Yaerfaerda

by Imploding Colon

Rainbow Dash and the Ancient Tower

Climbing the tower was no easy feat. As if the constant roar of swirling waves beneath and around her wasn't enough, Rainbow had to pause every half-minute and cling tight to the pillar she was climbing, for fear of being thrown off by the deep bass vibrations of the structure's persistent salvos. The pegasus clenched her teeth, fearful that the bolts of ruby electricity surging outward in all directions would somehow find her body and fry her to a crisp. The higher she climbed, the more she dreaded this eventuality. As far as the mare could tell, the beams of energy issued from the center frame of the tower's summit, which meant that she would inevitably cross the stream and expose her body to the deathly discharge.

The alternative wasn't any better, however. Rainbow had seen what the crashing waves had done to her raft. She wouldn't last ten seconds swimming in those waters—even if they weren't subject to the whims of a deathly whirlpool. For all intents and purposes, Rainbow was stuck on the tower in the middle of nowhere.

But she wasn't alone. Yaerfaerda lingered, shimmering right above, beckoning.

Rainbow Dash continued climbing. Her ears folded back in time to withstand the excruciatingly loud bass noise. Around ten minutes in, she reached the base of the tower's upper body. She saw chains, pulleys, and levers dangling in the wet mist. A fine condensation coated the metal, making it difficult to grip the notches of the pillar without slipping.

It was here—upon the lip of the tower's curved edge—that Rainbow hesitated, for she wasn't sure exactly where the electrical charges were coming from. Then, as if to answer her question, several beams of ruby light fired outward, dragging scarlet branches through the swirling clouds above. Through several well-timed blinks, Rainbow carefully studied the phenomenon. It was then that she discovered a pattern: all parts of the tower's metal surface spat out lightning, save for a few key spots spaced equidistant from one another. One such spot was above Rainbow and slightly to the left.

Gritting her teeth, Rainbow reached up past the spot where the pillar met the head of the tower. She found the open teeth of a dormant cog. Grunting—straining through stiff muscles—she managed to get a hoof-hold. She then shuffled sideways, very slowly, inching her way towards the closest spot along the tower's circumference where the lightning didn't touch. Every thirty seconds or so, she had to pause, for the phenomenon blinded her and made it difficult to judge where she was going. Rainbow ultimately resorted to closing her eyes in time with the flickering discharge. This way, she was better able to gauge the lengths of the structure ahead of her.

As her eyes narrowed and her sight improved, Rainbow sensed a recess—a cavity. There was an opening in the face of the Tower, pointing out across the oceanic expanse. What's more, something shimmered from within: a lavender light. Rainbow tilted her head as she dangled, and she realized that Yaerfaerda was positioned at an angle to her, lingering only slightly ahead.

It was inside the tower.

Thunder rolled, and as the noise crackled off into the distance, Rainbow could have sworn she heard a lingering breath amidst the rumbling—a voice that wasn't hers. It produced three syllables, raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

She looked behind her, gasping. All her twitching eyes saw was more and more ocean. Lightning issued outward in all directions, slicing the clouds in ruby streams, then fading.

Clenching her teeth, Rainbow looked straight up, and climbed with explosive fervor. The final stretch was very painful. Her weary muscles were stretched to the breaking point, and she was certain that—hadn't her destination been a few feet above her—she might ultimately have lost her grip and plunged deep into the churning waves below.

At last, her hooves clasped onto a deep ledge. She felt a smooth, polished surface—almost cold to the touch. The mare almost slipped from the beads of moisture clinging to the metal, but she was finally able to pull herself up and onto the platform. As soon as gravity was on her side, she rolled over, collapsing onto her back.

There, she lingered, her tail and left hind leg dangling in the salty air. She stared up at a golden ceiling that hung remarkably low. Her weary eyes studied the framed entrance above her, judging that it was barely seven feet by seven feet in dimension. She felt a current of moist air being funneled through the enclosure, which was how Rainbow figured that the Tower itself was hollow. As she laid there, collecting her breath, she saw lavender light reflecting off every golden surface, forming a bright sheen across the inner walls of the structure.

After several minutes, Rainbow was done lingering. Her joints cracked as she rolled over, quivered, but eventually stood up. Without meaning to, she faced out the entrance, gazing at leagues upon leagues of rolling, churning waves. It was a sheer miracle that the raft had carried her sleeping body so safely to the crest of the whirlpool. After another wave of lightning shot out—this time issuing away from her perspective—she realized that every square inch of the ocean within eyesight was part of the same whirlpool; every cloud part of the same cyclone. For all she knew, this was the heart of the Grand Choke, the reason for all magic being reduced to madness.

There was no telling how old this Tower was. Perhaps it was older than Val Roa and Rohbredden, older than legend. Quite likely, it was as old as Urohringr itself. The pegasus could only guess how long that structure had been lingering there, a ghostly bastion in desolate waters, stirring the elements to a continuous boil.

“… … … … … … … … Rainbow Dash?”

She gasped, spinning around. Her eyes squinted.

A golden corridor led straight forward into blinding lavender light, and at the center of the flickering aura was Yaerfaerda. The curved lines shimmered, fluctuating, like arms beckoning for an embrace. The six spheres approached her and receded away at the same time.

Rainbow stood in place, shivering. Her ears tickled from a trailing whisper. She glanced left and right, almost certain another body was casting shadows besides her own. Then, taking a deep breath, she shuffled forward, one wobbling step after another, approaching the beacon that had haunted her for months and months on end. Her pendant glistened, reflecting everything with the same immaculate shine as the ancient metal surrounding her.

As she trotted forward, the air current grew gentler... yet cooler. The salty smell faded, replaced by a charming fragrance that soothed her dry nostrils and chapped lips. In fact, Rainbow felt incredibly soothed all over, as if she had just trotted out of a luxurious bath. She was so overwhelmed by this calmness that she barely took notice of how quiet everything had gotten. The roar of the waves dwindled, and the thunderous salvos from the electrified tower faded into sleepy obscurity.

Rainbow blinked calmly. Her hooves took on quiet echoes as they shuffled over polished marble tiles. Soon, she was brushing past milky white curtains that fluttered in a gentle breeze. At last, after passing a series of granite pillars, she stood upon the balcony's edge, gazing out at a moon-lit countryside looming far below. A hazy sheet of rolling plains and quiet trees stirred under sleepy night. The stars formed a glittering spectacle of violet hues above, and the many platforms of a towering city below mimicked the cosmos with hundreds upon hundreds of distant torches and dimly-lit candles.

The mare's lips pursed. Her nose tickled from the scent of flowers and fragrant bathwash. Rainbow's hooves traced the edges of a silk robe, and she felt her mane dangling in a delicate braid.

“What...?”

She stared east, her eyes tracing the peaks of many mountains beyond the edge of the wide emerald valley. Columns of steam and smoke blotted out a swath of constellations, denoting industry.

“...the hay?”

Rainbow Dash instantly shivered. Her twitching vision traced the horizon again in search of Yaerfaerda, but she could no longer locate it. With a nervous jolt, her hooves shot up to her neck. Her pendant was still there, and for the first time in as long as she could remember, that brought her relief.

“And have you found peace, yet, oh blessed child?”

Rainbow gasped.

She spun around.

The first thing she saw was a pair of eyes—piercing aqua blue, like pearls. Then a regal smile framed an alabaster face as the figure trotted gracefully towards her, wings spread in the aura of a majestically glowing horn.

“You are neither here nor there, Austraeoh,” spoke the alicorn, perching next to her on the balcony. “But, it doesn't truly matter to you anymore, does it?” She smiled with boundless pride.

Rainbow Dash's muzzle hung open, quivering. “Whitemane...?” she mewled.

Comments

[AppleTank]

1) new2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/Anonymous+rolled+image+_6e5ef8bcb0f41a69a0189d50701294a2.jpg
2) That is one strange tower
3) WHITEMANE RETURNS!

[Shiyo]

Rainbow Dash's muzzle hung open, quivering. “Whitemane...?” she mewled.

My first thought on the curtains: Whitemane? And look, here she is.

I agree with Rainbow. "What the /I'm not that bad, yet/ hay? "

Climbing the tower was no easy feat. As if the constant roar of swirling waves beneath and around her wasn't enough, Rainbow had to pause every half-minute and cling tight to the pillar she was climbing, for fear of being thrown off by the deep bass vibrations of the structure's persistent salvos

To her delight, the tower—for as tall as it was—didn't sway a single inch in the intense winds. To her chagrin, however, there were still intense winds. They came in momentary spurts, their frigid gales rippling her mane and tail hairs, threatening to blow the strands straight off their roots. Every so often, she would have to pause, gripping tightly to the mess of metal planks and bars as she waited for the tempests to take their toll.

At least you're done. I think. . . I'm sorry! I can't help it!

But she wasn't alone. Yaerfaerda lingered, shimmering right above, beckoning.

As the compass rose rotated to a stop, everything became clear. The east needle was pointing at the tower.

And I bet Yaerfaerda is the same "direction": east.

Thunder rolled, and as the noise crackled off into the distance, Rainbow could have sworn she heard a lingering breath amidst the rumbling—a voice that wasn't hers. It produced three syllables, raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

I admit. I thought it said "Yesterday". But there are too many words with three syllables. RD, Every single book name, and so on. How bout "banana"?

she saw lavender light reflecting off every golden surface

Why the color lavender?
. . .
IT HAS TO HAVE A REASON. IT HAS TO.

Rohbredden

Wait wat? What did I miss here?

The six spheres approached her and receded away at the same time.

I remember seeing the number six.

I find this very fun. I should of started earlier.

[RoboRed]

Well damn, How about that.

Hello again, Whitey.

[Shiyo]

5783973
Imagine Rainbow saying that first thing in the next chapter.

[RoboRed]

5783972

Rohbredden

Wait wat? What did I miss here?

This

[destinedjagold]

uh...

[Swan Song]

Ohai.

[Sypher]

Holy...

[Lightning Bearer]

A wild Whitemane appeared.

I can safely say I didn't expect that.

[YoshiFawful64]

...Well then. Time for some nostalgic exposition!

[dafiltafish]

What the fuck?

I'm sorry but WHAT?

[Leftover of Saikano]

So many new chapters. I will wait until I read them all to comment, but I suppose I will be speechless by then.

[314]

At last, after passing a series of granite pillars, she stood upon the balcony's edge, gazing out at a moon-lit countryside looming far below

Whitemane Whitemane Whitemane Whitemane

Whitemane

YEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS!!!!!

[Arcanist Ascendant]

Gotta say, I was not prepared for that.

[Jonathon Smythe]

Always. Always a trick up his sleeve, this guy.

[whizzball1]

Six spheres around Yaerfaerda. Half of 12. The number of the Elements. What could they mean? And Whitemane? I really wasn't prepared for that,

-Spirit

[Nagmeister]

Uhh. Hello again, Whitemane?

[Super Trampoline]

Haha, yes! Best half-Alicorn returns!
I hope she doesn't turn out to be evil.

[Moonlight Melodies]

Her ears folded back in time to withstand the excruciatingly loud bass noise.

D-d-d-d-d-d-d-drop the bass!

[Cynderfall]

Holy Poptarts Batmare! Whitemane is back?! Wha- What the hay is going on!

[Vendable Sheik]

Wow Whitemane is able to reach her over this kind of distance? Dang, I'm impressed. And didn't Whitemane say she wasn't as strong as Celestia or Luna? Somehow I'm doubting that now. Anyway, onward everyone! This book ends tonight!!

[Jade Curtiss]

[not_a_rainbow]

trippin balls

[Future Regret]

What....

[JustAnotherTimeLord]

Man, it sure has been one hell of a while.

[aRestlessCreativeGamer]

At last, after passing a series of granite pillars, she stood upon the balcony's edge, gazing out at a moon-lit countryside looming far below. A hazy sheet of rolling plains and quiet trees stirred under sleepy night.

Hmm... sounds like when Rainbow left Equestria, followed by her first few days journey.

The stars formed a glittering spectacle of violet hues above, and the many platforms of a towering city below mimicked the cosmos with hundreds upon hundreds of distant torches and dimly-lit candles.

Windthrow?

The mare's lips pursed. Her nose tickled from the scent of flowers and fragrant bathwash. Rainbow's hooves traced the edges of a silk robe, and she felt her mane dangling in a delicate braid.
“What...?”
She stared east, her eyes tracing the peaks of many mountains beyond the edge of the wide emerald valley.

Verdestone.

Columns of steam and smoke blotted out a swath of constellations, denoting industry.

Darkenstine?

Whitemane eh? It's been four books since we heard from her...I sorta hope she's the mysterious voice, but I don't think so.

[Seraphimus]

5927445 Yeah, almost 4 whole books.

[**Beert]

Wut

Yep, I was not prepred for Whitemane. Well done IC.

[Revan]

What's a half-alicorn doing in the middle of a sea of chaos?

[Tim the Planes-pony]

I echo Dash's sentiment, what the?

[Keris]

Waaait wait wait, did she die and her uhm.. idk 'soul .. essence.. thingy' just continued the journey because shes too Rainbow Dash to end it ?
Because from those flashbacks and that conversation it.. would that even act up..?
Ok i am lost here.

[Hazard]

The tower must have very strong magic inside for whitemane to tap into...

[Enix]

Oh hey it's you. I still remember what you did the first time. Not sure how to feel that your here. Cause i sense an excuse for something coming.

[Metal Aura]

5784880 Now RD needs to find all of the anticubes.

[SolidFire]

Plot twist? Whitemane is back for some unfathomable reason, and now it's got me confused. Also, there are six spheres around the Yaerfaerda symbol, so that's bound to mean something. Damn... finishing this tonight and starting the next.

~SolidFire

[Rudy45]

.........'sup, dog?

[Zecoro]

These comments literaly said it ALL for me

.....im speechless anyways......

-mind blown-

[arancaytar]

What

[Tim the Planes-pony]

Thunder rolled, and as the noise crackled off into the distance, Rainbow could have sworn she heard a lingering breath amidst the rumbling—a voice that wasn't hers. It produced three syllables, raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

That describes more what it isn't than what it is, lots of things have three syllables.
07/24/2017
22:59 UTC

[BleedingRaindrops]

I'm with Rainbow on this one.

[Prism Break]

Wat

[Cold Bolt]

8781244
Okay no but I literally just said

[FOXTrot2]

5747348
Personally, if I could have a mix, I would drop by Blue Nova, grab an airship and then travel to Gray Smoke where I would pick up any gadgets I didn't grab in Ledo.

After that, I'd travel to the Durandana crater and find a beloved, regardless of how immoral they may be, and teach her the ways of everything awesome and live happily with her and my airship.

Maybe I'd invent video games and we'd be the first gamers in Uroringr history!!!

[Tim the Planes-pony]

Either she found Whitemane's ocean-front getaway home, or she is hallucinating again.

10/17/2019
16:03 UTC

[hypervelocity]

Thunder rolled, and as the noise crackled off into the distance, Rainbow could have sworn she heard a lingering breath amidst the rumbling—a voice that wasn't hers. It produced three syllables, raising the hairs on the back of her neck.

...ghost?

Rainbow Dash's muzzle hung open, quivering. “Whitemane...?” she mewled.

WHAT?!

[Luminous Tune]

This
Was
Not
Who
I
Was
Expecting