Yaerfaerda

by Imploding Colon

Hitting Zaid is the Best Therapy

"Were any of them actually representatives of this 'Duchess of Sehlp?'" Rainbow Dash asked.

Pilate shook his head from where he sat in the mess hall. "No, although many of the ponies who've traveled through Gideon have also passed by the Sehlp Manor. Apparently there are many townships just like the Duchess'."

"How so?" Josho asked from where he sat.

Pilate tilted his head towards the obese stallion. "A good number of Val Roa's council members are aristocrats who own farmland out here in the country," he explained. "They hire common workhooves to work the land, and this breeds commerce and trade. The township of Sehlp is one such community—very old and traditional, but also very small and meagerly populated."

"Sounds quaint," Bellesmith said.

"Indeed. That's the same impression I got," Pilate remarked. "Not only that, but the tavern patrons of Gideon explicitly stated that the Duchess of Sehlp is currently residing in her manor."

"And not in Val Roa proper?" Eagle Eye asked.

Pilate shook his head. "It would seem that—in spite of Val Roa's closed borders—members of the government still get free passage in and out of the West Gate."

"You mean they're somehow impervious to the shield?" Props asked.

"No, but rather they're allowed through," Pilate said. "They have to go through all the proper channels, but they are nevertheless free to come and go."

"What for?"

"To perform their duty as members of the Ruling Council, I suspect."

"Just what does this Ruling Council do, exactly?" Rainbow asked from where she hovered.

"Well, primarily, they make up the kingdom's official legislature."

"I thought Val Roa was a monarchy," Ebon said. "So you mean to say that a council of ponies make up the law?"

"Oh, I'm certain the monarch still creates and enforces law," Pilate said. "But running a country is a complicated thing, and Val Roa represents—or at least used to represent—a colorful cornucopia of different, varying communities. My assumption is that the Ruling Council manages most of the laws, meanwhile the monarch can wield absolute power at any time."

"But some power may be granted to the Council to intervene on behalf of the general populace," Roarke thought aloud, "Even contrary to the monarch's decision."

"Precisely." Pilate smiled. "At least, that's the picture that was painted before myself and Mr. Spice yesterday. It's a relatively simple system, similar to the former Ledomaritan structure—albeit less convoluted."

"And you learned all of this from a bunch of drunk tavern ponies?" Zaid asked.

Pilate sighed.

"They weren't all drunk!" Booster Spice said. He fidgeted. "Just the ones we ignored."

"Delightful," Josho grunted. "So, how the hell is this Dipstick of Selfie—"

"Duchess of Sehlp."

"Whatever." Josho shrugged. "What's she to us?"

"Don't you get it?" Booster exclaimed. "She can tell us what's going on inside Val Roa!"

"Assuming she wants to," Roarke droned. "I can't fathom a way that we can gain her confidence that wouldn't come across as invasive."

"We could always kidnap her!" Props chirped.

Ebon grimaced. "Propsy! Are you out of your mind?!"

"Mmmmm..." The mare blushed. Ponytails flouncing, she slumped down to the table top. "So what if I've always wanted a pocket duchess of my own?"

"I'm sure we can find a way to be both reasonable and genteel with her," Bellesmith said with a smile. "Especially if she knows what we've done to help many of her fellow countryponies."

Eagle Eye squinted. "You mean use the heroics of the Noble Jury as leverage?"

"Why not?" Belle shrugged and placed a proud hoof on Pilate's shoulder. "It worked for my beloved!"

"Floydien isn't too fond fond of the striped boomer's honest spit," Floydien grumbled from the far end of the room. "Nancy Jane is meant to be an inside-out thief in the night, yes yes yes?"

"It was a gamble; I admit," Pilate said. His lips curved. "But it served us well in the end. No names or coordinates of our whereabouts were ever given."

"And besides!" Booster smirked. "We made a stealthy exit! I flew Whizzball out of there so swiftly that all the heads of Gideon spun!"

"They'd better have," Roarke grunted. "Or yours will."

Booster gulped.

"Okay, everypony calm down," Rainbow grunted.

"Since when was I 'everypony?" Roarke asked, squinting.

"Since now." Rainbow cleared her throat and faced the group as a whole. "Booster and Pilate did a great job. Nopony but the villagers of Amulek know who or where we are. I think Belle's got a good point: we could totally spring the truth on this Duchess character and see if it will make a difference."

"And if it doesn't?" Josho droned.

"Let's try to smile on the inside as much as we do on the outside for once," Rainbow said with a cynical grin. "After all, things have been going awesomely these past few weeks. Let's pretend that fate isn't entirely out there to harsh our buzz."

"Meh," Josho exhaled.

"B-Buzz?" Kera trotted out of the hallway, rubbing her eyes tiredly in the hazy morning light. "Did Ebon find more grasshoppers?"

"We're discussing what Booster and Pilate discovered yesterday, scampy," Zaid said with a smirk.

"We're gonna go glomp a duchess!" Props cheered.

"Really?" Kera blinked. "Is she waterproof?"

"Uhhh..." Ebon's mane scrunched. "Then is it official?"

Everypony looked at Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow glanced at Roarke, then at the others. "I think we should do it. I'm so desperate to get inside Val Roa that I'll nuzzle a cactus."

"With the Grand Choke waiting for us, you just might," Zaid said with a smirk.

"But..." Rainbow raised a hoof. "First thing's first—"

"Wait..." Josho narrowed his eyes. "You mean something takes priority over this?! I figured this was our first big break in... forever."

Rainbow Dash spoke on: "I visited with our reconaissance buddies at Silver Point last night. They told me that they sensed an 'immense emotional signature' in the mountains northeast of here."

Ebon's eyes flickered green. "Northeast, d-did you say?"

Eagle looked at him. "Why, sweetie? Have you sensed something too?"

"Uhhhhh..." Ebon squirmed from all the eyes resting on him. He sank in his seat slightly. "Maybe a l-little..."

Belle smiled and turned towards Rainbow. "Could it be another hive?"

"I'm willing to guess it's something like that," Rainbow said. "It'll be a cold trip—"

"Oh wonderful," Josho moaned.

Rainbow continued: "—but, all things considered, it shouldn't be all that far of a flight. We've traveled that far north before, remember? When we..." She shivered slightly, wincing. "...when we tried to enter Val Roa the first time."

The group collectively shuddered.

"Please tell Floydien that the paint bucket isn't sending Nancy through that shimmer again."

"Not at all, Floydien. This time we're stopping for some tiny, nameless village shut away in the high, snowy mountains!"

"And that is better..." Zaid leaned forward. "...how?"

"Look, if worse comes to worse, only I will be the one to fly out and take a look around."

"You mean only you and me," Roarke growled.

"Like I s-said!" Rainbow smirked nervously. "Only me and Roarke! The rest of you can stay inside where it's warm and slice-of-lifey."

"But... b-but..." Ebon leaned forward. "It could be more changelings, right?"

"Maybe. Maybe not. I dunno."

"But this is somehow worth a visit over this Duchess chick?" Josho asked. "Seems like it's going out of our way—in more ways than one."

"It's closer to where we are now, Josho," Rainbow said. "And we can swing down south to the House of Sehlp immediately after."

"But—"

"The Jury is fast enough! Just two quick zaps of my pendant. Flash! Swoosh! There. Done."

"If it was a town being goblin-humped by the Green Bandits, then I would understand," Josho said.

"Understand this," Rainbow said, pointing for emphasis. "We owe the changelings our lives."

"We do?"

Rainbow's nostrils flared. "I do, and our friends who've helped us out in all of these recent Green Bandit butt-kickings will end up alone and starved if we don't find a way to reunite them with more of their kind! Now, are we an honorable bunch of jurists or aren't we?"

The group collectively muttered in enthusiastic approval.

"Rainbow's right," Eagle said firmly. "The changelings may have bumbled around in Amulek before we even got here, but—face it—they saved those villagers, and they're just as responsible for the good that's been done in Mosiah, Zeezrom, Ammon, and abroad. We can't let them down now. Besides, who knows what would happen if Chrysalis got to them first."

"Mmmm..." Ebon shuddered slightly. "Right..." He gulped.

Zaid smirked and pointed. "Pretty pink princess has a pretty pink point."

"Hey..." Eagle squinted. "Lay off, will ya?"

"Don't worry, sunshine. I'm already laying on somepony else."

"Uggggh..." Props kicked Zaid's chair out from underneath him. "Zaidy waidy!"

"Gah—" THUNK! Zaid's chin ricocheted off the tabletop as he rattled to the floor.

Kera giggled and Josho laughed.

"Haah haah haah... haaaaaaaaaaaah..." Josho sat up with a calm smirk. "Now I'm awake. Fine, let's do this cold mountain changeling shuffle."

"Assuming it is changelings," Belle murmured.

"Optimism, beloved." Pilate nuzzled her with a smile. "Optimism."

"So, then..." Rainbow rubbed her hooves together. "Is that a briefing or is that a briefing?"

"Say, it, Dashie!" Props hopped, ponytails flouncing. "Say 'set a course!'"

"Pffft!" Rainbow stuck her tongue out. "I will do no such darn thing!" A beat. She nodded Pilate's way. "Let the zebra do it. It's much cooler when he does."

"Ahem." Pilate stood up. "Mr. Floydien, set a course due northeast, the high snowy mountains bordering Val Roa."

"Yes yes yes..." Floydien was already marching down the hallway and towards the bow. "Just as soon as Paint Bucket Boomer gives the womb a zap."

"That's your queue," Roarke droned.

"The queue to be cute?" Rainbow brushed her feathers past Roarke and fluttered through the kitchen. "Thought you'd never ask!"

"Rrrnnnghh... you're lucky I love you..." Roarke trotted after her.

"Mmmff..." Josho picked his heavy self out of his chair. "I think I liked the blue fuzzball before she drowned in puppy love."

"Speak for yourself, old stallion," Eagle retorted.

"I do," he belched.

"Heh..."

"Awwwwww..." Props leaned down and helped a dizzy Zaid up. "Did I hurt you too much, Zaidy Waidy? I'm sorryyyyyyy..."

"Guhhh... all I see are birds..." The stallion rubbed his head. "...and each one of them wants to crap on my head."

Comments

[Swan Song]

Yes. Yes it is.

"We could always kidnap her!" Props chirped.
Ebon grimaced. "Propsy! Are you out of your mind?!"
"Mmmmm..." The mare blushed. Ponytails flouncing, she slumped down to the table top. "So what if I've always wanted a pocket duchess of my own?"

"Uggggh..." Props kicked Zaid's chair out from underneath him. "Zaidy waidy!"

I love Props. She is adorable. She has pigtails. She steals cute people and puts them in her pocket for safekeeping.

Sorry Zaid. I'm going to have to steal Propsy Wopsy from you. She is my spirit animal.

[IceKitsune]

One of the most truthful titles in the series Time to find the changelings (or maybe something else perhaps) in the mountains

[Zaid ValRoa]

5037590 Of course you'd say that...

[Sivrem]

5037628
Truth hurts, and so does therapy apparently.

[Starlit Skies]

5037628 *punch, punch, kick, feed cheese, whack*

Hmm, IC's right. I do feel better.

[Aatxe360]

It'll be another Lerris-type village! House of the Rising Sun! Chaos!

[Swan Song]

5037628 You now know what fate belies any future attempts to ship Kera with a diamond dog.

[Jake The Army Guy]

5037652

Gotta through a fart sound in there. Lactose intolerant, remember? Props did him during his massive gas attack. That's love right there.

Twenty-five crunches, ):(. Knock 'em out!

[Zaid ValRoa]

5037652 I don't think whacking me after feeding me cheese is a good idea, if the Durandana incident is to be believed.

---

5037676 But who are we to command the desires of her young heart?

[mrjerrio]

I would have finished this chapter sooner but I ended up on TV Tropes glomp page after the mention of duchess glomping, which then spiraled ad infinitum as all visits to TV Tropes do. In my book that means I give this chapter a ringing endorsement.

[Arcanist Ascendant]

The rest of you can stay inside where it's warm and slice-of-lifey.

Oh god she's aware of the meta. TERMINATE PROGRAM.

Also, political intrigues on the horizon! Hooray!

Val Roa has been my most anticipated place in several books to get to. I've always imagined it as a sort of desert citty, with bazaars and fountains, and a culture halfway between Islamic and East-Asian. I can't wait.

"Mr. Floydien, set a course due northeast, the high snowy mountains bordering Val Roa."

Make it so.

[RoboRed]

Dipstick of Selfie

Changelings first it is, then.

5037628
*punches boxing gloves together* C'mere, you...I need some therapy.

[aduck]

I really like Zaid...actually I really like all of them, but that last line means Zaid is in my head now.

[Booster Spice]

Umm.. Going through the shield the First time was North?.. Then was it the Second time in the previous chapter flash back, when Dash rememberd them trying to get through the shield to the South?

Both instances of word, queue, should be cue? As in to cue up a record, instead of to queue up to purchase said?

Passing through the shield reminds me of the train approaching Canterlot during the Invasion, and so a given principle used in a similar way.

You try never to head off in the general direction of your destination while in any sort of view of your source, nonlinear paths are even better, as the best ones give no information as to when they start or finish.

Traders from Gideon should already be on the way to inform the Duchess, as well as various notifications from other villages if merchants are moving again.

Its going to be intresting, given the village is full of unicorn artisans, to see just how many unicorn in Val Roa are engineers of various sorts.

[Arcanist Ascendant]

5037754

The most disruptive(to me) April Fool's Day joke i've ever been unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of was my buddy linking me to TVTropes on skype before I walked out the door. I forgot everything else and missed my entire first period.

[AppleTank]

5037777
pegitboard.com/pics/t/272035.jpg

[Jonathon Smythe]

Surprise! It's Chrysalis.

[Phoenix Kitten]

The Jurists are all awesome....but I think I'm gonna miss Props,Kera and Floydien the most when Dash and Roarke have to split.

[Ms_Fruit_Bat]

Dear sweet Faust!
Rainbow and Raorke are so adoracute as a couple!

[Moonlit Oasis]

Just wait, I bet they attack the ship before realizing who is on it.

[CasualMarshmallow]

I bet that the Jury will get back to the Duchess of Sehlp to find it overrun by goblins or something, knowing our lucky streak lately.

[Acceleron]

Hmm seems like the vision Rainbow Dash had last chapter actually happened but they somehow survived?

Also why aren't the surviving changelings going with the Jury to the Northeast?

[Lightning Bearer]

Huh, I guess I was sorta thinking that the House of Sehlp and the changeling place might be the same thing. The more you know, I guess.

Also, I'm actually a little surprised how okay I am with how cute and flirty Rainbow and Roarke all. Considering their bravado and external toughness, you'd think it wouldn't work, but... somehow, it does.

[Nevlamas]

I know right? I've been undergoing therapy for 300 chapters straight. Just ask Zaïd.

5037590 5037628 derpicdn.net/img/view/2013/7/14/373805__safe_shipping_animated_scootaloo_sweetie+belle_apple+bloom_cutie+mark+crusaders_hearts+and+hooves+day_descriptive+noise_x+intensifies.gif

[xXshaydXx]

Random thought guys. What if the mane 6 minus rainbow aren't "dead" and have been on a journey of their own in the place where the harmonic energy juices flow between the plains? Just thinking out loud. I'm dead sure we won't see the other 5 again. Not the real them anyway cause changelings don't count.

[Leftover of Saikano]

My mental character designs for Zaid and Props are based off Flax Seed and Wheat Grass, from the Rarity Micro Comic, modified as needed.
derpicdn.net/media/W1siZiIsIjIwMTMvMDQvMjQvMTZfMzhfMzJfNzg2XzMwNzE2MF9fVU5PUFRfX3NhZmVfcmFyaXR5X3VuaWNvcm5faWR3X2VhcnRoX3Bvbnlfc3BvaWxlcl9jb21pY19hcnRpc3RfYW5keXByaWNlYXJ0XzUxNDg3MGMxN2YxMjNiMGExYjAwMDhhZF9icmFuZGluZ181MTc2ZWM2ZGE0YzcyZDYxN2EwMDAwY2RfNTE3NmVkMWNhNGM3MmQxYzA4MDAwMTE3LnBuZyJdXQ/307160__safe_rarity_unicorn_idw_earth%2Bpony_spoiler-colon-comic_artist-colon-andypriceart_wheat%2Bgrass_flax%2Bseed_micro-dash-series_branding.png

[Nevlamas]

5037590 Also, because Imre can't be allowed to beat me, congratulations on naming this chapter!

[Cynderfall]

It's Windigos isn't it...

[ForestFeather]

5037590 Way to go, Swannie.

So if you really are this Duchess of Sehlp and you wind up in Prop's pocket, is it a Swan's Song of Singing Sehlp in Pretty Pony Propy's Pocket?

5037628

Look on the bright side, Zaid. At least it was a CHAIR that got kicked under you... She probably could have done a lot worse.

[Swan Song]

5039881
5040403
Haha, I didn't name this chapter, Zaid did. xD From that mock Yaerfaerda-sans-Rainbow that he put together.

[Nevlamas]

5040587 Almost the same thing!

[ForestFeather]

5040587
5040603
Ehh close enough.

[Swan Song]

5040603 Only to you, O dead and dessicated chaos dragon.

Edit: 5040613 ...and apparently to you too, miss(ter?), um, feathers of foresty quality person.

[Arcanist Ascendant]

5039459

DATS WAYZIST

[Nevlamas]

5040618 The only one that matters. :|

[Swan Song]

5040819 You stopped mattering two books ago!

[Zaid ValRoa]

5040888
5040819
That wasn't very nice, Swanny. Did you really have to remind Nevvy of his recent irrelevance?

[Nevlamas]

5040888 5041052 blog.42floors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/you-know-nothing-06-0313-400x300.jpg
You have only failed to realize the power of my chaos dragon shipping magic! Just you wait, Zaid will end up undyingly in love with a character that is completely irrelevant because she doesn't even exist!

...and now I feel like a butt. ...my Skirts, the power is corrupting me! Swan, look at us! What have you done to this comment section!? D:

(Seriously though, this is what happens if Austraeoh doesn't update for a day, everybody is going crazy with withdrawal!)

[Zaid ValRoa]

5041088

because she doesn't even exist!

Yet.

---

(Seriously though, this is what happens if Austraeoh doesn't update for a day, everybody is going crazy with withdrawal!)

I have the nagging suspicion that IC has already written the next three or four chapters and doesn't publish them just to see us go crazy.

[ForestFeather]

5040618 Gosh dall darn dangit it doesn't matter WHAT my 'sona looks like, dragon or pony, still get the genders confused!

Let's put it this way - Rainbow Dash wouldn't chase me but Eagle Eye surely would!

5041052 I spent an entire book doing it to Nevlamas. They're used to it.

[not_a_rainbow]

seems the jury has reached a verdict

[Zaid ValRoa]

5041584

Rainbow Dash wouldn't chase me but Eagle Eye surely would!

You're hair conditioner?

[yrfoxtaur]

5041052
What's worse, irrelevance or death?

I think I get name dropped once in awhile, but that ain't relevance.

---

Cue, not queue. One is an indicator that ine should do one's thing, the other is a line to wait in.

[Tillion]

5040361

[Eyes of Avo]

They keep saying if it's changelings."..what else emits emotional wave length as a signal?

[Swan Song]

5043334 5041584 Forest Feather confirmed for best hair conditioner.

[whizzball1]

It's time to find out who or what these things are. Windigoes are a possibility I would not like to touch on.

-Spirit

[Zytharros]

...Suddenly, I hear Pilate speaking with Patrick Stewart's voice.

[JustAnotherTimeLord]

5810208
Yep, same here.