The waters at the end of the world rolled and crashed against one another with dispassionate dreariness, all the while reflecting the charcoal gray malaise overhead all its thunderous gloom.
They made an easy home in Seraphimus' eyes.
The griffon stared and stared, watching as the waves shifted and undulated for miles on end. A hint of moisture collected in the corner of her sockets... but she calmly blinked it away—just in time to reflect a few armored bodies gliding towards her.
Several breathless members of the Central Guard returned from their reconaissance, perching on the furthest bow of the first of the three steamships in Chandler's armada. They saluted Seraphimus and exchanged some breathy, unenthusiastic words. After digesting the information—or lack thereof—Seraphimus quietly dismissed them, then turned tail.
Spreading her wings, the former Commander of the Talon swiftly flew towards the centermost ship. She passed Chandler's empty chariot that was parked near the starboard side and made her way down into the lower cabin. Steam and red mist bathed her figure as she ducked through a compartment or two, finally approaching the single air-conditioned chamber of the boat. She wrapped her claws against the doorframe.
Chandler jolted. Visibly. A sweaty mane of matted helmet-hair clung to his neck as he looked up from a chaotically strewn assortment of maps that the Minister had been obsessively pouring over for hours.
"Any luck?" he stammered, leaning off of a weathered cot.
Seraphimus took a breath. "The fourth detachment returned." She slowly shook her head. "There's no sign of the Rainbow Rogue or her midnighter allies."
Chandler sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. "Could... they have passed under us?"
"In their submersibles, you mean?"
"Precisely."
Seraphimus shook her head. "I imagine our observers along the outer decks would have detected their magic. Besides... at this current juncture..." Her feathery brow furrowed. "...I would not expect the Rainbow Rogue to go anywhere but east... and unto the edge."
"So you would rule out some... wild attempt to circumnagivate us underwater?"
"Precisely."
"We're getting so close to the brink..." Chandler stared at his maps, grimacing. "Where are they?"
"Do you want to know my theory, Defense Minister?"
Chandler flashed her a look. "Always." He nodded.
"They're staging an attack," Seraphimus said. "It's inconceivable that the Rainbow Rogue and her allies would not know of our presence by now." Her beak muscles tightened. "If the Seventh Tribe is assisting her, then they'll be lending their knowledge of the surrounding waterscape."
Chandler dragged a sweaty hoof over the parchments stretched out on the cot beneath him. "I've been studying the crudely-drawn maps left here in the smugglers' hold..."
"Do they provide any useful information?" Seraphimus asked.
"Yes... and no." Chandler exhaled. "There are... notations written here suggesting that a slew of physical hazards form up along the very edge of the world."
"Like what kind of hazards?"
"Shallow bluffs. Crashed ships." Chandler gulped. "Considering all of the world's detritus that's carried along these currents... it would be no major surprise."
Seraphimus leaned back from the doorframe. "That could very well be our enemy's edge."
"Commander?"
Seraphimus ignored the Minister's improper address. "If there are multiple obstructions... then that means multiple opportunities for the Rainbow Rogue to stage an ambush."
"An ambush?"
"Indeed."
"But..." Chandler trembled slightly. "...to what end?"
Seraphimus' charcoal eyes narrowed. "To finish what she started in Frostknife."
Chandler squirmed beside the bed. With the shifting of his weight, the stallion's bulky breastplate dug into his chin. He didn't fight it. "What... would you suggest in this scenario, Seraphimus?"
"We perform a naval sweep."
"A... naval... sweep..."
Seraphimus gestured. "We strip one of the ships of all crew—save for essential personnel. We then position this ship several hundred meters before the rest."
"You suggest we have one vessel take point?"
"Affirmative." Seraphimus spoke calmly: "If there is any ambush—underwater or above—this front vessel could be used to draw them out. It's all a matter of positioning." She pointed. "The moment we detect any sort of attack, we can send the fliers from the two rear ships to pounce right away. So long as we position the vessels far enough from one another, we should remain in control of the situation."
Chandler nodded, his eyes searching the rusted rivets of the chamber walls. "Considering our current resources, it sounds like the most logical plan." Silence. He whipped out a blank piece of parchment, scribbled an order on it, and hoofed it to the griffon. "Hand this out above deck. Start selecting crew members to take point. We need keen eyes who can detect movement underwater."
Seraphimus bowed slightly. "Permission to be stationed on the frontmost ship, sir."
Chandler leaned back. "Granted. Of course."
Seraphimus saluted.
Clutching the scroll tightly, she turned tail and trotted back up the way she came.
She was halfway through the engine room when she heard a calm voice issuing from behind:
"It doesn't matter what formation we use."
Seraphimus scuffled to a stop, sighing.
Keris emerged from the steam. His eyes narrowed. "Rainbow Dash will still find a way to outsmart us. You know this." He shook his head. "Don't put more soldiers' lives needlessly in danger. Rainbow certainly isn't wanting to."
Seraphimus grumbled, "If you're so certain about what the Rainbow Rogue wants and desires..." She turned to glare at him. "...then perhaps you should be performing reconaissance to drag her out."
"You know why I can't do that, Seraphimus," he said. "What I told you back in Frostknife—"
"I think the Defense Minister has been more than gracious in allowing you and the Talon to join us on this hunt," Seraphimus said firmly.
"The Defense Minister should be back home, protecting our populace from the windigoes that have been unleashed," Keris spoke louder. "Instead, he's out here trying to start a new race war with the midnighters and you're falling right into his hooves."
"If the Seventh Tribe harbors a Goddess-killer, then they have brought the reckoning upon themselves," Seraphimus sneered.
"Do you even hear yourself anymore?!" Keris took a bold step towards her. "You were once a member of the Talon! You were a guardian of peace."
"I was a guardian of Verlaxion's peace," Seraphimus calmly retorted. "But the monster from the Blight took all of that when she murdered our Queen." She swallowed. "And then some."
"It wasn't Rainbow Dash who took your family, Seraphimus," Keris said. "It was Verlaxion."
She did not reply. Her eyes fluttered shut as she weathered a deep breath.
Keris cocked his head to the side. "And even after all you did... after all the things we sacrificed... you... me... Jordan..." He waved a talon. "...she gave us nothing more than an apocalypse to further her mad agenda. And being out here—chasing demons... her demons—isn't going to undo the damage that's been done."
Seraphimus stood in silence.
"I know that you feel as though you've got nothing left," Keris said. "So why surrender to that void?" He closed the distance between the two of them. "It was never the plight of your family that carried you so far, Seraphimus. It was your honor." He slowly shook his head. "You've still got the memory of your husband and child. Don't disgrace all of that here and now."
Seraphimus' eyes shot open. Piercing.
Keris leaned back.
She was already growling into his face: "I know enough about honor, Keris... which is precisely why I've chosen not to murder you for what you just said." With an angry flick of her tail, she turned and marched for the stairs leading above deck. "I must take point. Do not speak to me ever again unless it's to assist me with our cause."
Keris boldly rasped, "And what about once we've returned home, Seraphimus? What will we speak of after the vengeance?"
Seraphimus was gone.
And Keris hung his head.
Well, at least we know what's happening with the 3rd ship now..
Huh. I guess the lack of a third ship was a misstype?
I mean, this could be happening quite a while ago, but even after one ship leaves to take point, that would result in the Sarosians spotting a single ship, not two. Either way, we know what the Rohbreddenites are up to, so it's not quite as unnerving.
I... Think this gambit will half-succeed. Fluttershy will likely notice something's not right before Rainbow commits too hard with her trap. Additionally, Rainbow wants a fight in the air- Seraphimus thinks she's going to try boarding the vessels, and focus the entire counter-ambush there.
But they already know that there's 3 ships! So if you only send one, they're going to know something is amiss...
Finally we are back to the other side of this little conflict. Seraphimus is very smart but I have a feeling this is something the Sarosians will have seen coming they will be ready for it. The third ship is the only real hitch in the whole thing.
I'm honestly amazed Keris is still trying.
FACE IT KERIS SHE DOESNT LIKE YOU BACK
JUST ACCEPT YOUR LOSSES AND MOVE ON
THERE ARE PLENTY OF OTHER FISH IN THE SEA
AT LEAST YOU CAN STILL BE FRIENDS
wait no you can't
Well, if nothing else this puts my fears of some kind of sneak attack to rest. The most Chandler & Co. have to go on is the logical assumption that there will be some kind of trap. But between Fluttershy, who can sense souls, and Rarity, who can sense metal, the ball should still be in Rainbow's court.
Also, damned if I'm not still clinging to the hope that Seraphimus will see the light and not throw her life away.
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Chandlers group don't knows that Rainbows group knows that there are 3 ships incoming.
Besides, it is a valid tactic even if they had to assume that they know.
Rainbows group cant have one ship scouting ahead and doing damage, they will have to do something about it but they can't use their main defense, with Seraphimus on board that ship is a threat.
So Seraphimis is trying to force an unplanned reaction, its a rather suicidal plan, since they assume that Rainbows group will fight with lethal force, but that's kinda what Sera seems to be as of late.
Don't talk to me or my dead loved ones ever again.
No plan survives fist contact with the enemy, including the enemy's.
Ah, honour! Personal pride and self-aggrandisement in a pretty guise. How telling that that's all she's got left.
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A great quote from a great person, and highly relevant in this situation. The Herald's plan is completely dependent on them maintaining total control of the situation, which is likely to evaporate quickly after making contact with Chandler's forces.
There's far too many variables involved for this to go as smoothly as Dash is hoping for.
7618959 Lerris Effect baby. Now we only have to worry about the imminent death of one of..... aw man.
7619010 Its who he is. He knows there's good in her, so he won't ever stop trying to bring it back.
You're contradicting yourself. How will going east and unto the edge finish what she started in Frostknife, if that were her one and only goal?
Keris is a good soul.
Celestia damn it Sereph! Are you so blinded by vengeance that you ignore sound advice from your former lieutenant?!
Aww crud. Plans already blown...
...Keris better be there to help save the day once things start going south during that distraction...
Hoboy, we're getting close now!
Just one nit to pick ('cause that is what I do best?):
Ships don't crash. Wagons, scooters, zeppelins, and Rainbow Dash crash. Ships, for some reason, wreck. And 'shipwreck' is a much cooler phrase than 'crashed ship', imho.
7619302 "The enemy gets a vote" is another way to phrase it...
7619525 Those phrases seem to conflict on another unless you assume that Serph believes that RD is pushing to bring total chaos and destruction, to spread her blight, to ever civilization that she encounters. RD has "wrecked" their civilization and now Serph wants RD dead for revenge and for the additional moral high ground in saving other civilizations from the Rainbow Rouge's destruction.
Finally a chapter on the Talon!
And the shit shall hit the fan in....
Seraphimus isn't planning to come back. She's going to do her best to end Rainbow Dash, sure, but she's going to make sure it's her end, too.
This chapter makes me all the more worried about my earlier suspicions. Seraphimus figured Dash would have a plan, so it's going to be made useless. My worry for Bard just doubled, dammit. I'm hoping Keris can keep his former boss from doing something too incredibly stupid, and I'm hoping more than anything that Bard survives.
~SolidFire
Keris, she's already burned those bridges. Either she doesn't make it, or you're in trouble.
I want to believe that Seraphimus is past saving. Reading this chapter, however, has convinced me otherwise. I really hope Sera makes it through the final battle.
This is gonna be epic
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Let's hope Rainbow Dash survives fist contact with Seraph. Or hoof/claw contact, whatever.
I'm worried - Dashie doesn't want to kill, while Seraphimus will gladly die to end Rainbow. So in that sense, the deck is stacked in favor of Seraphimus.
On the bright side, Rainbow has one hell of a battlefield intelligence advantage. Fluttershy can sniff out the decoy ship in a second when she senses how few ponies are on it.
Yeah....she’s gonna die.
Dear god Keris, Seraphimus ain't gonna change her ways at this point, though I admire you for trying.
I think I'm starting to see what Verlax's final trial truely is....
I think Rainbow is going to look Serpahimus in the eyes, and kill her.....
Keris, I respect your bravery and faith in Seraphimus. I don't think I would have still tried to appeal to her in that situation. I can only hope it pays off. I'd like to see this all turn out ok. I don't think it will, but I'd like it to.
So about that , you fools...
Keris, I think you need to accept that Sera is just...gone. There is no coming back for her.
It appears there is no option to save Seraphimus. She is so far gone at this point, unfortunately.