Dawn arrived on misty waves. A dull gray haze wafted through the bowing branches of Upper Foxtaur, settling in a soupy fog that swam through the brick, mortar, and marble structures of the ruins.
Far down below, in a chamber with a dying torch, Pilate continued floating his manasphere across the wall, analyzing symbol after symbol. Bellesmith, silent as stone, was leaning against him, fast asleep. Her golden body rose and fell with each gentle breath as the zebra flipped through the pages of the tome and continued on with his studies, undaunted.
Above, on the edges of the crumbled bulwarks, Phoenix marched along the outer perimeter. His hooves scuffled over the top of the steep wall, forming slight echoes through the mist. He paused, squinting through the scattered bands of morning light. His eyes were still tired from having woken up recently for his morning patrol.
Still, that didn't stop him from making out the sight of Crimson, squatting on a high branch and overlooking the northern edge of foggy Foxtaur. The muscular stallion seemed as awake and alert as ever, as if a night of zero sleep had done nothing to muddy his countenance.
Phoenix sighed. Turning around, he nearly impaled his eye on a polearm.
"Gah!" He jumped back—
Zenith slapped his hoof over Phoenix's mouth before he could make too much noise. "Calm down. Why must you always be Xonan fodder right after waking up?"
Phoenix spat out Zenith's forelimb and frowned. "I am so not Xonan fodder! Besides..." He sighed and gazed up at Crimson. "Xonans are the last thing on my mind right now..."
"Yeah, well, at least you have something on your mind," Zenith grunted, gazing up at Crimson with bored eyes. "Instead of pushing it away completely."
"He only wants what's best for us, Zenith," Phoenix said. "We shouldn't forget that."
"Yeah, well..." Zenith gazed lethargically towards the west end of the ruins, towards where a petite, lavender shape was sharpening swords and daggers by an extinguished campfire. "I know for a fact that he wants to protect one of us. The rest? Pffft... That's just up to the Spark."
Phoenix frowned. "You don't think it's that... stupidly simple do you?"
"Just look at all of our history combined, idiot," Zenith grunted as he marched away. "Crimson has always gone out on a limb for one pony and one pony alone. Sometimes I just wish the two would marry already."
Phoenix smirked at Zenith as he walked away. "You're overexagerrating." He turned and marched slowly towards the west end of the foggy ruins. "Besides, that wouldn't be the end of the world! I bet if there was a ceremony, Crimson would make you best stallion—!"
There was a loud snapping sound. Out from the foggy ceiling, a black length of metal cable whipped down. It struck Phoenix in the chest and wrapped around him five times. Before he could scream, a second cable flew forth and ensnared his muzzle as well. In a flurry of misty air, he was yanked up into the forest canopy, disappearing beyond the mists.
His mace fell loosely to the floor.
Zenith spun around.
Crimson glanced down at the sound.
Eagle Eye stood up from the campsite, blinking. "Phoenix...?"
Heeeeere's Roarke!
OH GOD HERE IT COMES
TIME TO ROARKE!
Or you know, die by enforcers.
2117224
Yes, but I wonder why. The thrill of a double bounty for the AWOL soldiers AND Dash? Roarke is greedy, it something else is at hoof.
2117296
Cue 20 chapters of her and Dash becoming fast friends/reluctant allies leading up to this point.
I have you now
jedifugitive.Gotta love that feature box every time it updates.
2117296 I feel like i should know who you guys are referring to when you say 'Roarke'. It isn't Mr. Roarke from Fantasy Island, is it?
OHFUK
2114861
inb4 Zenith goes behind Crimson's back, calls in the Ledomaritans, and ends up getting EE killed in the process.
For some reason I really want to see Roarke have a cool fold-up helmet a la Dead Space. That would be indescribably epic.
2117863
About 30 ish chapters ago there was a scene with a bounty hunter named Roarke that decided to hunt dash and co.
Well, that was pretty badass. I wish I had that whatever-it-is.
2117988
I kinda pictured Power Armor from the Fallout series.
2117863
2117996
Enter Roarke.
2117977
Too bad Crimson has the soundstone in his pocket.
Unless Zenith is a master pickpocket too. Damn.
You roarke, woohoo!
2118174 2117996
Yes, i remember that, but it just seemed like you talked about her like she was an already established character, more so than can be gathered from that single chapter. Is she an OC from another fic, or is she based on someone from something else?
3.bp.blogspot.com/-KD2nFyfI7Po/Tw4LfwHx-cI/AAAAAAAAayo/gOIe_fBxIWA/s320/110719+-+artist+Synad+mecha+rainbow_dash+robot.png
Steampunk Samus Pony is about to open up a can of rape.
Huh, guess I was wrong. Roarke found Site Beta before finding Rainbow Dash. Did not expect her to take that route.
please let it be the mercenary.
Definitely roarke
well,they have been asking for this.i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/370/849/f6e.gif
Wow, time to prepare for a kick-flank mechanical pony! I agree that roarke needs some pretty awesome armor!
Hey! It's Roarke!
But Where's Dash?
Onwards!
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So it seems that Roarke has made an appearance! (There isn't a single living Enforcer who has technology and stealth of that grade.) This chapter tells us a couple things about her. First off, in order for her to be able to attack Beta, she must have a base elsewhere where she is holding Dash. Second, wasn't Dash the only pony Roarke was told to assassinate? She has no real reason to be here, save that she may want to capture the Foxtaur group for a little extra money. Also, we see that, though Zenith and Phoenix share the same ideas,( for the most part,) they are still different ponies and can have different ambitions. This chapter also portrays the Foxtaur group I'n a more realistic light - they can't win every battle they fight in and will lose some times. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Ohai there bounty hunter.
I suppose its too optimistic to hope that its Dash in Roarke's awesome metal suit thing just pulling a spiderman for shits and giggles, right? Or maybe the two are friends, and they're pulling a prank? Only one way to find out - onward!
wow.
She's good.
Dirty, sneaky stealth tactics. I wholeheartedly approve
So there.
grace and peace,
-Psyco Josho
2118321
Roarke is here. Which means that they'll all be together again! And also be stuck again.
Welp, pack your bags, guys. Here she comes.
That would be frigging terrifying...In the fog, then suddenly black tendrils just whip down, grab you, keep you quiet, then whoosh, into the fog....
Holy shit, that came out of NOWHERE
nice work there, girlie
So roarke is basically batman... kinda.
Enter Roarke!
7984825
Ender?
Of course the new badass needs to establish their character via taking out everyone else. That's like, tradition.
05/06/2017 01:20 UTC
•_• ...oh shit
4955224
The Mist
there's a 50% chance that is rainbow messing with him...but the other 50 is the enforcers have taken him, let us hope it has not come to that
I believe our bounty hunter has arrived.
For background music, I'm thinking something from either The Matrix or Predator.
Phoenix got taken out of nowhere. However, I wouldn’t think it’s a stretch to say whatever took Rainbow took Phoenix as well, the notes of abduction seem fairly similar.
Also, I can”t believe it took me until this chapter to figure out that Zenith was male. However, Zenith appears to be disliking her higher-up’s orders, claiming that Crimson is only saving 2E. Crimson doesn’t like 2E like that, but maybe Zenith’s accusation is right, I haven’t discovered anything for or against it.