"I... I think she's finished," Fluttershy remarked.
Rainbow's eyes fluttered open. She jolted in place—as if waking. Her vision focused, noticing how the silver glow in the air above Bleak's Plummet had dimmed.
"She just stopped talking," Rarity added, hovering before Rainbow Dash. "In that... exotic Moonwhinny, I mean."
"We've been here for nearly two hours, Rainbow," Twilight Sparkle said. "I think we'd better make our next move."
Rainbow Dash took a breath and opened her muzzle: "Princess Luna—"
"I have ceased with my deliberations, child," the monarch's voice resonated. "At least for the time being."
Rainbow blinked. "Oh." She blinked again. "Cool."
"There is only so much that I can convey in such a short span of time," Luna continued. "However, with my beloved sister's assistance, I do believe I have made the message concise enough."
"Did you... uhm..." Rainbow cleared her throat. "Tell them everything?"
"Define 'everything."
"Y'know... about the Elements of Harmony... Discord... the chaos rift... Austraeoh... Urohringr... Verlax and the flank-hurt Rohbreddenites—?"
"The message was... necessarily abridged. But fear not. They know of the dire importance of your mission... as well as the state of my lunar rule here in modern Equestria."
"Okay..." Rainbow took a deep breath. Her vision swept aside, and only then did she notice that several hundred of the sarosians had drawn away. The crowd circled Xarchellus as the Maria Matriarch spoke intimately with her multiple Nightblood subordinates. "They... keep talking about a 'Vigil.' What is that exactly—?"
"When the ancestors to these sarosians wandered to the Twilight Waters, they believed whole-heartedly in the totalitarian vision of Nightmare Moon. To that end, they had endeavored to watch over the Dark Side of the plane in anticipation of their Empress' return."
"Did you say the 'Dark Side?'"
"That is correct, Rainbow Dash. At least half of the sarosian exodus stayed on this plane. The rest—someway, somehow—ventured over into the Dark Side. There—assuming they survived—they were charged with conducting the 'Dark Vigil.' Their task would be to cultivate a strong, warrior nation, growing their numbers so that—once the stars aligned—they would aid Nightmare Moon with the desired conquest of Equestria and beyond. Xarchellus and the rest of the flock dwelling under the charge of the Maria Matriarch are the remnants of the group that stayed on the light side."
Rainbow nodded. "Right... and we know for a fact that they did survive." She gulped. "Because Chrysalis remembers sarosians making up one third of the Trinary War."
"Indeed. After so many eons—unchecked by a strong and capable Rohbreddenite military—there is no telling just how large the Dark Vigil has become in number."
"Right..." Rainbow winced. "And after so many ages of butting heads over the Midnight Armory... there's no telling just how strong and pissed off they've come."
"A formidable concept indeed."
"What about these guys?" Rainbow pointed in Xarchellus' direction. "After the long pep-talk you gave them, they certainly seem to be all-a-squeaky-chatter."
"They are undergoing intense deliberations."
"Intense deliberations?" Rainbow asked. "Over what?"
"Where to take their civilization, of course," Princess Luna. "I've given them several proposals out of the love and wisdom of my heart. However, while I may still be responsible for my flock, time and distance cannot afford to accomplish anything now except democratically."
"Don't sell yourself short, Your Highness," Rainbow Dash said. "I'm pretty sure we all agree that you know what's best for these sarosians. So if you just give them a command, then I bet they'll—"
"Rainbow, stop right there," Twilight Sparkle said. "Didn't we just get done recovering from the consequences of an entire nation operating under the dogmatic rule of a false goddess?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes, sighing. "Must you, egghead?"
"Yes!" Twilight stomped her hoof. "I must! If we try and get Princess Luna to take control of her deified position, then we'd no better than Verlax!"
"If you ask me, thangs are pretty simple here," Applejack said. "These folks have been doin' dirty stuff for far too long. I'd say we go on and let Luna steer these ponies in a better direction. It's a case of Momma knows best, really."
"I can't believe you of all ponies would be comfortable with that!" Twilight said.
"Now hold yer horses!" Applejack frowned. "I didn't say a single thang about Princess Luna fibbin'!" She gestured towards the thundering sky. "Of course she should be honest with them! Lay it all out! Confess to bein' nothin' more than a highly gifted alicorn!"
"Luna's not pretending to be anything she's not, darling," Rarity said, smiling at Twilight. "But—be that as it may—she does wield true, authoritarian influence over these ponies. I'm certain that she wouldn't put them in a compromising situation—especially if it could assist Rainbow Dash."
"Yeah!" Pinkie Pie nodded. "Let's give some extra oomph to her oomph-wings!"
Twilight sighed, rubbing her forehead. "It's just... we've raised the stakes so high as of late." She gulped. "I'm... not sure I can handle another civilization's destiny being juggled so hastily."
"I'm not very c-comfortable with it either, Twilight," Fluttershy said. "But this is Princess Luna we're talking about." She smiled gently. "She cares for her 'flock.' Just like me with my animals back home in Ponyville." She shook her head. "I'm certain she won't do anything that will hurt them in the long run."
"Still... I do echo Twilight's concern," Rarity said, looking at Rainbow. "Whatever happens now calls for a supremely delicate touch."
"All the reason why Luna's put it in their hooves," Rainbow said. "I don't see why we're even having this conversation."
"Rainbow Dash...?" Luna's voice rang.
"Ahem..." Rainbow Dash glanced at the sky. "Don't mind us, Rainbow. Just some super heavy girltalk."
"If you seek the sarosians' assistance at your current juncture, I have no doubt that they will be more than willing to lend a hoof, child."
"Right. And that's the freaky part." Rainbow cleared her throat. "But... y'know what? Let's say we start small."
"How small?"
"Well..." Rainbow turned, squinting east at the flicker of Yaerfaerda. "...that's a matter of definition."
First!
7507184 Dude, what the heck? Not cool.
7507187 Your face isn't cool.
7507188 Yeah, okay, You're obviously a troll. I'm going to ignore you.
Have a great day!
Now hope we can finally see what the last Yaerfaerda symbol means.
7507192 Meh, not nearly as entertaining as the last time I saw this act.
If they do end up taking a group over to the Dark Side, I wonder how difficult it would be to communicate with the other Sarosians. Dash won't be able to "bring Luna across", and it'll be her word and the word of Xarchellus' group to tell the others that the Vigil is over.
They'll... Follow it without question, but then blame Dashie when something bad happens?
Of course, if she withholds advice and something bad happens, she'll get blamed too. Poor Dashie.
>mfw still no Utaan symbol
Luna has been rainbowed, all shall become Rainbow Dash.
Glad to see Luna letting them decide where to go and what to do.
Though they'd probably want to take the long route, circle around behind the hunting force and then bolt if they have to head back the other way.
-Companions are abound, frozen spectres hound. Utaan.
Man just let them make up their own mind here, I agree with Twilight even if Luna isn't going to lie to them she still wields far too much power over them to dictate anything and it not be some kind of issue. I think after Verlax it's time to let that kind of thing rest.
7507241 the Pendant might still hold enough 'essence of Luna' to tip the balance in RD's favour, but I'd be more worried about what direction their society has gone in since they went over the edge. They could well have turned fanatical, fighting the Trinary War in the name of the Mother of Nightmares, and cast aside everything else. If that has happened, they probably won't appreciate being told to stand down.
7507274 I'm going to hazard a guess any attempt to win over the Sarosians on the Dark Side will start a civil war (and likely tip the balance of power in the Trinity War). Dashie won't have the concrete proof of letting them talk to their goddess, so winning them all over at once is a huge stretch- but with the residual enchantment on the pendant, she won't exactly be ignored, either.
...And it's not like Verlax was trying to prepare her for a situation in which she'd have to withhold the truth about their goddess from an entire populace to stop them from splitting apart and getting destroyed, or anything.
Still no Guard, I get the feeling they're about to show up.
7507212 Discord!
At first I was excited about the batponies, because they'd be able to stand up against Chandler & Co. But now I'm starting to like them, in and of themselves, and my excitement is turning to mild dread. Because let's face it, Seraphimus, if no one else, isn't gonna go down without a body count.
And for the second time in Utaan, fate graces the East Horse with another private army.
A squeaky, fluffy eared, bloodthirsty pirate army.
But I am curious as what the sarosians will do now, will they follow the Dash onto the dark side and the seed? Or, considering that they also have quite the youngster n' oldster numbers, they'll give her a platoon or so.
Heck, maybe they want to worship the mother of nights up personal and decide to West Horse it.
7507247
>Implying we've already gone "beyond"
Whatever they end up doing, I hope they do it soon before Seraphimus and co. show up.
7507595
7507247
>MFW no face
>implying this is 4chan and we can greentext.
Wait... That's exactly how the comment system works
have a (you)
Not to mentioned that Luna actually created the Sarosians and indeed impersonates everything Verlax merely claimed to be.
They're gonna wanna leave for new lands and peace just as Chandler and friends show up aren't they?
7507779 I think the word you're looking for there is embodies, not impersonates.
Luna maybe gets the Sarosians to be a close harmony acapella singing group?
Like Canaries?
Or even Flying Pickets?
7507889
Harmony is pretty powerful. Music seems to have a magical effect and sarosians have really powerful voices.
It's might be enough to kill Chandler
7507266
Unless all shall be Rarityed first!
Maybe half Rarity, half Dash, and the story becomes the biggest, weirdest Raridash fic ever.
7507942
Be the first time I ever saw a Heartsong (forget which story I'm getting that from, but any of the musical numbers)kill someone. Wonder what the lyrics would be like. Heavy metal or punk?
7508031
I feel lil heavy metal but with the music fading away at the chorus. Heavy
Latinominous moonwhinny chanting. Enix as a soloists halfway through engaging in a 3way rap battle with really bad rapper chandler and Eminem level rapper 'Seraphim'.With pinkie pie grading the performers
I want this in my life.
Chandler vs shell rap battle
Yeah, Rainbow. Let's not do exactly what Verlax wants. Again.
7507212 what do you expect from the leader of Rohbredden?
Well, in the current state of affairs, the Sarosians surely won't be welcome back in Robhredden... and following RD to the dark side will probably end in some crazy batpony civil war, considering that Luna won't be available to convince the Dark Vigil.
I say the best course of action is to resolve the situation with Chandler, and send the batponies on their way back west, either to Val Roa or even as far as Equestria.
Well at least RD has a zealous army to help her fight Chandler whether she wants it or not
We're already chapter 243 and we still haven't had the confrontation with Chandler and Seraphimus, the last Yaerfaerda symbol and the journey to the dark side... It wouldn't shock me that this story would pass 300 chapters.
7507192 But... but w-which one is the real Trampoline?!?! Spoiler: They're both changelings!
7508091 Yes. Yes pls. I would voice Chandler, if we didn't have anyone better. I can totally be a weak rapper!
You know, Dash and Luna could totally get the batponies safely to Equestria. They just need to corroborate Dash's story.
"Where is the Rainbow Rouge and her band of heretics?!? Answer us!!!"
"Oh, you mean that tiny blue pegasus with the evil laugh? Yeah, we, like, totally rolled up to their ship and we were all 'Hey... arrr and skreee and stuff. Give us that booty.' Then their other petite pegasus just totally lost her mind and beat up, like, a hundred of our best bats. So we were all 'Hymnyumnyumnyum' with our moon-rock-sticks, but the purple one just ate them. Like, sluuuuuuuurrrrrrpppp. Then the fat one, I think his name was Josho or something, he jumped in the water and all our ships exploded. It was awesome!"
Another bat nudged him in the ribs.
"I-I mean it super sucked! Yeah! Then the rouge broke, like, our best necklace on our wrinkliest bat, so we're all gonna stop being Rohbredden's adorable seventh wheel/scapebats and just bounce. But we cool, right? She, like, awesomed that-a-way."
Chandler nodded. "Seems legit," he said.
7508565 I'd buy that.
Oh boy, once they get to the dark side it's gonna be out of the frying pan into the fire, isn't it?
7508511 ):( did just post that one blog he did a day or two before the Quade blew up. I'm expecting the ending to very abrupt and very soon.
The dark side sarosians are really getting hyped up as some seriously dangerous and ominous bastards. Not really giving me any reassurance that the dark side arc won't be one long, grueling bloodbath. Still, got to keep the optimism up, so maybe enough of Luna's enchantment can last on the dark side to help Dash get some kind of 'in' with the more hardcore bats.
As for this crowd, they certainly seem near 100% won over. I don't really see Dash taking them with her over to the dark side. Heck with all the foals they've got, dragging the whole lot into Grimdark Land would major leagues of uncool, definitely not how Dash rolls. Also makes using them as an anti-windiego force problematic, unless they've got some kind of useful moonstone based weaponry that just happens to be very potent against windiegos.
So now I just wonder if Chanlder's force shows up here, or at the Sixth Seed. Possibly both. Dash could move on to the Sixth Seed and Chanlder's forces hit Bleak's Plummet after she's already left. Still find it hard to see Chandler's unit being large enough to pose a significant threat, though, with ships to back them up, which would logically take days to acquire at best unless some serious plot convenience (inconvenience?) happened to facilitate it.
I don't know, I'm getting vague Lerris vibes here, but that may well be intentional on IC's part.
7508565 I'm hoping this actually happens, it would be hilarious.
7507889 Or my own group, the SoCal Ponytones!
7508565 I would love to voice Chandler, given that I'm his namesake. ( Real name: Bryan Chandler )
Eh. Twi's objection using Verlax as an example seemed like more of an anxiety-driven reach than I'm comfortable with. At least it showed roughly where each of the girls stand on the matter.
"Grrrrrrrreth! Mooneth! Midnightish Armoryish!" Except in Moonwelshy.
The message was... necessarily abridged.
Well, another civilization is about to be irrecoverably changed . . . but this time for the good! At least, I hope so. I'm sure things will be fine, but I'm ready to get to the dark side, already!
7509209
I suspect your name will be used sometime soon.
Even Urohringr is small by a galactic definition.
11/09/2019
20:31 UTC
...cool, so we're gonna be facing a full army of bat ponies when we cross over. Very chill.
Time to face what lies inside the Sixth Seed.