With a shrug of his feathery shoulders, Wildcard dumped the guard's body onto the stone floor of the Southern Hoof's Armory. He pivoted around—then froze in place. His head lifted, the mercenary's beak opening slowly while glittering gold metals reflected off his lenses.
All across the chamber, stacks upon stacks of shiny trinkets and jewels lay on neatly-arranged shelves. One particular rack held multiple fin-cuffs studded with rubies and sapphires, and another lattice was draped over with all manner of shiny platinum necklaces.
“As you can see,” Remna slurred, his eyes piercing bright green as he shuffled ahead. “We have a lovely view of the Shoggothian Abyss.” He gestured past a thin metal grate to where a telekinetic wall of water loomed. The henchstallion pivoted to the left. “Over there you'll find some deep sea swimming suits. Next to it is a control valve that'll open the grate.” He then pivoted to the right. “And on this side you can find several illegally pilfered bits of royal trinkets from the upper tombs of the Royal Sirens.” His ears twitched. “I like potatoes,” he droned.
“Holy hell biscuits,” Bard whistled, gawking at the array of gold items. “So these sons of bitches have been robbing from the Princess' dead relatives all this time?”
“Uh huh.” Rainbow squirmed. “Would you mind freeing 'Echo' from these binds, now?”
Wildcard reached in, assisting the stallion as both Desperadoes undid Rainbow's bindings. “Land's sakes...” Bard shook his head with a dumb grin. “Bet the only reason they've stayed on top of their game is 'cuz they've been pawning off the sea ponies' artifacts to the black market all this time.” He turned and kindly helped the mare to the floor. “Screw mercenaryin'. Reckon we're in the wrong business, Dubya-Cee?”
Wildcard shrugged.
“Well, we're about to put a stop to all of this horse hockey,” Rainbow Dash said, twirling to face the others. “You brought the stuff, bright eyes?”
Wildcard nodded. He reached into his satchel, produced Theanim's camera, then handed it over to Rainbow Dash.
“We take several pictures for evidence...” Rainbow squatted down low, taking snap after snap of the aforementioned shots. “I carry this camera in and out of the Next Seed...” She pivoted and took more shots of the opposite side of the Armory. “I rendezvous with the Doc right as he's laying the smackdown on the Syndicate before the Marine Auction House...” She lowered the camera, smiling. “...and once this stuff is developed, then the Southern Hoof won't have a leg to stand on.”
“Or a flipper to swim on,” Bard said with a smirk.
“Boom. Done.” Rainbow pumped a hoof in the air. “Both halves of the Syndicate are obliterated during the course of a weekend.” She grinned proudly. “How's that for making history?”
“I once peed in the seaponies' drinking water,” Remna drooled.
Bard pointed at the eye-glowing guard. “Kinda makes ya wonder why Her Highness hasn't tried to pull the roots out from under the Bad Guy Tree to begin with.”
Wildcard nodded.
“Well, she's never had an opportunity like this before!” Rainbow said. “Imagine if she had tried this before we came along! What—would she send in one of her very own guards to get a brain-controlled escort into the Stronghold? These punks would see right through that in an instant!” Rainbow shook her head, sliding the camera into a water-proof pouch within her saddlebag. “Besides, the Northern Hoof would just come and bail them out. But us? We already did half of the work for her. Plus, Theanim's got leverage, and he's about to lay the hammer down.”
“Nah, I dun think it's like that one bit.” Bard smirked, pointing at the pegasus. “Camellia sees somethin' special in you. Reckon it's the same dayum thang that makes Theanim stick around yer feisty keister.”
“Yeah, well, he won't have to stick around it for long,” Rainbow Dash said, zipping and folding her bags up. “In fact, none of you have to.” She gestured at Remna. “Ask Whinny Flankspeare here. He's bound to show you the way to a stash of Syndicate bars.”
Green flickering eyes. “Panties.”
“And me? Once I've taken my dip into the Royal Tomb and dropped the camera off with Theanim, it's on to my next destination.” Rainbow paused to give a shuddering sigh. “Rohbredden Proper, I bet.”
Bard and Wildcard exchanged glances, then looked at her. “Ya dun say...”
“I do.” Rainbow suddenly jerked, glancing to her left. She smiled. “Good eye, Rarity.” She galloped over towards an equipment locker and flung it open. There, several slick, pressurized jumpsuits of blue and gold rested. “Awesome. There's enough for all of us.” She tapped a group of mana-powered oxygen tanks. “Are they full of air, Twilight?” A pause. Rainbow eventually exhaled with relief. “Alright...” She looked over her shoulder. “I'd better get going. If I were you, I wouldn't stick around for very long either. Judging from when Camellia first warned me about Revan, the Northern Hoof's boss should be here any moment now. I doubt you wanna be around for when he shows up.” She reached over and jerked the lever.
With a loud buzz, the metal grate in front of the magic water wall slowly opened up, exposing the chamber to the ocean's floor immediately outside.
“Especially someplace this deep down,” Rainbow said.
“Uhhhh...” Bard adjusted his hat. “Y'know, darlin', we've been thinkin' about that.”
“Uh huh...” Rainbow yanked the first watertight outfit down and started fishing around for the opening.
“And, the way we figure it, t'ain't no good swimmin' underwater with a heapin' bunch of metal bars strapped to our drawers.” Bard leaned back with a smile. “After all, we'd just slow you down.”
Rainbow Dash froze. She tilted her head up, muzzle agape. “What... what do you mean?”
“I mean we're comin' with you, ya silly varmint,” Bard said.
Wildcard nodded emphatically.
Rainbow arched an eyebrow. “...you're kidding me, right?”
“Not the last time I checked.”
“Dudes...” Rainbow dropped the diving suit so she could gesture. “The place I'm heading to is super deep, super dark, super dank, and super dangerous.”
“And since when did that stop you?”
“But you forget! I'm me!” Rainbow frowned and pointed at them. “And you're you!”
Wildcard and Bard exchanged glances. “We... got that part. For sure.” They looked at her again. “But the way we sees it, ya did a mighty fine job gettin' us rich up in Rust. Why, thanks to you, we have several thousand bits worth of platinum bars waitin' for us all stashed away'n'pretty in that underwater hotel. Hell, once we get back from Camellia's tomb, we can go fetch the fortune all the same!”
“If we make it back,” Rainbow growled. “Camellia's only able to protect us so far, guys. She's only able to protect me so far!” She gestured. “And while I may not know what'll be waiting for me at the shrine, I've got a pretty good clue.” She gulped. “And it's not going to be pretty.”
“Who says doin' the right thang has gotta be pretty?”
“Huh?”
Bard gestured at Wildcard. “You done saved Dubya-Cee's life.” While the griffon nodded, Bard bowed and said: “And I just can't get him to shuddup about payin' ya back most kindly.” He stood up straight with a smile. “Figured if gettin' ya to where you need to go is our way of gettin' even, then—shiet... why the hell not?”
“For Pete's sake!” Rainbow's voice cracked. “I... I-I just don't get you two!” Her face hung between a smirk and a grimace. “Are you mercenaries or are you knights in shining armor?”
“We're the Desperadoes,” Bard said, grinning warmly. “And there ain't no gettin' off this train we're on.” Wildcard punched his metal palm with his fist.
Rainbow sighed, ears folding. “... ... ...well, I really don't have the time to make a fuss about it, I guess.”
“Damn skippy.”
“But if we're going to do this, then we're going to do it my way,” Rainbow said assertively. “And that means you follow my lead.”
Bard saluted. “Just point, click, and we're there, darlin'!”
“Seapony songs can't melt steel beams,” Remna burped.
“Awwww shut up.”
Out of all the random droning wordphrases, this one cracked me up the most.
I like Remna. He seems like my kind of guy .
Aside from peeing in the drinking water, that's not cool bro.
But hey, he likes potatoes, so he's got that going for him.
Remna's fried. After Camellia's done in there, he'll be lucky to have any of his faculties in check I bet.
Dash really? After how you were blinded by Yaerfaerda while getting Rar back, having another pair of eyes around would be most helpful. Especially if it's going to be a repeat thing.
Especially eyes that can see in the dark.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Renma is a simple man with simple tastes.
Speaking of taste, those poor seaponies...
Who says they can't be both?
''9/11 was a progressive event.''
''Hitler was right.''
''Communism is good for everypony.''
''Donald Trot for president.''
''The N-word.''
- Remna
Why do I get the feeling that one reason Wildcard is so keen on helping Rainbow Dash is because he sees an ample opportunity to ''restore his honor'' and gain back Wyverns' favor?
Potatoes go great with grave robbing!
Those too.
I have the weirdest feeling that these thoughts are coming from Camellia.
Hey, its that song. Snazzy
Remna seems less coherent with every passing moment. Now what I wonder is if that's because the princess' control over him is flagging, or if she's just screwing with Dash and the others. Also, Dash keeping her present company at a distance is kind of a theme this arc. She clearly doesn't want a repeat of her separation from the Jury. Somehow doubt it's going to work out that way.
Couldn't she have just put him into sleep mode?
6338054
I like trains.
Did someone mention the wrong reference last time?
My good sir, I bet you that distilled dealing song can in fact, melt steel beams with its pure annoyance. So annoying, that the molecules composing the beam will simply melt in a desperate attempt to flee.
Also, good to see my question last time about why Camelia never mind controlled a guard before was answered mostly satisfactorily (I thought the Hooves weren't on super friendly terms with one another, and wouldn't be giving each other bailouts).
Ynanhluutr, now with 20% more memes!
This seems a little too convenient, they're given a means to escape the bad guy and take it right as the bad guy is about to show up? Where's the narrow escape from Shell 2.0 to build the suspense?
6338108
A good question, I assumed it was that forcefully dominating the mind of another degrades the mind of the one being controlled, but having there being a timelimit would make sense as well. I don't think she's messing with Dash and the others as she hasn't seemed to be the type for pranks. She seems too business to me for such things.
6338393
He hasn't met Pinkie Pie yet.
6338393 They may not be friendly, but it's likely in the best interest of each branch of the Syndicate to keep the others afloat so that they can maintain their control over the region. I guess we won't know for sure until Revan and Jeryn talk it over, though.
data.whicdn.com/images/3823319/thumb.png
6338403
I suppose another possibility is that there's something inside the vault that's interfering with Camellia's magical/psionic signal. I tend to think the most serene or serious personalities can hide the most prankster tendencies, but maybe that's my view of Celestia creeping in.
1.bp.blogspot.com/-3MboPBfvZLU/U2Ajq9A7zDI/AAAAAAAAAbY/3mozkgxOBRE/s1600/800px-Paris_Tuileries_Garden_Facepalm_statue.jpg
You know I was thinking Austraeoh would make a great strategy game - nope, not point and click. Might as well think about writing voiceovers for characters.
What about that whole voicing characters thing anyway? Didn't we have something ongoing there?
6338658 I think it'd make a pretty good graphic adventure game.
or Visual novels with better graphics, as I like to think of them as.
What does "drinking water" mean for aquatic beings anyway?
So if Jeryn's little game gets rumbled and he ends up biting an already-pissed Revan's head off for failing to stop the band of harmonic desperadoes from reaching his turf/silt... Double Boss fight?
6338907 38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lco5mcXX981qaqps8o1_500.png
Theanime could make a fortune advertising for GoPro given where his camera has been and survived.
If theres enough suits for everyone, is there more than enough suits, and to give Revan a hard time, grab All the suits, drop the extras out the grate, then move them to a hidden ledge, maybe stuff them with the non siren treasure to keep them in place, and enter the dome at a different location, so that Revan and crew cant folow them first.. then again he couldnt be left in teh machine world if that happened, and go round the back and eneter the dome elsewhere as its all open, avoiding the ambush in the vault?
Im not very good at writing stories am I.
Things seem to be going waaay too easy for Dash and company. Even the relatively easy heist in Rust had a few setbacks along the way.
The tombs do seem somewhat ominous though. If there were a trap being set up for Rainbow the only possible place would be down there behind the barrier and away from Camellia's prying eyes.
6338393 Considering the personality types involved I doubt the two factions like each other, but depending upon how interconnected their trade and other activities are, one side might not be able to function without the other.
For example, I work for Honda, and during the recession in 2012 there was actually a good deal of concern coming from the higher ups that General Motors would collapse, even though they're one of our direct competitors. Since so many of the smaller independent parts suppliers produce parts for both companies, there was a very real chance that enough of them would have had to shut down from losing GM's business that it could have endangered our own supply chain.
Rainbow Dash and the Desperadoes are perfect examples of Kiith Manaan.
http://homeworld.wikia.com/wiki/Kiith_Manaan
I liked Remna's droning
So it looks like Rainbow will have company after all. I'm guessing these two are going to stick around for the long haul at this point.
I like this Kotor referencing.
But I do not approve of this escaping business; I must catch the Desperados, and soon.
Okay, so this might just go a bit quicker than I thought--even if the Northern Hoof catches up with them. After all, Rainbow's already getting to the Seed. I thought she would wait until after they'd finished the job. Either way, though, there won't be space to fit the next Seed. I suspect that there'll be a bit more coming related to this plot than we can see right now.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Stands
I put before this
houseforum the following proposal;That those of us here present, previously known as the Noble Jury and more recently as the Lunar Ninth, united in both our commitment to follow the East Horse and our shared hope that this train never find a station, do adopt for ourselves the collective term "Desperadoes" as a gesture of respect and admiration for two of the finest gentlecolts ever to grace this page or any other.
What say you, do I hear a second for this proposal ?
I also put forward the proposal that I'm making a damn fool of myself and should have remained seated. No trouble finding a second for that I'm guessing.
Just imagine Camellia brainstorming really really hard for more and more humorous things, and, frankly, failing horribly. Like the above quotes.
I KNEW IT ALL ALONG! 9/11 WAS A SEAPONIES JOB!
6340258 see I have this image in my head of her giggling like a schoolgirl the whole time. She's a princess, gotta be all prim and proper all the time, except for right now.
6339896
I like the spirit of the idea, but does it still apply if rainbow loses a member every time she gains a member?
If they keep the two mercs and Echo at least, then Desperadoes stick.
Camellia, what are you even on, girl
"Panties."
Braaaaaains... Braaains... Zombie mind controlled pony.
This should be interesting. I have a feeling that luck is gonna run out once Rainbow reaches the tomb, but maybe, just maybe they'll get away with it.
6340785 so basically underwater
The monster!
I wonder, seapones would not be able to wear those, would they? Those must be either some fascinating articles or completely useless junk. Most likely the second, if Camellia was trying to dig up dirt deep in his dirty mind.
6395271
I would suspect that the garbage information was escaping his mouth because part of the routine that keeps people compliant and thoughtless requires that they also be distracted, and chamilia(or whatever) put him in a daydreaming state. The things he says are being said because he likes them, which makes them excellent distractions.
But can jet fuel?
I wonder if the test will even let Bard and Wildcard through...
I... I got nothing. Reman said it all for me.
6340785 Now she is probably wondering why she doesn't do this more often.
6340785
That and Sushi Princess has been waiting since forever to do anything, but is burdened by the crown / position of power, so she couldn't do anything without serious repercussions. Now she has the perfect opportunity to act. I bet she's feeling higher than a coral huffer who's hit pay dirt.
“Seapony songs can't melt steel beams,”
WHYYYYYYYYYY
WHYY WOULD YOU DO DIIISSSSS??!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!??!
I love you Colon, but fuck you xC
Of all the things Camellia made him confess, this is clearly the most heinous.
The kotor reference was unexpected, but thouroughly enjoyed.
GODDAMN IT
Come on now IC, you’re better than that.
You and Props both, if memory serves.