Trusted Friends and Tin Foils
"Hey!"
Rattling chains.
"Freak!"
Echo's slitted eyes opened. "I swear." His fangs glistened in the dark as he grumbled, "When it rains, it shits."
Nevertheless, the guard grunted, "You've got a visitor!"
"Oh please, darling." Echo tilted his head about from where he hung and purred at the cell doors. "Anypony who longs for my soft fuzzy flank that much can settle for 'home owner.'"
"Mrmmmfff... whatever." The guard opened the doors and took a step back...
...allowing a breathless Theanim Mane to step forward.
"Oh." Echo blinked. In a heartbeat, he leapt down to his hooves and stood before the stallion. "Well, I guess there's that, then."
Clang! The doors rattled shut behind the Professor. "No funny business, midnighter! I mean it!" He marched away.
Echo craned his neck after him as he trotted down the prison corridor. "Think nothing of it, my love. The Mother of Nightmares has a warm, moist cave prepared for you and me alone!" A beat. He turned to wink at his friend. "Best that you don't let them choose how they get entertained, am I right?" He yawned, performing a brief sonic shriek in the process. "Iiiiiiiee... still... mmrmmfff..." He stretched his back like a cat. "I've imagined worse honeymoons in my life."
"Please, old chap," Theanim stammered. "Now is not the time for vaguely homoerotic jocularity!"
"Holy shit." Echo blinked. "Things must be serious for something that atrocious to come out of your science hole." He shuffled over and leaned against the cell wall with a sigh. "What's up, buddy? Beside my head, of course."
Theanim adjusted his goggles and whispered. "Have you gathered your wits about you yet?"
Echo's slitted eyes bounced around. "Uhhhh..." He squinted at Theanim with a frown. "If you're asking me whether or not the psychological side effects from years and years of huffing coral like a frenzied bum have dwindled from my inner being, then you can go buck yourself, ya selfish impatient prick." He nevertheless cleared his throat. "But... for what it's worth... mmmmmyeah... I'm no longer seeing lobsters with top hats and razor-thorned tits in the wall... or whatever."
"Good." Theanim gulped. "Then I need you to remember. Back in Rust... back in Mud Top... you ran circles with the Syndicate..."
"And then some. Yeah. We all know this, Theams." Echo cocked his head to the side. "What are ya sniffing at?"
"Did you ever cross paths with a certain character named Monket?"
"Pffft. Unfortunately. Nasty Mister Bastard still owes me for a bunch of Peace Foam I smuggled for him while I was splitting hairs with Revan."
"Peace Foam?"
"Erm..." Echo fidgeted. "A... sissy name ponies in the business give for a sedatitive that's administered to the slaves bred at Mudtop so that they're less resistant to forced labor." Echo gulped. "Among other things." He brushed a shaky hoof through his mane. "You know, Theams... for all my sass, I really... really don't thank you enough for pulling my sorry ass out of all that crud."
"Well, if you wish to pay me back, now's the time, Old Chap."
"Name it, Goggles."
"I've spent the last twenty-four hours situating myself here in Frostknife and doing an extraordinary amount of paperwork. However... I do believe I've finally gotten the permission I need to seek an audience with an imprisoned former member of the Syndicate." Theanim's eyes narrowed. "And I just had it authorized for you to join me."
"Uhhhh..." Echo blinked. "What former member of the Syndicate?"
Theanim took a breath. "Boss Jeryn of the Southern Hoof."
"Hah!" Echo snorted. "That slimy queef magnet?! Pffft... I'm done with his sorry ass. Unless." He blinked. "The Council's finally ready to conduct an investigation?"
"No." Theanim shook his head. "This is all my choosing. I have reason to believe that Jeryn knows a great deal about the Consortium and it's secret, sordid connections with the criminals of Mudtop and beyond. Jeryn is one link in a chain. Monket is the other. If I can piece them together, then I can prove a connection between the Syndicate and the Consortium—which exposes a very alarming conspiracy that reaches to the very courtyard of the Council of Verlaxion itself!"
"You're going after Brye Chandler's head?!" Echo grimaced. "What the hell, Theams? I thought you were off skirt-chasing Luminards in order to figure out what made Rainbow Dash go nuts!"
"And I just got back with speaking to them," Theanim said. "Elder Sonikah was so kind as to give me a very personal testimony of her voyage from the Quade to Frostknife. She related several frightening details about the Consortium and its connection to various insidious organizations. Tell me... have you ever heard of Top Dredger Skagra?"
"Uhhh... yeah." Echo nodded. "Some... half-headed pretender with a death-wish who runs Red Barge. Or—at least—he used to. Word around the Frozen Shelves is that he took a major dip in the ocean and now a bunch of dredge coal is up for grabs."
"Dredge coal that the Consortium has had a major investment in." Theanim nodded. "I think it's no coincidence that Skagra bottomed up while Chandler's been enjoying a disproportionate amount of popularity and attention as of late with the Council. I need to know more about what happened on board that ship the Luminards rode here. Since I can't even pretend to seek an audience with the infamous Monket, I must settle for Jeryn."
"And since he and I have history together..." Echo squinted. "...you think that I'm the right stallion to leverage against him... make the milk-drinker crack."
"Affirmative."
"And exactly what did you tell the warden of the Frosted Shelves that convinced him to allow this sort of... dual interview? Or are your Sciency Balls just that huge?"
"Erm..." Theanim looked over his shoulder. His goggles rattled in the shadows. "I claimed that we're here to... erm... prepare a detailed testimony about the 'Rainbow Rogue's crimes across the Seven Seas.'"
"So, let me get this straight." Echo's fangs glinted. "You, Professor Theanim Mane, Purveyor of Truth in Rohbredden, as Goddess Verlaxion is our witness, are fabricating a huge-ass lie and soiling Rainbow Dash's good name just to cover your ass while you try to unravel some stupidly improbable conspiracy?"
"Erm..." Theanim gulped and nodded. "As a manner of speaking."
"That's super dirty, dishonest, and shitty." Echo produced smiled as his slitted eyes lit up. "I am so on board."
"You're certain you're up for this, Old Chap?"
"Hell bucking yes, I'm up for this. It's too cold in this damned cell to clop anyways." Echo shuddered. "Let's go before the blood rushes back to my butt and I change my mind."
"You must allow me to do the majority of the speaking, friend," Theanim said. "This is a highly delicate situation, and I want Jeryn to be as much in the dark about our purposes as the warden."
"So the veil's over his eyes too. Got it." Echo nodded. "Wouldn't be the first time." He raised an eyebrow. "Why all the friggin' secrecy, anyways? The Consortium doesn't own the Frosted Shelves, y'know. The Syndicate controlled this place from the inside more than anypony else."
"It's not the Consortium I fear," Theanim said. "Nor what's left of the Syndicate. But rather..." He shuddered. "...I was rather rattled by the sights and sounds of Frostknife when I arrived yesterday. Everypony in the capitol appears on edge. In fact, there's talks of angry verbal disputes in the Court and... and..."
"And what?"
Theanim gulped. "The Talon are delaying their report of the hunt for the Rainbow Rogue. It's been weeks, Echo."
"You think Rainbow gave them the slip?"
"I wouldn't doubt her of being capable," Theanim remarked. "Especially if she has more invisible companions at her side by now. Even still... something is ahoof. Something rancid. You can feel it in the air of this place."
"Yeah, no shit." Echo nodded. "It's like something's about to blow. And... y'know... the strangest thing happened to me."
"Oh?"
"You said you just showed up yesterday?"
"That's correct."
"You... didn't send me a letter or anything?"
"I ordered a telegram or two. Why?"
"... ... ..." At last, Echo shuffled over to the cot, reached under the pillow, and procured an envelope. He came marching back. "I'm guessing this wasn't one of them."
Theanim slid his goggles down over his eyes and scrutinized the letter. His brow furrowed above the lenses. "Why..." He lifted the goggles, blinking at Echo. "...this is blank."
"So I'm not going crazy."
"And who is 'Jordan?'"
Echo shrugged. "Was hoping you'd know. It's not the guard's name; that's for sure. The letter's not perfumed."
"Curious and curiouser..." Theanim rubbed a hoof across the sheet. "...would you mind if I take this?"
"I wouldn't mind if you pissed on it."
"Something about the texture of this paper..." Theanim murmured out loud. "...could be some sort of enchanted lettering." He sniffed the surface. "No doubt legible with the right kind of chemical. But which one?" He bit his lip. "And who is this 'Jordan?'"
"You don't suppose it's from Rainbow?"
Theanim looked at Echo.
Echo fidgeted. "I... honestly don't know anypony else who would write me."
Theanim exhaled. "We'll fix that in due time, Old Chap." He patted Echo's shoulder. "I promise. I will get us out of this mess."
"Yeah, well..." Echo smiled faintly. "Let's work on the mess Rohbredden is in, huh?"
"Right." Theanim knocked his hoof against the bars. The guard's hoofsteps returned as he muttered, "After all the messes we've been in, it should be a veritable sleigh ride."
"Wow. Nice snow segue."
Stats
Page generated in 0.109 seconds
Total duration
1,007 users online
615,342 hits today, 2,814,898 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
"Austraeoh's Travels: The Condensed Version"
-for those who popped out of Rainbow's Rohbredden Journey right before the shit hit the fan.
Seems Theanim and Echo are catching up to the current pages quite nicely.
Of course, invisible ink. I guess I'd been so fixated on Jordan being Wildcard that I just assumed that "Jordan" was the only thing written on the paper. And these guards don't think to check for invisible ink? Sheesh.
It would explain why Echo didn't know Wildcard's actual name, though. WC might make it apparent in the letter that he is Jordan, and then Echo can put 2 and 2 together and realize what's happening. Clever.
6954947 I choose to believe the earlier comment that his vow of silence extends to written word. Far more amusing.
Silly Theams, when is it ever not the time for vaguely homoerotic jocularity
Did someone say Snow Segway?
i.ytimg.com/vi/CtYS0ldHKjE/maxresdefault.jpg
Called it, ACME brand disappearing reappearing ink, right out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit
. Jokes aside the whole continent is a powder keg, just waiting for a spark. Rainbow is definitely that spark. Now the only question is did she light the fuse, or will she be dropped straight into the keg?
its
Curiouser and curiouser...
This exchange set the tone really, these two bantering is awesome.
Well.. Theams, Lt. Keris is in town, why not have a chat with him. Surely as a former associate of the Rogue's you could ply some info out of him.
-Companions have returned, inner darkness spurned. Utaan.
Well the possible invisible ink throws a bit of a wrench into who actually wrote the letter, maybe. Can't wait till we see what is written.
6955112 Someone who knows that letters sent to prisoners get checked, and wanted to keep their communique secret.
I really love these two, Theanim's verbosity and Echo's sass always makes for some pretty great dialogue.
Sometimes, Echo is just too much.
Oh, and he totes wants to have upside-down sex with Theams. And probably with the guard too.
6955112 I wouldn't consider the guards that inept.
I just realised something. The top dogs who can frame Chandler are jailed, and now Longaze got herself willingly jailed as well.... a mare like her doesn't strike me as a pony that would cave in because of torture... this won't end well.
6955252 I always forget until I see them interact again just how much I ship it
Theanim is having an easier time uncovering conspiracy links, now that Dash is going round and bunker busting thier cover.
Just waiting for the wind up that leads to Chandler being on the recieving end of the Dash, Talon, Odd Jobs Grand Slam.
Haha I love the dialogue between these two
This is making me wonder where Chandler even is.
Well, depending on what substance has already been used as an ink substitute...
Also might be worth sticking the paper near any toasty corridor torches on the way out.
Plot twist: the guard telling Echo not get any guano on it was a hint.
That's right, you don't need to piss on the letter, you need to...
Gotta love Echo's sass. So little fucks given.
6955670 Then you sir or madam are clearly not a marshmallow.
So there just might be a secret letter in that paper after all. Interesting.
6955225 I tried to make it subtle enough that it could be seen as just a typo.
That is most certainly a euphemism.
6955670 There is an old joke where you ask someone if they would prefer to be burned alive or have their neck sliced. No matter what they respond you end the joke with "Well I'd prefer a warm steak to a cold cut any day."
Inb4 the ink is activated by ammonia.
Fourth walls, they don't build them like they used to.
6954947
6955887
It takes Echo's blood to become legible.
Hmmm...
images2.fanpop.com/image/photos/9900000/Hmmmm-house-md-9966199-279-302.jpg
Who wants to bet ammonia reveals the hidden lettering?
I mean, in his current situation, Mister Echo had access to little else besides Mister Grylls' favourite choice of beverage, mmmm?
6955733
They haven't been mentioned, yet there's no reason she shouldn't have them. http://www.fimfiction.net/user/Austraeoh%20Fact%20Checker#comment/2131917
Is there a trick to getting you nickname into the story?
Also I like the way Theanim is written into this book, he's still hugely important.
6955020 man, I miss when portalraz0r or whatever his name is used to correct typos.
Well, let's see where this goes.
Well, the guard did say to excrete on it... maybe guano is the key?
6962286 while he had a point, I'll not miss his attitude about it.
6955020 static.fjcdn.com/pictures/Monty+python+it+s3_05c307_4122482.jpg
I bet this little talk between everyone will go swimmingly! And by "swimmingly," I mean there is a good chance we might have to wade through all the insults Jeryn has to put out there before we get any real information from him.
I think the last time we had such a massive tangle of plots begin to meld together was in Val Roa. I'm hoping for something as spectacular when everything is ultimately revealed.
6956488 This story has Pinkie Pie. There was never a fourth wall.
It is always the time for that.
How dare you Professor Dude, there is always time for vaguely homoerotic jocularity!
Yup, we figured you would be!