“We're entering shallow waters,” Rarity said.
Rainbow Dash stifled a yawn and looked across the deck. “Huh?”
The ghostly unicorn hovered over the sea within range of the pegasus and the Midnight Dreary. The sun was setting, casting a ruby sheen across the watery world. “I've been concentrating very hard. Getting into a 'zen,' as t'were. Much like my old inspiration sessions at the Boutique.”
“'Kayyy...” Rainbow squinted “Just what has that got to do with shallow waters?”
“What I'm trying to tell you is that the ocean floor has risen,” the unicorn said.
“But there aren't any islands in sight, Rarity,” Twilight said.
“Trust me,” Rarity remarked. “I can sense it. Just like the stones.”
“But the ocean's floor has nothing to do with rubies or gemstones or—” Rainbow stopped, for she felt a drift in momentum. She looked towards the center of the Midnight Dreary. “Uhm... what's up, doc?”
“Hmmm?” Theanim Mane glanced over from where he gripped the rudder wheel. “Is it time to switch hooves yet? It's not even nightfall.”
“No, I mean... why'd you slow down just now?”
“Oh. Just a precautionary measure.” Theanim smiled. “We're entering the Lukewarm Stream. The waters here are shallow. We could expect more coral reefs, so be sure to ignite the torchlights along the front bow before you take your shift.”
“See?!” Rarity beamed. “I knew there was more to this... this fluttering!”
Rainbow's jaw dropped. “How... did you know that?”
“Hmmm?” Theanim blinked. “Oh. Well... simple experience, my dear. All after I had an unfortunate run-in with a series of jagged shoals on my first midnight cruise. Eheheh...”
“No, I mean...” Rainbow winced. “Never mind.”
“Ohhhhh... I see.” Theanim smiled. “Another conversation that I'm not destined to be part of.”
Rainbow bit her lip, avoiding her gaze. “Mmmmm...”
“You know, if I recall correctly, there was only one form of payment I expected in exchange for your passage.” He arched an eyebrow.
“He's right, Rainbow,” Twilight remarked. “After all, I'd say by now that you owe him.”
“We owe him,” Rarity stated.
“Look...” Rainbow leaned towards the spectres, sneering. “It's hard enough as it is with the other melon fudges on this ship threatening to crucify me every friggin' day!”
“Am I interrupting an exchange right now?” Theanim chuckled, glancing at the waters ahead. “Verlaxion's Sleet, you're chatty tonight!”
“Look, Doc, it's not that I don't want to tell you everything. It's just that—”
“—you assume I'm less open-minded than your previous Colonialist peers. Heheh...” He adjusted his goggles over his mane. “I suspect that such is the direct consequence of having met Kihutajans before Rohbeddeners.” He shrugged. “Had you appeared in the east first instead of the west, I suspect you'd be far less trusting of Professor Sinrar and his colt apprentice.”
“Nick wasn't his apprentice,” Rainbow said. “And... things aren't that simple.”
“That appears to define your nature, doesn't it?” Theanim waved a hoof in the air. “Life lacks a blissful simplicity without the blessings of Verlaxion.”
“Almost, but not quite, Doc.” Rainbow bore a tired smile. “Life's complex. I just like to treat it as if it's simple.”
“Forgive me if I'm not convinced.”
“Just tell him, Rainbow!” Twilight Sparkle said. “He seems pretty receptive of what you've had to share so far!”
“But the deeper we go into Verlax's territory, Twi, the less luxury I'll have in sharing!”
“Then take advantage of the moment!” Twilight smiled. “You were always the sort of pony to seize the day!”
“Except when she was taking her gratuitously long naps,” Rarity droned.
“Rarity, you're not helping.”
“How about this, Miss Dash...?” Theanim locked the wheel into position and trotted over to her. “You tell me all about this Twilight and the other personality, and I promise not to share with the others.” He smiled. “It'll be our little secret... at least until we depart from Rust for Shoggoth.”
“You're a scientist, Doc,” Rainbow droned. “And all I've got is—like—subjective stuff. Even if I wanted you to believe what I've got to share, I don't see how you could possibly be convinced of—”
“His second and third rib are metal replacements,” Rarity said.
Rainbow gave her a double-take. “His... second and third rib... are made of metal? Huh?”
Just like that, Theanim nearly fell over. He leaned against the outside of the cabin for support. “How... h-how on earth did you know...?”
“Huh?” Rainbow looked at Theanim. “Know what?”
“That... that...” The stallion gulped. “Ten years ago. I was spelunking in the caves of the Upper Wyvern bluffs, searching for archaeological evidence of Pre-Thaw Tribal Communities. I slipped and fell down a polished slope... and my body was severely punctured by a group of dastardly sharp stalagmites.” He shuddered. “I nearly lost my life. However, by the grace of Verlaxion, and some expertly skilled surgeons, I was given a second chance to live and collect data for the Order. I... I don't like to tell ponies because it's never my intention to garner unnecessary sympathy.” His brow furrowed. “So... what could possibly possess you with that knowledge?”
“Uhhhhhh...” Rainbow fidgeted. “...a... ghostly apparition of a long-dead dress-making friend?” She smiled crookedly. “...who suddenly has this freaky magnetic radar sense?”
Twilight Sparkle giggled. “If it helps make the conversation go any smoother, right now Dr. Sands is using his magic downstairs again!”
“Doing what, pray tell?” Rarity asked.
“It's a long sea voyage,” Rainbow droned. “What else is the unicorn doing?”
“Hmmm?” Theanim cocked his head to the side. “What unicorn?”
“Okay... okay...” Rainbow waved his hooves. “Lemme just give it to you straight.” She glared at him. “This trip that I'm on is a super important one, and it's super important for two reaons. One: it's letting me resurrect my long-dead friends so that they can return their harmonious spirits to physical bodies.”
“Uh huh...”
“Two: it's some ancient supergalactic predestined method for keeping the world as we know it from dying through long-term exposure to chaos.”
“... … ...huh.” Theanim blinked.
“And... uhm... there are these beacons... beacons located deep within the machine layer of this artificial world that I gotta get to in order to... uh... reboot the system?” Rainbow's muzzle twisted. “And it so happens that fate's carrot-on-a-stick is the chance of bringing back my friends. So far, I've got Twilight Sparkle and Rarity by my side, but I'm still missing three more.”
“And... these friends of yours—”
“Are here.”
“Right now.”
Rainbow nodded. “Only... I'm the one mare who can see them.”
“And I think Mr. Mane is delightfully handsome,” Rarity cooed.
“And Rarity thinks your hot—” Rainbow jolted. “Dang it, Rarity!”
Rarity giggled madly, hugging herself.
“Unnnngh...” Rainbow face hoofed. “...at least with hallucinated ghosts, I'd go insane temporarily.”
“I... I see...” Theanim adjusted his goggles and smirked. “Well, sounds like some quite pleasant company.”
“You don't believe a single word I just said, do you?”
“It is rather difficult,” Theanim said. “But I find the idea quite enrapturing. And the fact that you... er... Rarity knew of my alteration—”
“She also knew about the waters getting shallow,” Rainbow said. “Not sure how...”
“Oh, well that would explain things.” Theanim smiled. “And—dare I ask—who does Twilight Sparkle find attractive?”
Twilight opened her mouth—
“Cover yourself with a bunch of old library books and then she'll talk,” Rainbow said.
“Hey!” Twilight pouted, cheeks red. “That's not even close to true!”
Rarity giggle-snorted. “It most certainly is, d-darling!” She rolled over laughing, and a chuckling Rainbow Dash soon joined her.
“Hmmm...” Theanim leaned back, folding his forelimbs. “So long as you and your friends are enjoying yourselves...”
Welp, earlier question answered.
No, you did not.
What magical sense will Pinkie have? Compass pointing to the nearest party?
I like Mr. Mane. He is made of metal.
Let's have some fun! Ten 8-count pushups, ):(. And since I'll bet no one here knows what that is, I come prepared with visual aid!
Once more, thank the Zebra for the step-up. Knock 'em out!
So Rarity is now a sonar/x-ray machine. This shall be important +/- 3 to 500 chapters from now
6096309
Stripesy is slowly becoming my least favorite character. And not just because he stinks at rhyming.
Wait, what? Checks tags. No, still rated T and not tagged mature/sex.
You can give it to him straight without waving his hooves around, you know. Show him some respect.
6096296
6096332
...Oh. I completely did not think about that.
I'm betting that after Pinkie Pie, it'll be Fluttershy, then Applejack.
If Pinkie, Fluttershy, and Applejack get magical senses as well, Rainbow Dash will soon probably know far more than she ever wanted to know about those around her.
Aha! Proof!
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Ah yes, the challenges of having metal parts. I know them all too well.
6096309
Oh, I know what that is, you sick son of a bitch. Many hours I have spent worshiping the gods of linoleum.
The trouble with insanity, it cant do a deep scan of your body, and hack every spell you ever heard of.
For some reason, Im thinking of that painter of boats, Powdered Aluminum.
6096301 I have a feeling Twilight, whose special talent is magic, can sense magic. Rarity, whose special talent is finding gems, can sense gems and related objects of value. Pinkie, whose special talent is making others smile, can sense whether or not others are happy. Fluttershy, whose special talent is animal interaction, can sense nearby wildlife and its intent. Applejack, whose special talent is farming I guess, can sense food or something.
That's my theory anyway. May it be proven or disproven according to IC's writing and Zadubadabu's will.
6096332
just because things weren't explicitly, specifically mentioned, doesn't mean they didn't happen. Do you remember Roarke well? i can recall up to two times, if not more, where things probably happened, but were not more expanded upon...
just sayin'...
unless I read those chapters wrong.
Hm? Wierd. And I was thinking from Rarities immediate power of detection was going to be gifts, considering Magic sense from Magic Element.
Wow Rarity. You rock! Woo hoo!
Theanim can now do more tests with Spookle and Scarity's newly found abilities
6096767
6096767 "And this one is Applejack, the element of... uh... apples?"
Now I'm curious about the others. Will Fluttershy be able to sense animals? Applejack a lie detector? Oughta be interesting.
Also, the idea of Rarity gigglesnorting is cuter than it has any right to be.
Rarity can be such a troll some times. I'm surprised he hasn't tried to take a picture of them yet. He should at least suspect it would work.
Rarity has mineral detection it seems.
-Memories given light,ease a lonely flight.Ynanhluutr
6097070 nope, countryisms of course
So with Rarity and Twilight on her side to find stuff and warn about magic, Rainbow could become the best thief in Rohbedden.
"It's very lonely out here"
6096309
Oh that's a nice tall glass of nope, straight from the rivers of screwthatistan. Every time some high speed individual asked for that, I along with everyone else with any sense of self preservation fade into the shadows.
6096309
How about fuck no!
I don't need to be in fantastic physical condition, thank you very much.
If a need arises for someone athletic to perform a feat of strength, I have plenty of souls at my beck and call to whom I can delegate those tasks. Managing my subordinates with a sprained anything is completely out of the question.
So no, Mister Jake, I will not be participating in your exercise regimine. My tea, fresh produce and lunchtime strolls (when I have time for them) are perfectly adequate for the purpose of keeping me in sound physical condition. Also, clerical work can be very taxing. Lifting all that paper burns calories.
Also, I don't want to.
So no.
6096296
6096332
You do realize that it doesn't actually have to be him sexually pleasing himself, and that you both are supplying that information from your own expectations. Food for thought.
6097705
So what does it mean? I went through every other possibility I could think of in hopes that I was mistaken, to no avail.
6097703
oW tHe EdGe
god damn that's edgy
Are you lost on your way to Edgeville? That was my favorite town in Runescape.
edg edge and edgy
Be careful not to cut yourself on all of that edge.
god damn that's edgy 2; electric boogaloo.
6097854 your mom
6097895 hey! Don't you talk about his mom like that. She's a nice lady!
6096309
Isn't that just another name for a burpee?
Workout accepted.
6097854
Well, Dr. Sands was the guy in the last chapter that Twilight was feeling use magic every time that he lit his pipe ... So, you know. He likes smoking his pipe. Nothing hazy about the whole situation.
Dash could have saved herself the Twice Daily exposition time by filling in both Rarity and Thunker at the same time , but I do like that it went this way. A bit more personal time for the three of them.
-ultim
6096767 Nature in general for Applejack, I believe. But, being able to sense food would come in VERY VERY VERY HANDY FOR THE DARK SIDE
I feel sorry for Theanim. Imagine, it's like not being in the know of an inside joke, abut you didn't even hear the joke, you only know it has been said, and want in on it.
This is what I get for reading other fics for half a month. Now I have like, sixteen chapters to catch up on. ARGH!
6097866
Dashie did a pretty good job in the latest chapter. I thought I'd give it a go.
Too much?
Wait... Wait wait wait, I've done it? I'm here! Oh sweet baby Celestia I have reached the Final Written chapter, I'm caught up proper, Woo!
6097854
It means anything involving magic really. For example, a long sea voyage would be a good time to practice with magic I would think.
Spooky ghost powers are getting even spookier. Just imagine how Pinkie Pie will be as a ghost! Pinkie sense will never be the same!
Once Dash catches them all, she will have the best inteligence network in a three meter radius.
6097447
6097070
Or Eyebrows.
6098555 Welcome to the Lunar Ninth! Congratulations on catching up.
Hoboy, lemme tell you. Every secular philosopher ever.
6098700 She will just be constantly shaking because she's sensing a ghost nearby.
6099282 There can be no princess of eyebrows if it's not Tree Hugger.
vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/mlp/images/d/d5/Tree_Hugger_ID_T5E7_Traje_de_Gala.png/revision/latest?cb=20150517001651&path-prefix=es
6096767 Hah! Ah bet her special talent is speakin' country-like!
6097447 And you beat me to it. That's what I get for taking a week off. I'm TARDY!!! to the party.
6097703 I love this comment right here. Fishberry, you remind me of Dotted Line from the story Whom The Princess Would Destroy. He conveys a solid weeks worth of dry wit in practically every sentence. It's one of my favorite stories on this site.
6096296
6096332
Of course you guys would think of THAT first. I assumed it was him smoking on his pipe. I don't know if it's just me, but when I know I have a long voyage (or, in my case, a shift at work), a cigarette is pretty awesome.
6098555
Congrats! I wondered why my notifications were nonexistent.
Man, this is almost angering me. While it may be a lot to take in, especially considering he's bound by religion AND science, Theanim should have submitted to the facts by now. There is no way Rainbow could know about Theanim's ribs. Literally, there's no possible way. Yet here we are, with Rainbow having known about them thanks to Rarity. Honestly, if that's not proof enough for him, then he's just as insane as Rainbow is perceived to be by passerbys.
6109247 there're certainly other 'more reasonable' explanations he could be coming up with, here. For instance, who's to say he didn't tell one of the other ponies on the ship during that long stay on the island, and Rainbow somehow learned it from them?