"Wagons east!" they said. "And hoofmaidens!"
A great cosmic expanse loomed before her.
She'd seen it before, but she was still breathless.
With nervous shivers, she gazed left and right at the glittering stars.
She passed galaxies, ribbons of nebulous dust, and swirling eddies of dark matter.
At last, she approached a cloud of chaos.
The darkness enveloped her, and it grew even colder.
She reached out with a blind hoof, feeling her panting breaths grow more and more desperate... high-pitched.
She was lost... and yet...
Somewhere beyond the miasma, she could have sworn she saw a light source..
A bright golden beacon that was ever so slightly eclipsed by a plane... a curved solid mass...
“Foal.” Trillions of voice chanted at once.
“Hello?!” she shouted into oblivion.
The darkness parted ways.
The plane loomed closer, along with the bright star obscured behind it.
Somewhere, a pale moon lingered... as if waiting to rise in the sun's place.
“Somepony?! Anypony?!” She hyperventilated, reaching forward... swimming forward. “What are you trying to tell me?!”
The countless voices chanted again, splitting the heavens in two. “Yesterday.”
Before Rainbow, the light beyond the plane obscured.
The image refracted, forming two curved lines facing each other and orbited by tiny circles.
Rainbow clenched her eyes, wincing in pain.
Just then, a warm hoof grasped around hers and yanked her forward.
“Guhhh!” Rainbow plummeted.
“Whoah!” Ebon Mane caught the mare, steadying her inside the rattling stagecoach. “Rainbow! Are... are you okay?”
“H-huh?!” Rainbow stared at him, eyes wide and bright. She looked all around the vehicle's interior.
The two servants, Mamunia and Jet, sat barely inches away. It was very cramped inside the otherwise lush wagon. When Rainbow sat back, she nearly brushed elbows with Kera. To her right, Rainbow could see Arcanista. The Duchess' large elk girth took up nearly a third of the wagon.
“Unsettling dreams?” Arcanista asked.
“I... I...” Rainbow leaned back, wincing. “I don't...” She turned her head to the left and squinted out the front of the wagon.
Through a slight part in the curtains, she could see the rear flanks of Jake and Floydien. A brown dirt road rolled beneath their steady cloven hooves. Rainbow couldn't see the countryside from beyond the veil. However, it took no small effort to spot the Yaerfaerda symbol. The lavender bands loomed slightly to the right of the wagon entrance, which was how Rainbow could tell that their vehicle was heading slightly northeast. As the sweat dried from her brow and her heartrate returned to normal, Rainbow thought she saw a slight pulse to the haunting emblem, but it swiftly returned to its ever-persistent glimmer.
Rainbow sighed, slumping her head.
“You feeling okay, Rainbow Dash?” Ebon asked.
“Mrhmmm... yeah...” Rainbow fidgeted in her plain brown garb. “As okay as I'll ever be.”
“It's long been accepted that persistent nightmares are the sign of stress and anxiety on the mind,” said one servant in a pleasant tone. For the time being, Rainbow couldn't tell whether it was Jet or Mamunia. Both mares looked so similar—especially in their matching gowns. Rainbow figured if that worked with her, then nopony in Val Roa would suspect the pegasus for having an interesting backstory, much less wings. “You must be thinking extensively about the plan you're hatching with the Duchess.”
“Uhhhh...” Rainbow fidgeted, biting her lip as she glanced the Duchess' way. “And just how much do these ponies know?”
Arcanista chuckled slightly. “I trust them with my life, Rainbow. As you should trust them with yours.”
“We'll be more than happy to teach you the humble etiquette of a noble servant,” one of the maids said with a smile. “That way, when we reach the Sandstone District, you'll be able to slip in to the royal quarters unnoticed... so that way you'll have much greater ease in slipping out.” The other maid giggled.
Rainbow smirked slightly. “I'm guessing the likes of you two don't get to go on adventures on this too often.”
“Oh no.” One shook her head. “Jet and I have only ever ventured out of Bountiful six times.”
“And two of those occasions were to gather silken bundles from the neighboring province's manor!”
“Heeheehee! Yeah! But don't worry. We've both been to the Val Roan Capital more than once.”
“Oh yeah?” Ebon leaned his head to the side. “And what's it like?”
One mare cooed. “Ohhhhh... it is so beautiful!”
“Like a sarcophagus full of polished jewels, buried at the edge of the desert!”
“It stands for the beauty and perserverence of civilization!”
“Yes! Hehe! Even on the edge of an inhospitable landscape such as the Grand Choke, ponies and elk and zebras and other creatures can come together to make peace!”
“Yeah, well...” Rainbow slicked back her green-dyed mane. “Hate to break it to ya, Missies, but there's a pretty rotten core to that desert jewel.”
“Don't confuse vigilance for your own cynicism, Ms. Dash,” Arcanista calmly said. “Though there may be much corruption in the Council, the populace is largely innocent. The ponies and deer who dwell beyond the West Gate know very little violence, and they defend timeless ideals of justice and honor with the very extent of their lives.”
“Yeah, even when they gotta shoot down skystone ships to do it,” Rainbow muttered.
“Rainbow, be fair,” Ebon said. “We're doing this to free the Val Roans, not to kick all their teeth in.”
“Wait...” Kera sat up, blinking wide. “You mean this isn't going to end in a drag-out fight with the powers that be?!”
“Sorry to break it to ya, kiddo.” Rainbow smiled slyly as the wagon rattled along. “But if we can somehow accomplish this with the fewest headbutts and explosions possible, then I'm totally game.”
“Awwwwwwwwwww poopstains.” Kera folded her forelimbs with a pout.
“Ahem,” Arcanista cleared her throat, raising a dainty hoof. “Perhaps now would be a good time to start our next lesson on princess etiquette.” Her brow furrowed. “Proper vocabulary.”
“You mean I can't say 'poop?!'” Kera gawked.
“Princesses don't poop, my dear.” Arcanista winked. “They 'make waste.'”
“Arrrgh!” Kera rolled her eyes. “I swear! You're worse than Bellesmith! Why'd I even come on this mission?!”
The two servants giggled.
“I... uh...” Ebon shifted nervously. “I-I'm going to need more than tattoos and a fake horn to rein her in, I think.”
“It's okay...” Rainbow patted his shoulder and whispered into his ear. “Just promise grasshoppers and cloud rides, and you're golden.”
“I dunno if Eagle's told you, but I haven't learned how to sprout wings yet.”
“Coulda surprised me.” Rainbow smirked. “I hear you take him to the clouds every other night.”
Ebon blinked. Instead of blushing, his skin flickered with a brief coat of lavender. “...we really need a bigger airship.”
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Ebon's got game. Mad game.
new2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/Anonymous+rolled+image+_6e5ef8bcb0f41a69a0189d50701294a2.jpg
Finally. Been waiting a long time for this.
Rainbow Dash hasn't been mentioned seeing the Yaerfaerda symbol in quite some time, even though she presumably has been seeing it all along.
And more cosmic dreams. Haven't had one of those in a while either.
5183042 I love the fact that his equivalent of blushing is to essentially turn into his lover. That's something freudian right there.
I get the feeling Arcanista's gonna teach Kera how to insult someone in such a way they won't even realize it's an insult. And if she does I'm going to laugh SO HARD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENS.
... Okay so I suck at comedy. But I think it'll be funny regardless!
Hmm, what happened yesterday, I wonder...
Twenty-five squats, ):(. Make sure you keep your damn back straight and bend until your thigh is parallel with the ground. Knock 'em out!
5183114
Be silent, pleb.
I'm not fat... I just have big bones...
5183170 Aww, don't be like that! It's just more cushion for Jake's pushin (the wagon)?
Seeing the Yaerfaerda symbol can only mean one thing. Shit is about to hit the fan.
I had almost forgotten about that symbol was still looming there. I wish I had the foggiest idea of that that little dream/vision was, but I don't.
Also, those hoofmaidens are precious.
And so is Kera.
5183052
I'm so stealing this.
5182542
...That story nearly made me cry at the end.
I don't think these guys are quite like that though. More like the goblins in the Kaizo Petra Arc draft of EoP...minus Petra. Of course, that may just be because of Haman's existence for why I'm thinking that. This example of goblins is a bit more bloody.
5183228
25.media.tumblr.com/ab4e4b9c99dd90c3f0e61d04bd443749/tumblr_mmpg9bBxZM1r4wis8o3_500.png
Ewwww...
5183284
That is 100% Arcanist Approved. Spread the word of IT'S HAPPENING
When Val Roa is in ashes, I will have but one thing to say to you all.
media.tumblr.com/e28ef6a3f9faf2677a7492cb401cd34f/tumblr_inline_mln9mxKBef1qz4rgp.jpg
The long ride to the next checkpoint. And the carriage is rather cramped as well. Pity Ebon cant change into something useful, like a comforter, hobble, or javelin wife.
5183316
...I'm suddenly picturing an Ebon-designed dakimakura, and I am not at all sure how I feel about this.
hmmmm wonder what the dream means. Foal could be talking about Kera but they could also just be calling RD a Foal for some reason as well. Wonder what Yesterday could mean? Likely something that happened Yesterday like 5183164 suggests, or it could be just talking about the past in general.
Heheheh those two have to get some more privacy
Hmm, I actually half-forgot about the Yaerfaerda symbol. Ominous vision is ominous.
And great: Now I'm suspicious of the hoofmaidens. They seem too innocent and trustworthy.
... what has this story done to me?
Oh, hey.
I just noticed Yaeffy has surpassed the 100k words mark.
Getting to the half-million mark doesn't seem so farfetched now.
5183302
u no u lurve eet, bby.
5183316
img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120806192548/spartacus/images/3/38/Pilum-spear.jpg
You lie, he can turn into a javelin.
Or a pilum. Same thing, really.
5183392
new2.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/Anonymous+rolled+image+_6e5ef8bcb0f41a69a0189d50701294a2.jpg
5183338
briandbuckleydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/baby.jpg?w=500
static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1507/15070484/2429761-9776863398-13862.jpg
I have nothing else to say to you.
5183463
*eyetwitch*
*And then, all of a sudden, all my fucks just flew out the window...*
derpicdn.net/img/2014/10/1/733652/large.png
NO REGRETS!!! FOR THE LULZ!!! *jetpacks out through ceiling, cackling maniacially*
All her troubles seemed so far away?
I'm not sure if I got the right idea with this metaphor...
5183660
I think it means they're being sent to their doom.
Their beautiful, flashy doom.
5183705
indeed
5183624
this is where i leave
*steps off cliff*
5183624
Ah, ha ha, I see how it is, you want to get into an image battle with me. How about, instead, you have one with my good friend the Emperor.
static.fjcdn.com/pictures/You+came+to+the+wrong+burn+heretic_3cd7d3_4001145.jpg
i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/176/231/HERESY1.jpg
i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/685/548/a39.jpg
i.imgur.com/TAIwsao.jpg
i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii140/roomie21/sword.jpg
This could continue, Midnite Bastion, or you could admit defeat here and now. I have reserves of these pictures, you know.
Thanks for giving me a chance to use that many at once.
5183762
img.photobucket.com/albums/v426/RoboRed/AustMidnite_zps277983b2.png
C'mon! Do your worst!
(goddamnit why did my photoshop have to stop working this could have been a little bit better and moreover why does PonyCreator not have any armor as an accessory god I hate my life this is what I was shooting for)
I would not be surprised at all if those maids turned out to be blackbelts/master spies,
Well, at least now I know who is the one on top.
i.ytimg.com/vi/BQji0fLgzX4/maxresdefault.jpg
I can think of another supposedly safe place
fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/v/t1.0-9/1382398_345024415684510_2257207760768476127_n.jpg?oh=690bc8ef035ce293efc205512c7d0bd5&oe=54F880F5&__gda__=1424364910_0884c900857aa6cf144f100c8595cf09
I'm sure things will
notgo smoothly.Yaeferday
All my troubles seemed so far away!
Srsly tho, 'yesterday' is not exactly the most epic word to use. I wonder how the linguistic - and the semantic! - connection between the Yaerferda and that one looks like.
We're not going to get the meta pushed beneath 6 or 5 anytime soon, are we?
5183338 First He makes me think about who is on top in their relationship and now this. Thanks a lot, gu-
5183624 lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kG48EltfLtM/UpwAwUMAxfI/AAAAAAABBS0/byOzTxRe29s/w800-h800/shocked.gif
5183284 Weren't all drafts of Petra in EoP Kaizo?
One of these days I'll witness a change in EoP... be it being marked cancelled, hiatus or actually updating.
Hmmm... these images...
Heh heh heh...
5184223
Wouldn't that mean that it would nullify the magic of Rainbow's pendant, leaving her to the whim of the chaos inside her?
Never!
5183960 ZECOROOOO TO THE RESCUUEEEE
i got Goliath to back you up on this image war!
<---and my supersonic fighter
img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130514042714/studioghibli/images/9/90/Fulllength.jpg
And both are vanguarding the !st Dreadnaught fleet!
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_kz22z974Oa1qzfacs.jpg
Oye, the comments section... So long! >_<
Hmm, both bold, my ocd brain notices, and my paranoid side thinks its a hint, Time to hit the translation tools.
Hmmm, gær in Icelandic means yesterday according to google, and sounds like the yaer bit of yaefaerda, plus icelandic is sorta Nordic, so it'd follow the pattern.
Time to investigate further at this point:
So ferð sounds like a bit faerda, it can mean a trip or journey.
As for the last a I have no idea, maybe just put there to throw us of solving it immediately?
If this is right, the Yaerfaerda could mean Yesterday's Journey
Another dream that raises more questions. Yesterday? What could it mean?
-Spirit
Kera would be my choice for best princess, etiquette be dammed.
5202841
A connection to the large number of flashbacks, perhaps?
This is the first time since inside the machine world that the dream has spoken. It's significant, but I don't know how...yet.
6251778
Well she can remind the voices that Roarke doesn't have the equipment capable of making foals. Even if the Noble Jury had access to Gender Bending spells, Roarke sacrificed fertility for an extra order of murdersauce a long time ago.
Well, the mysterious voice has certainly taken a level in Speak in Riddles.
Yesterday? Hmmm...I wonder....
It's such a shame that half of the images people have posted over the years here have 'upstream errors.' I feel like the comments are a story in and of themselves but I'm missing some of the pages.