“Or m-maybe not,” Rainbow Dash said, wincing.
She stood in the foyer of a three story stave-building filled to the brim with patrons. Wooden beams stretched over weary travelers bustling to and fro, chatting with one another, and munching heartily at a veritable buffet of rice and fish placed across long oaken tables in the center of the rustic tavern. At the far end, several Rohbreddenites sat before a thick stone hearth with a crackling fireplace. While a few elders shuffled up, the younger ponies filed out, gladly offering their seats to the wrinkled arrivals. Ponies of various ages and backgrounds took the opportunity to chat with one another, bursting with anticipation for the Month to come.
“Good heavens!” Rarity exclaimed. “It's like a shopping center during the twelve weeks of Hearth's Warming!”
Twilight Sparkle grimaced. “Of all the innumerable Equestrian things you could have compared this to—”
“Well, it's not like you were coming up with something any faster!”
“I don't need to!” Twilight retorted. “What's important right now is that we find Rainbow a way to remain inconspicuous!”
Rainbow grunted as a few tall stallions and mares brushed past her. Half of the patrons pivoted, then swiftly apologized while performing the same gesture as the travelers outside.”
“Er... yeah.” Rainbow hugged herself, shook, then brushed her right fetlock up past the length of her left foreleg. “Back at ya...”
“I'd say she's getting better at the inconspicuous part!” Pinkie said, humming pleasantly.
“Hmmmm...” Fluttershy craned her neck. “You know, Rainbow, I've never noticed before.” She held her hoof out at the other ponies' heads, then lowered it down until it was level with Rainbow's crown. “But you're awfully peti—”
“Don't start,” Rainbow growled.
“Hello there, little one!” A mare in an apron stumbled up, standing breathlessly before Rainbow Dash. “Welcome to Four Brazier Inn. Will that be teeth's fare or lashes' fare?”
“Uhhhhh—” The conical hat slumped forward. Wincing, Rainbow lifted the thing back. “Huh?”
“Oh. I'm sorry.” The innkeeper smiled bashfully. “I keep forgetting that not all ponies are from Seed Prefecture.” She cleared her throat. “'Teeth's Fare' means dinner, and the rate is five bits per pony. 'Lashes' Fare' means shelter for sleeping, and the rate is eight bits per pony.”
“Really?”
“I know. The rates are up due to the huge rush of pilgrims returning home to celebrate Unification Day.”
Fluttershy stuck her head in. “Did she say 'Seed Prefecture?'”
“What happened to Osmanthus?” Rarity remarked.
“Whew-wee!” Pinkie giggled. “Dashie sure knows how to get around!”
Rainbow hissed over her shoulder. “Shhhh!”
“Hmmm?” The innkeeper blinked curiously. “Something wrong, Miss?”
“Erm... I just...” Rainbow adjusted her hat. “...didn't realize this was a different Prefecture.”
“Where'd you come from?”
Rainbow sweated. “Uhhhhhh...”
“Heehee... lemme guess.” The innkeeper smiled. “The Middle Seas.”
“Huh?”
“Just that lots of ponies from the small archipelagos shave their manes so that they can swim better.” The mare shrugged. “Or so I'm told.”
“Oh. Right. I'm... uh...” Rainbow glanced left and right. “...Twipie of the Nealend Atoll.” She belched out the side of her muzzle. “Whoop.”
“Oh bother...” Rarity rolled her eyes.
“Wait...” Twilight squinted. “Who did she say she was this time?”
“Heeeee!” Pinkie leaned in, nuzzling Twilight's lavender cheek. “You hear that, Twilight? We're being baked together!”
“Buh?”
Fluttershy giggled.
“Anyways...” Rainbow fidgeted as more locals shuffled past her. “How much for... erm... Tooth's Fare again?”
“Teeth's Fare, ma'am.” The innkeeper smiled pleasantly. “And five bits.”
Rainbow fiddled a hoof through her saddlebag. In so doing, her peasant robe slid open slightly. The Element of Loyalty glinted in the light from the fireplace. Grimacing, she yanked the bits out, adjusted her collar, and dropped the coins into the innkeeper's grasp. “There ya go. Uhm...” She narrowed her ruby eyes. “Is it 'all you can eat, or...'?”
“Help yourself,” the mare said, smiling. “But if you're paying Lashes' Fare, then we kindly ask that you limit your stay to two hours. There are lots of travelers marching the Silt Path, and each of them needs a meal to stay the course.”
“Guess that makes sense. Thanks.”
“And thank you, Miss Twipie.” The mare hugged herself, shook slightly, then brushed a right hoof across her outstretched left forelimb. “May Verlaxion's Thawing Warm You.”
“Oh... uh... totally.” Rainbow smiled, mirroring the gesture as well as she could.
The innkeeper slid the bits into her apron and trotted off to greet more waves of patrons entering the front foyer. Rainbow was forced to shuffle towards the center of the tavern or else risk being bumped into by more bustling ponies.
“That went better than I expected,” Rainbow said.
“Rainbow, I'm surprised at you!” Rarity exclaimed.
“What for?” Rainbow muttered under her breath while swimming her way towards the rice table.
“Don't forget!” Pinkie swam through the crowd, phasing in bursts of pink and lavender light. “Her name's 'Twipie' now! Heeheehee!”
Rarity sighed, then floated close to the pegasus. “You have enough bits! Why not rent yourself some shelter for the night?”
“Because...” Rainbow held her hat tight with one hoof while trotting towards the table. She struggled to keep from bumping into conversing equines on either side of her. “...I've got the energy to keep going.”
“Then why even eat?” Rarity remarked.
“It's not enough that I make my way east anymore,” Rainbow said. “I've gotta keep up an appearance.” She threw a look over her shoulder. “You saw how quickly she noticed that my mane was friggin' missing. Imagine how strange it'd be if I just turned tail and trotted out the same way I came?”
“She's got a point there,” Twilight said.
“There are so many blasted ponies in here, Rainbow,” Rarity said with a smile. “I seriously doubt anypony would notice!”
“Maybe not now, but when the Talon that Keris spoke about combs through here?” Rainbow shuddered slightly. “They'll be asking for any details of weird ponies who stood out. I don't wanna leave any more awkward an impression than I can afford to.”
“You... y-you really think it will come down to that?” Fluttershy remarked, gulping.
“It's not a question of if, Flutters. Only when.”
“But...” Pinkie bore a sad puppy dog face. “Keris is your friend, isn't he? He helped you save Red Barge!”
“And now he's gotta save his feathery scalp,” Rainbow droned. “Face it. The guy's got a job to do. And that involves wrangling me up. Maybe he's a cool enough guy to spare me at first glance, but I can't say the same about his brothers and sisters in the guard. From the way he describes them...” Her bound wings twitched beneath her robe. “...they sound pretty hardcore. If I stick around here for too long, my goose is cooked.”
“Huh?” Fluttershy grimaced. “Who on earth would ever want to cook a goose?”
Rainbow sighed, reaching the table. “I rest my case.”
“But, still... I don't see why you can't stay night,” Rarity said. “I mean, if the goal is to keep from looking out-of-place...”
“Did you see the moon last night, Rarity?” Twilight asked. “Before we reached the shore?”
Rarity blinked. She gasped. “Do... d-do you really think Luna will be able to reach us tonight?”
“It's possible,” Rainbow said. Another tavern worker shuffled up, placing down several freshly-cleaned bowls. Rainbow swiftly took one before the crowd around her could. Using a pair of utensils, she shoveled as much rice into her container as was manageable. “And if I open communication with her, it can't be he.”
“Yes...” Fluttershy shivered slightly. “That might... attract attention.”
“So, right now... let's just chillax, blend in... and gather our bearings.” Rainbow tilted her head up, spotting two lofty levels looming above the bottom floor. “And I think I know just the spot.”
“Good! Get a booth if you can!” Pinkie said.
The other three mares glared at her.
“What?” Pinkie shrugged. “Chairs make my fluffy rump ache!”
“Say... saaaaaaay...” A harbor master swiveled on the dock, pointing with a grin. “Yes. Yes! Come to think of it, I did see a mare with the most extraordinary head of hair!” He chuckled. “Every color of the rainbow! Just like you described!” He exhaled, brushing his bangs back. “Whew! Thought she was some... exotic dancer or some shit!”
Seraphimus and Keris stood on the metal platform situated at the mouth of the Sunset Tract. The horizon behind them bled a poetically fitting crimson as they collectively stared at the stallion in their shadow.
“Please, good sir,” Keris spoke calmly. He adjusted his limb within his sling, wincing slightly. “If you could tell us all you know about this mare's whereabouts, it will greatly assist us in our search.”
“What's she in trouble for?” The stallion smirked. “Did she do that to you?” He pointed at Keris' limb.
Keris took a deep breath.
Seraphimus spoke up for him: “A terribly ferocious beast did this to the Lieutenant. The sooner you fill us in on what you saw, the quicker we can get to preventing an even worse fate from befalling other citizens.”
Keris clenched his beak shut. His hawkeyes glanced up, spotting the three Sergeants hovering loftily over the docks.
“Hmmm... can't say I'm too keen on ponies getting beaten to a bag of battered bones,” the dockmaster muttered. “Especially with Unification Day around the corner.” He smirked. “Well, I doubt the good Captain knew anything about the dangers of this colorful prey of yours when she allowed her to board her cargo ship.”
“Captain...?”
“Captain Farouche,” the dockmaster explained. “One of the most trustworthy, friendly traders of these routes. Around these platforms, we like to call her 'Furthest Ouch!,' on account that she has a habit of kicking stallions in the balls for so much as flirting with her! Hahaha!”
Seraphimus took a deep breath.
“How very friendly,” Keris said with a subdued smirk.
“Heheheheh... yeahhhh...” The dockmaster crossed his rear legs. “I got 'inducted' into the fan club a decade ago. Still feel it every time I do naughty push-ups, if you catch my drift. Heheh...”
“Please, sir,” Seraphimus stifled a growl. Her charcoal eyes glinted beneath her helmet. “Do you know where she went to?”
“All I know is that the mare goes by the name of 'Rarishy.'”
Keris blinked. “'Rarishy?'”
“Yeah, and she sold her motorboat to Captain Farouche so she could have the bits to take a steamboat up the Sunset Tract.”
“So she's heading east?” Seraphimus remarked.
The stallion shrugged. “Most definitely. Probably headed straight for Riverstem. I mean—anypony who's anypony in Osmanthus Prefecture stops by that town. But I bet you buzzards know that. HaHA!”
Seraphimus nodded. “Yes. Thank you. On behalf of all of Verlaxion's buzzards everywhere... you've been most helpful.”
“Hey.” The dockmaster shrugged. “I'm happy to serve.”
Keris bowed slightly. “We must be on our way—”
“Oh! Say...” The dockmaster gestured. “While I have you guys here, maybe you could clear something up for me.”
Seraphimus breathed, “We really... really must be goi—”
“What is it, citizen?” Keris asked. Seraphimus bit her beak shut.
“There's been chatter all across the waves over the past two days!” The dockmaster blinked wide. “Dozens... hundreds of traders say that there's been a new shift in the seven seas' tide!”
“Oh? In what way?”
“Word is that the rat bastard of Red Barge bit it. Skagra! Stripped of steam! Hah! Can you imagine?!” The dockmaster grinned. “That makes the muck instantly friendly overnight! I mean... whew! First the Syndicate takes a dive... and now the Barges are clearing up? It's like Verlaxion's gift for this year's Month of Thawing!” The dockmaster suddenly blinked, jaw agape. “Saaaaaay... did...” He gulped. “Did you come from the Barges?”
“Mmmmm...” Keris nodded. “That we did.”
Seraphimus looked over. “Lieutenant—”
“Woo! I knew it!” The dockmaster slapped his knee, grinning wide. “Leave it to the Rohbredden Guard! You guys finally up-and-did it!”
“Did what, good sir?” Keris asked.
“Cleaned up shop in the Barge, of course!” The stallion leaned back, folding his forelimbs. “Flew in there with your armor all a'glinting and wiped that smug grin off both of Skagra's dirty faces! Hah! And here I thought the Council didn't care about us sea foamers!”
“Actually...” Keris leaned back with a calm breath. “That wasn't us.”
Raptr and Starstorm fidgeted high above.
The dockmaster blinked. “It... it wasn't?”
“No. I'm afraid the Talon had nothing to do with the liberation of Red Barge.”
“Oh... huh...” The dockmaster blinked. “Well, wh-who did?”
Keris turned his head, smiling calmly... patiently at Seraphimus.
Seraphimus exhaled heavily. “Divine. Providence.” Fwooosh! Her wings flapped, carrying her body skyward. “Come, Talon. Take wing.”
Keris whistled up at Windburst.
Windburst reached into a satchel beneath his crossbolt quiver and tossed the Lieutenant two coins.
Keris held them out to the pony. “For your troubles.”
“Heh... what troubles?” The stallion smirked, holding up the coins. “Good luck with catching your mare!”
“Much thanks.” Keris winced as he forced his body into a swift flight. “I'm certain we will need it.”
Seraphimus waited for Keris to catch up. Sweeping her forelimb, she pointed towards the estuary. “We head east! Follow the Sunset Tract! Fan out and check the shoreline terraces!” She sliced against the wind. “We meet in Riverstem at Moonrise!"
Seraphimie seems to be getting rather frustrated with her dear lieutenant...
Keris, you sly bird, you.
Shoot.
He knows. And if I know Seraphimus, she knows that he knows, or will find out very soon.
And that's going to be trouble for Dashie and her aliases.
Hee hee. If Keris keeps poking the bear like this his arm is gonna be the least of his worries.
dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Rainbow_Dash_lolface.png -> "Divine Providence."
6734027 Pinkity and Flutterlight aren't going to float either.
Twipie? Rarishy? What about Appledash?
This is gonna be a running joke I can tell already, and I am going to love it. That aside
she is getting REALLY good at blending in.
I WOULD! THEY'RE DELICIOUS!
They also are out of sight, so fewer would be bothered to glance at anymore than out of the corner of their eye.
Meanwhile on the other front....
REALLY doesn't want to admit that. That being said they are DEFINITELY catching up, only question is 'what state will Seraphimus' mind be in when they finally do catch up?
Noticed she didn't say yes, even thought that would make her job easier. So she does still have some honor, unlike Shell, who distorted the facts to suit his needs. Well honesty is a theme in this, I think that is what will finally bring down Verlax, subterfuge is based on deception, but the truth can never be hidden forever.
Man, sure didn't take them long to find her trail, did it? I guess they ain't the Right Talon for nothing.
Also, this pow-wow with Luna oughta be really interesting, considering all the... hoopla of late.
I have a feeling that Verlax had something to do with that name
Hmmm I looks like our meeting might be much sooner than anyone thought, if they get to the town by Moonshine that night.
Would Dash prefer saying she has a nimble build?
Todays Skirts word of the day is Buh.
Also, Twipie?
derpicdn.net/img/2015/5/15/896279/large.png
-Companions have returned, inner darkness spurned. Utaan.
Methinks the Talon will catch up to Dash before the Moon wanes.
Hey, Seraphimus! How'd you like to talk to an alicorn who personally knows your Goddess?
So, Serry baby, you admit Dash can't be all bad if her act of liberating Red Barge was divine providence?
Sounds like she would have been a perfect candidate for the Prismatic Harem.
Oh well. Another day, anotherouche.
Yaaaaaaaaay, it got lampshaded, yaaaaaaaaaaay~
Also now I am left wondering how exactly TwiPie is supposed to work.
CITIZENS AND FELLOW J00RISTS: I DEMAND ALL OF YOUR FINEST TWIPIE. FOR SCIENCE.
Pinkie:
PropsTwilight:I'd ship it.
WHOOP!
Because that won't stick out when the talon interviews more locals.
won't be too long now before Seraphimus catches up with Rainbow. I mean, they can fly through that ravine with ease; they don't have to wait on caravans and that sort of thing like Rainbow did when she walked it. If not this night, then perhaps the next night they'll catch up with her.
Maybe when she's in the middle of conversing with Luna...
Hehe, this reminded me of another who is small.
i.imgur.com/XbWCrAv.gif
Nealand shout out! WHOOP!!!
This made my friggin day.
I have the strange feeling that we're gonna be seeing more of Captain Farouche in future.
6734112 of all the times for my laptop to break...I have no access to my ship pic folders...
I think it would start like this though.
orig15.deviantart.net/e659/f/2014/215/2/2/pinkie_loves_twibutt_by_exedrus-d7tj18z.png
Talon is much closer than I thought they'd be. Keris is genuinely a cool dude, he is going to hate what's coming.
Divine providence indeed! The most glorious power on the plane, to be precise - the courage of a righteous mortal.
I think you mean "here"~
Seraphimus, first you call Dash Divine Providence?
Well, you are about to find out her Divine Provenance.
Lets all think of songs to go along.
Bad Moon Rising?
Boom, Boom, Lets Shake the Moon?
Blue Moon?
Yes, I would cook a goose. No, I don't eat bird meat. But geese are evil.
Of course it was Divine Providence. It's not like some pagan mortal just cleaned the filth of the Goddess' kingdom in a way the Talon never did. That would be silly... and heretic.
You don't want to know, Fluttershy.
what the fuuuuuuuu~
6734465
Wow, they are really close. Luna might have to be put on hold for a bit...
Rainbow "Divine Providence" Dash.
Waiting for AppleDash as our next fake name.
*Reads chapter title*
Somewhat expects apples in chapter.
Sees no word of apples in chapter.
*IC wut have you done to us?*
You're lucky she didn't blurt out "Twinkie". Just be thankful that your ship names are so... malleable.
derpicdn.net/img/2015/4/5/865865/thumb.png
Fair enough.
6734038
At least give him a longer stick...
6734062
In response to that last bit, saying 'yes' or saying the whole bit about the beast is the same answer. Unless the premise is that Dash's mind has to be in control for it to be her, but that delves into metaphysics, which is excessive in this case.
I'm sorry, I'm on winter break, qnd am facing philosophizing withdrawal. ICAN QUIT ANYTIME I WANT!
Anyways, its nice to see some proper civilization again. Think it might be time for that oft-hypothesized meetup between Seraph and Dash, you know, the one that keeps getting bandied about in the comments ever since (and permit my glorious butchery of the latin language, as it amuses me) the last angel was introduced.
2/10 would not ship
Hmm...
Rainbow's got no idea that the Talon's on her tail.
Also, one Luna talk, coming right up!!
6734505 You're obviously not aware of how long Christmas is supposed to run for then? You can thank Oliver Cromwell for reducing it down to 12 days from the original 3 months of "let's do something during the whole of this miserable winter" merriment.
--
6734465 Would be funny if they came upon RD just while she's in the middle of talking to Luna.
"Er.. Lieutenant, why is the moon talking to her?!"
I can not stand intercultural awkwardness.
It is my greatest nightmare.
6734736
IC is a tease.
Oh hey i caught up again
Keris is so going to end up fired by the time Dash leaves.
6735707 I wonder what that entails...
Uhoh, the talon is on your ass Dash...or is it Twipie now
With flight on their side, they'll catch up sooner rather than later. Dash really needs her wings back.
Also, I have a theory regarding Wildcard's fighting skills and vow of silence: he's a disgraced former member of the Right Talon. I haven't seen that mentioned before and I hope I'm on the right track. Here's also hoping we see the desperados again.
If Keris loses his job, maybe he can join Dashie on the great east journey. Maybe they could even meet up with Bard, Wildcard, and Theanim again!
No, I'm never going to forget the desperadoes6806232
Sounds like a solid theory to me. It makes perfect sense with what we know about him so far. Hard to say for sure though since what we know so far is next to nothing.
I do believe that Rainbow might just be safe.
. . .
Who am I kidding? She'll get caught in three chapters.
6735090 Wait a sec. Without commas this is terrible ambiguous. Do you mean that only 2 of 10 will not ship while 8 out of 10 do or the other way around?
6734736 An
applechapter by IC keepsthe doctor awayme in a state of unending moral quandary.delete "
_________________
6921034
Nope out at rating of 10/10. That ship is basically swill to shipum [2 out of 10 rating].
Although if he read Green his/her mind might change on that.
Personally the only ships that get negative / low marks from me are [Anything Flash Sentry; TwiMac; RariMac; BigDash or most OC straight ships. Unless they're done well, like you find in the Savage Skies Series.]
I like when writers describe characters in ways they don't like, like how SS&E refers to Dash as small and adorable all the time.
Also I just like the idea of Rainbow being tiny, it seems right for some reason.