“You're sure?” Nick glanced over at Theanim Mane, blinking. “They don't need these at all? Or want them?”
“Believe me, it's a lost cause,” Theanim said, strolling with him along the northwest shore of the southeast land strip. The blue lagoon of Nealend stretched to their left while they passed several wrecked ships, yachts, and rafts to their immediate right. “Several of these ships are wrecked beyond compare. If the fabled Ultimo didn't do it, then the coral shoals certainly did.”
“Yeesh.” Nick clenched his teeth. “I feel my insides ripping away just looking at most of these.”
“Undoubtedly it's your inner admiral sobbing his eyes out.” Theanim smirked. “You have my condolences. But do not worry. Several of my kinsfolk here have gotten over the tragic stab of seeing their blessed vessels rip asunder. In fact, a good deal of them have adjusted almost too well to life aboard the Atoll. Hrmmmm... I suppose there's something rustic about the local populace that's ever remotely addicting.”
“Hey!” Nick pointed at a mostly intact blue yacht leaning on its side with a bent mast. “This one's hardly beat up at all! I bet I could strip the entire starboard hull for—”
“Don't you dare!” Theanim hissed, teeth gnashing. Upon seeing Nick flinch, the stallion sighed and straightened his bangs in the hot sun. “I... ahem... would greatly desire you to spare that one.”
“Erm... why?” Nick blinked. “I thought you said it was all a 'lost cause—'”
“Perhaps. But I, among a few others, cling to the scant hope that we can still get off this forsaken strip of land,” Theanim grumbled.
Nick squinted at the blue yacht, then back at Theanim. “What... is this yours?”
“Indubitably.”
“She's pretty!”
“She is merely a product of proper ingenuity and seaponyship!” Theanim said. “I've used this vessel for utility and nothing more. Please... I'd rather personify the Queen of All things by whose providence I depend to get off this coral ring.”
“Heeheehee... you say that, and yet you named the thing!” Nick brushed his hoof past the painted bow, blinking at the words. “...'The Midnight Dreary?'”
“Mrmmmffff...” Theanim sighed long and hard. “I figured giving it an uninspiring name would... bring it luck.”
“Well, I like it!” Nick smiled. “And once Rainbow kicks the ever-loving tail out of Ultimo, I'll be more than happy to help you get her back in tip top shape!”
“Erm... yes...” Theanim fumbled with his camera bag. “About that...”
FWOOSH! “Hey, kiddo.” Rainbow Dash landed, sweating from the heated flight it took to get there. “I just spoke with Flare and Kaji. They've agreed to do a few flyby's of the northern strips. According to them, they might know a few vines they can strip to help you in making new rope for the Swan Song's reconstruction.”
“Hey! Sweet!” Nick smiled. “But... like... aren't they gonna be busy helping you track down Ultimo?”
“Erm... according to the Nealenders, the hunt is best done in the afternoon,” Rainbow said. “Something about the angle of the sunlight bringing out the wrath in Verlaxion's nemeses.”
“Yes, quite an ancient bit of foreknowledge,” Theanim spoke up, not making eye contact with the pegasus. “As an avatar of the Queen herself, you'd surely know this.”
Rainbow Dash blinked at him.
Nick spoke up: “Mr. Mane here has told me that it's open season on stripping these ships for a new hull.” He fidgeted slightly. “Well... most of these ships. I figured I'd get started.” He cracked his joints with a smirk. “If nothing else, it'll keep me from having to stick around the village and listen to Sinrar run his mouth.”
“Er... yeah...” Rainbow Dash nodded awkwardly, her eyes locked on Theanim. “You do that.”
“Say... uh... does this mean that Flare will be delivering some of the jungle's vines here herself?”
“Mmmmm...” Rainbow glanced over. “What?”
“Oh... uh... n-nothing!” Nick cleared his throat, blushing slightly. “I'm... uh... g-gonna go salvage!” He pointed, trotting off. “Over here. In the... erm... Salvage Zone. Yeah.”
As the young stallion trotted away, Twilight Sparkle floated down to the ground beside Twilight. “He should quit while he's ahead.”
Rainbow muttered, “Hey, girl, a carrot on a stick is a carrot on a stick.”
Twilight giggled.
“Surely you're not offering prayers to Verlaxion,” Theanim remarked.
Rainbow looked over at him. “Sorry?”
“Unless you have a habit of talking to voices in your head.” The stallion smiled, adjusting the goggles over his mane. “So much time in the sun can make you do strange things.” His eyes narrowed. “Sometimes obtuse things.”
“Okay... just spit it out already.” Rainbow sighed, plopping her haunches down in the sand. “You're not too big a fan of the speech I gave this morning.”
“You're asking me if I'm a fan of perfect strangers attempting to speak on behalf of our Goddess supreme without a single act of faith to show for it?” Theanim shook his head. “No, Miss Dash, I am not.”
“Hey, the Nealenders enjoy hunting Ultimo.” Rainbow shrugged. “So what if I gave them a bit more of an incentive?”
“You may be able to win over an island full of sun-stroked foals, Miss Dash, but you can't so easily impress me.” Theanim's eyes narrowed. “Not all of the children of Verlaxion are so easily persuaded. But that doesn't matter to you, does it?” He gestured at the lagoon. “Because now you have a bunch of minions to assist you in your pursuits... no matter how catastrophically suicidal.”
“Pffft!” Rainbow Dash made a face. “Suicidal?! Come on, dude...”
“He's making a valid point, Rainbow,” Twilight said.
“Oh stuff it, egghead.”
Theanim did a double-take. “I beg your pardon?”
“Er... not you, egghead—I mean... the other egghead... I-I mean...!” Rainbow gripped her head. “Grrrrrgghhh!”
Theanim blinked with concern. “Miss Dash... are you quite alright?”
“Okay... okay... listen...” Rainbow Dash looked up, gesturing with her hooves. “I just need the Nealenders to get me close enough to Ultimo so I can work my awesomeness. I'm throwing myself into harm's way. Not them. Isn't that obvious?”
“The only thing obvious about this situation, Miss Dash, is that I should have been paying more attention to you since you first arrived,” Theanim said. “At first, I was dismayed at the presence of two fresh Colonialists. But at least they've had the decency of leaving our trust in Verlaxion alone.”
“Look—it's not as big an issue as you think!”
“Hah!” Theanim grinned bitterly. “You tell me that. But how can I be so sure?”
Rainbow Dash leaned forward. “Mark my words. I am going to get rid of Ultimo. I am going to return that Shard to the Lagoon. And I'm going to make this happen with or without your Queen's blessing.”
“And what makes you think you're even capable, Miss Dash?” Theanim said. “With or without the Goddess' blessing, you're putting yourself up to a terribly daunting task.”
Rainbow opened her mouth to speak, but fumbled. She glanced aside, blinking in thought. At last, she spoke in a steady, low voice: “Has it ever occurred to you that getting stuff done in a world with a Goddess doesn't always depend on a Goddess?”
“What... are you saying, exactly?”
“You're a scientist, right?” Rainbow remarked. “Whether or not you serve Verlaxion, you're always struggling to prove and disprove stuff using your own devices, huh?”
“Well, yes...”
Rainbow smiled. “With or without a Goddess, the first thing you gotta have faith in is yourself. Maybe Verlaxion rules the seas. Maybe she doesn't. It matters little. If you gotta do something... friggin' do it, and make sure you know that you've got what it takes.”
Theanim gazed at her thoughtfully. “And when you commandeered the Nealenders' trust in Verlaxion... did you know that you had what it takes?”
“Like I said. I'm going to make this work.”
“And just what are you depending on?”
“Awesomeness. What else?” Rainbow Dash smirked. “If you doubt me, you can watch for yourself.”
“Funny you should say that.” Theanim managed a smile of his own. “Because I intend to do just that.”
Rainbow blinked. “Buh?”
He lifted his camera bag and said, “I've already asked Sora and Silver if I may join you ponies in the hunt. They've agreed. So, Miss Dash, I'll be sitting frontside with you as you take on the terrible beast of the Nealend Atoll.”
“You... uh....” Rainbow exchanged glances with Twilight, then looked back at the stallion. “You don't exactly strike me as a spearchucking type.”
“I take aim with a more permanent tool, Miss Dash.” He patted his camera bag and winked. “And, trust me, this will either do much good or much damage, depending on how your little excursion in this piece of paradise ends.”
Rainbow was silent.
Theanim bowed and said, “I do hope you enjoy Verlaxion's spotlight... while it lasts.”
2 000 000 words!
I'm just going to go ahead and ignore that chapter name.
NICK FOR ADMIRAL CONFIRMED
And Theanim gets to experience first-hoof the awesomeness that is Rainbow Dash. I don't expect it to remove his faith in Verlax as a goddess yet, considering the speech she just gave, but if he joins her, oh, he certainly will once they inevitably meet her.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Hmmm...I sense something a' brewing much farther down the line with Theanim...
Also, lol, silly Nick.
I bet that would make a nice memory book.
And thus, Nick's fleet begins. Be brave; be just!
As I pondered, weak and weary
over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore
while I pondered, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
as of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
'tis some visitor', I mumbled, 'entreating entrance at my chamber door.
only this, and nothing more.
5979332
Be looking like Frankenstein's wood shop.
"Have you heard the good news? Rainbow Dash died for your sins and rose again to battle sea monsters, Praise Verlax. Amen"
I need to sleep.
Sure. It worked for the Swan Song, right?
Oh, good... yellow news.
5979332
Your dreams ahve come true, mate.
Interesting...
so many possibilities and meanings with so little said.
I'm not sure whether I like Theanim yet, but I do like that he's not as blind as the rest. Curious to see where his character ends up.
Theanim seemed like an okay bloke, but now he's carrying an aura of slight haughtiness and overall unpleasantness. I guess you don't fuck with someone's faith like that.
Eh, be it as it may, 'cause it's fishing time!
5979341
images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/0/1/3/5/2/8/0/Rainbowdash_jesus-63339286637.jpeg
5979341
I can't find the original location of this, but:
i.imgur.com/uuDuWpn.jpg
I'm getting a weird vibe off of Theanim, and I don't think it's just him being annoying. This whole thing with him tagging along smells funny to me.
Also, I just realized who Nick reminds me of.
...I just realized I could write an awesome essay on how Rainbow is the Christ archetype.
F'naaaaa
She floated down to beside herself............wat
Hey, that was only that one time, and she was in a desert. Perfectly acceptable behavior.
Holy shit do you want her to fail at getting rid of the thing keeping you stranded on an island? This guy is really starting to worry me.
The multiplicity of Twilight
I guess Theanim Mane isn't going to be a permanent addition to a party. A shame, really, I liked his introduction. He just acts too contrary to the party's goals to seem like a protagonist to me.
I've decided that I highly dislike him.
Funny. I actually had a dream about this. I don't remember much about it, but the Nealenders were a lot smarter than everyone gave them credit for.
5979297
PARTY TIME!
I predict that the photos that Theanim takes, along with his interpretation of events after they leave the island will be a source of trouble for Rainbow on her journey to the rest of the seeds. Either by stirring up the locals by calling her anti-Verlaxion or drawing the attention of Verlaxion herself.
After all, Rainbow's at her best when she's got to win against all odds.
Is liking Theanim less and less and less. I do declare him...un-capital.
Not that scientists cannot be religious, but seriously, he credits absolutely errything to Verlax. I would like to see how an ice dragon managed to set herself up as a creation deity, because I don't believe ice is typically associated with creation.
For some reason, Im thinking of the scene in Naked Gun 33 1/3 when Leslie Nielson is watching the test of the super powered explosive letter, through binoculars.
Taking photos close up of a possible rainboom?
Well this is backfiring faster then I thought. Sure it's minior right now, just one pony, but that's still a lot faster then I though it would backfire.
5979549
I could see it happening. He joins up to chronicle RD's adventures in Verlaxion's domain.
And of course what he captures is going to draw the attention of Verlax, the only question is whether or not it's going to stir up the locals at wherever she goes. I speculate that it will, after the first four seeds are reached. Then Theanim's work will catch up with her.
There's only one solution. 'Accidently' destroy Theamin's camera. I don't trust scientists who don't exhibit a healthy amount of religious skepticism.
So Theanim wants to bring Dash down a peg or few, maybe see her "get what's coming to her" for abusing the faith in Verlax(ion).
When Dash succedes in recovering the shard's fragment from ultimo, will he pass it off as "just luck" and then follow her until his wish comes true? Or will photographic evidence (if it survives the ride) attract attention from high places, hindering our heroes' future progress, as people above me have mentioned?
I'm okay with either.
How does sunlight bring out wrath? Is it like they have to squint-frown because they got it in their eyes?
5 days without internet....it's good to be back.
Well Dash... you sure have a habit of finding ways to upset ponies don't you? But hey... you always work best when you're out to prove yourself don't you?
someone probably already said this but... somehow, I don't think Dash is gonna be able to touch the piece of the shard, if it's been in contact with chaos metal then it might cause a Dizzy spell.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
I find that for some reason, Theanim becomes a lot more likable when you read him with a British accent.
5979353 Now you stop being so tsundere, you know you love it.
5979631 The ancient Greeks had the world be created from just about anything. We've done the four elements, we've done primordial chaos and light and order and an eternal being - ice isn't so much of a stretch at this point.
5979341
Yeah, if ):( keeps all these allusions up, he may have to turn in his Atheist Member's Card...
Twenty five crunches,, ):(. Knock 'em out!
I feel like this is not going to end well for rainbow dash.
Because you know, chaos strips, demonic transformations, cameras, and an island full of religious nuts sounds like such a winning combination.
5980137 I tend to read most characters in a British accent, and he still seemed like a jerk to me.
I'd love for Theanim to find out that Rainbow can't show up on film due to chaos. Serves him right.
Theanim is so gonna end up a snack for Ultimo...
5979525
Oh my god, you're right. He really is.
And that makes Rainbow Dash Aang, and, uh, I guess, Sinrar is Katara.
...now, THERE'S an interesting mental image.
5980657
So what you're saying is that your beloved Swan Song is not a dread pirate, but a moon? Pick one.
5980679
>choose one
>one
i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/244/456/2a0.png
whynotboth.jpg
Thinker Mutt sure is a tasty looking piece of meat for Ultimatopotato
"Don't believe me, just watch"
5980402 Or maybe... Twilight does appear on film, because ghosts do that.
For IC so loved the readers, that he gave his only begotten Dashie, that whosoever readeth in her should not grow bored, but have everlasting suplexes.
-Ynanhluutr 3:16
Some birds want to fly free. Some birds decide that they prefer the security of their cages. Those who live in cages do not like having their cages rattled.
Birds and cages aside, I wonder what Rainbow Dash has in mind. One does not just plunge into the jaws of death without a plan. Not even Dashie is that impulsive.
Is anyone else getting a Jeanne d'Arc vibe here?
5980804
I want that to happen now.
Also, is it bad that I want Ultimo to attack Theam and destroy his camera?
5980360
I can confirm that that is exactly how we speak.
How poetic.
I suppose Theanim can be understandably angry, but Dash has a point. For a scientist to be that contrary to their pursuit is odd, and that's what Theanim needs to learn sometime. Faith is totally cool, but it shouldn't run your life and be a crutch to understanding. That's why Deists are my favorite Theists.
5989187 I find that a respectable balance is to be found. I personally Believe in something greater than ourselves, god or whatever you want to name it, But You also cannot deny the Physical Proof of Science itself. So I guess I agree entirely, Deism is totally cool, but don't let it colour your views to the Physical undeniable truth in front of your eyes.
Also, Can't wait to see theanim eat his words
oh look, its the media!
yay!
HA! Looks like he is gonna get those awesome pictures.
The challenge has been issued, and accepted.
5980969 everlasting suplexes? Sign me up.
He hasn't considered that if Rainbow fails, him and his camera arent going anywhere. Joke's on you, Papa Paparazzi