• Published 16th Sep 2014
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Yaerfaerda - Imploding Colon



Rainbow Dash and the Noble Jury continue to fly east.

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On Your Mark, Get Set, Prelude

“We need to leave,” Lunarius said in a firm tone. His eyes glared. “Now.”

“That's... going to be a bit difficult,” Eagle Eye said, wincing. “You see, we didn't think this was going to turn into an escort mission. Our flying machine doesn't exactly have room for five derrieres, royal or not. Waaaie!

Eagle hung in the grip of Lunarius' angry hooves as the King crossed the cave distance and held the unicorn towards his growling face. “We'll be dead if we stay here and let the Guardians get us!”

“Whoaaaaaaah-there, Bambitron.” Josho telekinetically split the two apart and placed Eagle gently onto his hooves. “First thing's first, we're on your side. Second...” He glared daggers at the royal buck. “You roughhouse the kid again, and I'll shove those antlers of yours someplace so dark that all of Val Roa's candles won't help you find 'em.”

Azira winced.

“Uhhh...” Eagle Eye gulped. “Old stallion—?”

“We came a long-ass way to figure out what Queen Chrysalis had placed here in this horrible arctic anus! I'm not expecting you to kiss our fetlocks right off the bat or anything, but would it kill ya to show a teensy bit of dayum respect?!”

“Queen Chrysalis...” Lunarius murmured. His eyes swept across the lower end of the cave and its slime-encrusted walls “...so that was the beast's name?”

“You've seen her?!” Eagle Eye exclaimed, leaning forward.

“An unfathomably long time ago,” Azira explained, shivering. “Within days of our separation from our beloved son, we were brought here and imprisoned before her presence. She... had a legion of horribly disfigured ponies here: more crustaceans than equines.”

“The minions worked for her,” Lunarius said. “Though it was obvious to us that they didn't exactly desire to do so.”

Josho glanced at Eagle Eye. “Those must be the husks we saw on the way here.”

Eagle Eye shuddered. “It had to have been right after Chrysalis lost control of the Hive Mind.” He glanced up. “She must have dominated control over one fledgling nest.” He gulped. “You're telling us that they didn't follow her willingly?

“Shortly after obeying her rules, she... sacrificed them,” Lunarius said.

“Sacrificed them?” Josho's eyes narrowed. “In what way?”

“She... eviscerated them,” Azira said, eyes tearing up. “I didn't think it was possible to pity such miserable creatures. But, before our eyes, she slew them one by one and... and...”

“She utilized their inner effluence,” Lunarius said. He gestured at the slimy platform behind them. “It's what she used to craft our prison.”

Eagle Eye held a hoof over his cheeks, grimacing.

“It... must have channeled whatever power she had given to her traitorous conspirators in Val Roa,” Lunarius said. “Because when Sharp Quill later showed up to torment us, it was evident that the substance within the platform only magnified the magic spells he performed on us... leeching us of our thoughts and consciousness.”

“Wait...” Josho leaned forward. “Did you ever see Chrysalis again?”

“How means you?”

“The changeling monster that gooped you two in here!” Josho exclaimed. “Did she ever appear again after Sharp Quill's visits?”

Lunarius blinked. “Nay...” He shook his head. “We've had every reason to assume she's elsewhere in Val Roa, weaving her terrible web of plans.”

“She gave us to Sharp Quill to exploit and dissect from the inside out,” Azira said with a shuddering breath. “And now he's using that to exploit our son.”

Once more, a loud shriek echoed through the cave. The deer and ponies looked around, nervous.

“Alas... there's no time for this!” Lunarius grumbled. “There's no time for anything! Her guardians! They will return!”

“But, I thought you said she turned on all her minions!” Eagle Eye exclaimed.

“Yes...” Lunarius nodded. “And they were merely food for these monstrosities. It doesn't matter where she harvested them from, but they devour mana—especially in imbalanced bursts. And now that you've freed us from the prison keeping our energy at bay—”

Another shriek rolled through the chamber. Sparks danced between the skystone nodes above, a few of the bands dipping low enough to make Josho's and Eagle's manes stick on end.

“They're coming back!” Azira exclaimed. “They hunger! And with the four of us free, it's their first chance to have their fill in ages!”

“But I-I thought you said these things only eat mana!” Eagle Eye exclaimed.

Lunarius' eyes narrowed. “Do you unicorns ever leave your horns at home?”

Eagle glanced at the king's glowing antlers, then at Josho. “Can we commence with the skedaddling already?”

“Right.” Josho was already whipping out the sound stone as he lit a path down the way they came. “Booster! Booster Spice! Now would be a good time to reply, buddy!

“Scrkkkkk!

“Still no luck?!” Eagle exclaimed.

“If you can't hear your companion via leylines, then that means it's too late,” Azira said, shaking her head. “The monster's guardians are upon us.”

“No offense, Queen, but save your woeful words for when you can put hoof to quill again!” Josho pumped his shotgun and gestured at Eagle Eye. “We're getting your royal butts back to your kid, y'hear?!” He marched down the corridor, frowning. “Nothing's gobbling this old bastard up. Not while I'm still alive to fart! Now move your tails!

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