group of sadistic madmen Tampering with powers they cannot possibly comprehend.
Chaos metal... And a lot of it.
6031897
The really worrisome thing is that they do comprehend it, or at least moreso than the last batch...
Is it just me or does the language seem a lot like the dragon language of skyrim
I keep reading their language like it's one of the dragons talking to me
6253068
I had no idea the stuff could be synthesized and refined from Crystal.
8708038
Most likely the crystal is an ore. If I recall correctly, Celestia had enough of it to make a tower in Ponyville.