Keep Moving, Find Your Place
Roarke stood motionlessly, her lenses reflecting the starlight from where she stood.
Rainbow Dash galloped to a stop, panting as if having run fifty miles in ten seconds. She gulped and clenched her jaw tight.
A bitter breath ran through Roarke's figure. "Hey."
Rainbow's ears instantly folded back. "H-hey..."
"You know, there was a time when the only greetings I would give a pony was a headbutt."
"Heh... funny..." Rainbow smirked crookedly. "For a while there, that was how I alway said 'good bye.'"
"Would you like to headbutt me now?"
Rainbow winced. She hung her head and glanced at her squirming hooves. "Listen, Roake—"
"I can deal with pain," Roarke droned. "I've had organs ripped out of me and metal things shoved into me."
Rainbow gulped. "Bet you never thought you'd find a heart beneath all that blood and pulp, huh?"
Roarke finally turned around. Her lips were quivering "You found it, Rainbow."
Rainbow gazed at her in silence.
"For a while there, Imre c-came close," Roarke said, her voice gradually collapsing, taking on a frighteningly foalish tone. "But... she left this world before she could ever show it to me." The metal mare's shoulders began to shake. "She left me, Rainbow. And... and n-now you?"
"Roarke..." Rainbow closed the distance, instantly nuzzling her. "For Celestia's sake—"
"Take me with you!" Roarke hissed, although her head was bowed. "I-I don't care if I'll slow you down! We'll think of something! We always think of something—"
"I can't. This is something Austraeoh's gotta do. It'll be tough enough for me to make it out on my own—"
"I don't care if we don't make it out!" Roarke squeaked, trembling. "I don't want to be alone again!" She grimaced. "Not after what y-you've given me. Not after what I've t-tasted!"
"You won't be alone, Roarke—"
"Stop saying that!" Roarke was whispering at this point. "With you gone, there is n-nothing, Rainbow!" Something rattled from deep inside of her. "I've got nothing left!"
"Shhhhh... Roarke..." Rainbow reached up with two hooves. She gently unclasped Roarke's lenses, freeing the mare's tears. She buried her face in her chest, protecting her from the starlight as she held her close. "Roarke..." The mares rocked together as Rainbow spoke in a comforting tone. "I did not kick your ass in Foxtaur, blow up your den full of scumbags, drag you across a warzone, and make sweet, sweet love just to introduce you to nothing. Don't even pretend to smack talk what we've made together here."
She tilted the mare's face up. Twin blue slits struggled beneath a pool of tears to look up at her.
Rainbow smiled. "Life is awesome, Roarke. If you don't believe that now, then you're not the 'Genius Most Rare' that all the cyborg gals touted back in Searo. And understand this... I am not giving up. I know it may look that way on the outside, but we all have our journeys to finish, and this is simply the next leg of mine. It's a path that only I can take. You've got one of your own, and it's just beginning."
"You've... always h-had a beacon to guide you," Roarke stammered. "And now, mine is going away. How... h-how can I keep going?"
Rainbow took a deep breath. "You know, Roarke..." She nuzzled the mare close, speaking into her ear. "There was a time... long ago... when I didn't th-think I was capable of..." She winced, but eventually murmured, "Of loving again..." A tear ran down Rainbow's cheek. She clenched her jaw. "I am no longer that mare now. I can't even understand her." She leaned back, smiling tearfully at Roarke. "I have you to thank for that. I have you to thank for everything." She squeezed the mare's shoulders. "You are my brightest beacon. It just... took a while for the fire to be kindled, that's all." She smiled sweetly.
Roarke bit her lip. "Rainbow," she whispered. "Please don't do this. Don't throw yourself into the abyss..."
"Roarke—"
"I love you," Roarke said. "I love you so much."
Rainbow stared at her. She leaned in, resting her fuzzy forehead against Roarke's. "If you love me, Roarke... be loyal to me... be loyal to me by being loyal to them."
"Rainbow...?"
"Bellesmith, Pilate, Kera... EE... the whole gang..." Rainbow stroked Roarke's braids. "Promise me you'll get them to safety. Promise me you'll find them all a happy, serene, peaceful place to spend the rest of their lives." She gulped. "And for you as well, Roarke." She stared into the mare's silver-blue gaze. "Pursue love and friendship in all you do. I know it sounds fruity... but I bet even you can admit..." A devilish smirk. "It's pretty darn magical."
Roarke gazed at her. After a lasting sniffle, her brow furrowed, and a hint of the steely bounty hunter bobbed up to the surface. "I will."
Rainbow stroked her braids one last time. "Look to the mountain, but don't wait for me." Rainbow Dash stepped back. Her lungs heaved as she struggled for the strength to say, "You don't win in life by waiting... but by moving." Her muscles twitched once... twice. Then in a spastic burst, she flew herself skyward, rocketing northeast as fast as her feathers could carry her. The changelings actually had to struggle to keep up, swarming over the fir trees as they followed Rainbow towards the mountains beyond.
Roarke shuddered. She clasped her lenses back in place, damming her tears. Slowly, she tilted her face towards the night sky, finding it full of sparks.
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Goddamnit there's something in my eye.
She put then lenses back on? Hope she doesn't run into anything with all that blurry vision.
I don't know what to say.
It's both nice and sad to see Roarke finally open up like this after all this time.
Well that sure was touching.
4976591
Aw, that's not fair.
After all they just found love, so of course Roarke would be so reluctant to let go.
It was different for them back then because they didn't knew what they were missing, but now that they've got a taste of that happiness only to lose it... Well, it would be pretty hard hitting.
They found someone who understood them, cared for them, and loved them, and now destiny is pulling them apart.
...
Great, now I feel even worse for Roarke.
4976617 Hahaha, oh Zaidy Waidy. I wasn't referring to the taste of happiness, but rather a more... literal taste.
Maybe I should reword my joke.
Eh, I'd still read it.
i.imgur.com/lUd4x5h.png
4976638 I figured as much in the middle of my tirade.
But I sure as hell wasn't going to delete what I had already written.
4976664
Change that to Kera. She's infinitely more awesome than Roarke.
But I do agree with chapter 2's title. Very much.
Well that's what happens when Roarke hogs the game console all fucking day.
Friendship is magic Roarke, So are crystal ships and shipping and magic.
4976674 I'm sensing a lot of negative energy coming from you, Swanny.
4976704 Yeah, UGH! I'm so angry and sad and lonely right now, and I feel like I need to kick something therapeutically. Any suggestions?
4976707 By the Spark, nothing really comes to mind, even though I feel I thought about this very recently. It's almost int he tip of my tongue.
I'm sure it involves a brown maned beige pony, though
Welp, I has a sad now. Great chapter!
Hey chicka bu- 4976591
Oh, man... Stole my joke.
I'm not saying she's going to die, but I'm still preparing the tissue box.
But for one summer, I had roses. And I'll apologize to no one. Aw man. Aw man. It's one of those times were you know exactly how it's all going to end but your poor widdle heart still doesn't care.
4976580 And reading this chapter with your choice of music from the last one just made me tear up for the first time in like three arcs. So thanks for that, you butt.
4976785 Shhh...
It's ok, Nevvy.
Just give me a hand o’ thine, and we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.
The hell do you have in mind as a closer for the book?
4976804
Rainbow biting the dust, I'm guessing.
Eh... I know this is a big moment for Rainbow, but the whole thing still feels forced.
DO Twenty close-hand pushups to make me feel better, ):(. Knock 'em out!
I see a lot of speculation that Rainbow is about to die and the rest of the journey would be carried out by a Jurist.
While I 'can' imagine the majority of the remaining books in this very long epic centering on a character other than Rainbow, which means it is 'possible' for Rainbow to fall and a new protagonist take up the torch......
But there is a lot of setup that would be needed because there are critical plot threads left dangling. At the very least a permanent death for rainbow alone in machine world seems very hard to reconcile with some of the hinted at plot threads.
Examples, can't go to the night armory to reform the elements if you don't have at least one left to be the key....the only remaining element is around Rainbows neck, so even if she dies, someone has to retrieve that gem.
The death of the other elements had the classic, bodies are missing feeling. (Magic white dust is not bodies, especially for major plot characters)
Discard himself seems too unkillable to subcumbed by mearly being broken up(he does it to himself for laughs), pulse the 'discard body effects' Rainbow experiences when without the element and losing control, seems to me, hints too strongly of a return of discard before the story is over. Can't have rainbow drop out of the story with her body left trapped in machine world, if she's going to spawn a new discard.
But if she should have just enough strength left to make it back to the jury, hand kera her necklace...then fall off the ship just as a baby discard does a chest burster scene.... Well....
I'll just leave this here.
Rainbow and mostly everyone else has come to terms this is where rainbow dies..I don't think it's that time yet. No way she stops here with these half minute goodbyes. Shes gonna fly outta that damn whole with reinvigorated health...at least I hope so. Dammit roarke is cute.
Something's gonna happen. There's going to be a curveball of some kind ahead. As touching as this was, there's still something drifting in the weeds. You're holding something back from us. I still think Roarke's death is all but certain. Rainbow's too important to perish, however...
Will Rainbow Dash finally succumb to her transformation? Will Discord speak to her and help her out? She is his hostess... it wouldn't benefit him at all for her to perish. Will they forge some kind of agreement and force back the chaos wyrms?
I'm still not one-hundred percent sure what you're planning, but you're going to make something of Rainbow's worsening affliction somehow...
The Jurists consist of ten plus Dash?If they were one to one, who would match to the elements? Or, would they need to have two to an element or more in cases?
Well, looks like Dash lives by the short and profound motto, Who Dares Wins.
Just like Boosters grandad.
Things are afoot.
Unida - Last Day
You fucking did it to us again! I dont know if I should hate or love you, you Inglorious Bastard
Damn this is really starting to get to me. Again I highly doubt she will die, there are still 6 books left in this thing.
I'm really beginning to wonder if this looming 'Yaerfaerda' is heralding Rainbow's final descent into the machine world on this side of the shard.
We all know that Rainbow Dash will have to proceed alone in her journey eventually. Perhaps such a time has come, and the only way forward for her now will be away to more distant realms, mysterious lands awaiting on the twilight face of the shard.
Here is there, and high is low;
All may be undone.
What is true no two mares know-
What is gone is gone...
Who has choices need not choose.
We must, who have none.
We can love, but what we lose-
What is gone is gone.
Applejack: dead
Gold petals: left wondering
Roarke: I suppose we will have to find out.
Thinking about it, if rainbow succeeds in the resurrection of the elements and goes back the way she came, she's going to have a nice little harem to put together.
4976572
Just a bit of sand, or something. I'm not crying.
I know many people don't like Nickelback, but the song Hero comes to my mind.
I don't consider Rainbow dead yet, but if she has a conversation with the Princesses now, she'll die after that.
I will call the last chapter "Despair!" The wall of lamentations"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q1dcgAgnR0
C'mon Rainbow Dash... Just one more miracle! Please...
*starts rocking back and forth faster* Everything's fine...everything's gonna be fine...They'll be back together soon, and make adorable Rainboarke cuddles...
4976955
I can see Roarke following Rainbow into the mountain even after that.
I don't think Discord exists. All that chaos is Rainbow's own. It would be extremely cruel if Rainbow killed Roarke while transformed. Would she even be aware of it?
4976785
4976801
I don't wonder if your namesake doesn't have something to say about these chaos cretins. Or better yet, a tool to kick them in the snot.
So.... Deus Ex Axan or Deus Ex Discord?
Luna is going to be awfully worried if MoonPhone stops working. Again.
4977870 oh god.....
wait, how long until the full moon for this?
had a wack thought, Chaos Dash pops outa the machine world (cuz she's gunna die......), starts to rampage, only to be stopped by Luna talking........
LISTEN HERE IMPOLODING COLON. THIS STORY DOESN'T HAVE A SAD TAG. YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO PLAY WITH MY EMOTIONS LIKE THAT!!
Every part of me is crossed, hoping that it doesnt end for RD like this. Also, i really hope he doesn't pull an Aerith moment on us with RD going discord-mode and killing Roarke
There is no tragedy tag or sad tag
thedickoshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/mzl.oyljxfjm.png
4977887
The Full Moon just passed when they were in Duradananana. If RD goes quiet in any form, Luna is going to be waiting a long time.
I'm somehow now more worried about Roarke's survival than Dash's.
4977840
i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/original/000/544/034/76a.gif
You're pretty good.
4978225 that may be a good thing.....
See, if Dash dies she goes chaotic, right? And Chaos Dash WILL find a way out of the machine world. So maybe by the time she does the moon is back at full? And Luna can talk her back to maybe Discord level chaotic*?
*less killing, more just scaring and annoying the piss outta everyone
BOOM! Sudden realization! Rainbow was having widely sporadic dizzy spells before meeting Axan, right? RIGHT!1 And they seemed to pick back up after her transformation while fighting Nevlamas, right? RIGHT! And they found themselves in a supremely chaotic sky castle, Stratopolis, right? HELL YES I'M RIGHT!!
What if the dizzy spells are just from chaotic suppression? As in, more chaos than her element can handle? What if the only way to vent said chaos is to become the chaos monster?
So Rainbow Dash probably just has to be the chaos monster for a little while. Granted, it'll probably be quite horrific, but she will probably release massive amounts of semi-dormant chaos during her chaotic spree.
How's that for a theory?
MIND = BLOWN
Damn you Colon and your feels! Why do you do this to us? Why does your character development have to be so perfect that I tear up for ROARKE OF ALL PONIES!?
Also, Rainbow totally isn't going to die... I think. I'm remaining optimistic as best I can.
Yep, I'm crying. :pinkiepiesad:
This reminds me of the song "you'll play your part". Roarke most rare will figure out what to do.
I'm still skeptical that Rainbow's going to die. I mean, maybe somewhere down the line, but not now. It just... doesn't seem to add up, somehow, in terms of narrative logistics. If nothing else, there are too many loose threads. Not to mention that IC (in his many forms) tends to prefer throwing curveballs. I stick by the theory I put forward last time: That Rainbow may be separated from the Jury for a while (and the Jury will probably slog its somber way towards Val Roa thinking that she's dead), but that they'll all be reunited eventually.
That said, this chapter still tore me up.
4977531
You shut up right now we are not thinking of that. That is not a possibility. Nope.
...we hung up our lives.....