"There." Roarke pointed towards the rain-slick edge of the platform. "That's the perfect location."
"For what?" Pilate asked in mid-sprint.
"For making our jump to the central core of this place."
Pilate's helm rattled atop his head. "J-jump?"
"Relax, breeder," Roarke droned as the two slowed to a stop along the platform's edge. The temple was slowly revolving, pivoting to face the round structure in the center. "I'll be doing the legwork for both of us. This suit I'm wearing has enough fuel in it to provide the thrust for both of us for a short time. I'll carry you over and then you're on your own."
"Allow me to guess," Pilate droned. "More Searonese technology that the Lounge stole?"
"I'm afraid not. This technology is beyond me. Probably something stolen from Alafreo or a place even further east."
"You've heard of Alafreo?"
"I've heard of a lot of things."
"That's just... remarkable, Miss Roarke..."
"Hmmm?"
He tilted his helm towards her. "All this time, you were stealing a place on board Razzar's ship, spying and gathering intelligence."
"Well, I most certainly wasn't entering a beauty contest," Roarke grumbled.
"How did you manage it?"
"Excuse me?"
"I mean... they're not exactly equines and they know each other like brothers." Pilate glanced aside as the central structure slowly swung into proximity. "How did you manage to infiltrate their ranks in the first place? I mean, with one glance, they would have realized you didn't exactly have scales..."
"You can thank—or blame Quezaat for that."
"Uhm... Quezaat?"
"Yes. The naga God of Skin and Scales," Roarke explained. "Every naga ship carries a copy of the ancient Quezaatian Scrolls, and one of the holy text's most important rules is the sanctity of the reptilian body."
"Meaning...?"
"It's considered a mortal sin to bear one's flesh to another naga, hence why the Lounge's entire society is constantly wearing thick fabrics and silver masks to obscure their figures. If they allow one another to even see their faces, then they must masochistically peel the flesh from two of their own fingers and say a ritualistic chant for one whole week."
"Wow..." Pilate fidgeted. "That's certainly... uhm... convenient."
"Yes." Roarke nodded, her eye-lenses reflecting the large structure looming ahead. "As soon as I replaced Vaughan at an eastern Xonan outpost, I was able to masquerade as him on board the Lounge's ship without any of the naga suspecting me or having a reason to. The only thing I love more than stupid creatures is a religion that makes them even stupider." She pointed forward. "Here's our destination. We must hurry."
"Quick question. Exactly what am I supposed to do with this?" Pilate asked, patting the bundled shard in his grasp. "You've given me ample exposition on every topic but the immediate concern at hoof."
"That is the key to bringing about the end of Stratopolis."
"And a key is nothing without a driver who knows what he's doing." Pilate frowned under his mask. "Miss Roarke, vision or no vision, I refuse to go any further until I am better informed."
The metal mare sighed. "I only know two things, both of which were extracted from tortured shape-shifters courtesy of Razzar. Number one. Stratopolis has an operating room located within the very heart of this building before us. Number two. Within that room, there are five platforms: one in the center and four for each cardinal direction. It's presumed that skystone shards were positioned on the outer four and then relocated to the center in order to make Stratopolis fly to one of the edges of the world."
"How exactly does that work?"
"I'm not sure. What I am sure about is that the north edge of the world—beyond the standard red fare—has unique clusters of yellow skystone, like the type that you're currently carrying."
"So if I was to reach the control room and place this very piece on the center dais..."
"You're a smart enough breeder to know where this is going on your own."
Pilate gulped. "Yes, I suppose I do."
"We've wasted too much time," Roarke said, grabbing him while the rear of her outfit hummed to life. "We must get moving."
"One m-more thing, though!" Pilate sputtered, trembling in her grasp. "From what Rainbow reported, the center portion of this place is sealed off! How am I supposed to get anywhere near the control room? Especially with changelings everywhere?"
"I'm certain that a way to the control room will be made accessible soon."
"How so?" He clenched his teeth. "Do you intend to crash the Lounge's ship into the barricade?"
"No, for I do believe somepony besides us has the means of opening the last barrier to the core."
"Somepony b-besides us...?" Pilate's jaw hung open. "Rainbow Dash."
"Precisely." Roarke nodded, then fired the thrusters in her suit. "Now hang on!"
Pilate did so, wincing. The two propelled themselves off the platform's edge and soared towards the outer rim of the central platform.
Bellesmith lurched to a stop, her coat and mane drenched as she leaned against a piece of zeppeling wreckage positioned along the outer balcony of the large building.
"Did... did you hear that...?"
Elma stirred, her limbs curling and uncurling as she shivered across Belle's backside.
The mare gulped and wiped the rainwater off her brow. "I could have sworn that... th-that it sounded like something mana-powered..."
Elma continued to writhe and whimper.
Belle craned her neck back. "Elma?"
No response.
"Elma!" Panicking, Belle looked everywhere for cover. She decided upon the hollow of the crashed zeppelin lying right in front of them. Ducking low, she slid the two of them inside. They found a patch of dry rusted floor beneath the mangled hull of the ship. Lying Elma on her side, Belle squatted low and examined her face, fangs, and neck. "Elma, speak to me. What's wrong, darling? Where does it hurt?"
"It hurts..." Elma's green eyes spilled fumes into the air. "...everywhere."
Belle grimaced.
"Just... so..." Elma squeaked and curled into a fetal position. "So h-hungry..." Her dragonfly wings stretched and flitted. "So hungry th-that it hurts..."
"I... I..." Belle shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't... I-I mean I don't know..."
"Please... c-can you hold me?" Elma looked up at her with quivering jaws. "J-just hold me..."
Belle sniffled. She leaned forward and cradled her arms around the changeling. "Elma, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I wish I understood more. I want to ease the pain, but... b-but I have to get us out of here first..."
"Don't be sorry, Mommy..."
Belle twitched, her brow furrowing. She took one look at Elma.
The changeling's flesh had already taken on a peach coat, covered all over with dark swirling tattoo patterns. With a sad, pouting face, Kera looked up, then leaned in to nuzzle Bellesmith's chin. "You're so good to me. Just stay with me here..."
"Kera..." Belle stammered, her ears drooping as sweat formed along her brow. A labored breath escaped her lips. "Kera, I've waited so long for you to say something... j-just one thing..."
"I love you, Mommy," Kera murmured.
Belle choked on a sob, her whole body shivering.
Kera curled up against Belle's chest and clung tight to her. "Don't leave me. Please. I'm so scared, Mommy..."
Belle's eyes flickered green. A gasp escaped her chest, and she shook her head with an inward growl.
Kera's limbs squeezed Belle tighter. "I don't want to be anywhere but with you..."
"Kera..." Belle whimpered. She gritted her teeth and fought the green energy flickering through her skull. "Elma," she growled.
"Don't leave me, Mommy—"
"Elma, stop!" Belle shoved the filly hard.
Kera rolled over and collapsed against a rattling wall of metal, instantly turning into the frazzled changeling.
Belle slumped down onto her chest like a wounded animal. She wheezed, coughed, and took a few moments to fight a wave of pain. Tears ran down her face as she quietly sobbed, but even that was fought with strong resolve. At last, she pushed herself back up to her hooves, glaring down at Elma.
"That's not the way... that was never the way!"
"But..." Elma stared up, shivering. "But you always—"
"I know." Belle sucked her breath in as more tears trickled down her cheek. "And I was wrong. Just because it felt good... just because it felt comforting to be by her side at all times..." She bit her lip and looked away.
Elma blinked, confused and anxious.
Slowly, Belle trotted over. She squatted down before the changeling, then took Elma's hooves in her own. "Shhhh... look at me." She tilted Elma's chin up until their gazes connected. "If you must feed, then do so on that which is wholesome and true, not on that which is sorrowful and pathetic."
"But..." Elma gulped. "You've given me a second chance, Belle. I want to heal you."
"I need to heal myself," Belle said. "And the last thing I'm letting you devour is misery. So, look at me and listen." She gulped. "Feel."
Elma stared at her, eyes wide. Slowly, those eyes turned clear while black and white stripes formed across a stallion's body.
Belle fought the urge to sob. Another tear ran down her cheek as she squeaked, "I am so... so sorry." Her breaths came in pained spurts. "It doesn't matter what mistakes you may or may not have made. I... I was wrong." She hyperventilated slightly, but nevertheless kept gripping Pilate's hooves. "I felt so helpless, so confused, that I took the cowardly way out. And... and I blamed you, Beloved."
Pilate's ears folded back as his blind eyes went moist.
Belle gnashed her teeth and stared at the floor. "Everything happened so fast and so m-miserably, that I lost my center! I gave into despair, and I didn't know who else to blame!" She sniffled and shuddered. "Only, I blamed myself too. What happened to Kera was so terrible, that the only ponies who could be punished were the ones who brought her into that mess. She's been so quiet and so lifeless for so long... I... I-I guess I felt like I had to be just as devoid of life too. It was my burden to bare... but it was a damnably stupid sentence, because all it ever did was punish you... by putting you at a distance... and I'm sorry..."
Pilate swallowed a lump down his throat and stammered, "So much pain... and so much anguish..." He shook his head. "Even now, it's too dry to consume anything but misery..."
"No." Belle shook her head, sniffling. "No. Search deeper." She took the zebra's hoof and placed it over her heart. A painful smile lifted. "It is just a barrier." She winced and spat dryly, "A shell."
Pilate's face contorted in confusion.
Belle leaned forward and nuzzled his cheek. "But inside, beloved, hidden from even myself, it beats for you..."
All of the sudden, Pilate gasped, and a flash of green light flickered across his eyes. His face melted as he collapsed in a sob. "Oh, beloved..."
Belle instantly cradled him, holding him tight. "Shhhh... it's alright... it's alright..."
"I... I-I knew..." Pilate whimpered. "Some way... some how... I-I always knew..."
"And I've been a horrible pony to not reward that faith." Belle took a deep, deep breath. "But when I find him, I'll be hiding it no longer. He will know—as I know—that there is still hope left." She wiped her own cheek and smiled past the shivers. "I just need his help in peeling the shell away. All this time, I've been the blind one, and Spark-willing... he may still have it inside him to forgive me."
"He... he does..." Pilate stammered in an off-tone voice. "I... I've felt it... even if I didn't know it at the time."
Silence.
At last, Belle shook the changeling's shoulder. "Elma..."
The shape-shifter stirred.
"Elma Boreal..."
Losing the stripes, the equine glanced up with a tender expression.
Belle caressed her face. "Do you now have the strength to continue?"
Elma slowly, slowly nodded. "Yes, Bellesmith." Its black cheeks curved upwards. "I... I-I think I can even walk now."
"Good..." Belle stood up and helped the changeling to her hooves. "Though I think we both know who's really been carrying who." She dashed out of the zeppelin, tugging Elma long with her. "Come on!"
Let the boom boom commence.
Roarke is right. Stupid lizards.
And now we're worrying if Roarke is a changeling.
Shell=PTSD.
Yellow=Sending city heading North. Pity about East, wouldve been intresting to have the hanger fly Nancy Jane a long while East, if it wasnt for the infestation.
Naga sure are weird!
This explains why they wear what they wear. On the other hand, how did such a rule in their religion develop in the first place?
Peeling the flesh off your fingers? Ouch...
Well... still a more sensible religion than Scientology.
Forty side-straddle hops, ):(. Knock 'em out!
north we go, getting sidetracked again
They must be pretty miserable as reptiles, then, not being able to soak up the sun. No wonder they're a bunch of assholes.
Obligatory "Fuck you, Shell." Piece of shit villain sue.
Because finding a piece of skystone from the east and taking the easy way would be too easy. Heck, even going north on Stratopolis would work cause it'd still get you to the other side.
Well, that was a nice little bit of exposition on the Lounge. Glad to know they have a silly weakness like that.
Plans are fitting together. Can't wait to see Rainbow's reaction when she sees that Roarke is back.
zeppelin
bear
So what happens when Rainbow sees Pilate, now that she knows changelings can mimic red blood?
4325001 At this point... she can't trust anypony. Not even herself. Literally any single pony we've seen so far could have been a changeling all along, even Rainbow could have been replaced at any point since Axan dropped her off at the west edge of Ledo.
I'm sure that, at some point, we'll find some flibbertygibbet that can actually reveal a changeling. Until then, every single "survivor," especially those who rely on the blood test, are suspect. How better to convince the Jury's crew that you're legit than to expose some changelings with a bogus test?
Belle is totally into role-playing.
Well at least we have a reason for how Roarke infiltrated the Lounge (hopefully anyway, she could still be a changeling) Glad to see Elma getting her strength back.
4325269 You could be a changeling! Why are you telling us this, heathen! Is this another one of your tricks?!
High Spirits - I Need Your Love
North... I think we'll still end up going east. After all, Rainbow needs to fix the Urohringr.
Plot twist: None of the Lounge are actually naga. Each of them are outsiders, like Roarke, who have infiltrated the Lounge and are just trying to blend in, unaware that none of the others are real Lounge members either. And they will never learn the truth.
Also, changelings are best therapy.
4325269 I wonder if changelings are able to identify each other? They have a telepathic link, so perhaps that involuntarily connects them in a way that'll make it possible for them to sense each other. If so, having Elma, Ebon, or the newcomer on the crew will make that problem a lot simpler to deal with.
4324250 'Tis too obvious to have Roarke be a changeling. I hope.
4325899 There's a saying that if there are six people in a meeting of the stereotypical race-based anti-government group, there'll be two ATF agents, one FBI, one reporter, one DEA, and one poor sap who actually believes that stuff. The rest of them are all trying to goad each other into committing crimes.
So much worry over bugpone...
Bugpone is beste pone
Wait, if yellow skystone comes from the north, and goes north... We already know a type of skystone that seems very good at flying east: the red skystone on the Jury... What if we just... Hmmm.
If naga can never undress, the question arises of how they reproduce. Do they just close their eyes or something?
Once Pilate and Belle and Kera are all together again, Elma will be a happy, happy bug. Plus, she might even be able to feed on Floydien x Nancy, if that love is real enough...
4326130 She does seem... out of character, though. I'm currently in the "she's a changeling" camp because Roarke doesn't share her information, especially not with a breeder, unless she really has to.
>She dashed out of the zeppelin
Gotta dash fast!
We told you you'd have to kill him eventually. Still.
Light, even when stolen, still remains light.
*cough cough*
Yes! We may end up with at least a small happy family at the end of this. I'd be crazy to think that everyone will be alive/happy by the end, but I still hold out hope for a small few.
4324560 well, if they wear black cloaks, that absorbs heat, right? But considering they ply the frozen wastes, I'm not sure any amount of sun soaking is going to be of much use.
4327277 but she kinda does have to when it comes to an obstinate pilate....
So we're going to destroy Stratopolis by flying it into the north edge of the world?
And Belle has finally let out her feelings.
-Spirit
this must be a VERY interesting experience indeed...succumbing to all these deep painfull feelings...yet at the same time, you know youre doing it to literaly help your friend...this could go either way. either Belle and Elma could have a GREAT friendship cause of this dangerously intimate moment, or bell'ed end up hating elma for it...This isnt quite the same as willingly let a vampire friend suck a bit off you every night or so...this is more psychological...
Very...interesting...indeed. very original concept that ive never seen before...i like it.
Man, that scene with Elma was . . . awfully weird. It just felt odd, but I guess that comes with a being that can shape shift at will.
5800855 Not just at will, From the way it's happening it seems to be an almost sub-conscious thing at times too, Like a defense or survival mechanism. she needs to feed so automatically she Searches and takes a form to provide that sustenance.
4409542 Plus, remember why Roarke left in the first place. Rainbow Made her leave because Her hiding things had endangered everyone and contributed to countless individuals getting Killed because she thought Belle and Pilate were too weak to stay with the noble jury. And while Rainbow wasn't right to send her away, Rainbows REASONS definitely rang true. If Roarke wasn't so constantly manipulative and secretive things could have been easier for everyone. And Roarke, After all is one of the characters who has shown a distinct ability to Learn from her mistakes, and quickly.
Let it go.
Oh trust me, Belle
data.archive.horse/4ch/mlp/image/1427/58/1427581844943.png
Don't conceal.
Well, it was about time Belle got some therapy - even if it was the battlefield version, delivered by a changeling.
both are carrying each other, just in different ways
06/03/2017 01:22 UTC
You know......we never knew FOR CERTAIN Belle kill Shell. I swear if he comes back.......
I swear, th we changeling chats are the most fucked up absurd things yet
Dang, Belle finally had her epiphany. Her letting Kera waste away like this is helping no one, least of all herself. Instead of trying to help Kera and Pilate along, she succumbed to despair and refused to leave the safe and depressing hold of it. Let's hope she'll get her wish and see Pilate soon.