Someway, Somehow
"Nnnngh..." I stirred, feeling a velvety fabric enshrouding me. "Mmmff... My head..."
"Rise and shine, Dashie! The birds are singing! The sun is shining! The Canterlot homeless are rattling their bit jars—"
"Ugh! Pinkie! For Celestia's sake, darling, you're the most garish alarm clock ever!"
"Well, duh! How else are you sleepyheads gonna get up and enjoy a full day together?!"
"Mmmmf..." I turned over, burying my head into a pillow. "Five more minutessssss..."
"Up and at 'em, sugarcube!"
My hear skips a beat. I raise my head, only to be buried neck-deep in a sleeping bag. I fight and buck and claw my way out until I am gasping into the air-conditioned interior of Twilight's bedroom.
The world comes into focus, along with the blinding light from beyond the balcony window. There are five shapes sitting up, squirming about me in various states of wakefulness. I see a lavender shape hobbling towards the bathroom. I see Fluttershy squatting before the Sparkle family's pet dog and nuzzling it. I see Rarity fussing with several tangles in her mane. Pinkie Pie bounces across the room, opening the door to the smell of pancakes. And...
"Gosh, you look like you wrestled a pen full of hogs in yer sleep!" A sea of freckles glisten in the morning light, turning rosy as a delicious chuckle drips through the smiling teeth beneath them. "Have sweet dreams, Rainbow?"
I blink. I grin devilishly. "Only the sweetest!" I shoot up with a flap of my wings. "Best sleep I had in—" I slam my head against a ceiling beam. "Ow! Darn it, Twilight! Why do you unicorns have such tiny rooms?!"
"Uggggh..." A voice drips painfully out of the bathroom. "My leg still aches from shaking so many ponies' hooves..."
"Your leg is aching?!" Rarity scoffed. "I was the one who had to hobble halfway across Canterlot with one missing slipper!"
"You could have had one of my slippers, Rarity," Fluttershy softly said.
"Oh! Heaven forbid! I cobbled that shoe only for you, my dear! It would have been a crime to make another pony wear it! No other mare has hooves as dainty and fragile as yours!"
"Rarity, all of our golloshes got smashed somethin' terrible last night. Let's just learn to let it go and enjoy the rest of the time we have left in Canterlot."
"Well let's enjoy it downstairs, you guys!" Pinkie chirped from the adjacent hallway. "Pancakes and Twilight's parents are waiting for us! But mostly pancakes!"
"Sounds good to me!" Applejack tossed her frazzled blonde mane and galloped out of the room. "Race y'all down there!"
"Hey!" Twilight called out from the bathroom, poking her frowning head out. "No running around in my house! My parents will kill—Augh! This stupid, aching hoof..."
"Heeheeheehee!" I giggled, clutching myself as I hovered backwards in midair.
Rarity and Fluttershy glanced up at me curiously.
Twilight droned, "Rainbow, what are you laughing about?"
"Heee-I dunno!" I raised a hoof and wiped a tear from my eye. "I'm just feeling really, stupidly giddy right now."
"It's nice seeing you so cheerful, Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said.
"It'd be even nice to see me shove some pancakes down my gullet!" I grinned and blurred towards the doorway. "Hey! AJ! I bet I can eat more than you!"
"Nuh uh!"
I laughed, cackled even. The morning was crisp and the air was cool. Someway, somehow, I knew that this was where I was supposed to be.
Stats
Page generated in 0.036 seconds
Total duration
1,030 users online
2,256,748 hits today, 2,054,621 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Dreaming?
...
You motherfucker, it was all a dream, wasn't it?
Astraea's Dream - The Sword
Welp. Belle seems to be losing herself. Sucks for her.
Happier times.
Is that so, Belle?
I was trying to be snarky and curt in commenting for this chapter, but screw it.
The placement of this chapter after Belle seeing multiple symbols means this is more than just a dream about the morning after (the gala). This chapter is more than just a slice of life scene, it's a clue to the elements of harmony being very relevant to the symbols that Belle and Dash saw. Belle saw multiple symbols, then fainted into Shell. The next scene is a—not italicized, by the way—gathering of all the Elements of Harmony.
Someone not as tired as I am could relate this to Plato's Allegory of the Cave somehow (well, the whole dang story could, what with the constant references to light and understanding and the nature of reality). At the very least, the passage is somewhat symbolic from an identity perspective.
I think it is more or less safe to assume this is Belle failing to understand that she's not living a memory of her own, a sudden flashback to Rainbow Dash seems rather unlikely.
1548782
It would sure seem that way. The origins of this memory are also worth exploring, because it doesn't seem like it could be a hallucination. Perhaps the many times that she sequenced with Dash has left her with a whole cache of memories that we - sharing in Belle's apparent amnesia - don't know about. It's very likely that without any more sequencing, we will be seeing more memories and an emerging identity crisis.
I don't know if I could relate this to the allegory of the cave, but I can do metaphors just fine: this story is likely a series of spiderwebs placed on top of each other and wrapped into a ball. As we follow the threads, new possibilities arise until we map out the whole thread, only to realise there is another one beneath it.
1548832
Well, Belle was certainly able to start recalling more when under duress, psychological trauma is when she is most venerable to alien memory.
There are a bunch of theories about what Austraeoh and Eljunbyro are that I didn't address before. I think it's still a little early to be too terrible definitely other than to say they're somehow related to the Elements. However, recall that we've gotten several answers as to what 'Asutraeoh' is. We've been told it's a thing, something that needs wind brought to, we've been told it's Dash herself. I think it's more intangible than that. Austraeoh is a concept, it's what Dash represents. In a way, that means it's physically her as well, but getting locked-down there will lead to trouble. That in mind, Whitemane seemed to indicate that Eljunbyro was important for the "next phase." My initial reading was to assume that that meant the word represented a label for actions, or was somehow the next "goal," and that Belle was supposed to "bring the wind."
I'll buy the Eljunbyro is Applejack theory, but only for lack of a better term. Applejack is dead, as are the other Elements. If Eljunbyro is AJ and AJ is dead then Belle is leading Rainbow on more of a spiritual journey and thusly makes Eljunbyro another intangible concept. Everything is heavily laced in metaphor.
It is all very perplexing in an obtuse sort of way, good speculation fodder but perhaps not such great writing.
The bottom line:
1) Dash is Austreaoh (whatever that is)
2) Belle is important
3) Whitemane knows much
4) Eljunbyro is related to whatever is next
5) The symbols are related to the nomenclature
6) The symbols are related to the elements
7) It has been heavily hinted that Dash is "the spark" or related to "the spark"
8) Applejack is Dash's beloved, regardless of all else
(And I apologies for this mess of a comment, tired brain=jumble of thoughts)
<INCEPTION BONG>
This could be very sad or very happy. Either way, still love this story.
shouldn't this chapter be italized?
1548901
Oversight or intention, you decide!
1548784
I don't mean to rub it in. Truth is, you're probably right that Eljunbryo iks probably Belle. But you picked a bad time to say that relationship emphasis and the word Eljunbryo couldn't really be found close together.
1548832
The cache of memories sounds more than possible. She did spend five days in the machine, possibly receiving memories that she doesn't recall until much later...
1548878
My interpretation of "bringing the wind" is providing literal locomotion to help dash progress along her journey. Dash has encountered an obstacle while heading east. No matter how hard she tries, there is nothing dash can do on her own to progress any further. Dash needs an outside force, a catalyst, some pony to get Dash back on her hooves with wind under her wings so that she can start moving eastward once more.
In other words, dash is stuck. Austreaoh needs help and its up to Belle to be that help.
...or im totally wrong. Thats more than just plausible.
1548963
I think you're correct, "bring the wind" is literally, "get Dash moving again." It's the logistics of that, I think, that have us all bogged down. We're all a few steps ahead of Belle because we have 200 chapters of Dash to go by. Belle is still trying to not only remember what she's been told, but figure out what it means, too. And that's before her own problems and circumstance regarding her own beloved, her life and her position as a conscripted scientist for a totalitarian regime.
1548980
when you put it that way...Belle definitely has her work cut out for her.
I mean we have a much clearer vantage point and we still don't really know whats going on. Plus theres the whole leveraged toast thing. She has to balance life, love and safety with solving the mystery and helping save the world.
Looking back, I'm surprised she has made it this far.
1548726
Seems like he only uses first-person when Belle's experiencing a sequencing event, doesn't it?
On an unrelated note: at least we get to see why Ledoville or whatever it is called was described a place where "ponies use their own kind as slaves" or something like that. Using their own people as slaves in order to escavate the machinery of the world. . . it's kind of like the situation with the minotaurs, but darker (yay for recurring-events/themes-progressively-getting-darker-theory!).
1549026
The sequencing events are dream-like, memories. Not only are they in the first person but they are in italics for a stylistic nudge to say "this is not reality." That we've lost italics but kept first person means the narrator does not think they are dreaming or remembering, but we know they probably are. The non-italics, assuming it's not a mistake or oversight, means chapter 31 is a straight Slice of Life scene starring Rainbow Dash. The kicker is while the narrator thinks she is Rainbow Dash she is actually Belle with the chance that both Belle and Rainbow are having the same memory at the same time. Again, check out the nomenclature for the memories stuffy: sequence, synchronize. The idea is that the sequencer lives memories in the first person, if you fall too deep you start to lose lucidity and forget who you are. You become synchronous with your subject.
1549038
Great callback to the first cave we ever saw, well done. Substitute manatasers for chaos strips and throw in some "if you preform poorly for the regime we make you a slave laborer."
This is a Dash thing!
1549254
Dash = cool, air =cool, therefore Dash=air
1549332
Hell freaking yes.
The air needs some wind.
Change the pressure, Dash!
Did Belle mistake Spike for a dog?
Or am I reading into that too much?
And there she goes...
Belle! Come back!
Somepony needs to rescue Rainbow Dash!
As much as I think this is probably Belle's mind losing its grip on who she is, this chapter gets much more interesting if you read it as the beginning of an entirely new storyline that leads up to the opening of the chaos rift in Ponyville. The idyllic scene is set, we've got a definite point in time for this chapter's events, and it won't be long until Discord shows up in Canterlot. We might finally get a description of the tragedy in Ponyville. Given the importance of the number 2 to Eljunbyro, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we get two separate storylines intertwined.
You know what? That first sentence of mine - scratch the first half. I definitely think we're getting a new beginning here.
1549890
Judging by the previous chapters, suddenly giving us a complete background of wha happened seems unlikely. I would like an explination of what happened, but i just dont expect it.
As fpr the memory itself, it could just mean that there is more of a synchronized mental connection between RD and Belle. I expect that the next couple chapters will be switching between memory and reality. After all, beimg trapped in a drem does not mean that Belle isn't doing something. Especially since it has been shown that she can still potentially work on an 'autopilot' while being trapped in a sequence or dream.
all typos brought to you by my Nexus 7
1548878
Not sure if I got that right, is Austraeoh loyalty? Something more?
1550383
That's the point, it's hard to tell. Loyalty has been a huge theme throughout, but Austraeoh has been mentioned in context as a thing, the spark, a destination and a journey all in one.
If we go by the fact Rainbow is trying to prevent the end of the world, Austraeoh is life, Austraeoh is the spark to begin the newest sunrise out of the east, it is the catalyst for a new beginning, it's Rainbow Dash, it's what she has come to embody, or it's just a word conjugated as a joke within a convoluted story.
Austraeoh, in that way I suppose, is Dash's purpose above all else.
1550418
Pretty much this. IT'S YOUR DESTINYYYYY
BELLE! YOU NEED TO WAKE UP!
1550135
There is the possibility of the sequencing that occurred during the 5 days Belle forgot are resurfacing on a much deeper level. A resurfacing memory of a time during a sequence would have a deeper effect on Belle seeing as she would have trouble telling whether or not it is actually her memory. She would also not have Dalton there to help her maintain her lucidity. Maybe a non-lucid Belle can connect better with Dash? I don't know what the implications of this could be.
wat de fuq
I hope you don't get killed off, Pilate!
Or tortured!
...If you do, I hope you at least put up an epic fight.
Also! I'm going to hazard a guess that in the next chapter we'll get A. Dash awakening or B. A major sequencing event or C. Both! Either way, some serious shit is about to hit a very large fan
The Sparkle family has a dog!
Awesome.
And the morning after the Grand Galloping Gala. It's so sweet to see Dashie acting like a little kid... you have a crush on somepony? Challenge them to a pancake-eating contest! Works every time.
Twilight... HAS A DOG?
WHAT A TWEEST
caught up...
There are other people handling the speculation above me, so therefore I will only add one thing: Canterlot homeless
Yay! My internet started working again, and what a beautiful chapter!
I had many d'aww moments in that chapter. And it's made me even more excited for season 3.
Only 6 days guys!! 6 days!
On a more relevant to the story note, a light hearted chapter most likely means the next chapter will ensue something quite monumental.
We shall see my friends, we shall see...
Aw! I loved this scene. I actually checked to see if I was reading the right story, what with all the mane 6 being present and no one being depressed. Belle's really synced up with Dash by this point - I wonder how she''l take it? Anywho, Onward!
Well. That's different. Is she back in the sequencing? Or maybe this is a segment Belle is remembering from the previous week?
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So I have two theories on this chapter. One, it's a dream that Belle is having while she's unconscience. Two, the entire thing with her and Shell was a sphere, she is still sequencing, and this chapter is a sphere she has entered. It could really go either way at this point, so I'm not sure what will happen next. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
The world has changed since I was gone...
1807146 Ah, this old race...
Welp Belle is losing it now. RIP
1549079
It's a testament to how far we have come as readers that interpretations like this make perfect sense to us, while anyone else could just read this as a simple slice of life scene with no subtext, and the comments for them would be practically indecipherable.
1946917
I followed you chasing dashie76 all through Austraeoh. Didn't think I'd see you chasing after him again in Eljunbyro, but at least I've got temporally distant company. Hopefully we'll both catch up, though you likely have already.
Considering how long it's been since the last comment got posted here, I kinda feel like I'm revisiting someone else's old memories myself.
3228347 I know that feel bro.
th03.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2011/288/7/a/i_know_that_feel_bro_by_rober_raik-d4cxn5a.png
>My hear skips a beat
du u meen "heart"???
>It'd be even nice to see me shove some pancakes
du u meen "nicer"?/g
What could this be...
Is this real life?
Did i miss a chapter?