“From what has been explained, I can only draw one conclusion,” Princess Celestia's voice carried along the early-morning wind over the K.M.C.A.'s rooftops. “In pursuing this 'Yaerfaerda' symbol, Rainbow, you have not only restored your health, but have restored the consciousness of Twilight Sparkle as well. It would stand to reason that pursuing the symbol further—by whatever powers have been imbued in it by the ancient properties of Austraeoh—must necessarily produce similar if not greater results.”
“Look, I always sorta figured that coming into contact with these torches of ruby flame have done a number on extending my lifespan,” Rainbow said, reclining on an angled piece of rooftop. “But what's it gotta do with bringing Twilight back? And why now?”
“That remains to be understood,” Luna interjected. “If I'm to understand your retelling just right, a spirit of some sort spoke to you, claiming that your current task was to 'foal yesterday?'”
“Well... y-yeah...”
“Maybe it means to literally bring back the past,” Twilight spoke up, floating alongside Rainbow. “As in bring back the Elements!”
Rainbow spoke: “Twilight says she thinks the whole point here is to bring back the Elements!”
“In a manner of speaking, perhaps,” Luna said. “But, even if you accomplish this beyond Twilight, it would appear as though the ultimate result is bringing back your deceased companions in incorporeal form only.”
“But, how is that possible?!” Spike's voice deeply resonated. “Twilight and the rest of the girls died! I watched it happen!”
“Their bodies perished, Spike, that is correct,” Celestia said. “But it would seem as if we had made a premature conclusion about their spirits. They are—after all—the avatars of Harmony.”
“But how's that different from just being the Elements of Harmony?”
Luna spoke: “We mustn't forget, they cleansed me of the taint of Nightmare Moon through simply being. The power of the Elements had transferred out of the stones and into their essences. It was something even my sister didn't predict.”
Rainbow muttered: “Celestia still knew we had to get involved, somehow.”
Twilight blinked curiously at the tone in her voice.
“Quite true, Rainbow,” Celestia said. “But my sister Luna is right. I never expected that Twilight and her friends would become one with the Elements in the way that they did. We have discussed this situation before... on more than one occasion.”
“You're right, Your Majesty,” Rainbow said. “Consider it over and done with.”
Spike spoke up: “So, if I'm hearing this correctly, if Rainbow brings back the Elements... she brings back all our friends!”
“Hypothetically, yes,” Luna said. “We still do not fully understand the nature of this 'Urohringr' which Rainbow has learned so much about. Even our immortal companions who first arrived on this plane alongside us were stumped.”
“It has taken us eons to simply map out the landscape,” Celestia said. “And with only two of us immortals remaining, we've spent most of that time struggling to maintain Harmony on the light side.”
“Yeah, with no help from me,” Rainbow muttered. She leaned her head back and sighed. “I've given you time and a half with that dang chaos rift...”
“Perish the thought, Rainbow Dash,” Celestia's voice carried. “You have done more good for the fate of this world than all mortals of the last several millennia combined. Ever since Axan spoke of the forthcoming death of this plane, I knew that—one way or another—you would be an integral device in counteracting that.”
“Yeah, well... heh... one awesome thing at a time.” Rainbow sat up straight. “It's nearly dawn. I'm guessing you can't hold off the rising sun for a little bit, eh, Luna?”
“Sadly, no, Rainbow. It is the cost of order, after all.”
“Right... so let's cover what we can.” She glanced at Twilight. “Assuming Yaerfaerda is leading me towards restoring the Elements. Should I go for it?”
Twilight exclaimed, “The six points across Rohbredden! There's gotta be a connection!”
“Twilight brings up a good point!” Rainbow spoke to the air. “She and I did some research at the library here in Kihutaja. Local geographical history speaks of six key points of interest spread across the archipelagos between here and the edge of the world. If they are—in fact—entrances to the Machine World, then that means I could come into contact with more ruby flame!”
“And you think this might be a way of bringing back the other four Elements?” Luna remarked.
“Then why's there an extra point?” Spike remarked. “I mean... Rainbow's one. Twilight's a second...”
“Look, that doesn't matter!” Rainbow exclaimed. “Let's pretend I can actually bring the girls back! Just like Twilight! I mean... what then?”
“There... might be a possibility...” Celestia thought aloud. “...on the Dark Side...”
“What? What possibility?!” Rainbow shot up, wings flapping. “You mean the Midnight Armory? Could the Harmonic Prism play a part?!”
“It is complete conjecture at this point, Rainbow. Rest assured, Luna will be doing a great deal of research in our most ancient archives over the next twenty-four hours.”
“And I'll help!” Spike chirped. “I am Ponyville's chief librarian, after all!”
“I could certainly use the assistance,” Luna said. “One way or another, Rainbow Dash, we will have acquired much information to discuss this over the next two evenings.”
“Sounds like a date!” Rainbow said. “In the meantime...” She smirked aside at Twilight. “...Twilight and I will look into finding these remaining five spots!”
“Can't this... Yiffyfart symbol thingy just lead you there?” Spike asked.
“It ain't that easy, dude,” Rainbow said. “This... is a totally different kind of culture than the places I've visited before. What's more... uhm...”
“Verlaxion,” Twilight murmured.
Rainbow gulped. “We have the Divine Verlax to deal with. From everything I've heard... she ain't good news.”
“And as memory serves us, you would be right to assume the worst,” Luna said. “Even Axan was easier to commune with than her.”
“Jee...” Rainbow droned. “...how nifty.”
The air crackled with dwindling energy. “Rainbow...” Luna's voice struggled to say. “The connection is about to be severed. I advise that you contact us as soon as the moon is within sight tomorrow evening.”
“You can bet on it!” Rainbow glanced aside. “Uhm... maybe some final words for Twilight would be snazzy.”
“H-huh?” Twilight blinked.
“Twilight, my good and faithful student,” Celestia spoke, her voice wavering slightly. “Your life has been the greatest joy I have had the pleasure of experiencing in eons. When I assumed you had perished, it filled me with great despair. Meditating on the chaos rift has been a harsh yet necessary distraction. But knowing that you are back and that your wisdom endures fills me with great strength once again. I am so proud of you, my little pony.”
“Mmmmmm...!” Twilight clamped her hooves over he mouth, instantly tearing. “I adore you, Princess Celestia!” She sniffled and stammered to speak. “You mean everything to me! You're like a s-second mother! I think of you always!”
“Uhhhh...” Rainbow smirked into the air. “Twilight says she loves you n'stuff!”
“Twilight... I-I never got a chance to tell you, but... uhm...” Spike's voice shuddered, turning breathy. “I never knew my mother, but that never bothered me. Because I always had you. You looked after me... and you made life worth living, even when I felt alone. So... thank you... and I love yo—” His voice cut off.
And just like that, Rainbow's pendant dimmed.
Twilight gasped, several tears rolling down her cheek. She clenched her eyes shut and hugged herself, drifting sideways.
“Hey...” Rainbow looked over. She hovered closer to the phantom, reaching through her with a strong hoof. “Hey, Twilight, c'mere. It's okay. Don't be sad...”
“Oh Rainbow...” Twilight sniffed, shaking her head. “Silly... silly Rainbow...” She reopened her moist eyes with a bittersweet smile. “I'm not sad.”
“Well... uh...” Rainbow cleared her throat. “Don't be soggy then.”
Twilight cleared her throat, wiping her muzzle dry. “You... you must be feeling sleepy.”
“Nope.” Rainbow shook her head. “Not in the least.”
“Good!” Twilight smiled jubilantly, ears and tail twitching. “Then there's much work to be done!”
“Right!” Rainbow bore a devilish smirk. Flapping her wings, she tore across the peeking dawnlight and made for the center of the college campus. “And I just know who to start with!”
“Uhm...” Twilight drifted after her, tumbling. “Don't you mean 'where?'”
“Heehee! Nope!”
Nick Knock. Time to abuse that sex appeal
Yes, let's go terrorize the students more.
A double update to close out my Brony Movie Night (The princess bride and the book of life)? Thank you based ):(!
Come come, Nick. You get to first-hoof experience the
insanityawesomeness that is Rainbow Dasheven morefor your very own!-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
i.imgur.com/J4gbmv2.gif
sneaky beaky update there ):(
I'm with Spike on this one, I don't like that...
...
fuck you all i have to say it
...I don't like there being an extra point because it's a rogue element
5851413
maybe it's Sunset Shimmer
just let me dream
guys you all really need to sleep what are you doing awake
5851442 I'm pretty sure they just pulled an all-nighter.
SOULSSSSS
*sighs*
staph it IC.
i will be calling this Yiffyfart from now on though.
edit: Cause dear Ankou told me to.
5851485
I was lazy kay? It is late over here, too tired to press the edit button.
bah, the stupid video embed is broken. Here's a Reaction Link. (Contents volatile)
Hey, Sinrar, How long did it take you!? Cause I think you beat the Goddess's best score!
media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3mgkaggaK1qhtx2b.gif
Well, I'll go get the acid bomb. TO THE CHEM LAB!
5851442 it isn't even midnight yet here in California
5851442
It's 9am where I live, actually. Besides, who needs sleep?
5851464
I don't want to sound rude, but you do know you can put more than one reaction into a single comment if you edit it? There's no reason to do three in a row.
Time to see our new buddy Nick
5851442 sleep is for the weak. All hail Zadubadabu!
5851372
Rainbow Dash won't knock.
tgfb.us/mur/src/1413660836988.jpg
She's the American in us all.
5851508
Damn right.
5851433 Yes! It's Sunset Shimmer and her element of bacon! It's all coming together now...
I wonder if Nick is going to bring up all the "talking" rainbow has been doing with herself for like 5 days lol I hope Nick gets an explanation.
All caught up again : )
ALL HAIL THE GLORIOUS RETURN OF BOOK HORSE
Hmm... if fixing the first point brought back magic to the Choke, and then Twilight appeared...
What are the other points going to bring back?
5851583 I hope he doesn't and that Rainbow leaves his utterly baffled when she begins flying east again, because it's more fun that way.
5851502 No. Sleep is for the week, it's the weekend now!
The last one is to ressurect Rainbow after she pushes herself too far. Then the Ghost Patrol spooks their way across the dark side.
IC uses feels! It's super effective!
Welp.. Guess I have to call it that now.
Yay, bring 'em all back.
Exactly how far are they from the other side of the world. Somewhere along the line i made the erroneous assumption that the Grand Choke was the edge.
Y'know...I really hope this series gets a happy ending now... I was all set to have it be a sort of bittersweet thing where Dash makes it to the prism, and activates it right before she dies, there by restoring all 6 elements to their base states and having them ported to Canterlot or Ponyville or wherever they were physically together last, and we got to see her get welcomed to the afterlife by the others.
...
But now... now I want to see the others resurrected. not right next to her, but back where they died, and Dash is purged of the chaos essence and has to fly all the way back to Ponyville from the Midnight Armory, passing through all the lands, reassembling the Jurists along the way and leading them all back to Equestria with her.
It probably won't happen now that I've expressed my desire to see it happen...but hey. it would be nice, wouldn't it?
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
5851918
Nope, IC's gonna pull an IC; everyone dies tragically for the sake of harmony.
Im sorry, Communications have been lost due to a storm in the asteroid belt.
Lets go nick some Nicks knacks, and if he dont wanna play, knack Nick in the nadgers.
I feel sorry for Shining Armour and Princess Cadence. They haven't heard the good news.
5851413
Maybe a teleporter pad to the dark side? Maybe a way to make the choke crossable? A way to control point for the ring world?
I thought Rainbow was already at the edge of the ring world and it would be a connector of some sort to other segments but that's not true.
Eh, still not as feelsy as I had hoped, but whatever. We've got information now. Sounds like it's time to visit ol' Nicky boy.
SUNSET SHIMMER!!!
5851719
That's...considerably possible.
5852150
Actually, I really like this idea. And I bet they're linked to the Obsidian Hope citadel in Rohbredden as a focus. It's gotta be one giant gateway to the other side.
one word for this chapter:
Drugs!
5851918
Yeah, that would be nice.
Plus, then we could have Rainboarkejack.The last one may give their spirits partial or complete physical form. But then again we'd have RD being slowed down by them, and it seems like SS wants to avoid that happening again. Maybe they can be seen and heard by others, but are still phasing ghosts?
I wonder if she's going to be interrogated by the head of this place about what happened.
5852183
great minds(5851433 ) think alike
Have fun Nick.
5851667
Can't be done. That would mean denying Swan song her shipping.
Is no one going to ask if one of those points is for Shell?
alright then, I'll ask: is one of those points for our good friend Shell?
5852683 I've already milked that joke to death.
I think everypony is reading too much into the six points thingy. There are six because there are six Elements. Doesn't matter if they're dead or alive. It's not as if the builders of Urohringr knew that five of them would be dead by the time the Austraeoh got this far. If Commander Hurricane had gotten this far, who would his other five have been?
5851719
idunno m8 as spo0ky as that would be IC might have other plans.
I don't see a problem with the six points:
Twilight. One. Rarity. Two. Flutters. Three. Pinkie. Four. Applejack fifth,
Then Discord, Six
They can then either reform him, or go nuts from being forced to deal with an incorporeal unreformed Discord.
Jolly.
I never considered that Discord's "find the elements back where you began" line might be so literal. Or, perhaps I did consider it, but never really took it very seriously. Considering the author, can you blame me? But now it looks like a real possibility.
... which is probably why it won't happen.
snarkcriticpop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/m-night.jpg
so
restoring the elements is the new goal
this totally won't be hampered by the ice breathing dragon, militaristic (and likely insane) ice-breathing-dragon following society, or everyone thinking RD is nutzo (what with the talking to somepony nopony can see)
.....
yep, easy-peasy
5853827
There's no Rainbow Dash to resurrect, though. She's alive. I'm with(only slightly) RoboRed and Arcanist Ascendant in thinking that it might be its own character.
Sunset Shimmer though... eh... I don't think so.
There is nothing saying this plan will work
That poor Nick just can't catch a break, can he?