Thwisssssssssh!
That night, Whizzball descended over the sleepy rooftops of Bountiful. Columns of chimney smoke painted the sky with dull-gray ribbons against the purplish cosmic haze. As the glossy sphere circled around the House of Sehlp at length, it slowed while the occupants of the miniature transport scanned the forest for the Noble Jury.
"Hmmmm..." Roarke's jaw tensed as her thin blue eyes danced between every tree.
"I don't get it," Eagle Eye murmured. "They landed in this town, didn't they?"
"Keep an eye out," Roarke droned. "Your breeder eyes are better than mine."
"Mmmfnnngh..." Ebon woke up, legs curling as his body made a trilling sound. His head momentarily flashed to a black shell and then back with green flame. "Gnngh... are we th-there yet?"
"Just about, candy cane," Eagle replied. "Just attempting to find out where Floydien landed with our friends."
"They probably wanted to distance themselves from the center of town," Roarke said while quietly circling the ship. "In order to frighten the locals less." Silence. She turned and blinked awkwardly at Eagle. "'Candy cane?'"
"There!" Eagle pointed as the vessel passed over a break in the trees. His eyes twitched. "Great Spark! What happened to it?"
"Looks... looks like they crashed!" Ebon stammered.
"Quick, Roarke! Land us!"
"Hmmm... landing..."
Whizzball softly lowered to the disturbed patch of forest floor, touching down just behind the dormant skystone ship. With a hiss, the doors opened, and all three ponies trotted out. They approached the open hangar of the leaning ship. Eagle's horn shone across the bulkheads like a spotlight. At last, the body of a sleeping earth pony could be seen.
"It's Zaid," Ebon squeaked, shivering slightly.
"Zaid?" Eagle asked. He cleared his throat and trotted closer. "Pssst! Hey! Zaid!"
Roarke strolled casually by the stallion. She slammed him upside the head with a metal-laced hoof.
Wh-Whack!
"Snrrkkkkt!" Zaid hopped in place, eyes wided. "I didn't crap in the robes locker, Khao! I swear!" He blinked, then rubbed his head, wincing. "Owwwwww..."
"Mind telling us what happened here?" Roarke asked.
"I'm doing fine, Roarke, thanks." Zaid hissed, rubbing his skull. "Welcome back to the land of the almost-living."
"It would do you well to answer the question."
"Turns out Floydien has a bit of history in Bountiful," Zaid said. "When he saw this town from above, he had a bit of a panic attack and crash landed us here."
"Floydien?!" Ebon gasped. "You mean... as if he's been here before? But he couldn't remember it?"
"Oh, it's way more cliche than that." Zaid managed a tired smirk. "Looks like the dude's a Duke... a Duke-Dude." He gestured towards the village beyond the trees. "Even has a younger sister who's the current Duchess of this place. Chick's pretty hot, as elk's go. But... y'know... couldn't rock the blond ponytails."
"That... is..." Ebon grimaced. "A lot to take in."
"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather take it in in the morning," Eagle said, trotting through the hangar and yawning. "There's a cot with my name on it. Ebon's too."
"Better keep your horn on, then," Zaid said. "Power's on the fritz."
"Ungh! You've got to be kidding me!"
"'Fraid not. Booster and Propsy are working around the clock to get the ship in order. That's why I'm not snuggling it up like a bed bug in the engine room right now." Zaid stifled a yawn. "Mmmfff... you know how Props can get when a machine isn't purring right."
"And how," Ebon said, shuddering.
"Where's Rainbow Dash?" Roarke asked.
"Getting some much needed sleep," Zaid grumbled. "Which is what I'd be doing, if only ponies in metal weren't playing the drums on my cranium."
"Duly noted." Roarke trotted ahead, flipping on shoulder-mounted manalights. "I would love to learn more about this Floydien situation come morning."
"That makes the two of us!" Zaid called after her. "Last we've been told, his sorry-flank had been dropped—unconscious—inside uptown Bountiful!"
"Then I relish the chaos that begins in the morning..."
"No... no... no!" Props snarled, tossing a wrench behind her. Cl-Clang! "Re-routing the pneumatic mana-conductor to the lateral energy banks isn't going to work! We need to tackle the central frame and bypass the steam vents in order to reignite the mana-pathways!"
"Where in God's name do you get your terminology from?!" Booster Spice sweated, fetlock-deep in a mess of venting pipes. A mess of flashlights and torches illuminated the otherwise pitch-black engine room. "Nnnngh... I-I would most certainly love to read that manual you've got memorize!"
"It's not about memorizing, it's about nuzzling!"
"Nuzzling machinery?!"
"To Floydien, it's his beloved! To me, it's Handsome's beloved's womb!"
"You do realize you're speaking in the absurd terms of a potential psychopath who brought us back to his hometown without realizing it, right?"
"Yeah, well, that potential psychopath is worth twenty of you and four extra legs, buster brown!"
"Whoah! Easy!" Booster Spice waved his forelimbs. "We're on the same side! I... I-I just can't get on your level with you throwing all these terms—and wrenches—willy nilly!"
"Ohhhhhhhhhh..." Props slumped back, covered in soot and pouting. "How I wish the communications array was working so I could hail Uncky Prowsy and get his advice on this!"
"From the sound of it, that guy could put together a mining drill using two elephants and a rubber hose."
"Yeah! And he'd make it sing, too!" Props giggled. "Oh, hey Roarke-Boarke!"
"Hello." Roarke trotted through the engine room. "Do you need assistance?"
"Thankies all around, Roarkey! But... I think we got it." Props smiled tiredly. "If you see Zaidy-Waidy again, tell him I'm sorry for giving him the snap."
"It's unfortunate that you didn't give him the 'snip' or else all our lives would be easier."
"Heeheehee! It's so good having you back!" Props grinned. "I don't understand you half the time, but I love you all the same!"
"Booster." Roarke nodded. "Still a breeder?"
He gulped. "J-just as much as Zaid is... for now."
"Good." Roarke opened the door to the navigations room and trotted on through. "I do believe I will retire for the evening."
"Uhhhh... we m-might be waking Dashie up in a few hours to give the core a zap again!"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Roarke opened the curtain to the observation room. There, she paused, gazing quietly at the hammock.
Rainbow Dash lay, sleeping soundly in her dangling net. Starlight wafted in through the bubbled windows, illuminating the pegasus' blue coat in a soft sheen. She lay with her hooves curled to her chest, her muzzle moving slowly, pronouncing indecipherable words.
Roarke took a deep breath. She stepped back so that she was just outside the observation room. With a jerk of her neck, a command was issued throughout the rest of her suit. The armor hissed in multiple places as it unfolded slowly from the top to the bottom. Soon, a quadrupedal shell stood in place, which Roarke stepped out of. An array of hydraulic cords detached from the metal plugs in her coat. A noticeably thinner mare trotted free of the armor, proceeding once more into the observation room.
Without saying a word, she climbed up and slithered into the hammock. This, of course, made the bed swing noticeably. Rainbow Dash stirred, on the virge of waking.
"Shhhh... shhhhhh..." Roarke issued, gently stroking the mare's bangs as she nestled up alongside her.
"Mrmmmfff..." Rainbow Dash trilled, face tensing slightly. "Windy," she cooed. "Wings... can't... c-can't find where..."
Roarke leaned in and nuzzled her. "It's okay," she murmured. "Go back to sleep. I'm right here..." Her thin eyes gazed past Rainbow Dash. She fidgeted once, then whispered: "...sugarcube."
A smile flickered across Rainbow's face. Like a happy little foal, she curled up against Roarke, sliding into the mare's embrace.
Roarke wrapped her forelimbs around the mare, holding her close. She exhaled with a shudder, gazing into the starlit trees beyond the observation room's windows. As the night waned on, Rainbow Dash slept soundly.
Roarke didn't.
Roarke getting conflicted. Wuh Woh.
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Well.
Fuck.
Uh oh.
Perhaps Roarke is just feeling a little shaken from her recent changeling experience.
I wouldn't dwell on it Roarke, even though I do understand that Dash is to you as AJ is to Dash. But who knows, maybe that was supposed to be Imre and you're worried about "settling?" I wouldn't. Not enough time or distance for that.
... Ohshit.
Whizzball and co. are back!
Well...umm...
...ouch.
1) Roark is best alarm clock.
2) I expected more of a hollow ringing sound.
Well, now we know Duke Elkington's current status. At least, as much as possible.
Ah, the sound of two engineers fighting...
I thought we left the drama llamas back at the cold mountain place thing.
Graveyard - Hisingen Blues
Roarke? Please don't. 'Kay?
I briefly considered where that nickname might have come from. Then I wished I hadn't.
5108682
What were you thinking
Do not ever wonder about lovey-dovey couple nickname origins. I learned this the hard way.
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I have seen things
*shudder*
things you ponies wouldn't believe.
5108682
5108714
img1.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100827033351/clubpenguin/images/archive/7/78/20130808180501!Candy_Cane_Pin.PNG
Hmmm...
Do you think it naturally bends that way, or...
5108738
It's hard to tell with changelings. I guess we should be happy he didn't call him "Tire Iron" or something.
Roarke, down that path is heartbreak. Don't do that to yourself.
5108738 BRB getting brain bleach.
I really, really hope that Roarke talks about this as soon as possible.
5108682
5108714
5108738
You guys are making my brain burn.
5108518
I support this name, although I think he's been over-relying on the horn section as of late.
Roarkes not over the whole aj thing huh? Well I hope it gets resolved soon with a blue hoof to her face. Rainbow loves you Roarke, don't buck it up by dwelling on her past.
I halfway expected Roarke to go full-on assault mode when she spotted the crashed ship. Huh, guess breezing through dozens of chapters for days on end had me miss some subtle character changes...
5108905
Get me a double while you're at it, will ya?
I really hope Roarke doesn't take as long to talk to Rainbow about this as Eagle did with Ebon.
Roarkie nuuuuuuu. Stahp.
Oh Roarke, don't be an idiot.
Uh oh! Roarke, we all love ya, but now is NOT the time to go all reclusive loner and shit again. You don't talk to Rainbow about your feelings and I'll... I'll... well, I'll be very upset and lose a bit of respect for you that will be very hard to regain! You've been warned.
Hope I wasn't too mean there
Intresting. Rourkes acting like the Jury crashing near a new and non violent place is a common event, in that she didnt even have obvious weapons hot. Those minimissile actuators must really be top notch if she can fire them off internally with little delay. As for Zaid, her lenses are working well, able to tell the difference between him sleeping as the dead.
Duke Elkington?
now, now.
Johnny, Be Good.
Props and Booster arguing over terminology, design and how to get the thing actually working again. Roll for Zaid arriving to see whats occuring and using the immortal lines, have you tried reversing the polarity? Followed by Dash not charging the book. Have you tried turning it off and on again? At least, it worked for that Changeling Doll.
The hardest qestion Rourke, do you love Dash enough to let her fly free?
Thing really puzzling me, if this place really Is Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy land, how havent they had visible interactions with The Cartel, given how much closer they are, and so more likely to be the focus of more advanced weapons and larger numbers of forces?
I am amused by the reactions in the comments. Still.. silly Roarke. It's a flame that'll never fade, but there's one for you too.
The flame that burns, Roarke, burns for you. Though it began continents and lifetimes away, the smoke rises like cinnamon-apple incense. Applewood embers no longer stoke that furnace; do not begrudge the fuel that warmed her heart before you began burning brightly in it. Let it warm you both.
Reminds me of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, when they tried to give us more of the old love triangle, even with (spoiler for a 17 years old game ahead!) Aeristhsth long dead and buried.
In another note, I will now color in my mind the Noble Jury with the colors of the car of the Dukes of Hazzard.
5108518 Funny, I don't remember seeing you in Jericho's comment section...
Hey Roarke, sugarcubes and candy canes! ...you silly, jealous chunk of rust.
Oh but you are so very wrong about him, Booster, there's nothing potential about this psychopath.
5108509 I'd really go for just that, jealousy. You saw the way she reacted to that changeling "Does she still love her!?"
5109060 Agreed. I don't think it will, though; Roarke has issues keeping secrets.
5108929
Iseewutudidther
5109943
Ah, I had forgotten about that.
5109954
Needs more Cherrypillar
5109993
Who you calling a chunk, guy?
I'm getting a funny feeling about Roarke this book. Why is she reminding me of Maximus from gladiator? I just can't shake this feeling that she will be going out in a blaze of glory at the end of this book.
Aww poor Roarke...
5109943
THAT DOESN'T MATTER IF ITS TWU WUV
Yeah, seeing her as the 'mission control' for this book would be rad, but it would be equally groovy for her to become part of the party for a while.
I have no illusions about her being likely to be a character past this book.
You know, this is probably one of the only times the splitting of the Jury hasn't ended in utter disaster.
I worry about Roarke.
Whoops, I fell really behind on this. Now that I'm caught up I guess I'll join the brooding party, darn it Roarke.
Roarke, Rainbow...please let this work out well for them both.
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Also, found this gem from Eljunbyro.
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I hope IC can get the next chapter posted within the next 20 minutes, or else the world is going to end!
Sorry, been around too many magical platypuses recently.
Same for you blondie.
fimfiction updating
cant connect
cant read Yaeferdapotatosalad
argnarg
Uhhhhhhhhh-oh...
Hoookay.
Time to start catching up again.
*cracks neck*
Applejack really is still in Rainbow's mind.
-Spirit
Roaeke never noticed, however, that that one changeling had Applejack's body and Roarke's lenses. There's no need for worry over legitimacy, but if she wants Dash not to live someone else, then there might be a problem.
Oh come on! Freakin turning a non-existant problem into the (probably) major bump in the relationship.
Conflicting feelings abound.