"Commander?" Grand Magistrate Hymmnos peered from the far end of her desk. A night-drenched Frostknife lingered past the windows of her office behind her. "Did you have something else to add?"
Commander Seraphimus took a shuddering breath. She lifted her head, staring bleary-eyed at the mare. "I was... mmm..." She cleared her throat, swallowing hard. "...I was only wondering if you would be so kind as to repeat your last statement, Grand Magistrate."
"Hmmm..." Hymmnos rubbed her numb hooves together. "And here I thought I was the most exhausted soul in Rohbredden right now."
Seraphimus merely stared at her through thin, charcoal eyes.
At long last, Hymmnos stifled a cough and leaned back in her seat. "I said, Commander, that the Talon's current task is to stand by in the armory and await further instructions from the Interim Military Cabinet."
Seraphimus' feathery brow furrowed. "I'm afraid I'm not... familiar with this term."
"That's because it was formulated overnight," Hymmnos said in a dull tone. Her eyes pierced the shadows. "Thus, the reason for the word 'interim.'"
"And... ahem..." Seraphimus folded her forelimbs. "Precisely what is the function of this Cabinet, Grand Magistrate?"
"Well, chiefly, for the time being, it's to ascertain the nature of that very function. Needless to say, it's aiming to be a new committee for facilitating the use of military might in properly defending Rohbredden and the Queen's interests at large."
"Who, might I ask, authorized the establishment of this committee?"
"I did, naturally." Hymmnos leaned her head aside. "Not on my own, of course. I had to invoke emergency intercessory legislation, namely Article IV Section B of the Divination Response Bill. I had the entire Council's assistance with that. The measure was voted on overnight. The delegates agreed unanimously to assemble the Interim Military Cabinet. Heh..." She brushed her graying bangs back with a slight shudder. "Funny... just days ago, we could scarcely vote on shoreline taxation bills. But, all of a sudden, we're working together like trusting siblings." She gulped. "It's only fitting, really."
"And just what is the function of this Cabinet?"
"To assess the threat to the Throne of Verlaxion and intervene by any means necessary." Hymmnos cleared her throat. "We were... also going to vote on a military draft. But, considering that we've received an astonishing number of names enlisting over the past two days..."
"How many?"
Hymmnos took a deep breath. "Over seventeen thousand."
Seraphimus blinked.
"Needless to say, at the massive rate at which Rohbredden citizens are pledging their strength to the Central Guard..." Hymmnos folded her hooves together. "...we've decided to put the order of conscription on hold. This new cabinet already has a strong, capable body of soldiers to work with, and—from the look of things—there are plenty of recruits signing up to protect our sworn Goddess and Divine Unifier."
"It... is a g-good thing." Seraphimus cleared her throat. "T-to know that so many foals of Verlaxion are willing to step up for their Queen."
"It would have been an even better thing yesterday," Hymmnos grunted.
"Grand Magistrate?"
Hymmnos sighed, gazing at the desktop between them. "It... is with very little pride that I admit to my failings, Commander." She gulped hard. "If I truly cared for our Goddess, I would have worked to enact something like this sooner. Alas, I allowed years and years of political red tape bleach my soul into something jaded... lifeless... and dishonorable." A shudder. "Now... now it's almost too late to save the one Life-Giver who means anything to any of us." She bit her bottom lip, trying to contain a sob. After a long while, she eventually muttered, "I... do not blame you, Commander, for failing to capture the Rainbow Rogue. If anything... the fault lies upon us—the Council—for being blind and foolhardy in our endeavors. We've allowed personal squabbles and selfish ambition consume us... to the point that we ultimately preyed upon our own kind. If nothing else, this... venomous presence from beyond the Blight is the Goddess' way of punishing all of us."
"Verlaxion loves all Tribes," Seraphimus said. "I don't see why she would punish us."
Hymmnos glared with sudden vitriol. "Including the wyverns?"
Seraphimus' clenched her beak tight.
"They are the ultimate betrayers here. By harboring the Rainbow Rogue and her new ally from the west... they have brought a pestilence upon our Queen. They threaten to doom us all." Hymmnos sighed. "Besides, you heard the word of Verlaxion spoken before everypony in the Court. Her mercy no longer extends to the Sixth Tribe. Right now, our main concern is finding a way to defend the Starkiss. I doubt even the inhospitable desolation of that land will hold back a creature as ravenous as the Rogue."
"With all due respect, Grand Magistrate, what we have here is an opportunity to make things right with our Goddess," Seraphimus firmly said. "Focusing on the rifts between our tribes will only lead to more strife—the likes of which isolated Magistrates Timplan and Vilcheez, leading them to commit heinous acts of terrorism and embezzlement." She stood up tall. "Please. You still have the Talon at your disposal. For righteousness' sake, allow my wingmates and I to engage the Rogue. Surely whatever dark magic she's used to taint the Wyvern Tribe can be undone." Her charcoal hawkeyes narrowed. "Verlaxion has empowered us with her wisdom and ferocity. Now is the proper time to utilize our talents."
"And yet..." Hymmnos leaned back, peering at the griffon. "...she made no single mention of you when she blessed us the other day with her presence."
Seraphimus blinked.
"Commander, the problems that face this nation can't be solved by any single one force—but instead by many. Holding back from that truth is one of the mistakes that's cut us the deepest, I do believe." She stared firmly at the guardian. "Throughout the years—the decades of silence we've endured in the shadow of Verlaxion's throne—the biggest mistake we've made was refusing to accept change. We remained stubborn, and that selfish pride made us blind to the true solutions we have to address the issues at hoof. Well, we've sunk as far as we could possibly go. We've been so... pathetic and self-consuming that it took a messenger of Verlaxion herself to come and wake us up. And now that she's done so—and now that she's made her desires clear and evident—it's finally a time for change. Unless we take her completely at her word, then I fear that we risk backsliding once more into a state of arrogance and misdirection."
"What... kind of change are we talking about?" Seraphimus shifted where she stood. "And just where does the Talon stand in regards to it?"
"That's just it, Commander." Hymmnos spoke gravely: "Verlaxion made no mention of the Talon."
"She made no mention of legislature either," Seraphimus said, her tone slightly growling. "And yet you and the Court has taken it upon yourself to enact Article IV."
"True." Hymmnos nodded. "Only because that is necessary utilization of resources on behalf of the foals of Verlaxion, attempting to turn her divine command into reality."
"And just what is the Talon?"
Hymmnos opened her muzzle, lingered, then ultimately avoided Seraphimus' gaze as she said: "A substitute... f-for precisely the kind of holy thing that we all witnessed the other day."
Seraphimus squinted. "...Grand Magistrate?"
"The Talon has been priceless in defending the Continental Prefectures from wicked incursions. However—in both purpose as well as in name—the Right Talon of Verlaxion has served as a vital extension of the will and fury of our divine Unifier. Alas, Commander, the Goddess herself has been made manifest in both will and intent. Her purpose is clear, thus—there is no nebulous thing for the Right Talon to represent. The righteous desires of our Queen are more than evident. The Interim Military Cabinet is the Council's vessel for ensuring her request is followed swiftly and faithfully."
"Then... precisely what is the Talon's purpose at this particular juncture?"
Hymmnos inhaled. "The Council of Verlaxion has decided to assign you and your wingmates temporarily towards protecting the interests of Frostknife and its respective delegates."
Seraphimus blinked. Hard. "Guard duty."
Hymmnos looked at her. "Call it what you wish. In this time of great peril, the foals of Verlaxion need protection as well."
"Meanwhile..." Seraphimus' headcrest rose as she growled, "You're planning to send a fresh batch of inexperienced soldiers into the field to intercept the Rainbow Rogue and some unknown force of wicked intent?"
"Your assessment of the Central Guard is very much appreciated," Hymmnos said. "However, they're not as 'inexperienced' as you might think. In addition to that, the Council unanimously agrees that their far superior numbers will be enough to hold the Rainbow Rogue at bay."
"The Council is mistaken."
"Commander—"
Seraphimus' beak snapped. "On her own, the Rainbow Rogue is a chaotic war machine capable of rampant destruction. She can and will outsmart her opposition in ways you can't even begin to contemplate."
"We anticipate that," Hymmnos said with a nod. "For that reason, we're sending an army to stop her. Nothing less."
"I don't believe it will be enough, Grand Magistrate," Seraphimus said. "I implore you... rethink this strategy... or at least send myself and my wingmates in so that we may assist your forces from a strategic position and properly defeat these demons of Blight."
"A fine idea indeed, Commander." Hymmnos cleared her throat. "Unfortunately, it's not up to me."
"Then just who does have the authority over the Interim Military Cabinet?"
"The newly elected Minister of Defense."
"The Minister of Defense?" Seraphimus' blinked. Just like that, her headcrest drooped. She exhaled in a cold breath. "Let me guess..."
"Friggin' Hell," Logan grumbled, squatting with his back to the quivering force-field. He dragged a sharpening stone across the edge of his axe and spoke above the noise of the howling winds all around the camp. "This damn blizzard sure is lasting a long-ass time."
"Just calm your flanks," Flynn hissed back, tinkering with his steam pack. "I suspect it only has three hours left to blow. Four, tops."
"Four hours?!" Logan sputtered. "For crying out loud! By the time we get to Verlaxion's Throne, we're gonna be the Heraldic Popsicle Gang!"
"It'll blow over! Just be patient!" Flynn exclaimed.
"I am patient," Logan grumbled. "Or else my name isn't Big Show Serenity Logan." He smirked. "Heh."
"Ponies with middle names are lame," Flynn grumbled.
"You're lame."
"No you."
"No you!"
"Nopony cares!" Ariel growled from where she curled up on a sleeping mat. Kepler's chuckles echoed against the wavering force field as the pegasus continued: "Seriously! Just shut up and let the rest of us rest!"
"Yeah..." Bard nodded, sitting with his back to Wildcard and plucking away at his guitar. "What she said."
"Hrmmmm..." Kepler rubbed the furry bridge of his nose while rummaging through a wagon full of alchemic agents. "Surrely such squabbling is beneath the Herrald! Might I suggest anotherr rround of musical merrriment?" He smiled softly in Bard's direction. "Perrhaps ourr plus one memberr?"
"What about it, Bard?" Flynn droned. "Give it your best?"
"Hmmm... lemme see now..."
Bard cleared his throat and strummed his guitar with repetitive notes.
"Oh this dayum snow sucks and I can't sleep
This dayum snow sucks and I can't sleep
This dayum snow sucks and I can't sleep
But least I'm not Remna
Yes, at least I'm not Remnaaaaa"
He strung a final note, slapping his guitar with a devilish smirk.
"How 'bout that? Hmmm?"
Ariel giggled and Wildcard smirked.
"Deliriously funny," Remna groaned from the far end of the translucent bubble. "I've a good mind to eviscerate your guts and make a warm sleeping bag out of your skin."
"And I'd pay you to do it if ya could fit yer fat flank inside me, ya hussy!"
Before Remna could retort—
"My little ponies, please," Mortuana blurted from the midst of her deep meditation. She sat on folded forelimbs, her bandaged horn teetering. "A modicum of tranquility, if you can muster it."
Remna nodded. "Yes, Mountain Matron," she murmured.
Bard cleared his throat. "A thousand pardons, ma'am."
"Forgiven." Mortuana breathed in and out. Her ears twitched, and a pair of eyes opened. The alicorn looked to her side.
Rainbow Dash sat, hunched over and sighing.
Mortuana closed her eyes again. Clearing her throat, she quietly murmured: "What ails you, Austraeoh?"
"Hmmm?" Rainbow gulped. "Do I look... ail'd?"
"You appear lost in thought. I take it your fellow companions persist in their slumber."
Rainbow hugged herself. "Let's face it. They deserve a break."
"And you? Does it work both ways?"
Rainbow was silent.
"This is the first time I've sensed you so deeply contemplative, not that I doubt you capable of introspection. You are—after all—who you are."
"Yeah..." Rainbow sighed, hanging her head. "I am me..."
"It must be tough having to meditate without them."
"Sometimes it's tough enough having them around."
Mortuana raised an eyebrow above her closed lids.
"Only...!" Rainbow jolted, gazing up at the alicorn. "Uh—only b-because I never wished this crazy adventure on them! Not one bit! I'm not ashamed t-to have them by my side!"
"I never said you were, Austraeoh."
Rainbow Dash battled a lump in her throat. She looked off. "Still... it kinda sucks having to feel responsible for them all the time."
"Would you have it any other way?"
"Huh?"
"Would you rather be the shadow and one of your marefriends the anchor?"
Rainbow winced. "Yeah... that would suck even harder."
"How so?"
"Because..." Rainbow took a deep breath. "If any pony can carry them to the Midnight Armory and back... it's me."
"I'm glad you have a grasp on your own confidence."
"It's not confidence," Rainbow said. "It's... just the way things are. And it's how I'm having to deal with it." She bit her lip. "Although... I-I could have dealt with it better."
"I presume you're referring to the debacle at the Quade and Red Barge." Mortuana adjusted her bony wings. "It was my understanding that you and your invisible companions worked your way past those hurdles already."
"They did... we did."
"And you yourself, Rainbow Dash?"
The pegasus hung her head.
"You've been struggling with a massive weight for a long time," Mortuana said. "I can sense it. My sister's blessing—albeit mostly faded—did much to alleviate the burden. And yet... it's almost as if it's come back."
"More like it never left," Rainbow grumbled. "More like it's only gotten heavier."
"And yet—haven't you gotten stronger?"
Rainbow was silent.
"Trust me when I say that we do not choose to protect the Austraeoh lightly, Rainbow Dash," Mortuana said. "If I did not know that you were the one, I would not be commanding my fellow Heraldites to protect you."
"You shouldn't have to be commanding them at all."
"They obey me whole heartedly—"
"That's not the point. All of this? This blizzard? This snowy mess? This... whole friggin' nightmare with Rohbredden and the Talon and... and..." Rainbow Dash winced. "It... it could have been avoided, Morty."
"You're a resourceful mare, Rainbow Dash. But no one is perfect. Not even alicorns. My decaying physique is more than enough evidence for that—"
"You don't understand!" Rainbow hissed. She looked around fitfully, as if searching for the colors of her "slumbering" friends. Once she saw nothing, she whispered aside: "I could have tried so much harder... made this trip so much... awesomer..."
"And what makes you think I don't understand, Austraeoh?"
Rainbow sucked her breath in. She looked up at Mortuana with surprise.
Mortuana calmly gazed down at her.
Rainbow shuddered—as if from a sharp stab of pain. "You... you know—"
"I know that challenges are what keep you going," Mortuana said. "And yet, ironically enough, once Verlax started challenging you, it threw off your game by thousands of miles. Despite how it may look on the surface, I'm quite proud of you for finding a new rhythm by which to reassess your journey ahead."
Rainbow Dash panted and panted. Her voice squeaked, "I-I'm not proud of it, Mortuana." She sniffed, continuing in a tiny voice: "Bard... Wildcard... the Herald..." She gulped, her eyes growing misty. "My friends... they're all at risk and... and somehow this is the best that I can do?"
"I do believe there's only one question that can asked here," Mortuana remarked, leaning her head down. "Are you attempting to do what Verlax expects? Or what you expect from yourself?"
Rainbow bit her lip. She shut her moist eyes, shuddering. "... ... ...I've... dr-dreaded these tests of Verlax." She sniffled. "Even before I understood the enormity and... demented nature of them all... they freaked me out super hard. And... and I started wondering if I was actually starting to let her mold me into... into..." Her teeth gnashed. "Whatever friggin' monster she expects me to become!"
"As mad as the Divine is, there is a certain degree of truth to her inclinations," Mortuana said. "A great deal of strength and versatility will be expected of you on the dark side... no doubt extending beyond the limits of conventional moral certainty."
"Yeah..." Rainbow grumbled, hanging her head. "...so you've made clear."
"However..." Mortuana's eyes narrowed on the pegasus. "...no matter how one interprets Verlax's motivations, it's quite clear that her 'tests' are mercilessly punishing you." Mortuana slowly shook her head. "There is no need for you to punish yourself as well, Rainbow Dash."
"Isn't there?" Rainbow's teary eyes reopened. "I've made horrible... costly mistakes. Others have suffered for it... and yet I keep going."
"Well, you must."
"That's no excuse!" Rainbow growled, frowning. "To finish my journey, I gotta live, Mortuana! And that means I gotta live with myself. And... so many cruddy things have been done by my hooves." She gulped hard. "And if Verlax is even remotely correct... then I've gotta do even more cruddy things."
"I doubt the Rainbow Dash of Ponyville, Equestria, will settle for such a simple fate."
"Right... and that's what I felt. But... after the Quade... I didn't really have many options at my disposal."
"And yet you chose one, regardless?" Mortuana remarked.
Rainbow nodded, wiping her eyes dry. "I chose the hardest thing I could think of. And even after my friends came back... I've still been following that road."
"Even if it's harder than the path Verlax desires of you?"
"Yeah, well, it'll still be my path," Rainbow growled. "I... I needed an edge... a way to confound her. I'm... I'm still waiting for a time to spring a trap of my own... to play Verlax at her own tricks, I guess. But until I do... until that moment comes..." She sighed. "...it's a waiting game... a waiting game that's putting everything at risk. If I was smarter, I'd get it over with... but... but..."
"What do you believe you are waiting for, exactly, Rainbow Dash?"
The mare stifled a whimper. "...to be awesome again."
Mortuana nodded. "Hmmmm... a noble thing." After a breath, she leaned down and nuzzled Rainbow's chin until the pegasus looked up.
Rainbow blinked at Mortuana.
The alicorn faced her and said: "You do not need to wait for something you already possess. This is not a matter of waiting, Austraeoh, but rediscovery... an epiphany that's been slowly blossoming ever since the Quade."
Rainbow stared at her, shivering slightly.
"I hope I am there to witness you make that rediscovery," Mortuana said. "For I am certain it will be a metamorphosis unlike any other. Will it stun the mighty Verlax?" She flexed and re-coiled her decrepit wings. "Maybe. Maybe not. But I trust it will liberate the confident spirit that resides deep inside of you, a spark that's been waiting to rekindle itself for a long time now. Even if the Herald fails to escort you to the Midnight Armory—I will be ecstatic, at least—that you have made it to such a position of rebirth. For I trust that such a renewed flame will be enough to carry you to the ends of the world alone."
"How...?" Rainbow Dash teetered on the edge of sobbing. "How c-can you believe in me so much?"
"How can you not?"
Rainbow clenched her jaw tight.
"Have faith, my little pony." Mortuana caressed her fuzzy chin. "It's the one true thing Verlax has endeavored to leech from you. She wishes to turn you into an unfeeling machine." She shook her head. "The Herald knows you are much more than this. To acknowledge both the atrocities and the blessings you've committed is the true, defining mark of the Austraeoh. My only wish—before your death—is that you strive to acknowledge the latter."
Rainbow sniffled. She rubbed her cheeks dry and formed a feeble smile. "You're a lot more like your half-sister than you admit."
"Hmmm... how very interesting." Mortuana's vial jostled as she stood up on quivering limbs. "I'll attempt to take that as a compliment."
"Heh..."
Mortuana lifted her head. "Rise up, Herald. It is time to move."
Remna glanced over, blinking. "Mortuana...?"
"What? Are you surprised?" Mortuana gazed back calmly. "The blizzard is clearing."
Just as she said that, the clouds began to dissipate. The violet forcefield quivered less and less as the Frost Plateau rematerialized in a gray haze around them.
Wildcard readjusted his goggles, his headcrest rising in surprise.
"Huh..." Flynn's mechanical eye rotated. "That was quick."
"A fine omen indeed!" Kepler clapped his tomes shut and packed them back into the wagon. "Let us be off, frriends! A mighty strretch of the plateau awaits! And so does the beacon of Yaerrfaerrda! Hah!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Ariel said. FWOOOSH! She flew out through the force field and glided ahead. "I'll scout out!"
"Don't fly too far!" Remna growled. She hung her head with a surly sigh. "Why do I even bother..."
"Trust me, with her?" Rainbow Dash smirked, rolling up her belongings. "Best to just let her have her way. After you, Mortuana."
"If you insist, Austraeoh."
"Ahem..." A pegasus in armor trotted up to a series of tents built along the upper bluffs of Frostknife. Soldiers and recruits marched around the scene, setting up crates full of weapons and supplies as the camp grew by the hour. "Mr. Chandler, sir."
"Please..." The stallion waved a hoof from where he sat at a makeshift table, signing document after document. "Just 'Minister' will do. For the time being, the less my last name is used... the better, I fear."
The stallion nodded. "Dear Minister." He saluted. "I came to inform you that the West Brigade of the Central Guard has established a strategic location for the training facility."
"Hmmm? Is it in Green Prefecture?"
"Due north, sir," the soldier said. "Verdant Prefecture. Reports state that the tundra there has melted. The soil is warm enough for the new recruits to gather and exercise without fear of extreme elements."
"When's the soonest that I can inspect the site myself?"
"Just say the word, Minister, and we'll have a chariot ready to take you there by sunrise."
"I trust the generals' choice in the matter." Chandler took a breath, looking up from his table. "Nevertheless, have a transport ready by midday tomorrow. I might make a trip after my visit to the Frozen Shelves."
The guard leaned forward. "Sir?"
"I... have someone I've been meaning to meet within those holds," Chandler explained. "Trust me. It's for the good of the operation."
The guard merely nodded. "The Council has entrusted you with the authority of Verlaxion, Minister. I stand by your every decision."
"Good. I will have you summoned if I need more assistance." Chandler gathered the documents, shuffled them, and hoofed the papers to the soldier. "Please. If you don't mind, have these delivered to the Grand Magistrate's office at once."
"Aye." The pegasus nodded, taking the documents. "Will do, Minister." He spun around—jolting from the sight of a charcoal-eyed stare.
Seraphimus looked at the guard.
The guard gulped, bowed his head... and trotted briskly past her before taking wing.
Seraphimus took a breath, then crossed the cold granite panels until she stood directly in front of Chandler. "I see you're quick to assume the control that's been granted you."
"Do you believe I would sleep on this, Commander?" Chandler exhaled. He stood from his table and readjusted his bejeweled robe. "Both Verlaxion and the Council has charged me with defending Starkiss at all costs. It would be... veritably traitorous of me to abandon my newly appointed appointed post."
"Yes." Seraphimus nodded coldly. "And the Spring Havens forbid that you do anything to betray your own Queen and country."
Chandler glared back at her. After a tense pause, he huffed: "Let us put those nasty things behind us, Commander."
"I wish that I could, but I can't," Seraphimus hissed. She inched forward, her sharp beak pressing its way towards Chandler's blinking expression. "You're a liar... a murderer... and charlatan. If it wasn't for Verlaxion's good grace—"
"And y-yet..." Chandler gulped, fighting the urge to tremble under her glare. "...our good Goddess has exercised her grace. And now she is requiring my assistance in the most important crisis this kingdom has ever faced since Unification."
"Listen to yourself." Seraphimus frowned. "You call her 'good Goddess' today... when just a few days ago she was nothing but some banal name to you, hypocrite."
"What you call hypocrisy, I call redemption, Commander." Chandler's eye narrowed. "Would you want any less for yourself... for your family?"
Seraphimus froze in place.
"I know it... must burn you to witness this, Seraphimus. However..." He sighed. "Verlaxion's will is still her will. She's relying on me to fend off the forces that you've failed to stop."
"I wasn't the only one who failed," Seraphimus muttered.
"Nevertheless, you were there when her messenger made the proclamation with her Divine voice." Chandler took a deep breath. "It's all very... strange to me too, Commander. Believe me... I wouldn't tell this to just any foal of Verlaxion... but I don't entirely enjoy the new weight that's been placed on my shoulders."
"Then relinquish it," Seraphimus said. "Give control to this new Interim Military Cabinet back into the hooves of the Court."
"After they've appointed me by the righteousness of our Queen?" Chandler raised an eyebrow. "Do you even realize what you're suggesting, Commander? After all that you've pledged to protect?"
It was Seraphimus' turn to fight trembles. She stared beyond the stallion. "...I no longer know what I am protecting."
"Of course you do. You call me a hypocrite; don't be one yourself. It doesn't suit you, Commander."
"What are you speaking of?"
"A promise, Commander. And a very solemn one at that." Chandler pointed. "Have faith in me... and when the time comes... and the Rainbow Rogue is defeated... and we once again bask in the glory and vigor of our renewed Goddess..." He pointed. "I shall pray to her... I shall speak to her on your behalf... so that she may at last have your family restored to you."
Seraphimus stared and stared. At last, her brow furrowed angrily. "I would much rather bow to the Rainbow Rogue herself," she sneered. "Then entrust the fate of my family to a traitorous serpent such as you."
Chandler took a deep breath. "A pity." He wandered back to his table and sat down. "And to think... I once thought of utilizing your gifts... whatever was conceivably left of them."
"I beg your pardon?"
"It's quite simple, really," Chandler said. "The Talon's time is over. If their last few failures in capturing the Rogue wasn't evidence enough, then Verlaxion's utter ambivalence to their measure certainly confirms it."
"Chandler..." Seraphimus frowned. "If you think for one second that any flimsy legislature gives you the authority to minimize our role in defending Rohbredden—"
"On the contrary. I defend you quite staunchly!" Chandler said. "When I nearly made the biggest mistake of my career, you came in to hault my endeavors. That is certainly a sign of competence. However, it was not enough to convince the Court. They voted to have you and all of your wingmates decommissioned... with all military resources being dedicated exclusively to the Central Guard."
"That..." Seraphimus blinked. "...was not related to me by Grand Magistrate Hymmnos."
"What, did you just speak with her?" Chandler nodded. "No doubt she wanted to save faith. She respects you. And believe it or not, I respect you too, Commander. That's why I personally interceded to have the Right Talon preserved."
Seraphimus leaned back with a sullen breath. "To what end?"
"When the Rainbow Rogue is defeated, I will need the Talon to... rebuild what's been laid to waste by the invaders of the Blight."
"You will need the Talon?"
Chandler nodded. "My whole life, I sought to reunify the Magistrates and their Prefectures. I thought I could do this through admittedly underhoofed means. Alas, it did not come to pass. Instead, the Goddess herself has appeared before us. She's given me a brand new opportunity, Commander," Chandler breathed emphatically. "This is our chance at a new unification! And when the time comes, I will need the Talon possible to restore the Five Tribes under Verlaxion's banner!"
"Verlaxion's, Chandler?" Seraphimus fumed. "Or yours?"
"It's a new age, Seraphimus," Chandler said. He looked down at his leftover documents and rummaged through them, reviewing. "Be thankful that I am preparing you a place to roost in it." He hummed. "Whether you accept this benevolent gift or not is up to you. I hope—for Rohbredden's sake—that you make the right decision." At the end of his breath, he grabbed a stamp and slapped it with finality across another sheet.
Seraphimus is Goddess confirmed!
Spiraling chapter
...lots of interesting bits this chapter.
Form your armies, dream your dreams
make your plans and plot your schemes
Send your fighters one and all
Then in battle, watch. Them. Fall.
Feeling a bit disillusioned there Seraph?
Yeah.. that's not good.
So I never played much of Dragon Age, I barely got a few hours into Origins before it bored me to tears, but I do recall the betrayal the Wardens suffered at the start. I have a feeling that when the time comes.. Chandler's going to slip the knife in and attempt to take control.
HAH! Way to capitalize on that particular comment discussion ):( old boy.
I hope this is foreshadowing.
I really do. I'd love to see the Talon defect after Seraph relays the news they were meant to be disbanded to them.
-Companions have returned, inner darkness spurned. Utaan.
Chandler is still Chandler...
But he's genuinely putting his black heart and greedy mind toward good intentions...
But by "good" he means "his" intentions, and he is banking on that technicality to pave a road not to hell, but to a future of his choosing.
After all, he has accepted Verlaxion's will as his own will now, and shifted his methods and priorities to match the demands of his goddess...
Yet his toolset of skills, as a person, remains the same slimy set of hammers and lock-picks he used to pry apart Rohbreddon and the Seven Seas.
That's... far too many to handle alone, even with what amounts to the A-team of this tale.
This might just call for the stupidest plan of all time.
Rainbows so janked up in the head right now :/ ive got a feeling the talon will defect or just implode.
It's chapters like this that make me appreciate the ending to Ynanhluutr even more. The Quade, the reservations of the other Bearers, the Rohbredden inquisition, Verlax's tests, and Remna/Mortuana have all become several pieces integral to setting up an exploration of Rainbow's insecurities -- her fears of being unable to accomplish her ultimate goal, and her worry that she doesn't have what it takes to remain a morally stable individual.
It adds so many dimensions to her character, and yet still seems perfectly in line with her personality from the show.
I don't know if you planned all of this or not, Skirts. Knowing you, I wouldn't be surprised either way. But regardless... It's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
Windigoes.
Too bad Fluttershy wasn't awake. She'd probably have confirmed my suspicions.
In fact, I'm willing to bet that the mane six were Vanilla Zone'd out of this scene specifically so that Skirts could avoid revealing to us the cause of the blizzard. Very clever.
Sorry... <:T
Well, on the bright side, Dash, you do have experience evading armies.
Granted one of the problems is that a lot of that evading also involved exploding things, and hence a lot of senseless death, but that's the whole thing about past experiences... you can learn from them and improve upon your methods.
Seventeen thousand sounds like a lot, until you realize how much ground there may be to cover in terms of setting up a defense around the Starkiss. A small group, properly stealthing, should be able to avoid a large, cumbersome force like this Central Guard. You'll have to skirmish a bunch, yeah, just like back in Ledomare, but this time you know what to expect (or, well, you will once you see there is an army coming). If you can keep the body count from piling up you can take away one of Verlax's most potent weapons, that being fear. She wants the citizens of Rohbredden to fear you, to see you as a merciless monster that's going to be slaughtering their sons, daughters, husbands and wives. So the trick is going to be to not give that fear fuel to grow.
Might want to have a chat with your new buddies about this at some point soon, make sure your team is on the same page you are.
Because this is your team, and like it or not Dash if you want this to go as awesome as you want you need to take charge. I guarantee if you get passive about this then Remna at least is going to be putting enough bodies in the ground that the fear of the Rainbow Rogue will only grow.
Now, to switch gears for a sec, I'm really liking the interplay between Chandler and Seraphimus. It's painfully ironic that Chandler's getting all the power and control he wants, but only because he has the backing of the one being he wanted to utterly remove from Rohbredden's cultural makeup. I half think his present "faith" is just a knee-jerk reaction of shock, and it might wear off once his brain catches up with the rest of him.
Man, Verlax just had to put on a little light show and talking a booming voice and suddenly everyone's hopping at her every word. I'd call it one hell of a magician's smoke and mirrors trick if it wasn't for the fact that she can back it all up with real power. At least Keris is setting a bit through the bullhockey.
Hm, and Chandler seems to plan to pay Longaze a visit? Can't think of anyone else in the Frozen Shelves he'd want to visit. To liberate her, or to tie up a loose end? I wonder how Longaze will react to her employer's suddenly rekindled faith and position of power? Perhaps we'll get more of an idea as to what motivates her loyalty towards him. Also curious if her horn is something that can be healed, although it might be more interesting for her character if it stays the way it is, forcing her to adapt without magic.
And finally I got to wonder which way Seraphimus is going to end up leaning in all of this. She's being given less and less reason to trust or follow in Verlax at all, and I got to wonder if that's all part of Verlax's plan. Is that cold hearted crocodile actually setting the Talon up to become some sort of rogue unit that ultimately joins Dash?
Lots of questions left to answer and not a lot of book left, right?
While Longaze is figuratively thrown into a recycler and he doesn't care
S-Seventeen thousand?
Hoooo boy, the only thing more dangerous than a rabble of fanatics is an army of them.
But the last time we had a small Harmony group, and an army and a crazed Divine, it was fear feeding Changlings and Nevelmas. Plus two armies and Herald and Noble Jury.
So far we only have one army, Divine and Herald, so unless chandler, Verlax idea is to have all those sighning up because they are split down the middle and is going to cause massive spontaneous civil war to drive the power of the Windigoes, or after all this time, rourke and freinds are going to arrive, its going o be horrible and messy, but still relative small scale.
And theres only a few chapters before the end of the book?
7070469 I think that might be who he's going to see in the frosted shelves.
Although, he see's a chance to upgrade..why wouldn't he?
fact checker, how big were the ledomarian an xonan armies ?
the great imploding colon has spoken !
What every other commenter is thinking.
Probably what IC was doing plenty of.
For the entire world's sake, I share that hope.
A large army under the command of a conniving and hypocritical enemy. You'd better get moving Dashie.
Why has no one addressed Dash's injured wing? Surely they should have tried to heal it up and get her flight training before they left?
Because it worked so well last time someone sent an army after Dashie. Eh, continents apart but really, they're all the same.
I'm curious as to what Verlax's game is with sending the guard after Dash. So far the trials have all been designed to goad Dash into making the choices that Verlax desires, so what does Verlax want her to do in this situation? An assault would be suicide and if the guard can successfully garrison Starkiss before Rainbow arrives then retreat isn't an option either.
I also have to question the wisdom of the commanders of the guard. I know they're probably bound to blindly follow Verlax's orders, but generally, sending an unprepared army on a forced march through a frozen tundra will yield less than stellar results.
I particularly enjoy how everyone's jazzed about the "rohbreddon" army. Completly ignoreing the fact its super easy to sneak by such numbers. Sure, if they got caught theyd quickly get overwhelmed... But they ARE THE FASTEST THINGS ON THE LUNAR DAMNED CONTINENT. After all, why fight thousands when you can kill one and thewhole group implodes.
Rub it in, why don't you?
This raises the question of why the Talon existed in the first place. Was it in response to Verlaxion being missing in action? Did the Goddess ignore Seraphimus because she had never authorized the Talon's creation?
How long has the Talon existed? It was easy to assume it was centuries, but could it have been mere decades?
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And it looks like Seraphimus may be coming around to Rainbow's way of thinking.
An army will probably slow Dash down. I doubt it would stop her.
Fan theory time!
I think, in the end, Seraphimus is going to be critical in overthrowing Verlax. I think this will only occur after she chooses to prove herself to Verlax by capturing Rainbow personally, but in the process hears Verlax herself say something which let's her know that Verlax has been lying since the beginning (I think somehow the whole country is going to hear this before Verlax passes away).
Also, I think once Verlax is done for (assuming she isn't redeemed somehow), Mortuana will be too weak to continue the journey and will take the lead in reestablishing the government and culture of Rohdebreddon which is in shambles now that everypony knows Verlax was a fake. Additionally, I think Mortuana's last vial will go to healing Seraphimus's family and maybe other ponies frozen along with them.
With Mortuana no longer able to be the lead of the Herald, Remna takes charge and the vacancy goes to Bard after we learn of and resolve his backstory.
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except it will be rainbow who will take commandment , since after we'll learn the backstory of remna, she'll cling to rainbow like a baby to her mother
The trick isn't living forever, it is living with yourself forever.
As for the army numbers, over seventeen thousand seems like a lot, and in a pre industrial society it would be. but for an industrial society like Rohbredden one needs to consider that a division is about fifty thousand, and that World War One could kill that many troops in a single day. Add that to the fact that this force needs to be spread out and that it can be easily spotted, and such a force becomes downright inadequate for this kind of work.
Straight up good set of chapters. I've been really enjoying the pace, the action, the twists (it seemed to be plodding a bit mid storyish). My body/mind is ready for the culmination of Utaan.
I'm still on the fence as to whether Chandler has actually had a change of heart.
To the right, To the left
We will fight to the death!
To the edge of the earth
It's a brave new world
It's a brave new world!
I could find parallels to the entire lyrics of that song in the current situation. I should make a PMV.
Man, Verlax must be laughing her ass off.
Chandler is still playing a game, but we can't see his moves just yet.
Also:
IC telling us not to fight over something so silly.
7070902 Rohbredden isn't quite industrial just yet. Yes, they have steam & coal, but they have made no mention of small arms, only large, cumbersome, cannons that are almost as dangerous to their crews as to their targets. Also, they're engaging a force of less than twenty (unless they choose to also attack wyvern point, but it's still around 300 or less).
An army (that's still growing quickly) of17,000 is, logically speaking, excessive overkill to take on foes numbering in the 10s. (And that's not to mention the untold numbers of windigoes)
Rainbow has already dealt with entire armies. 3 of them, right? Shell's Shells definitely didn't win. Neither did Xona or the Changeling army under Chrysalis' command. 17,000 regular ponies who don't even have mana rifles or super powers? Yeah, not a friggin' problem. Not to mention she has Bardcard, Sexy Wings, Artificial Eye Guy, Serenity, Mega Bitch, Straight Talk, and the Mortuana Dance Hall. And the fact that she has her ghostie pals to give her super senses, which she didn't have back in books 2, 3, and 4. Seriously, Xona had crazy chaos monsters! Rainbow fought a bucking chaos version of Nevlamas! She was practically ripped apart by Axan, and still didn't die because of the chaos magic inside her.
Now then, how long until Rainbow's right wing is healed? It was her right wing, right? Do we have an approximate timeline of when she was shot up until this current point in time? Hopefully she'll be flying again by the end of Utaan.
7071285 to be fair, though, this is the first time the army in question has been formed and mobilized for the express purpose of taking her out.
Rainbow has dealt with army's before but I think this one is going to be a bit different. This one is actually going after her full force not just only part of one. I also have the feeling that Chandler plans on killing Verlax and is just using this to get close to her, likely hes going to blame her death on Rainbow and say he killed her therefore giving him all the power.
7071432 I see Chandler committing suicide when his dreams of an empire turn to rust
Um... the sheer logistics of feeding and warming a force of 17,000 in the type of environment Rainbow and company is now traversing may well be beyond the capability of a steam-age society. Throughout history, large forces have been dependent either on pre-established supply depots (which chains them to the area near their supply bases) or a huge supply train. The first relatively modern forces of significant size to effectively campaign without either of those were the Napoleonic-era French, who dispersed enough to live off the land (ie, seize supplies from the civilian population) as they moved through it, but that didn't work in harsh winter weather (ie, Russian campaign of 1812). They may have 17,000 troops, but whether they can actually field them all at any significant distance from a supply railhead is doubtful.
7070967
Personally, I'd say he's only being (somewhat) trustworthy because he's so terrified. Once he's no longer afraid of divine retribution, he'll go right back to political scheming. The problem is, we don't know when that'll be, or how to tell.
7070967
My guess is that his shock is genuine. Anything beyond that, I doubt even Chandler knows for certain. Verlax just showing up and turning his plans upside down was enough to clearly rattle him, but what's really going through his head at this point is anyone's guess. Personally I rather hope his feelings are genuine, as while he's likely to screw up with his power and authority and cause more harm seeking his own brand of redemption, at least believing in that is a step towards being more than what he was. If he ever thinks hard enough to see through Verlax that might lead to further interesting development, as he'd be in just the right spot to either screw Dash over, or screw Verlax over.
Huh, him and Seraphimus really do have a lot in common, at least in regards to their relationship with Verlax.
7071279 They have crossbows and a means to mass produce them. They have small arms. Regarding the numbers, if they were a mechanized offensive force you would be correct. The problem is that they have to both defend an area (one with a lot of cover and concealment) and they (possibly) have to attack Wyvern point. That means they have to spread those numbers out. This also ties into the problem that the vast majority of these individuals are untrained. Those two facts together means that Rainbow and the Herald are able to defeat in detail by using local superiority (each one of them is far more capable and experienced), as they are more capable than any small force they encounter except for (maybe) the Talon. A large force they can bypass, as hiding a large strike force is virtually impossible, and they do not need to fight. The Army assembled however needs to find and then engage them all at once. This is hard enough on earth, where the land masses are much smaller, here it is virtually impossible.
Chandler goes to show: your faith doesn't change the type of person you are. The type of person you are determines your faith.
7071525 It'll be like Hitler's try to invade Russia.
7071285 shell's personal contingent (those of the steel wing) probably numbered around the 500-1000 size. The xonan forces rainbow contended with were a mere fraction of their war effort. As for the changelings, in ledo they didn't even know they were changelings, while in Val roa, much of the fight was espionage. (Lets not forget, she also had the noble jury AND Nancy Jane to help)
A direct conflict between a flightless Rainbow and co. and an army 17 plus thousand strong with windigoes at their back? The prospect is bleak.
Yeah...Chandler is all happy and redeemed and reformed...my ass.
Also, that blizzard cleared up suspiciously quickly...I still suspect Windegoes or somesuch. Perhaps meant only to slow, and perhaps for reconnaissance?
Not all change is good change, Grand Magistrate. If anything, you've regressed.
Sweet god. The impromptu song was funny enough, but that sharp exchange made it even better.
7071285
Left Wing, and as 7072169 pointed out, Shell didn't have an army, just a battalion of fearful troops who stayed with him out of concern for their lives after the Ledomaritan army called off the hunt for her.
Shell was technically rogue for the second half of his chase against her.
The Xonan's weren't actively chasing her down either, only the changeling's disguised as Xonans under Chrysalis were at all interested in catching her, and that was only so they could take her to the Sentinel after they had fed on the soldiers misery.
Dash and the Jury also didn't engage those armies at any considerable size.
The changelings were all deployed either as deep cover or small task forces while the soldiers under Shell only ever attacked Dash in the skies around Foxtaur and when she was on board the ship with them and trying to escape. For the most part her confrontation was with Shell himself.
So while this is a similar situation, it is not the same situation. at some point Dash and the Herald might have to go all Dynasty warriors on this army and actually engage a large force.
And as 7071338 said, this army is being mobilized for the express purpose of hunting her down. But unlike the Ledomaritan army, and as per the concern Seraph expressed, this army is going to be mostly green, presumably with hasty training and a zealous attitude.
So it really is a mixed bag.
Sure, it's a large force aimed at her, but they don't have the discipline, technology or training that the Ledomaritan's had.
The Herald+Bard meanwhile is comprised of a gadgeteer genius, a bad ass monk, a plethora of the best bounty hunters on the continent, and a very nearly dead alicorn.
Disregarding the last one, we know these individuals have combat experience, discipline, and a strong rapport.
The Herald will move and fight as one, the Rohbreddan army will not, but they have numbers.
So, following the conclusion of the Quade, Verlax aims for Rainbow to plow trough that Army, this time Dash would be directly responsible for any deaths on both sides that would come out of this, another move to force her to move in patterns that Verlax deems right,
But i bet that this isn't going to happen because following the conclusion of Awesome, Dash will break out of the set path, break the circle so to say, evolve and then come back with an awesome solution to the problem.
But maybe that's what Verlax really wants after all, make Dash think for herself and let her break the circle she built for her in order to fix it.
Maybe she wants her to learn this exact lesson, by removing Verlax, Dash will shatter Rohbredden but at the same time she will give it a chance to heal and start again, that seems to be roughly what happened with Urohringr and Verlax uses all of this to make Rainbow understand it.
This would still leave open the big question about why and where does Verlax stand on this, she sure doesn't do all of this out of boredom.. well maybe a little... but i still think she has a personal agenda there. Will she ultimately make the Austraeoh responsible for what happened to her sister ? I think her real goal is still pretty deep in the dark.
Things are getting interesting now...
Nice, even our Grand Magistrate gets some character in there, instead of being just a gavel-thumping gag.
7072653 while I'm glad someone agrees with me, I'm fairly sure the changelings had quite a few actual Xonans deceived into helping them. (And both sides convinced to keep fighting)
7071863 I suppose crossbows may count as small arms, but certainly not "industrial" era (I.e. guns). Crossbows have a maximum effective range of a few hundred feet. We also don't know exactly how much training they're getting (though I grant it's relatively little).
If they fight in small groups against the Herald, you are very likely right. But we'll just have to wait and see.
7074062 sure - but they were fighting each other, with Dash in the middle.
I kinda feel like that snow-storm was there just for the sake of that conversation, but it works.
Also, Bard has officially written his best song yet.