There's Always Worse Evil
Rainbow reached the top of the crater's rim. And...
...several bright colors flickered in her peripheral.
"!!!" Startled, she braked in midair and looked aside.
Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, and the others looked back—slightly breathless.
"This is about as—" Twilight flickered again and rematerialized. "—far as you can go, Rainbow."
"Yeah!" Pinkie nodded. "Or else Dicklord will show up!"
"Don't you mean Discord, darling?" Rarity leaned in.
Pinkie pouted with angry puffy cheeks. "I know what I said!"
"Oh dear..." Rarity held a hoof towards her faint forehead. "...what are we becomiiiiing?"
"I can't go any further," Rainbow muttered.
Ariel caught up, panting. "You can't?"
"If I do..." Rainbow glared at the sea of floating rocks before them. "...my friends will vanish and Discord will reappear in their place."
"Oh... good..." Ariel wheezed.
Rainbow's glance was slicing. "'Good'???"
"It means you're finally gonna stop trudging forward." Ariel took a lasting breath and frowned. "Maybe even listen to reason."
"Ariel, girl, there is no 'reason' when it comes to chaos metal!" Rainbow's voice cracked. "There's just... just... I mean look at this!" She gestured wildly at the floating mess. "It's nothing but diarrhea and death!"
"Rainbow..."
"Death diarrhea! On a cosmic level!"
"Rainbow, listen!" Ariel barked in a tone that actually made Rainbow flinch. "What happened to you the other day totally sucked. What happened to the ponies on the Light Side who were exposed to material chaos also sucked."
"Don't forget all the traps Verlaxion laid with the crud," Rainbow muttered.
"Point being..." Ariel folded her forelimbs and glared Rainbow's way. "That was then. This is now. If there's anything I've learned from my time with the Herald—and anything my mother taught me before she passed—is that you've gotta learn to change. To adapt... if you wanna stay alive."
"Ariel, I don't wanna just stay alive," Rainbow grumbled. "I've mastered that by now. What I want..." She pointed at her Element. "...is to come back to Equestria as a pony, not a monster."
"Have you ever considered that maybe you're neither?" Ariel asked.
Rainbow blinked.
"Harmony makes you into one thing. Chaos makes you into another." Ariel gestured with her left hoof, then the right. "But you're different, Rainbow. You're the Austraeoh. You're not exactly both of them... but you're not you without them either. You're more like something in between."
"Meaning I should know a thing or two about how bad chaos is."
"No, meaning you should know a thing or two or three about how you can use shit like chaos for good."
"She ain't wrong, sugarcube," Applejack said.
Rainbow Dash slowly pivoted her head to glare at her. The pegasus' eyes were like daggers.
Applejack folded her forelimbs, unfazed. "You've been holdin' out on murderin' the angry folks who've been chasin' ya to the Edge of the World. That's mighty noble-like. You've also been stickin' to eatin' non-meat. If I was in yer place, I'd likely do the same. But... take a gander, RD..." She pointed at the massive Curve looming over them, the crater, and the floating array of rocks.
Rainbow sighed.
Applejack continued. "There is just... so much left to scale. I shudder to think how yer stomach will survive it. Never mind yer conscience; that's dang near immortal by now, I reckon, from the beating it's taken all these past months. But maybe it's high time to smell the fertilizer." Her ghostly green eyes narrowed. "Discord ain't here. At least... not in the flesh. Not like the Herald's fixin' on enslavin' an entire culture with nasty devices, like Chrysalis or Verlaxion. We're just talkin' about gettin' a wagon to float again... and maybe findin' new and more proper ways to defend ourselves!"
"Meanwhile..." Twilight Sparkle floated closer. "We will continue to make our way to the Midnight Armory where we can find something that will help us restore harmony to the entire plane, Rainbow!" She shrugged wildly. "Maybe even all of Urohringr as well!"
"It's the big picture, darling!" Rarity tried to smile, but ultimately grimaced. "Something that... we sh-should have realized long ago..." Her ears drooped. "...b-before we abandoned you at the Quade."
Rainbow's eyes closed. She took deep breaths.
"Rarity's simply trying to apologize, Rainbow," Fluttershy said. "She mentioned the Quade. But this isn't the same thing."
"But the same thing may still happen," Rainbow muttered.
"Huh?" Pinkie blinked.
"You weren't around when he appeared. Bright as day. Right in my face." Rainbow's eyes reopened, misty. "Every step closer to chaos that I take, you girls vanish... and Discord takes center stage. All this time, he's been trying to get to me."
"Get to you how?"
"First with threats... intimidation..." Rainbow gulped, trembling in mid-hover. "...then with bargaining. False promises. He..." Rainbow grimaced. "...I'm afraid that one of these days, I-I'm going to make the stupid mistake of actually listening to him." She turned to look up... up... up at the vertigo-inducing Curve. "Applejack's right. There's so much distance left to go... so much to fall back from. When I finally land back in Ponyville... can I even survive it? Can we all survive?"
Fluttershy and Pinkie nervously exchanged glances.
"You've got what it takes to resist him, darlin'," Applejack said.
"She's right, Rainbow." Twilight Sparkle floated closest. She smiled. "You've overcome worse evil before. We've even had the pleasure of witnessing it once or twice!"
"Even if Discord were to somehow wrestle you into a corner, we know that you would mightily thrash him!" Rarity winked. "That ruffian stands no chance!"
"Nevlamas slaughtered hundreds of Ledomaritan soldiers," Rainbow droned. "Chrysalis infiltrated a nation. Verlaxion indoctrinated an entire continent for millennia. But Discord?" She looked squarely at her companions. "Discord took away my friends."
The mares stared back. Silent.
Rainbow's teeth clenched. "There is no evil worse than him..."
Pinkie Pie arched an eyebrow. Swiftly, she planted a hoof over half of her face like an eyepatch and opened her muzzle to produce a single syllable—
Rarity swatted her on the back of the head.
Pinkie jolted, frowned, but then shrugged.
Around this time, Logan caught up. "Whew... humina..." He looked up at the pair of hovering pegasi, sweating. "Is Rainbow Dash still being an angsty butt?"
"Mmmhmmm." Ariel nodded.
"Ah. Cool." Logan turned and looked down the lengthy edge of the crater, back down towards the camp. "Awwwwwwww buck me." He slumped down onto his haunches and groaned. "Why can't we ever have an ethical debate inside a liquor store?"
"Rainbow, look at me..." Ariel said gently.
Rainbow did so.
"At least..." She smiled. "...let me fetch Wildcard. Get us to talk to Flynn and Kepler. Figure out their plans. Maybe it's not as bad as you think."
"Hrmmmfff..." Rainbow grumbled out the side of her muzzle. "Probably not as bad as I think..."
"Right!" Ariel nodded. "Do you actually think the Herald—as Eljunbyro—would do something that would harm the Austraeoh in the long run?"
"But my friends..." Rainbow glanced at Twilight and the rest. "...if I get anywhere near the chaos crap, they disappear. And..." She shivered. "And Discord—"
Ariel rested a hoof on Rainbow's shoulder. "You think Flynn and Keps haven't thought of that? They're on your side! We're all on your side! Please... just trust us..."
Rainbow sighed long and hard. "... ... ... ... ...fine."
"Good! Wait right here. Go no further towards the... er... diarrhea darkness." She winked. "I'll play messenger."
"I can think of sexier roles."
"You can, can't you?" Ariel smirked, then—FWOOOSH!—she rocketed down towards the heart of the crater in a gray blur.
"Woohooo!" Pinkie pumped a forelimb.
Fluttershy blinked at her. "What are you cheering for?"
"I dunno!" Pinkie grinned. "Just feels good to get our thumbs out of our butts!"
"What's a thumb, darling?" Rarity asked.
"Rnnnnnghhhh..." Rainbow descended until she was slumped against the crater's edge next to Logan. "...I think I was better off in a coma."
"I think you were too," Logan muttered.
Rainbow rolled her eyes. "Look, about our conversation earlier, I'm sorry."
"I know you are."
Rainbow growled slightly. "Would it kill you to acknowledge the reason why I'm so freaked out about this chaos stuff?"
"I could." Logan yawned. "But I just don't give a shit."
"Mrmmmffff... forgot who I was talking to."
Logan smirked. "Yeah, you did."
Rainbow looked down into the crater. Her eyes flickered red-on-yellow momentarily. "I really wish that Ariel would hurry up."
"Just calm your crotchtits," Logan said with a shrug. "After all, what's the hurry?"
Seraphimus was breathing rapidly. Stuck in her chains, she nevertheless craned her neck to get a better look Edgeside.
From her vantage point on the wagon, she could spot a shifting line of limbs... muscle... beady eyes.
Pale bodies...
Undulating...
Scampering...
Charging.
The air rang with a shrill high-pitched whine. Shrieks combined to form a cacophonous wave of noise, rolling in from the distance, rushing up the hill with the occasional spark of claws against dead stone.
"Verlaxion's sleet," Seraphimus exhaled.
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Incoming Chaos monster Wave, Round one imminent.
First, grab your shotguns and your Cortanas. Second, start your runthrough.
Pinks isn't incorrect about that name... though he'd probably take it as a compliment.
Are Sera and Keps about to be charged by chaos zombies?
Maybe the chaos metal has necromantic properties.
-Through the path long forgotten, into the darkness long begotten. Ofolrodi.
A question for the ages: Keep with the light, and remain pure, but make the journey that much harder? Or delve into the darkness, and gain power, but lose that which makes you pure?
this chapter is 2spooky4me
8502603
Complement? He can shapeshift, he'd probably take it as inspiration
Really hate first contact with new enemy types. You dont know if they can be dropped, stopped, stabbed, dismembered, bent, twisted, crushed, or decapitated. And when you do, thats when you find out if they are magical resistant, magically strengthened, metallic, ceramic, acid slime or explode when destroyed.
Never mind all the really nasty stuff.
Would be preferable if the Hoverplank actually shattered so that Sera could use the chains and mountings as flails. Get the combination of melee combat but non contact range, with the flexibility and manipulation of whips and rope.
Well, Rainbow is listening, that is good. On the other hand, we got something attacking the vehicle, which is bad, very bad.
Well looks like Sera is in for the fight of her life. Hopefully, the others will notice before she is dead.
I'm glad Dash is listening to the others here. I don't know about anyone else, while this is likely just because of the show, I find it very hard to see Discord as evil as the Dash and the girls see him.
Who would win?
Storm coming fast!
The stakes have risen
Anybody else remember that time when Rainbow dive-kicked a giant millipede at several thousand kilometers per hour? Wasn't that back in Foxtaur?
Are we about to see its smaller brethren on the Dark Side?
Edit: Forgot to type "remember," of all things.
This is going to be quite the shitshow that our poor little Sera is going to get herself caught up in.
Hopefully the Herald can cut her loose and actually save her before she ends up eating the shit.
Is it bad that I wanted to hear that?
Not good..
Well ain't that a title.
She's got a point, y'know.
Ok. Crusader just blasphemed. This is bad.
8502719
Its the show. In-universe, he's still a villain. But that's no reason to not love every millisecond he's on stage(all praise be to John DeLancie, and other Silverquill references)
Okay, I've got it! Sereoh!
The ship with Sera, Ariel, and the Austraeoh.
I'll get on that.
Ariel is talking to herself. Double personality and trust issues are definitely NOT a good thing.
Welp. Now we have new enemies coming after the others. And apparently, Rainbow (unless they come up with a stupid idea) can’t go help them.
Let’s see how it goes.
Thnx Ponk. Best quo-
Dangit, I can't choose a favorite quote.
Derp. Ariel is agreeing with herself.
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. They never learn...
Incoming monsters...
8503016
Stu Leaves is from Dashery, yes.
The most abhorred hate sink character I think I've ever seen.
Well... purposeful hate sink anyway.
8502612
Many a time, achieving a goal means sacrificing your morals. The real question is, was it worth it? When the goal is to stop the death of all and everything, the answer must therefor always be "yes". Otherwise, you're simple putting your ego before the world and everyone in it.
I do believe Rainbow's best argument as to why using Chaos metal for anything at all might be a pragmatically, not just morally bad idea is just coming over the horizon.
INCOMING!
8502612
The problem is, how strong is the influence of the chaos metal and therefore how long will you be in control of your impurities.
Chaos metal may grant some power but it is not like its just a matter of morale, it seems more like a half sentient hard drug, clouding the mind of its user and slowly taking over one principle at a time. (like the influence of the "one ring" in lord of the rings)
Real life example:
Using scientific advancements made by nazi concentration camp doctors is a difficult moral choice.
Gong on crack because it may make you walk faster, is not. And not because people who went on it may have done bad things, its because we know that the stuff destroys you from inside out and i think that is more or less Dashs point there.
I'm impressed you've resisted making that one for over five years.
...
...
...
...Oh no.
...Oh god no.
If I know my Skirtsian lore like I think I do and that's what I think it is, then aw HELL n'aw.
8502719
I know what you mean about Discord. And RD needs to realize that he didn't kill her friends - it was the elements backfiring. He was only indirectly responsible by being the target that necessitated their use. Heck, she could blame Twilight just as well for being the one to push using them without her being there.
One thing I've wondered during this whole epic is if the elements did that on purpose to propel the Austraeoh on her journey or if it was something of a "happy" coincidence.
Trolls? Trolls. It's always trolls.
Finally caught back up, been away from the story for far too long ;_ ;
On one hand, part of me is glad to see that even the ghostly five are maturing and adapting to their surroundings. This helps them relate to RD even more, and will be a good thing should they ever be reunited in the flesh. On the other, it's almost disheartening to see as by the time this is all over - there is no way these mares will ever be the cheerful happy go lucky mares they were.
Shipper Senses Tingling
Whelp, that's not good...
Should be Rainbow.
8502985
Too similar to Searo.
Pinkie is right. Shell was a horrible, insane and evil bastard who was definitely several times more evil than Discord.
Creep factor is rising. Also this description also kinda reminds me of the purple slime zombies of Stratopolis
This chaos junk is dangerous. It's also useful.
Are these the spindlers? I hope not.
Methinks that Discord might actually going through the stages of grief.
This is rather high on the list of 'things that irk fate'. As happens almost immediately after.
11/11/2017
17:04 UTC
8502597
Literally watched the whole video. It was a sad turnout, but this dude is something else at the end of the day. Awesome gameplay. 10/10 IGN.
I guess Sera is just completely fucked, then, huh? I am waiting on the deus ex chromatica to come in.
....Wow, that's heavy.
Seraphimus for the love of god, call for help!
I feel like the main issue would be if they use the chaos metal on the wagon, Rainbow wouldn't be able to be near it. Physical transformation nonsense and all. Who knows what prolonged exposure would do to the rest of them either and the excuse that it totally won't be as bad because dark side doesn't make a whole lot of sense since it is the CHAOS side of the world. If anything they should expect it to have stronger effects. Maybe the future... 132 chapters I have to catch up on get into weeeeeee.
XD. Words...cannot express how humorous I am taking this.
One of the best things I've ever read!
THANK 👏 YOU 👏 ARIEL 👏
Yeesh, way to dig deep Pinkie. (I mean, she's right though...)
OOOOOHHH THIS IS A BAD