Belle trotted up the rear stairwell of the Noble Jury an hour later. The wind instantly pelted her face, causing a chill to run through her body. She trotted past Eagle Eye and Ebon Mane who were chatting along the port side railing.
“I think it’s a perfectly legitimate question!” Ebon Mane stammered. “And it depends on if you’re a country stallion or a city stallion!”
“I don’t see how it matters.” Eagle shrugged. “Where I end up staying is where I end up staying.”
“Well, would it kill ya to have some sort of personal outlook?” Ebon raised an eyebrow. “From what you’ve told me, you seem the small-town type.”
“I dunno.” Eagle shrugged. “From what little I saw of Blue Nova, I think life in a large city would be pretty snazzy.”
Ebon’s face twisted awkwardly. “EE, you were in that city for even less time than I was, and all I ever experienced was a frenzied imprisonment followed by an afternoon of explosions.”
“Yeah, but the skyscrapers were so pretty and shiny!”
“Unnnngh…” Ebon face hoofed. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”
“Doing what on purpose?”
As Bellesmith passed by, she patted Ebon on the shoulder and winked. “He is.”
Eagle pouted. “Doing what?”
“Once we’re way the heck out of the territory of these warring kingdoms, I’m going to find myself a nice quiet trading post to settle in,” Ebon said. “A lot like Archer Point! Only… y’know… maybe a little less of the twenty-four-seven smiles.”
“Why’re you telling me this?”
“Oh… uhm… you know…” Ebon shrugged. “So that you wouldn’t feel uncomfortable if ever you decided to… to…”
Eagle raised an eyebrow.
Ebon cleared his throat and pronounced, “Visit.”
“Oh… visit…”
“Er… yeah…”
“I can’t imagine you’ll be lonely.” Eagle smiled. “Wherever you’re headed, you’re gonna have Propsy around, aren’t you?”
Ebon blinked.
“Well, aren’t ya?”
With a dull sigh, Ebon turned about-face and trotted towards the stairwell. “Now I know you’re doing it on purpose.”
“Buh?”
“Excuse me. I got some tomatoes to slice for tonight’s salad.”
Eagle remained standing along the edge of the ship, staring out at the passing mountains.
“Those! Those right there!” Josho exclaimed, pointing out at the snowy peaks towards the distant north. He stood close besides Kera and Pilate as the wind blew at their manes. “I have a manaphot of that back at Green Slope. Well, I did. Now it’s probably faded… or confiscated on behalf of the Council of Ledo since I became a ‘turncoat.’”
“What’s so special about that mountain?” Kera asked.
“It was the sight of a big friggin’ air battle--over fifty years ago! Back when massive atmospheric deployment was a rare thing for both sides.” Josho took a deep breath. “It’s a battle that Ledo won. Many coins had the mountain illustrated as a mark of the victory. Morning Star Point.”
“Oh… yes…” Belle exhaled as she stood by her beloved. “I… I-I do believe I have seen a coin or two like that!”
“Yeah. The new mint did away with the old Confederate bits.” Josho scuffled his hoof across the deck. “It was hard to celebrate the victory over a mountain when the enemy won it over within a decade and held it for nearly forty years.”
“It’s amazing to see it with the naked eye,” Belle said, shaking her head. “I’m trying to envision that quiet, solemn, unsuspecting mountain covered with zeppelins.”
Pilate smirked. “I’m trying to envision it, period.”
Belle rolled her eyes and leaned over to nuzzle him. “Oh, beloved.”
Pilate smiled and said, “I do appreciate the quiet here. I imagine the clouds themselves are stiller than ice.”
Kera smirked. “You imagine right.”
Pilate glanced at Belle. “How’s Rainbow?”
“Hmmmm…” Belle exhaled calmly. “Dead asleep. Almost as calm as the truest sense.”
“I can’t think that she’ll wake up with too pleasant of a head.”
“I doubt she’ll need much of a reason to fly, where we’re headed,” Josho remarked. “Coming from a pony who’s used to hangovers, I can vouch for her.”
“Well put, Mr. Josho,” Belle said, clearing her throat. “No need to elaborate any further.”
“We’re headed to Lerris, aren’t we?” Kera blurted.
Belle’s pupils shrank. Pilate had to lean on her to keep from pratfalling.
Josho stood dead-still, his eyes darting between the foster ponies and their filly.
Kera looked up, eyes calm as jaded emeralds. “My home town? In the middle of the valley?”
“Kera, darling, you have to understand.” Belle smiled awkwardly. “Just because we’re flying over Xonan occupied territory doesn’t mean--”
Pilate rested his hoof on Belle’s shoulder. The mare bit her lip and hung her head.
With a deep breath, Pilate said, “Yes, Kera. We are headed to Lerris. It was my decision.”
Kera slowly nodded. “I see…”
“Do you know why we’re headed there?” Pilate asked.
The filly opened her mouth, hesitated, and ultimately said, “I don’t know.”
“We assure you that it’s not because we wish to be rid of you,” Pilate said, causing Belle to shudder slightly. “As a matter of fact, we love you very dearly, Kera, and we’re more than happy to take care of you for the extent of our voyage. At the same time, I felt--and most of us mutually agreed--that you deserved to see the town with your very own eyes before we pass it altogether.”
“Because I grew up there, and there are ponies around who may have known my parents when they were alive.” Kera nodded again. “Yeah, I can get it. How about I ask you something?”
Pilate stood still. Ultimately, he blurted, “Ask anything.”
“How did you think I was gonna react, that made you felt like you had to keep it like some sort of big bad secret from me?”
Pilate tilted his head in her direction. He hugged Belle close with his arm. “I don’t know.”
Kera’s eyes narrowed. After a few seconds passed, she gazed out upon the passing scenery.
“If you don’t mind my asking…” Pilate said. “...would you care to tell us how you figured out we were headed there?”
Kera looked at him.
Hours earlier…
“What else could it possibly mean?!” Kera stamped her hooves as her eyes grew glossy. “They wanna get rid of me!”
“That isn’t true…”
“Yes it is!” her voice cracked, reverberating off the wooden exterior to Archer Point’s town hall. “I’m too much of a burden to them! They hate Xonans, grasshoppers, and bushy hair! Of course they’d be happy to get rid of me!”
“If you were not precious to them, why did they agree to let Rainbow Dash--their best friend and most trusted pony on this earth--leave on a treacherous voyage to rescue your flank from Herald, Nightshade, and the Xonans?”
“It’s… it’s never about me!” Kera grunted, folding her forelimbs as she stared across the dirt road down the center of the village. “It’s always about Rainbow Dash!”
“Kera…”
“If I had feathers and a vomit-colored mane, they’d not want to get rid of me!”
“Kera, they are weak ponies.”
Despite Kera’s angry disposition, she flinched at that.
“They are weak and they are frightened easily. If they were on their own, they’d be dead within days.”
“Don’t… d-don’t say that!” Kera sniffled, turning to frown over her shoulder. “Pilate’s s-super smart, and Belle can kick major flank when she wants to! I’ve seen it!”
“Then why do they act as if they forget it? Every single day? Why do they depend on Rainbow and Floydien and Props so much?”
The filly bit her lip.
“They’re victims of their own pasts. They’ve learned to cling to the affection of others, and that is the only way they know how to exist. Rainbow Dash has cemented this, and the only reason it hasn’t proven disastrous for anypony is because Rainbow herself is in the position to have ponies who want or need her right now. But she’s not alone. Pilate and Belle need somepony, and that pony is you.”
Kera bit her lip. “Need me… but… how? I’m not a strong pony…”
“It’s taken me a while to understand that what you stand for is as easily important as what you do. Someday, Pilate and Belle are going to have to split from Rainbow Dash. Hell, that day will come sooner than later. The problem is, none of them are ready for this dark decision. For Pilate and Belle, this means a great deal of heartache. But for Rainbow Dash, it means a lot more. Forming attachments and loyalties is the very crux of her being. And if she someday collapses from not being able to hold herself up, then it’ll prove a tragic thing not just for her--but for the entire world that she is inadvertently trying to save.”
“I don’t get it…” Kera wiped her chin as tears bubbled up. “What do I have to do with any of this?”
“Do you or do you not believe that you are Eljunbyro?”
The filly took a deep breath--shuddering--and said. “I do.”
“Kera, listen to me. This journey was never meant for you. It was never meant for Pilate or Belle either. The journey has been and shall always be Rainbow Dash’s. Sooner than later, she will have no choice but to become the amazing warrior I first witnessed her to be. When that time comes, it will be up for Belle and Pilate to let go of her. Only then will she know that she is once again alone in her task.”
“And what about Belle and Pilate?” Kera sniffled. “What will give them strength?”
“Do you wish to know the truth?”
Kera nodded vigorously.
“Knowing where you stand.” A pause. “Kera, a time is coming--and it is coming soon--when we all must decide how far we are to go in this adventure. For you, that time is coming sooner. Now Pilate and Belle think that they are doing you a good thing by not exposing you to the nature of our next stop. I do not agree with them. I think they are taking the easy way out of confronting you, because they’re too afraid of how angry and shocked and hurt that you will be.”
“Then… then what do I need to do?”
“You need to decide. And you need to make that decision firm. Do you stay in Lerris, and establish for yourself a life of peace and tranquility? Or do you pledge to stay by your new foster parents’ side, willing to suffer, hurt, and even die alongside them?”
“It… it can’t possibly be that bad…”
“Kera, look at me. And dry your eyes. Tears will not make the coming decision for you.”
Wincing, the filly did just that, gazing up at the mare’s face.
Roarke stepped forward, placing a hoof on the little pony’s shoulder. “What lies beyond the frozen sea is unknown, with the constant threat of shape-shifting evil waiting to prey on us.”
“But… but…” Kera bit her lip. “They all flew away, right? The big bug ponies? Rainbow scared them away.”
Roarke slowly shook her head. “No, Kera. Those creatures are more dangerous now than ever before.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because what nopony on board the Noble Jury will own up to is the fact that they can now be any one of us at any time.”
Kera gasped sharply, her eyes twitching.
“And when the time comes that these monsters decide to reveal itself…” Roarke’s lenses pistoned out. “You need to be strong enough to give your life for the ponies you care for… or else you shouldn’t be there at all.”
Kera stared and stared. She blinked, turned aside, and answered Pilate.
“Eh… it’s the mountains…”
She shrugged.
“Especially with how Josho was describing them and all.” She smiled faintly. “I recognized them. After all… I’m home.”
Every time I think about Pilate and Belle leaving Rainbow Dash. I get a sad.
I called it a LONG time ago(that Roarke would and later did blab it)... I think Roarke really does respect Kera -- second only to Dash on the NJ.
Goody, Rainbow Dash is doomed to eventually travel alone once again.
I'm so looking forward to that day, there'll be so much joy from everyone.
Wow...never would have I expected such a deep conversation from Roarke of all ponies.
I bet it must've killed her a little inside to not let slip the "b-word" when talking about the stallions in the crew.
...Or could that just all be a facade? A tough act? Perhaps she cares a lot more about everyone than she's willing to let on...
Either way, Roarke is further cemented as one of my favorite characters in this story.
Hmm. Is Ebon, in fact, a changeling? That escaped Rainbow's blast because he wasn't hell bent on trickery like the rest?
Or something!
They all may have to part ways at some point, but you'll be damn sure every second they spend together will be enough to last them for a lifetime.
Well, if the tension between RD and Roarke doesn't make the Noble Jury collapse, the one between Ebon and EE will.
Roarke? You did good.
Roarke most wise.
I for one wouldn't have minded if the Roarke/Kera friendship was expanded on before it all ends. (That sounded far less awkward in my head.)
I want the Eagle/Ebon ship to sail solely on the chance that we'll get to see Josho give a "dad talk" to Ebon.
Also, they're adorable.
Quiet times are quiet, and truths hit hard.
3877533 This is the theory I'm subscribing too - that he was far enough away not to be affected.
Also, damn Kera. I hope you make the right decision, filly.
Damn, Roarke. When did you become a font of wisdom?
3877673 I hope she does too. I just don't know what it is yet. I know what I want to to be, but that doesn't mean it's the right decision.
I am surprised that, apparently, Rainbow Dash will be leaving the Noble Jury sooner rather than later. It'll be interesting to see how that works out.
I am sure that Kera will stick with Belle and Pilate, whether they take their leave in Lerris or not. If Rainbow leaves in Lerris, it would be quite a shock to me, but the story seems to be building up to it.
Whelp, I'm caught up. Greetings, all. I've been speaking to your shadows on the lonely path behind you for the better part of two months.
Also, I owe Roarke an apology. She's more honest than I had expected. I guess I know what Dash sees in her after all.
Damn, Roarke's getting all philosophical. And Kera's sort of acting like she's made her decision already. Problem is, with Shell still unaccounted for, I wonder whether she'll have much of a choice at all, in the end. Also, the prospect of one of the crew members being replaced with a changeling raises a lot of interesting possibilities. I can almost envision the next installment in the series reading like a Pynchon-esque voyage through the arctic, wherein paranoia begins to fester away in the Jury members and loyalty is put to a deeper test.
Also, I'm not even sure they need the magical book at this point. They have all the ship-fuel they could ever need with the EE/Ebon interactions.
Always trust auntie Roarke to be the voice of reason and the unknown carer.
Changelings...Kera has to stay,if she doesn't then one of them will take her form and "reunite" with the Jury,bawling about how she made the wrong choice and wants to stay with them.
Damn, Roarke. You seem to know a bunch.
3877497
Dead mares regrets?
What Element did Roarke display here? Who was the bearer of said Element?
Congratulations, Roarke. You're the new Applejack. Now kiss.
And then EbonEye. So painfully obvious and oblivious.
~Basso
Roarke most Rare, indeed.
She is a bad pony, yet she is not.
When her death comes, I hope it's quick. She deserves that much.
So, why would Ebon visit EE.
...
Oh!
So then... Ebon Mane...
Oh!
Oooooooooooohhhhhhh...
I'm going to call "Shell" and see when I'm going to get it right.
Starting now
Shell is running towards Lerris, or Archer Point
3878792
What, death? Don't even think about it. We don't want to give him ideas.
I keep wanting to draw the ships in this story, but every time I think about it I am convinced it would be a waste of time. I am not a great artist. However this story has improved my writing just by reading it, I wonder what else it could improve.
...oh god...Ebon has been writing to his mother...Ebon is short of Ebony...he's a changling isn't he. Maybe an outcast changling but he's one of them I'll bet.
3878013
Welcome to the Noble Jury. Always glad to see another reader finally catch up!
ebon and eagle. cute! roarke really is an awesome character man, in her way I kno she cares for the jury and crew. she's also super in love with rainbow.
So many brittle shells, always at the verge of breaking.
Even at her wisest, Roarke is still a fool.
Guys...
I think Ebon might be gay.
Got a lot of insight into Roarke's personality here.
Her supposed disdain of the other Jury members makes a lot more sense. It's evident that she denies herself their friendship, believing it to be weakness, despite the blatant fact she cares deeply for all of them, and a lot more than she is willing to show.
Just look at how she handled the death of Imre. I suspect she is in denial over the whole friendship thing.
It's also interesting to learn about how she sees Rainbow. She wants her to leave behind her friendship and become a warrior, hence explaining why she is only receptive when Rainbow is violent - especially to her. I think all of us know that's not what she really wants, but she's willing to forsake that as she believes it detrimental to Rainbow's quest.
Bah. I've really got to learn how to analyse concisely.
3879428 Thanks!
Seriously though, I've re-read through all of Innavedr since her introduction, and I can't find any references to Madame Nightshade's body or mane color (though I assume both are graying). Her eyes are indigo.
Oh Roarke, when are you going to admit to yourself that you belong here?
knew it was Roarke
when did she get all philosophical?
Sad as the prospect of leaving Pilate, Belle and Kera behind, Roarke has a very good point.
They are not fighters, they are not explorers. If anything, they're parents and a kid. Marching on towards near certain doom is probably not the best choice they can make.
On a higher note: d'awww, Ebon has a Crush....
I dont want the party of awsome to split up...
God damn I love roarke, how she put it was just.. Wow. She has come so far after meeting rainbow.
By far my favort pony
And here I wait for dashie76 to catch up, I really do miss the evaluations. I just had extra time today so read on.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
(Edit:Rant incoming, I apologize in advance.)
Wuh.
Um.
Hold on.
Kera is Eljunyro now?
...
No.
Nope.
Nope nope nope nope nope SO MUCH NOPE. Do you understand what this means? The entire point of the story Eljunbyro was that Belle and Pilate were Eljunbyro, the ones who would give the wind to Austraeoh's wings. And now, seemingly for the sake of having a twist, Imploding is going to discredit ALL of that?
ELJUNBYRO IS MEANT TO GIVE THE WIND TO AUSTRAEOH'S WINGS.
THAT'S WHAT BELLE AND PILATE DID.
THIS ISN'T THEORETICAL PHYSICS, PEOPLE.
Why? Why would Imploding do this? The CLEAR intent of this chapter is clearly to impose feels upon the reader by showing a tough decision moment with Kera. THIS IS AT THE EXPENSE OF THE ENTIRE SECOND STORY ON THE SAGA.
You know what? I've been lying to myself this whole time.
This series has become lazy.
It has become feels, morals, and action. That is it. Cookie cutter. That is literally it. Not only did Eljunbyro comPLETEly contradict Austraeoh's feel of a solitary journey, but beyond that, the series slowly became a mess of static, predictable characters WHO ARE INTERESTING WHEN YOU FIRST SEE THEM BUT NOT THE HUNDREDTH TIME.
I'm Roarke, a tough bounty hunter who cares about Dash deep down. I'm going to be a tough bounty hunter who cares about Dash deep down for the rest of the series.
I'm Zaid. The author didn't even try with me. I'm zany, yet predictable, and I'm going to be zany and predictable for the rest of the journey.
And you know what? I don't even have a problem with Dash traveling with friends. But WHY THE FUCK DID IT HAVE TO TAKE SO LONG TO GET GOING AGAIN? IMPLODING HAS WROTTEN DASH TO BE SO FUCKING CLINGY AND DEPRESSED THAT SHE CAN'T WALK FIVE FUCKING FEET WITHOUT SAYING "HEY, A NEW FRIEND! WANNA BE A NOBLE JUROR?"
I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT! I DON'T THINK EVEN IMPLODING KNEW WHEN HE WROTE THIS! "SHIT! DASH IS GOING SOMEWHERE NEW! I FORGOT HOW TO WRITE ABOUT INTRIGUING, COOL, UNIQUE ADVENTURES!"
BTW YOU CAN'T WRITE GOOD ADVENTURES WITH BAD, STATIC CHARACTERS. I SERIOUSLY WANT TO KNOW HOW BAD YOU FUCK UP THE NEXT PLACE THEY GO TO! LERRIS DOESN'T COUNT BECAUSE WE'VE KNOWN ABOUT THAT FOR A WHILE! THE NEXTNEW FUCKING PLACE THAT THEY GO TO! THE PLACE THAT THE READER DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT UNTIL THE CHARACTERS - SHOCKING, I KNOW - GET THERE AND EXPLORE IT FOR THEMSELVES! I WAMT TO KNOW HOW BAD YOU'LL FUCK IT UP, IMPLODING. I WANT TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
...
...
...
...
...<deep breath>...
These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S.
3907867 Here's your evaluation, I guess...I'll catch up soon, I promise.
This changeling arc is going to be terrorifying.
4045569 dude calm the blueberry fucks down.
4045569
You know, I think the point is that Eljunbyro doesn't just refer to Belle and Pilate getting Rainbow out of Blue Shelf; it's much more than that. It used to just be them, but that's because they were Dash's only friends. In my opinion, Eljunbyro is about all the Jurists, and how they not only brought the wind to her wings and let her soar again, but are also keeping her aloft.
Also, remember that we still don't know the exact meaning of Eljunbyro – let alone Innavedr or Odrsjot – and neither do the characters. This is all just speculation. You don't need to throw a tantrum over it.
Dash can't be alone again... Kera, please stay...
-Spirit
4045569
You know what? Hells yes. That's some passion right there.
The whole "Kera is the new Eljunbyro" kind of irks me too.
But then again, nothing was ever set in stone that Belle and Pilate were ever the actual Eljunbyro.
They just kinda assumed they were, and rolled with it.
Sure they got Rainbow rolling again, but as far as any magical flame business, they really didn't do anything.
Kera's ability to use Odrsjot was much more convincing.
But if it's going to be some lame cop-out like, "Eljunbyro was the magic of friendship all along!" or something lame like that, I'm going to be disappointed.
Let's be real though. Imploding Colon is way better than that.
Now back to what's really important.
Where the hell is Shell hiding?
im sure she meant well, but i cant help but think otherwise.
i have very strong feelings about roarke personally (ponilly?) talking to kera about this.
i cant decide to go with the good or the bad/suspicious though.
good:
atta girl roarke. youre not as afraid of keras feelings as belle and pilate are and decided to take charge explaining the reality of this choice to kera. and you did it expertly well too!
bad/suspicious:
Roarke, you better be explaining this right. You better be damn sure Kera fully understands the magnitude of the choice she has to make. dont fuck this up. cause this "kera is eljunbyro" bullshit has dropped my trust in you by a bit. but a bit more than id like...
Roarke was . . . actually pretty awesome here. She is looking out for Kera, and I almost didn't expect Roarke to say anything. With this being said, I think Ebon and EE's relationship is . . . interesting.
>Kera is Eljunbryo
>already established as Innavedr
[apprehension]
So apparently Eljunbyro isn't a set thing, it's just whoever happens to keep Dash powering along. Which means the Herald could have been if they didn't cock it up with her at first meeting.
Also, what the hell was Innavedr then? Was it general friends, or the book, or what? We figured out Odrsjot, and Urohingr is the Ring if Belle's sequence with the foals was any indication.
I think what they find in Lerris may make it very difficult for Kera to stay with the group, but she'll ultimately decide to.
Roarke most rare indeed, i always imagined her stepping over her shadow in private situations like this where she actually feels the need to be her true self.
Well, that was a surprising bit of a deep talk by Roarke. Things are gonna get intense before long, I just know it.
~SolidFire
Wait, is this ship actually seaworthy?