"Urp!" The rotund stallion lurched over the edge of the Steel Wing one more time before wiping his bearded chin and shuddering. "Someone stop the friggin' world; I wanna get off. Unnngh..."
"Enforcer Josho..."
"Buzz off!" He grunted, his teeth clenched as he a brought a hoof up to his fluctuating horn. "Can't you see my head is giving birth to an elephant?"
"Suffer with dignity, soldier."
"Ughhh..." Josho spun, snarling. "And just what kind of big bag of hot wind are you—?" He froze upon staring into a scarred face. "Holy crabshells!" He straightened his already crooked uniform and pivoted his beret, trembling. "Prime Enforcer, sir!"
Shell merely glared at him.
"I was just... er... surveying the last vestiges of Green Slope, sir! I'm more than capable of serving for duty—"
"As you were," Shell mumbled.
Josho squinted at him. He shrugged. "Suit yourself." His cheeks exploded as he spun about, lurched over the edge again, and retched with a disgusting gag noise.
Shell closed his eye, took a deep breath of courage, and trotted over to stand by the stallion's quivering side. "Captain Filta is ready to send his stallions towards the destination. The plan is to have the gliders flush the subject and her allies out of the Foxtaur Forest so that we can intercept them with the slower but more powerful Steel Wings."
"Aye..." Josho sputtered. "Sounds like a darn good idea, Prime Enforcer. Especially if you thought of it—"
"We need to know for certain that the subject is heading into Foxtaur, and, if so, exactly where in the forest they may be intending to make their sojourn."
"Yeah. I guess that would help."
"Then do it," Shell droned.
Josho gazed sideways at him. "Huh?"
"Help us." Shell pointed at Josho's strobing skull. "While you are still in the condition to do so."
"Unngh..." Josho clenched his eyes shut, rubbing a hoof over his lit horn. "It's... It's sketchy. I keep hearing words—almost like whispers—entering my brain. I think I'm hearing some of their conversations. But then they pass over me like wet dreams that fail to get to the good part. You remember having those when you were a colt? Heh, I bet you do—"
"Any details would be exceedingly helpful, Enforcer," Shell said with a hint of a growl.
"Oh... Uhm..." Josho concentrated hard, his eyelids fluttering. "A map. A sloping valley. Midnight conversations. The taste of apples. Green eyes..."
Shell raised an eyebrow over his one good eye.
"Mmmmm... Crystals. Recharging. Recharging the device... th-the magic device for the blind zebra..." Josho's eyes widened as he thought aloud. "Mana crystals. A hole in the ground—no, a cavern!"
"Doctor Bellesmith's beloved," Shell said. "They are likely in need of recharging his seeing device. It's been so long."
"Wherever they're headed to, it's someplace deep in the earth, and all glowly and crud," Josho said. "I'm sure of this."
"I see." Shell interrupted a passing crewman. "Go fetch Captain Filta."
"Aye, sir." The stallion scampered away.
"They'll be in a vulnerable moment!" Josho said with a hint of a smile. "It's like catching them taking a squat in the field, only there are more crystals and less corncobs involved—"
"Thank you, Enforcer, you've helped adequately."
"I only wish I could help more, y'know," Josho said, stifling another burp. He stood up straight in spite of his rotund self. "I've heard of all of the daring campaigns you made against those tattooed bastards along the southeastern front. You slew a buttload of Xonans in the name of Ledo. What I wouldn't give to have served with your brigade in such a time."
"Right..."
"I mean, it's a real damn honor, sir. It's been ages since I've seen any action—or done anything worthwhile for the Queen besides guarding a lousy town full of hicks. So this is a real opportunity for me to do something useful—"
"That remains to be seen," Shell muttered. Captain Filta strolled up, and the soldier asked him, "Where along the western edge of Foxtaur might there be naturally occurring manacrystal caves?"
Filta squinted in thought, then said, "Forty miles south of the northern edge, due east of the jagged summit of the Brown Mountains. Why do you ask?"
Shell motioned towards Josho and said, "We have reason to believe that our targets may be taking a proverbial dip in the magical womb of the world. I think we now have a place to send our gliders."
"Very well. When, sir?"
"Now would be a prudent time, Captain," Shell said. "Order your fliers to push the fugitives north. We'll chase them into range of the Steel Wing's cannon, and then the subject will have no choice but to surrender to us or die."
"Aye. A splendid plan." Filta spun about, blew a whistle hanging from his neck, and shouted towards the far ends of the Steel Wing. "Fliers! Here are your orders! Fly southeast and penetrate Foxtaur east of the Brown Mountains...!"
Filta flung commands to every uniformed stallion within earshot. The pilots scrambled to their mana-driven gliders. Bells rung as crewmen rushed to the steam controls of the vessel and pivoted it southeast. The two large airships escorting the Steel Wing adjusted to match the course.
"This is just perfect," Josho said, weathering his pain long enough to brandish a glistening smile. "Taking wing like friggin' dragons! We'll have that bright blue buzzard roasted in no-time!"
"Enforcer Josho," Shell droned, "It was a large, matronly dragon of epic size that deposited our subject—in her battered state—upon the western edge of the Queen's Territory to begin with."
Josho blinked. "What are ya tryin' to tell me?"
"Simply that she's obviously had her chance at combatting dragons, and even that wasn't enough to kill her. It was something I should have taken into consideration when I battled her in the heart of a machine world." He turned and glared at Josho. "And it's something you were too ignorant to know when—in a fit of drunken rage—you destroyed half a village in your vain attempt to slight her."
"Hey, I was only—"
"Understand this, Enforcer," Shell hissed, taking a metal step forward with his heavy prosthetic. "You are a beacon, a compass, a means to an end and nothing more. You stopped being a useful soldier the day you stopped having the common courtesy to march in a straight line, sober. The very reason you were assigned to a backwater trading post in the festering buttocks of Green Slope was because that's the most your legacy has ever afforded you. You say that you're honored to serve with me?" His one good eye narrowed. "I've lost over four dozen good officers in the debacle at Blue Shelf. They gave their lives for the sake of assuring Ledomare would acquire this fleeting source of power, and I failed them. Now I am chasing the key to a vast underworld of promise yet again, and I will know no honor until I have balanced the scales with the loss that has earned it. Until I give my everything—including myself—for the sake of this necessary victory, I can claim no right to honor. Now tell me, what can you claim?"
Josho's mouth hung open, about to stammer something, anything. He had no breath to give.
Shell's nostrils flared. "As soon as we have the subject—dead or alive—I do not want to be within the same province as you. I do think my reputation smells enough of failure." He trotted off, limping.
Josho watched him silently. In the meantime, the gliders took off—one by one—sending shrill screams of blaring rockets into the air as the three aircraft veered towards the southeast, and lit up with mana-powered energy. The Steel Wing pierced the winds after them like a hovering mountain.
Wow. You know, the sad thing is... I think I gained a bit of respect for Shell here...
Damn it, ):(! Twenty-five push-ups for making me empathize with the villain! Knock 'em out!
I know a few fellows who know a thing or two about balancing scales. Shell is really going all out with the self aggrandizing and inflated sense of selfish selflessness. He's sharing some Sam Rose traits again, but with a more twisted sense of nobility. The showdown will be of great interest, especially now that Shell isn't underestimating Rainbow. I am also rather curious as to just how far behind the Steel Wing is, wouldn't be the first time a little narrative blue balls was introduced for Shell and company to have just missed their opportunity. Nah, showdown it probably is.
Perhaps, if all goes well, they can steal one of these airships.
For some reason I thought Josho wouldn't turn out to be all bad. Now I'm not so sure...
Danger Zone - Kenny Loggins
More for the visual of the gliders going off the ship than anything else.
I swear that Shell's speech is in reference to something, but I can't quite put my finger on it.
Dash vs. mana gliders? This, I gotta see!
Shell! You were the chosen one! You were supposed to bring balance to the scales, not destroy them!
1948784
Hmm. I don't think it's self-agrandizing.
Speaking as a soldier who has led troops in battle, the crushing feeling of having failed your soldiers in combat is a horrible thing. And his comments on his loss of honor is something that any soldier can attest to.
Not sayig he's not a bad guy. He is, undoubtedly. Just that I feel his motivations may no be purely malicious. The opposing force is always viewed as ignoble and dispicable by the other side.
"Buzz off!" He grunted, his teeth clenched as he a brought a HORN up to his fluctuating HORN.
Minor error near the beginning.
But seriously. This Shell guy is such a dick.
Even though Josho is a compass and actively working against our intrepid group he is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.
More places demand more explanations. Someone needs to map out Rainbow's journey. Also, I don't think the showdown will happen for a couple more chapters. Build up suspense and whatnot...
Not sure if I'm supposed to feel sorry for Shell or Josho, or even feel sorry at all...
1949305 really? You need a map?
RAINBOW DASH FLIES EAST.
There!
1948950
Granted, the feeling does appear genuine. However, I can't help but see it mired in his previous actions and previous speeches regarding his own perverted version of nobility and honor; Shell often uses loyalty as an excuse for selfishness or glory. In that context, especially having just been belittled by superiors, I would argue that when he says loss of honor what he means is personal shame, not shame of having lost a battle. Shell is upset that Rainbow got away, not simply that he lost dozens of officers in the process. Moreover, he's not trying to balance the scale of soldiers lost to victories had, he's trying to balance the scale of personal failure with getting revenge. The former is comes with some semblance of neutrality in a battle, even if you're dealing with a bad guy, the latter deals strictly a narrow mindedness that fits with Shell's characterization. Shell is a shell, he says what he needs to say to justify his actions or his feelings. His words are ignoble and hollow because his actions do not back them up, particularly when he showed zero regard for life and zero discretion at Blue Shelf. He's got more than a little Ahab in him.
Apparently I'm near a warzone. And I am in the Sapphire Province.
This is interesting.
1949424 I'm trying not to take that in a negative tone. I just think it would be interesting if someone mapped out her journey.
I'm kinda looking forward to another cave fight scene.
1949427
I agree about he's got a bit of Ahab in him, but I still see it as not personal. Well, not entirely. Remember, he's a career soldier; he's spent his entire life defending Ledomare. Numerous battles have left him scarred, and at this point, all he really has in life is honor and country. Remember, he's on this quest because he believes it will help him win the war. If he's made it personal, it's because Dash mopped the floor with him, because he underestimated her, and she humiliated his elite troops, an offense against his army and country.
Again, I'm not saying he's not the villain. Just saying that, so far, he seems to be the easiest villain to identify with since Windthrow.
A small, highly mobile, specialized infantry unit supported by ship deck guns... is Dash up against the pony equivalent of Navy SEALs? Because that would be, um, bad. Ledomare is bringing their full might to bear against her, which they haven't done yet. She's always run into isolated units without reinforcements. This is totally new. Getting out of this one will require some very slick moves.
1950341
Maybe, it's setting up to be more Star Wars in nature, really, and more than a little EoP-like with the airships. Like Luke and like the last pony, Dash has the fact that she's very agile and essentially a small, hard to hit target in her favor. Especially against the big airships which are meant, really, to take out other big ships.
1950264
I can see that, and he certainly is easier to identify with than Axan or The Duke. That said, I still think Shell got a chip on his shoulder long before Dash defeated him. Agreed, all he knows is his career, and it's done nothing but take a huge toll from him in both a very physical and very psychological way, to the point that he has no core left, all he can do is spout rhetoric.
Well! If Josho needed any motivation to become a serious problem for the trio, he sure has it now.
Psycho Josho, how's being a belligerent, drunken wino suiting you?
Is it just me, or might we see another rainboom trash everything else in the air?
Also, Every chapter of Austraeoh is a single word; each in Eljunbryo are two words.
Hmmm... Dragons... To the rescue?
will the steel wing be taken out by a dragon, dash, or josho? i do not have the slightest idea.
1951197
Deus ex Axan?
Huh, well I guess the cave thing isn't totally unexpected then. Not with the semi-telepathic drunk on the bad side, anyway. Even if this all looks like crap for the trio, I'm still excited to see Dash battle a bunch of fighter pilots and kick Shell's ass. At least he has enough sense to not underestimate her again.
No need to be a Dick, shell
All of my hate. It's exciting and amusing and all the emotions in between, but I really cannot wait until the Ledomare arc is over. If only so I never have to read a line spoken by that jackass ever again.
My little Pinkie tells me that a certain drunken somepony will seek revenge in the long run.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get to see a bit more of Shell's character here. He does a pretty good job of summing up who Josho is, I think. But I find his speech about honor, Ledomare, etc. very much shoeing the type of pony he is. He's not as independent as you'd think - he doesn't do what he does for himself. He does it for Ledomare alone. Astoundingly, his speech never once truly credits himself. Yeah, he does say that his pride was wounded and that he's got to reclaim his honor and stuff, but the reason behind all if that is Ledomare. Which brings up some interesting questions - is Shell just another pawn, albeit a strong one, of Ledomare? Does he do what he does for them out of respect or out of fear? I would say that, right now, he is a pawn. But given his current state, character-wise, it would only take a little push to show him that he could survive without Ledomare. That Ledomare doesn't deserve him. And I would say that he does his doings out of respect - but deep down within him, there is a fear that fuels this respect. A fear that he would not even admit to himself. So much character development in so little words...this is why we love the Austraeoh series. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Hahaha, wow that puts strange pictures in my mind...
Onwards!
Surrender or die? If you know anything about Rainbow Dash, you'd know which one she'll choose.
"Magical womb of the world", eh? Wonder what the chances are of them finding anything down there, hmm?
So Shell is a villain with a scar on his eye seeking to restore his honor by capturing a flying savior of the world? Nice, he's the Prince Zuko of the Austraeoh universe!
2300430
Even moreso when she has a blind friend.
Man, Shell, man.
1950264
1950927
2300430
His evil is just like a scab. Old, and covering wounds. It's just what he's used to, now. I have a feeling he may find some sort of self-redemption before he perishes regarding the path he started trotting upon when he made the choice with his beloved. His tunnel vision will lead to his eventual death. I think it may be a while since he has a ton of character development and several means to pursue RD.
Most of the 'stallions of note' have names that start with 'S.'
Sladesteed
Steelteeth
Sam Rose
Shell
Bad Shell.
Bad.
Also, sounds like Avatar
Restoring his honour, eh? I guess that's as good of an excuse as any.
play this as those "gliders" blast away from the battleships in a wild flight
YEEEEEHAWWWWWWWW
Damn that was some fine clashing
i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/581/388/be3.png
oh, Hobbes, you rascal
"Green eyes" ;_;
He is respectable, now can he be redeemed?
So the drunken disgrace and the hardline hobbler butt heads. Good.
Josho continues to be a very fun bad guy.
Heh.
Now that's how to gain the loyalty of an important asset.
6337164
With a name like Josho how could he not be?
6337164
10 bucks says Josho blows Shell's skull out through his face.
I know a developing character when I see one.
"Aye, I'll blindly agree with whatever you say to preserve myself and my beloved"
Turns around, "out! Ya Lilly livered flying squirrel! Time to earn your nuts and fly southeast to penetrate the Foxtaur forest! Just avoid the Brown Mountains. You don't wanna know what it's made of"
Commit mutiny, I say!
Well, even the villains hate Josho.
Don’t worry, we love him.
Dang, Shell really just decided to take a moment out of his busy schedule to dunk on Josho as hard as he could!