Any Other Situation, A Boss Fight
“Now correct me if I'm wrong...” Bard cleared his throat, shiftily glancing left and right. “But were we arrested by a bunch of surly lookin' guards or weren't we...?”
Rainbow Dash looked around. With each subterranean floor that her group descended, the corridors grew more and more luxurious. Fine velvet banners and tapestries lined the lantern-lit walls. Once more, the local equine populace lounged about in fine silks and refineries—standing in stark contrast to the heavily-armored stallions escorting Rainbow and her friends. Bard wasn't the only one who found this odd; several of the loitering nobility stopped to gawk and stare at the marching group.
“Maybe they're inducting us into their harem,” Echo muttered.
Theanim sighed. “Old chap, must you?”
“Well, not like the catbird's gonna say it.”
Wildcard's goggles reflected rippling light sources. He gestured ahead of them.
Rainbow craned her neck to see several pools of crystal-clear water looming around the next bend. Several granite pillars stretched between these liquid beds and the curved ceiling above. At last, the marble floor formed a narrow bridge that led towards a wide series of pearlescent doors. Statues depicting aquatic equines loomed on either side of the entrance. Rainbow heard a trickling sensation, and it took her half-a-minute to realize that a slender waterfall was aquakinetically falling up the statue and into a series of well-placed grooves in the marble doorframe.
It was around this point that the guards stopped. With rattling armor, the stallions pivoted—along with their spears—to face Rainbow and her friends.
“Now...” The lead pony spoke, his helm imposing in the reflected waterlight. “Wait right here.” He turned about, then trotted slowly up to the doors.
Rainbow and her friends fidgeted where they stood. Even Rarity and Twilight squirmed in the air with unease.
“The timing about this is what bothers me,” Theanim murmured in a hushed tone. “The morning assembly at the Marine Auction House is just about to take place. If we miss this opportunity, it will be another twenty-four hours before we can knock Shoggoth off their hooves with revelation of the Northern Hoof's corruption!”
“Don't forget we've got Revan the Magnificent Bastard chasin' after our tails.” Bard gulped. “Oh, wouldn't he lurve to tan my hide somethin' awful for the real idgetin' I gave him.”
Wildcard gestured.
“Pffft. Dun be silly.” Bard smirked. “Any of the ponies you beat up would rather jump in a lake than come down here!”
“We live on the ocean, dumbass,” Echo grumbled.
“Well, then, a lake at the bottom of the ocean!” Bard hissed back. “Seriously, why's everythang about you gotta be sass'n'asscheese?!”
“Even sunshine and rainbows have gotta take a dump sometime...”
“Everypony, cut it out!” Rainbow snapped, voice cracking. “Give me a second to figure out what's going on.” She turned towards Twilight and Rarity. “What do you sense about this place?”
“Yeah, we're not allowed to talk, but she gets to chew the fat with invisible friends—” Echo began.
“Shhhh!” Theanim snarled. “Do as she says, Echo!” He looked patiently in her direction.
In the meantime, Rarity floated up close. “This place is incredible, Rainbow Dash,” she said. “These chambers have been carved out of the ocean's floor by... by... well, by something far older and more powerful than contemporary magic,” the mare explained. “I've never felt anything like it! The walls are smoother than a foal's... than a foal's...” She sighed. “Well, you know.”
“How deep are we?” Rainbow muttered.
“Not as deep as it can get,” Rarity said. “These chambers go on beneath us far further than even I can sense. What's more, most of them are flooded with water.” Her eyes narrowed. “I suspect that most of Shoggoth Propper is only accessible to sea ponies.”
Rainbow looked aside at Twilight. “Well? Anything the egghead would like to add?”
“Rarity's right about the water, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “Normally, pressure wouldn't allow for all of the reservoirs beneath us to remain filled, but a special kind of elemental manipulation is keeping it all in check.”
“Just like the structures above us?”
“Exactly.”
From the back, Bard blinked. “She certainly gets... all wordy-like with the shadows, don'tcha think?”
Wildcard merely held a single metal talon before his beak.
“Any sign of the Princess?” Rainbow asked.
“That's just it, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said, turning to face the door. “Inside there is the biggest source of magical energy I've sensed after we released Rarity.” She gulped. “If it isn't Princess Camellia, I... I-I shudder to think.”
“Shhh!” Rarity pointed up ahead. “Look! Something's happening!”
The lead guard ahead of them turned around. As he did so, a green light faded from his eyes. He shouldered his polearm and shuffled towards the group.
With a loud clatter, the rest of the guards shouldered their weapons, standing at ease.
Rainbow watched as the lead guard approached her. “The Princess of the Sirens will see you now,” she said.
“Well, 'bout time!” Bard trotted forward. “Let's get this pool party star—”
Schiiing! The lead guard held his spear towards him. “Not you.” He turned towards Rainbow Dash. “She only wishes to speak to the three of you.”
Rainbow did a double-take. Her spectral friends gawked while she stammered, “The... th-three of us?”
“Affirmative.”
Theanim glanced over.
“But...” Rainbow leaned forward. “What... could she mean by—?”
The guard bowed slightly. “It is not my place to ask... only to deliver.” He stood up straight again. “But you must hurry. She's told me that time is of the essence.”
Rainbow looked at Twilight and Rarity.
“Hang on...” Bard held a hoof up, then glanced awkwardly at Echo and Wildcard. “How come... she asks for—?”
“Better go on, Miss Dash,” Theanim said. “The rest of us will be fine here.”
“We will?!” Echo wheezed.
“Right.” Rainbow cleared her throat and trotted forward. “Let's go, girls.”
The guards spread apart to make way for her. On softly trotting hooves, Rainbow crossed the rest of the marble bridge. She sensed amphibious shapes shifting far beneath the waters on either side of her, and her figure cast a dozen fractured shadows through the rippling waterlight across the ceiling above.
As she reached the doors, she paused, squinting at the reverse waterfall. With a roar of pressurized liquid, the wall of jets spread apart, exposing the naked polished doorframe. Then, with a gust of cool, salty air, the doors parted ways, exposing a round chamber beyond—almost like a clamshell.
Steeling herself, Rainbow Dash trotted forward, and the doors closed behind her, sealing her off from her friends.
“Oooooooh...” Rarity cooed, looking all around. Her eyes reflected the shimmering sights of the half-domed chamber. “It's like living inside a gem!”
“Yeah, well, here's hoping we live for long,” Rainbow muttered. She looked straight ahead at a complicated mural looming beyond a shallow curtain of water, curved to hug the surfaces of the domed-walls. Ivory-colored etchings depicted equines from land and sea forming a tight group and holding hooves-in-fins. As soon as Rainbow Dash reached a round dais in the center of the room—surrounded on almost all sides by a deep pool of water—she felt a tonal shift to the light source. The color of the refracted light switched from amber to an icy blue. The temperature shifted, dropping a bit, and Rainbow's ears began ringing.
Before long, much of the water lining the mural peeled back like the skin of an orange. The liquid surged forward, collecting into a sphere above Rainbow Dash, supported by rippling tendrils of moving, living water, issuing upwards from below.
Twilight rubbed her head, wincing a bit. Rarity held a hoof on her shoulder, then joined Rainbow in gawking at the phenomenon. Not very long into it, several dark figures shot into view from the pools below. Rarity gasped a bit, catching her breath as she saw half-a-dozen sea ponies darting up the tentacles of water and swimming throughout the hovering sphere in swift circles. They came to a stop, brandishing a daggers and razor-sharp chakrams. Despite the seemingly menacing glint to their weapons, they gazed at Rainbow Dash with expressions that bordered on pleasant. It was enough to distract her from the even tighter school of seaponies suddenly swimming up from below. They followed a thick branch of water while the levitating sphere enlarged above Rainbow Dash, fed with the currents from below. These seaponies wore fine silks of red and burgundy that tapered and trailed in the manipulated currents. Before long, the group spread apart in an aquatic ballet, exposing a graceful figure in their midst who dwarfed them in size.
Camellia's body was a very slender sight, with a long snout and a pronounced neck-crest in place of a mane. Her hooves were more like avian limbs, tightly hooked at her side and locked in a semi-graceful pose. Scales of luminescent turquoise shimmered in the waterlight, casting a brilliant sheen only bested by her bright green eyes. Despite her almost serpentine qualities, Camellia possessed an air of refinement, accentuated by what looked to be translucent tentacles dancing outward from beneath her limb joints. It took Rainbow a little while to realize that they were actually a unique form of dress, with glowing gold ringlets attached to the silk bands that—when spread out—framed the regal siren's figure like she was sporting an enormous halo. All the while, a thick, athletic tail drifted from side to side beneath her, and she loomed above Rainbow Dash—flanked by finmaidens and guards—with a calm face and an even calmer smile.
“Do we speak first... or does she...?” Rarity murmured.
“If royal etiquette here is anything like it is in Equestria,” Twilight said, “Then she should be allowed to speak first.”
“She has,” Rainbow Dash said, brow furrowed. “And I've allowed it, more than once.” She stepped boldly forward. “Princess Camellia... let's get this over with.” Her two companions winced, and yet she continued: “What do you want from me?”
The siren's head tilted to the side. Her eyes flickered bright green. “I would have you be honest with me...” Her scaled lips curved. “But it looks like I've already had my first wish granted, Rainbow Dash.”
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Such a weird song, such a good song. Of course Bard would know of the water under the water, watching the days go by.
Wonder how thick the ocean floor is before the machine world at this point, or if we are far enough over to have nothing but material over the end of the machine world, deposited over through millions of years?
Will Dash have to take the fast elevator down to the control room to get things going, as miniShell tries and finds her from above?
Yeesh, no kidding. Suddenly seaponi shinobi.
heh...
Uh...
Primary mission or side quest... Primary mission or side quest....
Wonderful.
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/donthugme/images/5/58/Green_is_Not_a_Creative_Color.png/revision/latest?cb=20140712163923
What... exactly does she mean by that? Was she confirming a theory about Twi and Rar?
...How much does she know? Can she see them? Sense them?
Is she going to try and steal the element?
There are too many unknowns here. I don't like it.
Also, bolded and italicized...never a good sign.
Dash wouldn't even last one Rebel.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Yes, good. I've been looking forward to this encounter for a while now.
Also, pretty impressive imagery there toward the end.
I'm half expecting Camellia to hold up a letter, saying "Whitemane and I are pen pals" or something.
6316399
She has what Gold Petals lacked!
6316471
Well, Whitemane would have come through here when she was young, visiting the edge with her parents.
Or you know, changeling infiltration....again.
Hmm... I like her. Here's hoping she's on Dash's side, and stays that way.
Also, just occurred to me, what with all this water talk and the realization that Dash is going to have to go down into some kind underwater catacombs to reach the Pinkie Seed that means that this story official has a Water Temple stage. I now weep for Dash.
It seems that cryptic is the standard language among those of higher standing. Also, she can sense Twilight and Rarity hm, maybe even speak to them. That is going to make things easier for Rainbow. Meanwhile we got the Shell wannabe floundering around upstairs, hope Camellia is quick in discussing what she wants.
"...be honest..." was the "only the three of them" order a test? To see if RD would try to cheat when Camellia could actually detect Rarity and Twi?
Or is it more if RDwill not cause chaos in the city Camellia rules without telling her about the plan at the Auction House and southern Syndicate HQ? We'll have to see what the fish princess knows about what's going on.
I like it! Can't go wrong with blunt honesty!
6316537 Maybe the fish ponies bend an air bubble for Dash and crew?
6316638 Stupid plan is best plan.
I dunno about you guys but I like her!
6316414
I would assume she's been peeking in at Rainbow's thoughts, she is a mind reader after all. It wouldn't be that difficult for her to find out about Twilight and Rarity. The bold and italics symbolize she's not actually speaking, but mentally projecting her voice I would assume. I would agree, that the wording here is odd. She could be referring to Rainbow being herself and speaking first, rather than waiting on etiquette.
6316537
Caves. It's always Caves.
Rainbow always has the worst luck with those.
6316536
Hold true to your theory, you may be right (but probably not)!
It seems to me that Rainbow is officially tired of Camellia peaking around in her head by the end there.
6316729 That would explain a bit, but not enough imo.
I'm going to go with the theory that she can sense Twilight and Rarity, since if they have enough mental presence to think, they'd show up on a psychic's radar.
It's been speculated that Camellia isn't totally in control of the situation in Shoggoth but you have to wonder if her psychic abilities are as powerful as they seem to be, how would it be possible for her to lose control in the first place?
I don't like the fact that the others had to stay behind either. I might just be paranoid but I get the feeling they won't be there when Rainbow's done with her chat. They would make a pretty nice peace offering to the syndicate if Camellia wished to appease them.
Reckon the guys are (or will be) prepped to generate a distraction at the Auction House while Dash is given her own objectives. In which case it would seem this meeting and the likely North Vs South syndicate showdown has been a long time coming for Camellia.
Ugh. I'm never normally so optimistic.
In other news: her royal entrance theme already existed
Very well then, Green Eyes. Here we go for some more Wise Mentor princess talk!
And I'm here like, 'what's a water temple?'
Honesty is the best
horse, I mean, policy.All stand up to greet
Deez NutsHer Royal Shoobedoopness,John Cena!PrincessCameltoeCamellia!I'd imagine that lying to a psychic would be fairly difficult.
6317370 depends on how powerful/talented the psychic is. If they can only read surface thoughts, just focus on something non essential while speaking. if they can penetrate all the way into your mind, then you are well and truly S.O.L.
Dash will have to go down there to save pinkie, isnt she?
Well then, my reaction is quite easy
hugo-agbonon.github.io/presentations/nope/assets/nope4.png
Finally caught up, huh? Feels like I've stumbled into camp long after everyone's gathered around the fire to start telling stories. Satisfying, but in an exhausting way . . .
I'm loving this so far.
The ghost of the party horse also approves.
Well this aught to be interesting.
WHOOO DAYUMN 2 weeks and 4 days for me to go from Austraoeh to catching up with the Noble Jury..
6318933 That's really really quick. Welcome to Camellia's Angels or whatever we're called these days.
6318933 Welcome to the Lunar Ninth. Congrats on catching up.
Ehh... Midnight's seen too many harems. Not sure I want another one.
That's totally not misleading at all. Of course not.
The crucial conversation commences.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
P.S. Alliteration not intended.
6318933 Welcome to the Lunar Ninth! Congratulations on catching up.
6318006 I know that feel, bro. I stumbled into this campsite this book too. Welcome to the Lunar Ninth! Whoop!
6318933 And a warm welcome to you as well. I hope you both brought scuba gear.
Oh shit, it's siren princess time.
I'm really liking this Cameilla character so far... finally someone who wants to help (maybe).
So far so good but how long will that last now that we met the Princess
6318006 WELCOME!
6318933 WELCOME ALSO!
Should probably be 'fineries'... Probably, maybe. Yes.
Into the heart of royalty.
6494822 nah, it's fine.
*insert Shneigha Twain jingle*
6494822 The transportation between the floor and the surface requires energy...
Mane. What did you think?