Bellesmith Trots East
For Bellesmith, it had been a full, exhausting day.
It started with her trek through the forests of northern Ledomare. The initial leg of the journey didn't last long, and while it did, it amounted to nothing more than a distraught lurch through a sea of threadbare trees. The trunks of coniferous flora loomed on either side of her like gray bodies in the starlight. The burning wreckage of the enforcers' hovercraft had been left far behind, so the only sound was the stammering cadence of her own breaths. She kept her eyes forward the whole time, however, with the hazy glow of Blue Nova looming over the dark blue horizon. Sooner than she had hoped, the dim image turned blurry. She bequeathed it a fainting sigh and fell forward into a sea of leaves.
When she came to, the faint glow of morning danced along the east horizon. It woke up a fluttering sensation in her chest. Belle blinked the tiredness away from her eyes, and when she did so she saw flickers of alien landscapes, sprinkled with the color of familiarity. She envisioned marshlands, forests, lakebeds, mountains, deserts, wastelands—places she had never before scaled, and yet she had lived all of those sojourns in some phantom reality. It engergized her all the same.
Belle stood up, and it was as if an otherworldly energy was empowering her. If the world was a machine, then she could just as easily have been a part of it; she was moving with the same purpose and regularity.
It brought her down a sloping hillside and into a grand valley full of sweeping pastures. Thin dirt roads weaved their humble way north and south, lined by brown wooden fences worn with time. The highways were a welcome reprieve from the sterile rigidity that was typical of facilities constructed by the Council of Ledo. Belle even swore she saw a cottage or two bordering the paths, their stonemason chimneys brimming with smoke and filling the landscape with the happy scent of family breakfast.
Her stomach gurgled, but there was no time for delay. Something urged Belle eastward, and every time she paused to glance at the ancient tome nestled in her saddlebag, the symbol on the front cover was glowing brighter and brighter with lavender luminescence. Suddenly, sleep and hunger were elements of another world. She trotted swiftly, and still it wasn't a quick enough stride for her liking. She found herself leaping dramatically high each time she had to scale a fence or a rock or a stream. The hairs on the sides of her body rose on end, as if something deep beneath her flesh was desperate to grow feathers and send her towards the horizon even faster.
All the while, the body of Blue Nova lingered like a gray cloud above the woods, hills, and thickets before her. Looking at it stole the breath from Belle's lungs. As much as she was drawn to the place, her heart didn't rejoice at the thought of arriving there. The largest city she had ever been in was Blue Pulse, and that was barely a step up from the dense, affluent districts of Mountainfall. Large cities meant large clusters of Ledomaritan Enforcers. If she was smart—if she respected her own safety at all—then she would have ventured somewhere west and hidden herself in the farmlands north of Green Slope Province.
But she couldn't very well do that. So much had been taken from her life—far too much to dwell on—and all that she could do to preserve her sanity was to ignore it, to do that which was mad, to do that which was impulsive... much like a certain prismatic pegasus.
There were times when Belle wondered, when the quickening of her pulse caught up with her, if Rainbow Dash was alive or not. She was in as bad straits as Belle had been in—if not worse—the last time she saw her. If one of them was to die, would the other feel it? Belle didn't know—she didn't understand anything. All she could do was move, and she did so swiftly, traveling northeast through the trees and paths and villages that stretched before her.
Though she covered much ground, it was hardly a graceful journey. She stopped many times to avoid detection. It wasn't just Enforcers that she steered away from, but merchants and families and even picniccers as well. At one point, Belle hid beneath in the shadow of a river bridge, waiting as an entire line of monks passed by, their chants filling the air with melodic tonality.
They were ponies from the far north: Mint Province, she suspected. Most of the unicorns who dwelled there had a unique, zealous view of the Spark. Generations upon generations of religious Mintians believed that the Spark could only be understood through a divine experience achieved through deep meditation. Most Ledomaritans were wary of Mintian culture, mostly because the Xonans were infamous for having similar religious creeds. However, Mint Province was also a major source of ore deposits that were essential for crafting the metal used in building the Queen's numerous airships, so very little was done to upset the Mintian way of life.
For a while there, Bellesmith closely observed the monks as they passed by, catching glimpses of their shaved manes beneath the veils of their cloaks. A sigh escaped her lips as she imagined how bittersweet and peaceful existence it must have been to live so piously, so peacefully. So solitarily...
She winced and shook the thoughts before they could make her heart sink any harder. When the line of zealots passed by, she galloped out of hiding, crossed the bridge, and continued on her trek.
Most of the paths were bending sharper eastward. There was a reason for this: a solid wall of steep, craggy mountains lingered ahead. Without wings, Belle had no choice but to follow the highways. The symbol glowed a little less brightly as her angle of trotting changed, but it mattered little. Blue Nova remained in her sight, and it only became more and more majestic. Even from miles away, the levels of the city glittered in amazing clarity. The skyrises were beautiful but disjointed things, and if it weren't for the assistance of manacrystals, it was quite possible that several of the buildings would have collapsed into the lower districts below. However, the structures remained aloft, and for a good purpose too: they provided several canals and bridges through which airships could pass by and dock, providing supplies and services from all corners of the Confederacy.
It filled Belle with equal wonder and sullen thought: that a nation capable of so much beauty would also harbor so much evil. The doctor in her—the part of her that still saw things rationally and objectively—had to acknowledge the fact that a country built out of nefarious things didn't necessarily have to be populated by malevolent citizens. Every neighbor that she had ever had—from Mountainfall to Blue Shelf—were genuinely kind, honest, and well-to-do ponies. She had only ever benefited from knowing them, and she was certain that if they knew about the sorts of projects that the Council of Ledo had funded, they too would have been filled with as much horror and disgust as she had been.
A part of her even dreamed—in a fleeting breath of afternoon exhaustion—that the populace of the Confederacy might someday learn everything that she, Crimson, and Professor Garnet had discovered in their less-than-cheerful experiences with the inner workings of the Queen's system. She wondered what kind of a future that would ensure the nation, and if it would be a good one. With the Xonans constantly knocking on the eastern front, would it be a good time for such infallible truth to challenge the Confederacy's solidarity?
Belle grumbled—more than once. She wondered if Rainbow Dash's head were ever filled with this much thinking, but she knew better. No matter how many memories they shared, how much pain or loss, nothing could quite make them similar. Rainbow Dash would always be faster than the likes of Bellesmith, and the unicorn knew that it was more than wings that gave the pegasus her energy. Something empowered, something beyond this world and the realms beyond. In spite of all Belle had learned, she realized she had only ever brushed against the surface of reality. What lay beyond the lingering veil of obscurity was something too bright to look at, she imagined, and it gave an extra jump to Belle's pulse as she practically galloped into the melting shadows of a lazy sunset.
When the day had come to an end, Belle was stumbling—hobbling, actually—through a thin line of trees nestled between two tiny villages. A puttering noise sounded overhead, and she realized that she was close enough to the fringes of Blue Nova that she was within earshot of merchant zeppelins descending upon the outer walls of the city. She suspected that another ten straight hours of trotting might even bring her to the gates of the metropolis.
This didn't enthuse her as much as she thought it should have. The fact of the matter was that an entire day had gone by, during which Belle hadn't enjoyed a bite to eat or a drop of water. It didn't help that the previous two days of hectic fugitivism hadn't afforded her much nourishment as it was. She panted and stumbled with each trotting step now, and the lights flickering on in the windows of the nearby cottages streaked before her in a nauseous blur.
Belle was quickly realizing the folly in ever thinking she could make a trek comparable to Rainbow Dash's flight. Still, she would stop every now and then, taking a glance at the two tomes in her saddlebags. One: a scrapbook of familiar yet alien faces. Another: a menagerie of glowing symbols. Somewhere between the blurs—the hazy flicker of memories both true and false—she saw a haunting series of black and white stripes, and she felt like sobbing for the first time in hours.
Thankfully, something snapped her out of it. It was a scent—accompanied by a crackling noise. She snuck forward through a thick sea of underbrush. Just a few paces ahead of her, bright as a full moon, was a campfire. Several equine figures were seated around it, murmuring about one thing or another while they shared a broth of roasted potatoes. They were stallions, and they all wore dark blue uniforms with a symbol on it that Belle wasn't entirely familiar with—not that it mattered. Her eyes were locked on the kettle of food.
Her stomach growled, and she had to hug herself in a fetal position behind the bushes as she waited for the natural noise to come and go. She juggled her options, and not once did the outlook appear golden. For one, she could approach the ponies and simply ask for a civil share of the meal—but that might get her exposed to the local authorities. For another, she could play rogue and simply snatch a bite while the stallions weren't looking, but that seemed hardly a realistic prospect.
In the end, Belle relied on one question and one question alone: What would Rainbow Dash do? Almost immediately, Bell knew the answer, for it was always—never ceasingly—the single most dangerous and daring option.
And what was both amazing and sad was: she knew very well that she had very little left to lose. For once, she felt like she truly had wings.
Perhaps she was delirious. Perhaps she was dreaming. Nevertheless, Belle imagined for a moment that the wings were real, and she coiled them to her side so as not to make much noise as she waited for the stallions to look the other way... and then she crawled slowly through the underbrush and approached the camp...
Stats
Page generated in 0.037 seconds
Total duration
831 users online
602,730 hits today, 2,004,447 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.®
Ahhh, it's good to be getting caught up with what Belle has been up to recently. Have a care Belle, that meal might cost you a lot...
Never knew I'd miss these kinds of chapters. After all the things going on, this is kinda refreshing.
Sneaky sneaky, Miss Smith.
"Uh... can we help you, miss?"
So, Is anyone else thinking that Twilight is leading Belle not east for the sake of east, but to where she needs to go to find her party? Again, the girls know this journey can't be completed alone, so they're leading them back together.
Fifteen burpees, ):(. Knock 'em out!
WWRDD -- I think that philosophy would get you in a world of trouble.
2367556
Of course. The light is purpose, not compass. Troublesome, however, is the resurgence of a certain rogue personality. It seems, rather curiously, that Belle has once again taken the roll of proxy to Rainbow. In order for Belle is utilize the light she must also utilize the intangible properties of Austraeoh, Rainbow. I say that raises the question of what the source of all this is, that is, does the light affect Rainbow's personality? However, I think it's patently clear that it is Rainbow who molds the power, and Belle who has absorbed it.
Would the Bellesmith we met at the beginning of Eljunbyro have ever considered stealing food rather than hoping for charity? Absolutely not. I love how her character has changed after getting wrapped up in Dash's journey east. She's still got some of the meek personality that we first saw back in those early chapters, but there's a new determination in her that can only be attributed to spending so much time around RD. This kind of character development is rare to see, especially in an OC. I can't wait to see all the story arcs reconnect - I imagine Dash will be very proud to see how her new friend has changed.
Taters.
Boil 'em, mash 'em, stick 'em in a stew.
I am liking this new Dashized Belle. WWRDD is her new mantra! Although i still foresee Kera saving Belle's flank in the near future.
finally some fire that isn't too dangerous to sit and stare at.
2367787
As I have said before, my theory is it's the girls, guiding her from beyond. Harmony of whatever driving force behind this world knew Austreoh had to make her journey, but needed the help. So, it dissolvd the girls into the aether, allowing them to help Dashie without slowing her down. Again, remember AJ's comment right beforehand: "it goes on forever."
Belle is trying to emulate Rainbow, despite the fact she is presently acknowledging they are nothing alike. I doubt this is going to end well.
Though I am quite sure Blue Nova is the city in which the filly from the beginning is from, Kera, I believe, and since it is also the destination of Floydien and Pilate, it's pretty easy to see that it's all going down over there.
And really, those Ledomaritans like blue. Blue Shelf. Blue Nova. Purple berets. What.
2368384
We've discussed this before, too. I agree, dead is not really "dead." There is certainly something more to the light and this mission.
2367947 Hobbits's can keep their nasty taters!
2368501 I agree, blue is a theme in not just Ledomare, but others as well. Saphire ravine, the Searo place started with blue I believe. I believe it has to do with RD's coat for that particular color, but as for its connection I have no idea.
2368523
I know, I know. But I'm gonna keep saying it over and over, so when it's finally revealed, I can say, "AH-HA! SEE?! I'M THE MAN!!!
Hey, I gotta boost my self-esteem somehow.
Blue Nova, today a paradise in the Alps; tomorrow, a wasteland.
2368523
Maybe the Mane 6 are haunting the characters, "The Jewellery Box"-style?
It's refreshing to have a Bellesmith chapter. I hadn't realized that before, so props.
Knowing this story, the stallions will most likely turn around when Belle has the pot and is about to sneak away. Still, the next Belle chapter should be pretty funny either way.
Oh, one more thing:
THAT CLIFFHANGER, SCOLON!
2369732
Haunting has a certain pretense that I think does not apply. I would classify it as something more ethereal, abstract. 2369444 has it right when he brings up Applejack's, "it goes on forever" comment. I posit the elements are connected to the machine, it's power source, its key, its "spark." Where Twilight was the spark to get the key active, and its center/focus, Rainbow is the physical spark meant to restart harmony. The background on this, my theorized background anyway, is that the Armory is the center of the machine and the machine is off. The further from the machine's circuit breaker, the longer it takes for the shutdown to have a noticeable effect. This explains the creeping darkness we see the further east we go, and explains Axan's fears. Each civilization has been darker and darker for longer and longer.
Either because of this shutdown, or the meddling of chaos, the proxy harmony/key/spark is unable to maintain balance, and thus is forced to go into a sort of "safe mode" when confronted with chaotic energy (the Elements were not complete at the time of usage, so they could not function properly). That safe mode is currently leading Dash, via the focal point that is Twilight, to the emergency backup location to kick the machine into gear and return harmony (get it?) to the world.
This is probably not going to end well. But it will be fun to read.
I wonder if Belle will meet the little Xonan foal in Blue Nova.
why is everything on this country blue?
2367398 I know right?
Like a thief.
Good luck Belle
reading this made me miss Austraeoh... :3
damn... hope Belle could sneakily snatch a few bites/food without being noticed.
...doubt it though... o.0
Ooooh. Wild prediction time? Wild prediction time!
Everybody gets caught at Blue Nova, although each giving a big fight. Everyone breaks out of prison just as one of them is about to be executed - probably Pilate, because Belle would be very, very angry at the world for conspiring against her like that. A really long fight scene follows, and just as it seems like the group is about to lose against EVIL PEOPLES and Shell, who we haven't seen for a number of chapters, some crystal ponies drop in and save the day. However, they unknowingly harm poor old Roarke by disrupting her power armor. And finally, there will be a huge increase in speed towards the Dark World as they take Roarke's manaship thingy.
If so much as one of these predictions come true, I will be so happy, it will be ridiculous.
For some reason, I have this really weird thought going round my head that just seems awesome.
If Belle gained wings at the expense of what was left of her horn... I don't know why, that just gets me really excited and speculative.
You're a doctor Bellesmith. Just whack one of them over the head and they'll need you!
2370130 I feel the need to remind you that theorizing the light to be synonymous with Twilight is just that: a theory. I also get the feeling that making the Midnight Armory the center of the machine is not quite plausible. The world is the machine and it would surprise me if its center was to be found on the surface. While the machine dims and dies, the Armory is still very much alive - lit by the Harmonic Prism. All the while, both Prism and Armoury were constructed by the Alicorns when the world was reformed, long after the machine was made. If you recall: the Armory serves only to hold the Harmonic Prism, and the Prism serves only to lighten up the dark side of the world. This is also why I quarrel with your theory that moving towards the Armoury is what causes Rainbow to be confronted with every greater disharmony: the Armory is a source of harmonious power, not vice versa - and it is at the exact center of the opposite disk of the world, meaning that Rainbow is currently moving away from and not towards it.
Pie Ledo Domine,
*WHAP*
dona eis requiem.
*WHAP*
Yayy, they converge! Now to see if they meet up before, or after causing a citywide ruckus....
And back to Belle. Its been a while, but its nice to see she's still hanging in there. Watch her go all crazy and attack the stallions, and really they would have just offered her food anyway, no strings attached.
Is Belle gonna be the one who meets up with the little orphan pony, then? The orphan was in a city, and Belle's heading for one - though whether the rest of the journey is made under her own steam or as a hostage remains to be seen.
Ooh, also liking the introspective-ness. Its been a while.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So we get a bit of a nature chapter here with Belle getting all introspective on us. You should do these chapters more, Imploding. I like them. Also, my guess is that, once Belle reaches Blue Shelf, she'll meet that little Xonan filly we saw in the first chapter. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
2408608 thought you'd in joy this chapter. Nice to see some of imploding's nature seen's again
(and my spelling still sucks)
It seems to me as if Bellesmith is reverting to a more...feral form...
I love the scenery descriptions, as always.
But... What is Belle doing? 
Something dangerous and daring, apparently. 
-SPirit
Very nice and descriptive - we only heard from Belle in chapters 8-10, the point of view that has had the least exposure so far.
Badass Belle has returned.
Belle, no matter how much you try to fool yourself into believing it, no matter how many of her memories you may have, you are not, nor will you ever be, Rainbow Dash. You don't have wings! youre going to get yourself hurt
Ah, poor Belle. Just a wanderer in an empty land, filled with ponies she can't hope to interact with.
Reminds me of someone...
Oh well. I'm only, what? 3 and 3/4th books behind?
5609854 well hey, you're back. I wondered where you'd gone two weeks ago.
I do believe Mint Province is Minty/Mintelle/Misplaced Modifier's shout-out.
You need a ninja suit, Belle.
Oh, this will end well...
No way this isn't going to go smoothly
Answer: She would fly. Because she has wings. Hmmm... let's try a different approach.
Well I’ve got news for you
It's official. Belle has lost her marbles. Not taht she ever had many to begin with.
First thing in Eljunbyro we find that she is the subject of a psychological expirement.
Soon after, she begins to get her brain melted and slapped back together in patchwork memories.
THEN not to mention her unraveled levels of stress and screaming (how the hell is her voice still in tact?)
Then we have her beleieved death of her beloved, which is a major blw to her psyche. She's been cosbtant you oppressed, and then that turned into cosbtant anxiety.
Now, she's starved on top of all of the above past experiences, and following a magical glwoing book to the worst city on the plane.
She endures!