//------------------------------// // Words Words Words Words Words Words // Story: Ynanhluutr // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// The celebratory bonfire in the central Nealend village had dwindled, and the various island ponies had trotted off, retiring for the rest of the night. Rainbow Dash, in the meanwhile, couldn't sleep... much less think straight. She strolled listlessly through the jungle and underbrush of the southern landstrip. At last, she emerged upon the plush shoreline that banked the central lagoon. Her petite hooves made soft sweeping motions through the sand, and soon she was standing upon the edge of the surf. The starlight above the ocean was so bright, so clear that it actually produced a dim shadow against the sediment below. Rainbow Dash's eyes lingered on the shimmering white Yaerfaerda beacon. The damnable symbol loomed just a few hundred meters away, pulsating, taunting the pegasus. She sighed heavily, and her muscles gave way. She plopped down in the sand, flicking her tail out behind her as she folded her legs underneath herself. Within the next few seconds, a lavender phantom mimicked the pose next to her. Twilight brushed her bangs straight and stared aside at Rainbow Dash. “How bright is it?” she asked. “Like a second sun,” Rainbow muttered. “Is that the way it always is?” Rainbow slowly nodded. “Yeah.” “Even when you close your eyes?” “Can't ever get rid of it,” Rainbow said. “No matter what I do. If I turn away, it just burns a hole in the back of my skull.” Twilight bit her lip. “It can't always be like a punishment to you, can it?” “Only when I fail to get closer to it,” Rainbow remarked. “I swear. It only gets brighter.” “I... I really wish I could see it myself,” Twilight said. “If you say so.” Twilight gazed out onto the lagoon. A brisk wind blew over the shoreline, disturbing Rainbow's mane but not Twilight's. “Do you think she's comfortable?” Rainbow asked. “Huh?” Twilight looked over. “Whoever's next,” Rainbow said. “Rarity. Fluttershy.” She gulped hard. “Applejack...” “They're not dead, Rainbow,” Twilight said. She instantly shuddered. “Well... they're not as dead as you think.” “Heh...” Rainbow bore a bittersweet grin. “Nice try, egghead.” “Seriously, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “Before you brought me out of... out of where I was, I-I felt vaguely confused... curious, even. But I wouldn't quite describe it as restless.” “Yeah, but even when you get super freaked out...” Rainbow turned towards her. “You've got a way of figuring everything out in your head, Twilight. Like... you've got a rational explanation to things. It's only when you face the cold hard facts that not all things are reasonable that you start to lose it.” “Wow.” Twilight blinked. “Way to nail me in a heartbeat.” Rainbow shrugged, gazing back out into the lagoon. “I do what I can.” “To be honest, Rainbow, I think Rarity would only be exhausted by her confusion. She'd be fine.” Twilight cocked her head aside. “Applejack? She's strong. She can deal with the stress. And... hehe... we all know that Pinkie Pie will be just fine.” “Heh. Yeah.” “Fluttershy... ... ...” Rainbow grimaced. Twilight coughed, then turned towards Rainbow Dash. “Really, though, it's... it's charming that you would be so concerned about us, Rainbow. It really is. But you have to remember.” She bore a generous smile. “When I came out of my limbo, I felt as though no time at all had passed by. The transition from my disappearance in Ponyville to my reappearance next to you was practically instantaneously! Sure, I have some... vague memories of being stowed away someplace 'bright' and 'nebulous' over the past several months, but it's all a passing fever dream at best.” “Uh huh...” “What I'm trying to say...” Twilight's eyes narrowed. “Is that you shouldn't have to worry so hard. They're... we're not exactly suffering. And besides.” She smiled gently. “You're gonna get us all out! Eventually!” “Hmmmff... key word on 'eventually.'” “Rainbow...” Twilight sighed. “I can't spear a damn fish, Twilight,” Rainbow grumbled, frowning. “Since when did a stupid oversized eel matter more than all of my friends combined?” “Again, I blame myself, Rainbow. I... I shouldn't have clouded your motivations by... by just being me.” “It's more complicated than that, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “If we're gonna bring one of our friends out of the place where Yaerfaerda's being stowed away, I rather it not be through a baptism of bloody water.” “I know that Ultimo is big, Rainbow, but even a creature of his size can't possess a circulatory system large enough to stain the Atoll's whole lagoon with blood.” “I was being figurative, ya egghead,” Rainbow grunted. “But, still, you get the idea.” Twilight rubbed her chin in thought. “You know... we've never exactly frowned upon fishing.” “Hmmm?” “Back in Equestria, I mean,” Twilight said. “I once read up on the matter. Instinctual griffon rituals kinda... crept its way into Equestrian culture. The topmost habit of which was fishing. Granted, ponies could never dive into lake and snatch up salmon with their talons—” “Yeesh. I don't remember pulling the string on your back.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Point is. There's plenty of fish in the sea. It's not exactly a high crime, harmoniously speaking.” “Please, Twi, don't make goofy arguments just to make me feel good,” the pegasus said. “I know it's a fish. But taking the dang thing out is a lot harder when the moment arrives.” Rainbow took a deep breath. “And I can tell myself that ripping Ultimo to shreds—even if it was possible—wouldn't bother me. It's just that...” “What, Rainbow?” “I dunno.” Rainbow slowly shook her head. “It used to be so easy. Being a badflank, I mean. Way back when my adventure first started, I didn't fear nothing. And... and even with the Jury I had little to no second thoughts over doing what it took to get the job done... risking my neck and all. But now...” She grimaced, squinting out onto the shimmering beacon in the distance. “...now I have... I have a future.” She gulped. “I've got friends to bring back... and an impossible trip to make back to Equestria once I've reached the armory. I mean... I've done a lot of heavy stuff, and I'm sure there's heavier stuff ahead of me, but... but...” “Now you have to live with it all,” Twilight said. Rainbow flashed her a look. “...now we have to live with them all.” Twilight's jaw tightened. “There's a lot of on my plate, Twilight, and I can totally deal with that,” Rainbow said. “But... branding it all on you guys too? I mean, let's face it. You're all attached to me now. Everything I do is on you guys, no matter how I shake it. I can deal with a big bloody fish or a bunch of toothless pirates or disturbing the peace at a seaside college. But just how much will the mountains shake and how well will the likes of Rarity, Fluttershy... or th-the others deal with it? Will they even want to deal with it?” Her nostrils flared. “Will they even have a choice?” “You're loyalty incarnate, Rainbow,” Twilight softly said. “We trust you to do the right thing, no matter what.” “All I can do is the awesome thing, Twi,” Rainbow replied. She slowly shook her head. “But the right thing? There's not enough trust. Not in this world.” Silence. “Well... who said the awesome thing is so terrible?” Twilight said. “Heh...” Rainbow smiled bitterly, gazing into the lagoon. “You've no idea.” “No. For real.” Twilight stood up. She pointed back beyond the treeline through which they had strolled. “Back there. At the bonfire. The Professor was filling the air with stories of your exploits. The ponies were floored, Rainbow Dash! Even when he exaggerated, it didn't come close to how truly awesome youre accomplishments have been!” “Heh...” “You've done amazing things. Impossible things!” Twilight grinned. “And you still can do them! Because you're still you!” “I... can do the impossible again,” Rainbow murmured aloud. “That's right!” Twilight nodded proudly. “And I'll be here to help you through them the best I can—if you even need me.” She winked. “And so will the other girls. You can count on that. Loyalty isn't a one way street, after all.” At this point, Rainbow's lips were scanning the shoreline until she gazed at the western seas where the previous day's hunt had taken place. Her muzzle hung agape in deep thought. “Rainbow?” Twilight squeaked. She arched an eyebrow. “Are you even listening to me?” “Fishing...” Rainbow gritted her teeth. “Fishing...” “Hmmm?” Rainbow looked up at the mare. “All this time, we shouldn't have been hunting Ultimo.” “What... are you even getting at?” “The best thing...” Rainbow smirked. With a flap of her wings, she hopped up to her hooves. “The stupidest thing.” “I... I have no clue what you're talking about.” “Of course. Cuz you're not stupid.” Rainbow stifled a giggle as she began pacing about. “And that's why you wouldn't have survived a single day if it was you who had to gallop east in my place!” “Uhhhhhh... while I feel vaguely insulted, I'm glad you've found a freak bubble of confidence to huff,” Twilight droned. “I guess.” “Heheheheheh...” Rainbow slicked her mane back, grinning wildly. “Friggin' A. Why didn't I think of it before?” “Think of what before?!” Twilight grimaced. “Rainbow, talk to me!” “Can't talk! Can't think!” Rainbow flapped her wings. “Can't do anything but fly until morning time!” “Huh?!” Twilight floated limply after her. “Why not?” “Cuz that's when we can get a boat!” “A boat?” Twilight bit her lip. “Hoboy... do I even want to know?” “Heeheehee!”