Ynanhluutr

by Imploding Colon


Just What Is Your End Game?

“So tell me this at least.” Bard leaned against a wooden beam with a crooked expression across his muzzle. “What was the cotton-pickin' point of the whole meetin'?”

Rainbow Dash sighed, pacing along the edge of the platform. Below her, several pilgrims wove and un-wove a stretch of platform under Sonikah's administration. “I was going to do what you suggested last night. But... like... how does someone even begin a conversation like that?”

Bard glanced over at Wildcard and shrugged. “By just beginnin' the conversation?” he said with a smirk.

Wildcard shrugged, then gobbled down a strip of fishmeat that Galloran had provided, pelican-style.

“Let's be serious for a second, cowcolt,” Rainbow muttered. “To level with 'em... I gotta... y'know... level with 'em!” She gulped. “So I decided to take the opportunity to learn more about the Reed before I told them about what's behind it.”

“And?”

“And... a-and I found out...” Rainbow slumped back on her haunches with a sigh. “I found out the Reed is totally... totally fragile.” She waved a hoof. “Like, a water flea could sneeze on the darn thing and it would go to shreds. All of it.”

“Pffft... you don't know that,” Bard said with a wave of his own hoof.

“I do now!” Rainbow frowned at him. “Because the Luminards know! And they've been knowing for centuries and centuries, dude!”

“Well, assumin' that is the way things are...” Bard shrugged. “...and their super holy shoots are coverin' the metal tower all dense-like from head to hoof, then certainly they'd be the ponies to know how you might go about gettin' through all that!”

“I... I-I don't think there is a way, Bard,” Rainbow murmured, her ears folded back as she gazed nervously upon the glittery waters below. “Kyron and Sonikah went on and on about how—like—a bunch of naughty ponies hacked and ripped parts of the Reed to pieces in the ancient past, only for it to never grow back again. Seems like the Luminards are still super butt-hurt about this, and I'm not exaggerating.”

“Ya sure about that?” Bard smirked.

“Dude...” Sighing, Rainbow stood up and paced the edge of the platform. “I really... really don't want to ruffle any feathers here. I mean... these guys may be a bit on the creepy side... but they're also...” She bit her lip, then blurted: “Super... super nice. And if I step on too many hooves, then who knows if they'll continue to be so?”

“Mind if I ask you a question, Rainbow?”

“Mmmf... shoot.”

“Is there some sort of... I dunno... specific moment from yer past adventures that yer drawin' all of this paranoia from?”

Rainbow shivered slightly.

Bard looked at Wildcard. Wildcard shrugged yet again before downing another strip of fish. “Ahem...” Bard leaned towards Rainbow. “Reckon I already know the answer to that question, huh?”

“Yes and no,” Rainbow mumbled. “I once stumbled upon this place... called Durandana. It's a big crater full of tribal pegasi who've built a self-sustaining commune over the past two or three thousand years.”

“Ah.” Bard nodded. “I do remember ya mentionin' a crater.”

“Well, turns out that the ponies who lived there were really just descendants of a mare from Equestrian history... a very important military general named Commander Hurricane.”

“Whew... Fancy that!”

“Yeah. Only—like—the Durandanans didn't know that! And instead, they...” Rainbow rubbed one leg against another, fidgeting. “...th-they worshipped her. Called her the 'Valkyrie.' And they too saw parts of the Machine World, only they thought it was part of the Valkyrie's holy manifestation n'stuff. It was really crazy.”

Wildcard gulped his last bite and took a moment to hand-gesture.

Bard read: “'And super awkward.' I feel ya, Dubya-Cee.” He turned towards Rainbow Dash. “And what, pray tell, didja tell 'em?”

Rainbow Dash gulped. “The truth.”

“Well!” Bard smiled, tipping his hat. “There ya go! Quite frankly, I dun see what's stoppin' ya in the here and n—”

“It nearly divided their entire culture in half, and at least one of them tried to get me thrown out of the crater altogether in a fit of anger.”

“Oh.” Bard winced. Scratching his chin, he glanced over at Wildcard. “That's... uhm...” He cleared his throat. “A cryin' shame.”

“Don't g-get me wrong!” Rainbow Dash blinked wide. “It all worked out in the end! I was able to convince them of the truth... about Commander Hurricane and Equestria and the nature of this world, but...” She leaned back, wincing. “I... uh... I had a lot of help in doing that.”

“You had them Noble Jury friends of yers, then, right?”

“It was more than that,” Rainbow said firmly. “I had recovered the Sword of Solstice from Commander Hurricane's tomb itself,” she explained, gesturing. “And—even after over a thousand years—it still retained Princess Celestia's solar enchantment. When in contact with sunlight, the weapon bridged a communication with Equestria's monarch.”

“You mean across several continents?”

Rainbow nodded. “Harmonic magic is... very potent on this plane.”

“Heh... no kiddin'.” Bard leaned his hat back. “Reckon that would have been mighty useful, gettin' the Derek Danas to talk with yer supreme Goddess herself.” He smirked. “I'm guessin' it won them over?”

“I... can only hope,” Rainbow said with a shudder. “I... left the Sword with them.”

“Gosh.” Bard blinked. “Talk about sacrifice.”

“As much as I'd like to have Celestia's guidance in my journeys, the Durandanans needed to connect with her even more,” Rainbow said. “When I last left the crater, the pegasi there had more or less mixed into two schools: one that supported regaining their Equestrian heritage, and another that wanted to stick to Valkyrie-worshipping principals. All in all... they were at peace.”

“Whew. Well done, darlin'.” Bard leaned back on his haunches. “Still, I bet there's a part of you that wishes she still had that fancy schmancy sword to convince ponies of the truth.”

“Mmmmm... yeah...” Rainbow paced in a circle. “But, all the same, this isn't Durandana.” She squinted in the sunlight as she trotted around. “There's been an awful lot of magic between there and here. Glowy, talky swords can't work the same everywhere, y'know? What's more, the Luminards... are the Luminards. There's not a single shred of Equestrian blood to be had in them. It'd be like talking to a wall no matter what, even if I did have Celestia's booming voice on my side.”

“So... what yer sayin' is...” Bard waved his hoof. “Yer feelin' like yer stuck at square one.”

“Yeah...” Rainbow slumped to a stop, sighing. “And I don't like it one bit.” She ran a hoof over her mane. “That's... why I kinda want to dig through the Word of Reed while I'm here. Get a better idea of what makes these pilgrims tick.” She looked up, eyes soft and vulnerable. “Even if it's a long shot... approaching them at their square one would be... the kind and considerate thing, ya think?”

“Oh. Totally. But if you beat around the bush too much, Rainbow, then it's gonna grow into a forest all around you.”

“Eugh...” Rainbow groaned. “I know. I know.”

“What do yer marefriends think of all this?”

Rainbow stirred. “They... kinda share my sentiment of going about this as carefully as possible. But I'm sure they all secretly wanna wring my neck.” She smiled awkwardly. “Good thing they've only got ghost limbs, huh?”

“Well... if they respect this angle yer takin'...” Bard shrugged. “...then I'm not one to tell y'all otherwise.” He folded his forelimbs with a sharp stare. “Even still, we ain't dealin' with children here. The Luminards are all adults, and should be treated as such.”

“What... are you even saying, Bard?”

“While it's noble that you wanna do more research, I feel like there's more than you can get out of these folks just through word of muzzle.” He glanced at Wildcard. “Presentin' yerself all honest-like.”

Wildcard nodded, munching.

“I think I just made it clear that trying to tell these ponies straight-up about the machine world and everything wouldn't work like it did with the proto-Equestrians I met—”

“Htt! Mmm!” Bard waved a hoof in her face, silencing her. “Let's not talk ourselves into a silly little circle, now.” He smiled. “I'm on yer side, Rainbow Dash. And if 'cautious' is the name of the game, then I'm ready and rearin' to play ball... for now.” His brow furrowed. “Best ya know that there may come a time when you can't ballet-dance around this.”

“Right...”

“Especially considerin' how blunt you tend to be.”

“Right—” Rainbow's eyes crossed. “Wait, huh?”

Wildcard snickered breathily, nearly choking on some fish.

“It's the goddess-dang truth, Rainbow.” Bard chuckled, holding a hoof up. “I swear. You've got the finesse of a locomotive on stilts. Sometimes, I swear, the only reason you've made it as far as you have in this world is 'cuz yer the Divinely Crown'd Princess of Straight Lines.”

“Yeah...?” Rainbow folded her forelimbs. “And what's wrong with that?” A blink, and she snarled towards an empty space at her side. “Quit laughing, Pinkie!”

“Dubya-Cee and I should be helpin' through all of this mess. Reckon we failed ya the moment we let you go to Kyron to try and chat him up alone.” Bard tapped his chin in thought, then brightened. “What if...?”

“Uh oh...” Rainbow leaned back, wincing. “...why do I already not like the sound of this?”

“Hear me out.” Bard pointed. “What if ya let me go with you this time. We can talk to Kyron together. You can ask him about the Reed n'stuff again, only with me by yer side!”

“That... sounds really cool actually,” Rainbow said. “You have made something of a warm splash with the locals.”

Wildcard gestured something.

“Hmmmph...” Bard blushed slightly. “Rub it in. Both of ya.”

“Odds are, they could open up to you more,” Rainbow said. “But...” She fidgeted slightly. “I... uhm... hmmm...

“What's the matter?”

“Well...” Rainbow sighed. “It's just that... I told Kyron that I would be going to Antsan to ask to see the scrolls and read up on the Word of Reed,” she said, ears twitching. “Wouldn't it seem weird for me to suddenly backtrack and be asking him stuff face to face again?”

“I... dun quite get you.”

“I don't want to come across as really pushy or anything.” Rainbow shrugged. “The last thing I need is to arouse suspicion.”

“Rainbow, you ain't meanin' to do nothin' bad.”

“I know.” Rainbow sighed, gazing down at the platform beneath them. “I know.”

Bard tapped his chin in thought.

Wildcard wiped his break, stood up, and talon-signed.

Bard blinked at him. “... ... ...hrmmm...” He smiled. “Not a bad idea, mofo.”

“What?” Rainbow blinked, standing back up. “What???”

“Leave it all to me, darlin',” Bard said with a slight bow. “This calls for the stallion with the honey'd tongue.”

“Uhhhhh huhhhhhh...” Rainbow squinted at him. A blink, and she frowned aside: “Rarity. Don't you start.”


Rainbow clung to the underside of a particularly large circular platform. So close to the woven structure, her flicking ears could hear the random hoofsteps and shuffles of pilgrims above and below her. The pegasus held her breateh and stuck to the shadows, bracing herself against a wooden support beam that allowed her body a tiny niche within which to hide.

She remained there, gazing down at the shadowed waters of the Quade beneath the multiple platforms, until a pale face emerged from the platform directly above.

“The conversation's starting, darling!” Rarity exclaimed. “Just stay here a little longer!”

“Right.” Rainbow nodded. “I got it. How many ponies are there?”

“Just Kyron,” Rarity said. “Sonikah—it would seem—currently has her hooves full with the weaving projects high above us.” The ghostly fashionista squinted at Rainbow's body. “Are you certain you're comfortable where you are, dear? Perchance you need a flank to lean on?”

“I'm fine,” Rainbow muttered. “Besides... not much you can do to help in that area.”

“Oh... r-right... a-ahem...” Rarity smiled nervously. “Well, try not to over-exert yourself. This hopefully shouldn't take long.”

“Gotcha. Now go,” Rainbow said, waving. She added: “And somepony keep me updated if possible!”

“Affirmative!” Rarity held her breath and flew straight up. She phased... phased... phased through layers of wood and woven Reed, blurring past structures, buildings, bodies. At last, she emerged through the floor of a familiar tiny room with a familiar tiny table. Bard stood on one end, surrounded by Pinkie and Twilight Sparkle.

“Hey Rare-Rare!” Pinkie waved, grinning. “Just in time! The festivities are about to start!”

Rarity cleared her throat, floating closer. “Pinkie, darling, you and I have dramatically different definitions for what is 'festive.'”

“I mean, have you seen these guys' manes?” Pinkie giggle-snorted. “What's not to love about this place?! It's like a rodeo-clown university operating twenty-four-seven up in this treehouse! Heeheehee!”

“Eugh... somehow I don't think this is the sort of observation that I need to be mentally writing down for Rainbow Dash.”

“Shhhh! Both of you!” Twilight insisted, leaning over Bard's shoulder. “I want to hear all of this!”

Kyron shuffled up, taking a deep breath. “Greetings, and a fair afternoon, Mr. Bard,” he said. “I see you're also quite the curious foal of Verlaxion.”

“Eheh...” Bard took his hat off and held it before his chest. “Reckon ya dun get many guests visitin' you with this sort of frequency.”

“Believe me. It fills my heart with great joy,” Kyron said with a smile. “Do not let the tired bones of age full you, my child. I am quite ecstatic over the chance to answer any and all questions.”

“Well, reckon at the end of this conversation, it'll be you askin' a heap'o'questions, Elder.”

Kyron leaned his head to the side. “I'm afraid I don't quite understand, Mr. Bard.” He blinked. “My fellow pilgrims told me that you wished to meet and converse over the Reed.”

“Eeyup. Quite true.” Bard placed his hat on the table—then pointed at it. “Ya mind?”

Kyron waved a gentle hoof.

“Right, then. So...” Bard paced lightly on his end of the dimly-lit room while Twilight and the other two marefriends looked on. “The Reed. Whew... amazin' stuff!” He shuffled to a stop, smiling at the elder. “Grows out of the dead seabed like nopony's business, huh?”

Kyron chuckled slightly. “That is certainly a... unique way of describing Verlaxion's blessing. However, I would easily contend that her business is our business. As the Reed is the vessel through which are prayers are channeled to her so that we may filter out the impurities of our sins.”

“No kiddin'!” Bard smirked. “Imagine that must take a while.”

“Hmmm?”

“Well, I dunno about you, but a full life lived out there? Over the ocean?” Bard shivered slightly. “One's soul gets covered in a fair amount of seagull poop, if ya know what I'm sayin'.”

Rarity and Pinkie shared amused smirks.

Bard chuckled at himself and gazed thoughtfully at the elder. “What I mean to say is... can one half of a lifetime be enough to cover the previous half?”

“Are you considering communion with Verlaxion's glory here in the Quade, Mr. Bard?”

“Oh... heheh... no, not quite,” Bard said, waving a hoof. “I'm just sayin' that I kinda understand the implications of what a mighty-humble journey like that would entail.”

“Your good friend Rainbow Dash has already expressed interest in scouring our scriptural archives,” Kyron said. “I'm pleased that an outsider would so eagerly desire to peruse the Word of Reed.”

“Yeah, she's a curious mare, that Rainbow Dash.” Bard paced again, raising a hoof at one point. “And that brings up somethin' I've been meanin' to ask since I got here.”

“By all means, my child.”

“I've been to many places, ya see?” Bard said. “Seen many ponies. Heard many life stories. Of course, naturally, I run into prophets of the Reed from time to time, summonin' souls to the Quade. Just like in Upper Shoggoth, ya reckon?”

“Indeed.”

“But I also hear the words of other ponies... or—should I say—other believers. After all, these seas are far too sprawlin' and big to contain just one faith and one faith alone.”

“As I am quite aware,” Kyron said with a calm smile. “It is our firm belief that Verlaxion's spirit reaches to all souls.” He exhaled, his ears folding. “It is the unfortunate consequence of sin that many of those ponies are clouded by doubt and deceit, and as such they are drawn to interpret Verlaxion's calling in grossly inaccurrate ways.”

“Is that what you tell—say—Midnighters when they show up here in the Quade?” Bard blinked inquisitively at the old stallion. “From what I've heard, them bat ponies believe in a 'Mother of Nightmares' or some such nonsense.”

Kyron chuckled slightly. “Although we have heard many a tale about the midnight ponies, I'm afraid none have shown up in my lifetime, or in the years of the previous 'Kyron,'” he said. “Nevertheless, our hearts and our love go out to them—and to all ponies who have been led astray, for we know that beneath all of the obscure detritus of spiritual confusion there lies the inspiration that Verlaxion has granted us all.”

“So... in other words...” Bard waved a hoof. “The 'Mother of Nightmares' may just be a mask for the Midnighters to come here and worship Verlaxion?”

“Precisely. And when the time comes that such foals of the Goddess are drawn here, it will be our humble task to commune with them here amongst the Reed.”

“Well, that's just fine and dandy!” Bard said with a grin. “Cuz I happen to have met some deeply devout ponies in my travels. I guess you could call 'em... mmmm... the most loyal ponies you ever did see. They believe in somethin' so strongly that they have traveled hundreds... thousands of miles to find more and more answers to it... searchin' for manifestation and revelation—I suppose you could say.”

“You have me intrigued,” Kyron said, nodding slightly. “Just what are these ponies called?”

“Well, I may have... kinda sorta exaggerrated about there bein' more than one of 'em,” Bard said with a chuckle. He rubbed the back of his head and rambled, “It was only just one pony that I met. And, for lack of a better term, I suppose you could call their organization... the 'Church of Austraeoh!'”

Twilight face-hoofed while Pinkie Pie giggled.

“Oh, just relax, Twilight.” Rarity patted Twilight's shoulder. “I think it's a rather charming term.”

“It's a fully loaded one, if you ask me,” Twilight grumbled.

“Shhhh!” Pinkie squeaked hoarsely. “They're continuing the chatting-nooga-choochoo!”

“A most curious title,” Kyron said, leaning his head aside with a thoughtful expression. “Is that truly how it's pronounced?”

Bard shrugged wildly. “Hey. I haven't had many occasions to practice the tongue-twister myself. But dun matter none. What struck me about this... Austraeoh pony is that she believed in somethin' wild-soundin' called the 'Spark.' Somethin' nebulous and harmonic-like that powers up the world we all live on.”

“I see...”

“And this darn nebulous Spark thang done dragged her across half the world! Past continents... past oceans... even past the Blight!”

Kyron's brow furrowed. “Past... the Blight? But... nopony can survive such a crossing...”

“I know! Talk about miracles, eh?” Bard smirked. “Ya might be surprised, Elder. Lots of stuff has been happenin' outside these woven walls. Word in the harbor is that the Blight's completely disappeared! Ponies are able to travel west beyond Kihutaja and the Colonialist waters!”

“Truly a mark of Verlaxion's divination, if indeed it has transpired!” Kyron remarked, breathless.

“Oh, to you and me, most definitely! But to this... Austraeoh pony... it's just a natural consequence of her travels.”

“I... am afraid I don't understand.”

“Heck. Me neither. But from what she told me, the Spark that's been drivin' her across the world has the power to move mountains. And this is all because she believed—whole heartedly from what I could tell—that the Spark is just a manifestation of a gigantic layer of highly religious relics lyin' deep beneath the world's surface. In fact, if what she said has any hope of bein' true, then all of us here in Rohbredden and the seas beyond are all parked atop a giant sheet of metal machinery! Older than time itself! Whew!” Bard smirked. “Talk about wild!”

“I must admit, I find her outlook to be quite imaginative,” Kyron said with a kind smile. “The sheer scope of it almost drowns out the sorrow I feel for how misled she's been.”

Twilight winced.

“Shhhh...” Rarity insisted. “Allow Mr. Bard to carry his weight...”

“Well, as you can imagine, I took all of her ramblings with a grain of salt,” Bard said. “After all, I've been taught since I was a lil' cowpoke that Verlaxion and her mercy runs the world. Not some... cold-hearted machinery. So, I didn't pay it much mind...” Bard swiveled about, hooves scuffling against the woven floor. “...but then I saw it for myself.”

Kyron blinked. “Saw what for yourself, Mr. Bard?”

“Machines,” Bard said. “Very... very old machines... deep beneath Shoggoth.” He continued in a firm, serious tone. “Chambers of glowing metal were lyin' down there, undisturbed for centuries, until my friends and I were lucky enough to stumble upon them. And suddenly—what seemed like a lot of hooey to me... started to make a lick of sense.”

“And this... drew conviction in your heart?”

“Heh...” Bard smoothed back his bangs. “With all the crazy thangs that I've witnessed in this life, you'd be surprised just how much of it I'd be willin' to shrug off. In truth, I didn't obsess over it none. But then I came here. And Rainbow Dash got to talkin' to me and... well...” His eyes narrowed. “I suppose t'ain't no sense in dancin' around the fact. Rainbow did some snoopin' around yesterday, didn't she?”

“Mmmm... indeed.” Kyron nodded. “Menthe observed her making an unwarranted visit to the upper shrines. And then our fellow pilgrim Antsan confessed to having chatted quite extensively with the mare.” Kyron shook his head with a smile. “I do not fault Rainbow Dash. After all, her curiosity is quite refreshing. I cannot harbor discontent for any foal of Verlaxion who comes here, seeking nothing but the truth.”

“Really...” Bard droned, his eyes gazing at the space next to him. “Y'all dun say...”

“Uhhhhh...” Twilight blinked.

“I do believe he is attempting give us an emphatic glance, dear,” Rarity said.

BARRRRD!” Pinkie waved wildly. “WE'RE OVER HERE!

“Eugh... Pinkie...”

YOU'RE DOING GREAT, COWCOLT!” Pinkie grinned wide. “KEEP IT UP!

As her yelling voice dissipated, Bard could be heard once again: “Well, I ain't gonna lie. She dun told us about the stuff she saw while she was in there.” He shrugged while pacing. “I mean, who could blame us? Dubya-Cee and I was curious too! We just... didn't have the guts like Rainbow did to do somethin' so forward-like.”

Kyron chuckled lightly. “If it was for the same motive, believe me, Verlaxion's grace would forgive you both all the same.”

“Shucks. Yer too kind.”

The elder bowed with a smile. “So I've been told.”

“And, to the point, Rainbow told us a lot of thangs. But the one that got me the most was...” He came to a stop, turning to face Kyron fixedly once again. “...she done saw an entire strip of metal beyond the Reed.” He blinked. “I'm talkin' behind it... way high up along the so-called 'upper shrines.' And—naturally—my head goes back to the stories this one mare of 'Austraeoh' had told me about the 'Spark.' And I gets to thinkin'... 'What if this is that same metal mystery that I saw deep beneath Shoggoth?'” Bard gulped. “'What if... just what if what both the Austraeoh pony said and the Luminards say are right all along? And that Verlaxion's glory here amidst the Reed and the pieces of a strange metal world may all be... one in the same?'

Twilight, Pinkie, and Rarity leaned forward, nervously biting their lips.

Kyron stared in silence.

Bard cleared his throat. “Am... am I just ramblin' here?” He smiled bashfully. “Or was Rainbow just imaginin' thangs when she saw that... all that metal?

“Trust me, Mr. Bard,” Kyron said. “We are more than aware of the metal beyond the Reed.”

Twilight and Rarity blinked.

“Wowsies...” Pinkie swiveled to gaze at the other two. “He sure answered that quick!”

“And, if you were to dive deep enough within the Quade, you would likely notice more of the curious substance,” Kyron added with a calm expression. “Our archives hold carefully detailed observations of what lies beneath the water and limestone.”

“Huh...” Bard leaned back on his haunches, blinking. “Reckon... I-I didn't expect you to know a thang about this machine layer stuff.”

“Oh, we haven't had a reason to call it 'machinery,'” Kyron said with a slight chuckle. “Not until now, at least. For, in truth, Mr. Bard, it doesn't not particularly matter to us what the substance is or who put it there.”

“Uhhh...” Bard blinked. “It don't?”

“It doesn't?” Twilight murmured aloud.

Kyron nodded. “Much of Luminar's past is a mystery to us. The only thing we know—and the only truth that matters—is that the ponies who lived here... much like the ponies who've lived everywhere... were guilty of sin, arrogance, and apathy. It's just that the particular souls who dwelled here in Luminar directly rejected the Goddess Verlaxion's offer for peace and communion. For their transgressions, this land fell into shadow and became the Quade. The presence of this... ghostly metal is yet another glinting piece of the gravestone they've reduced this continent to.”

“So... from y'all's perspective...” Bard waved a hoof. “...the metal is just somethin' left behind by evil ponies.”

“We prefer to use the term 'misguided,'” Kyron said with a smile. “No doubt the artificial substance once served a purpose to sinful ponies living wayward lives. However, the Reed serves an even mightier purpose. A holier one.” He bowed his head slightly. “We see no greater evidence than the sheer fact that the Reed—its growth ushered through Verlaxion's power alone—has covered almost the entirety of the ancient material you speak of. Even today, after so many countless eons, the Goddess' glory seeks to bury the sins of Luminar, no matter how heinous.”

“But... from what Rainbow said,” Bard remarked, “There're still some parts of the Reed where you can see through to the metal.”

“Indeed.” Kyron nodded, still smiling. “As it is Verlaxion's righteous will to remind us of the Reed's purpose and the sin we're meant to purge through labor, pain, and prayer. We firmly believe that the exposed bits of the shoots are there to allow us greater meditation, which is precisely why we've constructed our chapels and prayer stalls around them.”

“Wait...” Bard leaned forward, eyebrow raised. “There's more than one spot where the Reed thins?

“Mmmm... yes.” Kyron trotted up to the table and leaned his old limbs against it. “Down in the lower platforms especially. There are even spots where a pilgrim can see her or his reflection in the ancient metal's sheen. We've called these sanctified spots 'Luminar's Windows.'”

“Did you hear that...?” Rarity gasped, glancing at the other two. “There are even bigger holes in the Reed!”

“I bet Dashie could even fit her awesome fuzzy head through!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Precisely what I'm thinking!” Rarity waved a hoof. “Quick! Go tell the mare, darling!”

Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie chimed, winding her body up to zip away.

Wait!” Twilight yanked Pinkie back by her tail and gestured towards the conversation. “Don't go yet. I think we're about to hear more...”

“Well, that's... mighty mind-blowin',” Bard said. “Any chance... uhm...”

“Yes?” Kyron asked.

“I mean... I-I'm plum curious whether or not this here metal behind 'Luminar's Windows' is the same thang I aw before in Shoggoth,” Bard said. “Any chance—by yer grace—I might be able to go and have a look-see.”

Kyron exhaled slowly. “I am sorry, my child.” He shook his head. “But such cannot be allowed.”

“Really?” Bard asked. “If ya dun mind me askin'—how come?”

“These areas... these 'windows'... are the holiest of holies in the entirety of the Quade,” Kyron explained. “Not just because of the metal substance, mind you, but because of their position so close to the foundation of the Reed.” He gulped. “You must understand. The exposure to Luminar's Plight is raw and... unpredictable there. The sins of Luminar are in full display, and the effects that such damnable karma have on a spirit is most harrowing.”

“In...” Bard grimaced slightly. “...wh-what way?”

“It is not a concern for the uninitiated,” Kyron said bluntly. “Please. Do not take it as an affront to your character, Mr. Bard. But only the most highly anointed foals of Verlaxion are allowed in those hallowed woven halls. Even I—myself—was not allowed in those lower chapels until shortly before I became 'Kyron.' There are many under my protection who are not allowed. In fact, the majority of pilgrims here are not granted access. You must understand... it is moreso for their protection than the Reed's. It takes a deeply concentrated and dedicated spirit—humble to the last—to surpass the dark energies that threaten to undermine the growth that Verlaxion's miracle has achieved.”

“Yeah...” Bard smoothed his bangs back, nodding. “I heard Rainbow go on and on about how darn fragile the Reed is.”

“We believe that prior mistakes of negligent pilgrims in the past are mostly responsible for the thinning of the Reed in those lower levels,” Kyron said, his expression grave. “The first few Kyron's to have overseen meditation here in the Reed were prone to mistakes and backsliding. It took a good century or two before our penitence made up for our frailties. Thankfully, the damage caused by Luminar's lingering sin was staved off, and though the missing shoots of the Reed can never grow back, we rejoice in Verlaxion's grace that the rest of the miraculous material has remained healthy and whole.” He then smiled. “In meditation, we must never forget our mistakes, lest we commit them again in the same arrogance as those who attempted serving Verlaxion before us.”

“I see...” Bard's gaze wandered off, incidentally passing through the three ghostly mares.

“This... 'pony of the Church of Austraeoh' of whom you speak of...” Kyron strolled closer to Bard. “She is right to fixate on the metal that has somehow been granted to her in a vision. To me, it sounds quite like a sign of Verlaxion's divine intervention. That 'Spark' she speaks of can only be the fires of humble conviction burning deep in her being. It's both saddening and yet inspiring, for I like to believe that there is hope for a soul as lost as hers. In addition, I do believe the same spirit that's drawn this mare across the lengths of the world has similarly drawn you and your griffon companion to the Quade. Sometimes, Verlaxion chooses to summon us through the most unlikely of devices... including the ancient detritus of past sins.” He smiled. “It fills me with great joy that—after so much searching and flying—you have found yourself in such a deep and contemplative conversation with a humble pilgrim such as myself. I would like to believe that the same will occur one day with the enthusiastic mare you once met in your travels.”

“Yeah...” Bard gulped. “Imagine that...”

“You and I, Mr. Bard,” Kyron spoke. “We have a great responsibility in this life. We're responsible for the well-being of others and their loved ones. However, in the end, the only pony who can save her or his own soul is that very same pony themselves. Through example, we may be able to inspire the responsibility towards self and others in the ones closest—as well as most distant—to us.”

“Right. Sure.” Bard nodded. “But... what if...”

“Yes...?”

“What if... this pony... this Church of Austraeoh pony...” Bard looked up, his eyes narrow. “What if what she believes and what Verlaxion manifests are both true?”

Kyron merely blinked.

Bard continued: “What if... there is a Spark behind the Reed... within this old, ancient metal left over by Luminar. And...” He fidgeted where he stood. “What if it was Verlaxion's will for her... t-to get to it? To get beyond the Reed? So that she may commune with the Spark.” He gulped again, smiling sheepishly. “As sh-she wishes it?”

Twilight and Rarity winced.

Pinkie—eyes on Bard—leaned over. She grasped Twilight's hoof and face-palmed it over her own muzzle.

“That... would not be in accordance with the Word of Reed,” Kyron breathed—practically droned. The confusion was evident in every gray contour of his face. “I cannot fathom why Verlaxion would will something so... extraordinary. It would undermine every blessing that she's given us. It would negate the very miracle that has grown here in the Quade.”

“Well, if it's somethin' extraordinary, then perhaps that'd make it a miracle in and of itself!” Bard remarked.

Kyron chuckled.

“I mean... ain't it at least possible for Verlaxion to will such a thing?”

“Mr. Bard, my child...” Kyron gently rested a hoof on the stallion's shoulder. “I admire your enthusiasm... as well as your passion for understand. You seek the truth. Well, the truth is what I'm here to provide. And I assure you... there is nothing beyond the Reed—save for that which Verlaxion has sought to bury. I speak, of course, of the sins and mistakes of Luminar, the very source of suffering and upheaval here in the Quade. If there was no Plight in the first place, then the Reed would never have a reason to grow... or to draw us here into meditation so that we may further commune with Verlaxion's glory.”

“So... in other words... you dun think it's possible for—”

“Mr. Bard, I know it isn't possible.”

“But...” Bard wheezed, growing more and more frazzled. “Have you at least met the Goddess Verlaxion in person? Has she dun told you this?”

“Wreep! Wreeep!” Pinkie waved her hooves while the other two mares cringed. “Warning! Warning! Step off the question train, Mr. Bard!”

Kyron smiled at him. “I entreat Verlaxion every minute of every day, and she speaks to my spirit, Mr. Bard. This is not because I'm anointed... or because of the way I present myself. It's simply because I've cast my dout aside and humbled myself before her Glory... just as I committed to years and years ago. It all started with reading and taking heed to the Word of Reed, much like your friend Rainbow Dash has elected to do.” Kyron leaned back, grinning from ear to ear. “If you want my advice, my child—I suggest you join her.”


“Soooooooooooooooooo...” Rainbow's voice cracked as she hovered in a circle above the sun-lit platform. “...long story short, it didn't work.”

“Eeeeeeugh...” Bard waved the dust off his hat and plopped it on his head with a surly glare. “It didn't work and a half.”

Wildcard snorted.

Bard pointed at him. “And don't you even start.”

Rainbow gestured at the three mares hovering at her side. “Twilight and the others told me all that was said.” Her eyes narrowed. “I thought you were Tartarus-bent on telling them all about Urohringr'n'crud.”

“Well, judgin' from how consarn nervous you was about the whole matter, I figured that I might settle for a sorta half-way thang. Y'know, all diplomatic-like.” Bard shrugged. Hard. “And, besides... even if I did decide to go full-saddle...” He narowed his eyes on the mare. “Ain't exactly my place, ya reckon?”

Rainbow sighed heavily, running a hoof over her face. “Eeeeeeeuuuu-yeahhhhh...”

“Don't feel so bad, Rainbow,” Twilight said, hovering close. “I listened to the whole thing. I, for one, believe that Bard chose the most strategic way to ask about the Reed and the machine world beneath it.”

“Yeah!” Pinkie nodded. “Except for the part at the very end where he totally fumbled over himself like a goofy kid losing at a spelling bee—” A white, diamond-emblazoned flank whapped her in the side. “Ooof!”

Rarity cleared her throat, then looked over at Rainbow Dash. “Still, we learned some crucial information.” She hovered closer. “Especially about these 'Luminar's Windows' located down below.”

“Yes!” Twilight exclaimed, glancing at Rainbow with a bright expression. “Remember the spot you saw inside the chapel where the metal was exposed? Well, according to Kyron, there are parts located in the lower chapels where even more of the tower is visible!”

“Who knows, Dashie?” Pinkie grinned. “Maybe you can find a way to Fluttershy through one of these lookie-lookie holes!”

“Uhhhhh...” Rainbow's muzzle scrunched. “Is there any reason for us to believe that the gaps in the Reed is that big?”

“Well...” Pinkie's ears folded back. “No. I guess not.”

“Besides...” Rarity sighed. “Kyron made it quite clear that those particular chapels are off-limits to outsiders. Even several of the meditating pilgrims themselves.”

“Rarity's right,” Twilight said, nodding. “Only Kyron and a select few are allowed in those areas.”

“So, in other words,” Rainbow muttered. “I can't get close enough to see the exposed tower for myself.”

“I'm afraid not.”

Rainbow slumped down onto the woven platform, sighing. “Great. Just wonderful.”

“Uhm...” Bard shuffled forward. “Sorry to butt-in on yer super important conversation with the ghost girls, but...” He shrugged. “What exactly do ya aim to do next? I mean, reckon we could volunteer Dubya... make it his turn to go up there and sweet-talk Kyron's ear off, but I doubt even the elder of this place will have patience for a squawking chatterbox like him.”

Wildcard rolled his goggled eyes.

“Mmmmff...” Rainbow rubbed her forehead, staring down at the Quade's shallow waters far below. “... ... ...” She blinked. “What was Kyron's attitude when you left him.”

Bard shrugged. “Happy. Granted, he always seems happy. And calm.” He adjusted his hat. “He seemed mighty keen on you for offerin' to look over their Word of Reed n'such.”

“Honestly...” Rarity groaned. “Haven't we ingratiated ourselves to these monks enough?” She glanced at Rainbow with a crooked frown. “I'd say we should just go up to them—by 'we' I mean you and the Desperadoes—and simply ask for a way to go beyond the Reed. Surely, if it was possible, they would know how!”

“But Rarity!” Pinkie pouted. “From the sound of things, they don't want us meddling with their... metal!”

“It's not their metal,” Rainbow grumbled.

“That's not an easy thing to convince them of, Rainbow,” Twilight said. “They've been protecting the Reed outside of it for thousands and thousands of years. I doubt they've even entertained the idea of seeking a way through it... much less actually attempting explore the metal beyond.”

“Yes, they do seem rather disgusted at the mere sight of the ancient substance,” Rarity added.

“So what's the big problem really?” Pinkie said.

“Uhhhhh...” Rarity smiled nervously. “I do believe we have just listed them all, and copiously so, darling.”

“Sooooo?” Pinkie grinned. “What's the harm in us finding out more?”

“Not sure we can find out more,” Rainbow muttered.

“Well, not with that attitude!” Pinkie stuck her tongue out, then danced in place. “Think think think! Why do religious ponies keep scripture?”

“So that way not everything is praise and worship?” Rainbow shrugged. “I dunno.”

“Every organized religion needs rules,” Twilight said.

“Yup yup yup!” Pinkie leaned towards Twilight, grinning. “And where there are rules...”

“... ... ...” Twilight's eyes lit up. “There are loopholes!”

“Seriously?” Rarity winced slightly. “Isn't that a bit of a stretch?”

“Well, it's certainly worth a shot.” Twilight looked at Rainbow. “Well? How about it?”

“How about what?”

“You were wanting to look into the Word of Reed anyways,” Twilight said. “Maybe... just maybe we can find something that will aid us!”

“Twilight, no offense to you or any of the ponies doing the whole ascetic disco above and below us, but...” Rainbow stood up with a tired groan. “...I'm not exactly planning on communing with Verlaxion anytime soon.” Her nostrils flare. “Believe me. I know my sins. I think I can deal on my own.”

“But what about communing with Fluttershy?” Twilight asked, her voice taking on an ardent, breathy tone. “Rainbow, I refuse to believe that Yaerfaerda's leading us here just to run into a dead-end! I mean... look at the past! Pursuing Yaerfaerda has only produced good results before!”

“Erm...” Rainbow squirmed, avoiding the unicorn's gaze. “I... g-guess...”

“In Kihutaja... Nealend... Rust and Shoggoth... you've been led to do amazing, awesome things!” Twilight beamed. “And for better or for worse, this has left the world in your wake a great deal more harmonious!” She giggled. “Wasn't it true for you and the Jury as well?”

“Uhhhh...”

Twilight turned to Pinkie and Rarity. “Did you know that Rainbow and her friends single-hoofedly stopped a changeling takeover in a deer kingdom named Val Roa?”

“Oh yeah!” Pinkie bounced in place. “I remember that story!”

“That was where Chrysalis gave herself up peacefully, am I correct?” Rarity asked, eyelashes fluttering.

“And where that real prince and that fake princess got together and did the nuzzle-cuddle!” Pinkie giggled. “Heeeee! So cuuuuuute! Also goblins and explosions!”

“Twilight...” Rainbow cleared her throat. “Girls, I—”

“Autraeoh is destined to restore that which was lost in the Sundering, right?” Twilight twirled about to face Rainbow. “Well, I think it's all becoming clear to me now! If the Midnight Armory is your waypoint in restoring the Elements, then that must mean that Harmony is a key part of Austraeoh's journey! We are... we are your invisible Eljunbyro, Rainbow!” Twilight lifted a hoof, giggling joyfully. “What else are we here for than to make sure you get back Fluttershy and Applejack... restore the rest of Eljunbyro... and assist the Spark in jump-starting the broken world? If Harmony is on our side, then we're just bound to find a solution to this mess and all the ones to follow! Just like I was bound to find the Elements in Ponyville to begin with!”

“Sure, Twilight, but... but you gotta understand.” Rainbow scratched her head, wincing. “Not... everything is quite so easy.”

“Well... pffft... of course not, Rainbow. After all, we've seen that for ourselves!”

“No. You haven't.” Rainbow frowned. “You girls have no idea how... how...” She gazed at them, her words trailing.

Pinkie, Twilight, and Rarity smiled back, their eyes blinking brightly.

“... ... ...” Rainbow swallowed a lump down her throat. “...how... h-how much I've... n-needed you girls in making this j-journey...” She smiled, leaning back to hide the thick drops of sweat collecting along her temple. “So... uh... if you really th-think that there's a loophole to be found in the scripture...”

“Oh Rainbow...” Twilight rushed forward. “You can depend on us! We'll help you get over this hump! If we all put our heads together, I'm certain we can figure out a way to get you down into those chapels with the Luminards' permission!”

“Now that's the spirit!” Rarity smiled. “These paragons of zealotry are most kind, after all. They've given us plenty of opportunities to work hoof-in-hoof with them before! Surely that will be of utmost assistance to us now!”

“What's goin' on, darlin'?” Bard asked as he and Wildcard leaned forward. “You look like yer in the eye of a storm.”

“Errr...” Rainbow smiled bashfully, scratching her neck. “We're... kinda having a team huddle at the moment.”

“Oh yeah?”

Oh yeahhhhh!” Pinkie Pie flew through the air. “Woohoo! Scripture diving! Here we go!”


An hour later...

Surrounded by dim candle-light and dust...

Pinkie Pie stood in place, shuddering slightly as she gazed left and right with a sheepish expression.

“Woohoo...” She whimpered, chuckling nervously while her eyebrows wagged. “...scripture diving... here we go...”

“Try not to be too enthusiastic, darling,” Rarity droned.

“Shhhh!” Twilight hissed, hovering enthusiastically over a rickety wooden table in the center of the Luminards' two-story archives. “He's coming with the scrolls!”

Who's coming with the scrolls?” Rainbow whispered. She looked aside, then saw a flash of wirey red mane-hair. “Oh buck me with a Darkstine tower...”

Shhhhhhh!” Twilight hissed again. Smiling wide, she spun around, squatting weightlessly atop the table's edge while her violet tail wagged.

“Mrmmff...” Antsan hobbled over, then dumped a thick thick pile of dust-laden scrolls over the tabletop as ceremoniously as he could manage. “Whew! I haven't carried that much since I was just an initiate! Heheh!”

“Good thing all your muscle is above your shoulders,” Rainbow droned.

“Hmmm?”

Ahem...” Rainbow bore a plastic smile as she scooted into a chair and grabbed the first of many scrolls. “Much thanks, Antsan. I'm certain that these texts will be... ... ... super enlightening.”

“Verlaxion's speed to you and your enthusiastic curiosity,” Antsan said with a far more sincere grin. “This marks the very first time I've been blessed to fulfill my role as record-keeper with an outsider.”

“Oh really.”

“Indeed. Most pilgrims carry around their own selections of scripture, thus not necessitating a trip down here unless they happen to be engaging in a group study.” Antsan pointed. “You'll find that the handles on the scrolls mark the order of the biblical text, from first anointed writing to last. These, of course, are the tenth translations. The original scripture lies in safe holding down in the lower chapels, where they are safe.”

“In the same place as Luminar's Windows, I'm guessing.”

“How... ... ...” Antsan blinked his ice blue eyes several time. “... ... ...did you hear... of those?

“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhh...”

Rarity hissed into Rainbow's ear: “'My, your braids are the most remarkable shade of crimson!'”

“My!” Rainbow grinned, twitching. “Your braids are the most remarkable shade of crimson!” A beat. She briefly grimaced in Rarity's direction. The ghostly fashionista shrugged.

“Why, thank you,” Antsan remarked with a slight smile. “According to Kyron, however, I mustn't revel in the colorization that remains in my mane, no matter how bright, for such is the road to vanity and it is lined with many thorns.”

“Yeah...” Rainbow Dash glanced at his barbed hooflets. “Heaven forbid you bump into any brambles.”

“Perhaps, in studying the texts, you too will become well acquainted with the divine path that Verlaxion has set before us.”

“Right. So... uh... where do I start—?”

“For your mane is most colorful, indicative of a curious-yet-complicated mind. And the more convoluted the soul, the more easily it is ensnared by the distractive, divisive sins that have plagued you since conception—”

Ahem. Starting point?!?

“Oh! Right...” Antsan leaned forward and pointed at a particularly large scroll. “That would be the Book of Plight I... followed by the Book of Plight II... which—of course—is followed by First and Second Kyron... then Songs of the Luminar... then Book of Plight III...”

“Wait...” Rainbow blinked. “Why... w-would the Third Book be so far separated from the first two—?”

“...then after that is Third and Fourth Kyron. And then the Verlaxion Psalms.” He winked. “That one's my favorite.”

“Uh huh.”

“Followed by Wages of the Plight, Redemption of the Plight, Revelations of the Plight, Fifth Kyron, and then...”


“Mmmmm-mmmmnnnghhhh-ghhhhhhhh-phweeeeeeee...” Rainbow moaned and moaned into the tabletop.

“Shhhhh!” Twilight Sparkle hissed, her eyes thoroughly scanning the open scroll laying before them. “You'll break my concentration!”

“Twilight... what on earth could you possibly be concentrating on?!” Rainbow moaned. She glanced over at the candle by her side, and the third wick since she started had already been burned down two-thirds of its wax length. “It's been—like—four whole horus—”

“Six!” Twilight sing-songed while her electric eyes darted across the pages.

Six!” Rainbow wheezed. “Six whole hours of nothing but super-long paragraphs describing how to properly bathe your sackcloth!”

“Uhhhh...” Twilight upturned her nose. “If you've been paying any attention, Rainbow, that little detail was situated at the very beginning of Third Kyron.”

“So what if it was at the beginning of Third Toilet?! What's it gotta do with me getting any closer to the Reed?!”

“Honestly, do you only ever pay attention to the opening chapters of these books?” Twilight asked. “I feel like you've been doing too much flying during your journey and not enough reading. Didn't you and the Jury have a super important book at one time? Full of ancient runes and stuff?”

“Yeah, but it was a little bit hard to read.” Rainbow made a twisty face. “Seeing as it spent most of its time hovering smack-dab in the center of Props' big glowy engine core.”

“Excuses excuses...” Twilight sighed, scanning the pages again with a delirious grin. “Don't worry. I'll do the reading for all of us. Just scroll when I ask you to. Like now.”

“Huh?”

Scroll..”

“Mmmrff... fiiine.” Rainbow rolled the length of the scroll along, revealing several more columns of paragraphs. “There. Ya happy?”

“Heeeeeeeeeeeee...!” Twilight wriggled where her ghostly body was pirched. “So... much... ancient... goodness!” She nearly drooled. “I swear, the absolute oodles of cultural lore here is setting my brain on fire!”

“Well, I'm glad it's working so well for you,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “I can't even get my head to push past it. I mean, is it really that important to know which Kyron anointed which over the course of four hundred years?”

“A lot of those elders were principal figures mentioned in Verlaxion's Psalms.”

“And... seriously, though!” Rainbow frowned. “Was anypony hired to edit this stuff?! I mean, if I see one more 'And it came to pass,' I'm gonna shove my skull through a wall!”

“If you want to find a way for these pilrims to open their hearts, then we have to find a way to open our minds. That includes you too, Rainbow.” Twilight leaned back. “Scroll.”

“Ugh...” Rainbow slid the sheet of paper forward. “How can you read so fast?”

“Very... very happily.” Twilight stifled a giggle. “How about the girls? How are they doing?”

“Uhhhm...” Rainbow looked over her shoulder. “Pinkie Pie?”

“Duaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah...” Pinkie's ghost lay on the floor with her legs stuck up like a fuchsia cockroach. “Soooooooo borrrrrredddd...”

“Yup.” Rainbow looked over her other shoulder. “Rarity?”

Stifling a yawn, the fashionista drifted over. “I have full faith in Twilight's learned abilities to find relevant needles in a superfluous haystack. But, even still, I have to ask...” She leaned over the lavender bookworm's shoulder. “...are you certain you haven't accidentally breezed over anything important, darling?”

“Pretty certain,” Twilight said, eyes still scanning. “I know all of this text seems very thick to you girls, but I've read through things at the Canterlot Royal Library in an evening that make this look like a candy bar catalogue by comparison.”

“Gasp!” Pinkie gasp'd, sitting up straight. “Did somepony say 'candy bars?!'”

“Just a figure of speech, Pinkie,” Rarity cooed. “Nothing to be alarmed about.”

“Awwwwwww.” Pouting, Pinkie fwomped back onto the floor, nearly phasing through. “Those are the worst kinds of figures!”

“Just for the sake of curiosity...” Rainbow gestured. “Tell us anything remotely interesting that you've found.”

“Well...” Twilight straightened her bangs, reading at a much slower rate as she talked. “The 'metal beyond the reed' was mentioned twice.”

“Oh?” Rainbow blinked.

“Mmmhmmm. Once when mentioning the repentance of the first Kyron, the second time... detailing how that same first Kyron established the sanctuaries around the Reed.”

“Oh.” Rainbow's body deflated.

“Time and time again, the scriptures detail how the prayer stalls around the Reed must be 'kept pure,'” Twilight explained. “If exposed to sin, the shoots risk further decay. And if part of the Reed is destroyed, it threatens the entire structure.”

“Good grief...” Rarity leaned back, fanning herself. “These ponies certainly are paranoid over their sacred plant!”

“But maybe they have a reason to, Rare-Rare!” Pinkie sat up, muzzle twisted. “Didn't ya hear Kyron gabbin' it up earlier about how the rest of the Reed that grew out here got destroyed!” She gestured with her hooves. “A bunch of naughty ponies who didn't know what they were doing were givin' it the whack whack whack!! Boom! Now there's only one tower of Reed!”

“Yes, but don't you think it's a rather startling coincidence that the one remaining cluster of shoots all gathered around the metal tower here?” Rarity remarked, gesturing. “After all, what came first?! The metal tower or the Reed? Or the pilgrims for that matter!”

“Hmmmmmmm...” Pinkie squinted. “What are you trying to saaaaay?”

“Don't use that silly tone with me!” Rarity frownded, folding her forelimbs. “I just think that—perhaps—the Luminards are misguided!”

“Yeah,” Rainbow grumbled into her hoof. “No crap.”

“I'm speaking on a practical level!” Rarity exclaimed, turning to look at both Pinkie and Rainbow. “Maybe they're right about a lot of things, but they got the details mixed up about the Reed! I mean, we are talking about thousands and thousands of years of passing time. It's only reasonable that they'd get their facts confused!”

“Yeah, but the problem is—regardless of the facts—they've chosen to worship the Reed like it's super mega holy.”

“Scroll,” Twilight said.

Rainbow shoved the paper along and turned towards Rarity again. “And—like—because they're dead-set in their minds that the Reed is sacred, they're not going to experiment with it at all.”

“Experiment?” Pinkie blinked. “Like how?”

“If... I do read Rainbow's intent correctly...” Rarity cleared her throat. “I'd go as far as to suggest that the Luminards risk removing part of the Reed to see if the consequences are nearly as dire as they've believed all these years!”

What?!?” Pinkie's jaw dropped. “No no no no no no! You can't ask them to do that!

“But Pinkie... just think of the possibilities!” Rarity gestured. “If the Luminards can be shown that their Reed isn't some magically vulnerable super plant—”

“It's not about the silly plant!” Pinkie frowned. “That's simply asking too much of them!”

Rainbow frowned. “It's asking too much of a pony to analyze their own faith with a healthy intent?”

“That's not it, Dashie! Just...” Pinkie leaned back, her eyes glossy. “Think of what Fluttershy would do.”

“What...?” Rainbow blinked blankly. “What does that have to do with anything?”

Hello?! Equestria to Dashie?! It has everything to do with everything!” Pinkie waved a hoof. “I mean, why else are we here, silly?!”

“Pinkie, I need to get our friend out of this place!” Rainbow said, pointing in the direction of Yaerfaerda's dim glow. “For 'Austraeoh' to finish her journey and save Urohringr, we need Fluttershy! And this stupid tower and this even stupider Reed is in the way!”

“No.” Pinkie smiled camly. “It's the Luminards who are in the way! Don't you see?” She floated over, phased through the table, and pointed past the nearest wall. “It's not this big tower of shoots that's got us all bogged down! It's the ponies protecting it! And if we want another beacon of Harmony givin' ya a helpin' hoof, then we gotta do it the Harmonious way! The way Fluttershy would do it!” She giggled, then smiled, cheeks flushed. “It starts to make sense... as soon as it st-stops not making sense.” She gulped. “Make sense?”

Rainbow blinked.

“I... do feel that Fluttershy would desire for us to be patient,” Rarity stammered. “And not to rush things. In fact...” She gulped, smiling sheepishly. “She'd want us to act like these monks right here—the very model of patience and virtue.”

“Yeah.” Rainbow scooted back in her chair as she glared at Rarity. “And imagine if we all acted like the Luminards back in Equestria. Nightmare Moon would be ruling over the entire plane with nighttime eternal if we all just stayed in our homes, flogging ourselves to dusty old scripture.”

“Ouch.” Pinkie winced.

“And don't start suggesting that Fluttershy's way is the way of Harmony,” Rainbow said, rolling her eyes. “Would you like all of Ponyville and Equestria covered in dragon smoke for a hundred years? Guess what! If we all did what 'Fluttershy would have done,' that's what we would have allowed that big bad hibernating dragon to get away with!”

“Now Rainbow,” Rarity frowned. “That's a little harsh. And—given the situation—a tad bit out of context, don't you think?”

“Girls...” Twilight droned.

“Out of context?!” Rainbow gestured at Pinkie Pie. “I'm not the one putting it into context! Yeah, these guys who are worshipping the Reed here might be super nice, polite, n'stuff... but the fact of the matter is—they're preventing us from doing something super major important!”

“Girls!”

“And we can only bend over backwards to make them happy so much before we realize we're at the same dead end that we found in the first place!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Then what are you suggesting that we do?!” Rarity frowned. “Force our way into their holiest of holies?! We've been given every reason to believe that doing something damaging or unkind could threaten a very delicate balance here! And I don't think we have the authority to—”

Girls!” Twilight exclaimed, turning to frown at them. “We are not forcing anything on anypony! Now calm down and stop jumping at each other's throats! Because that is something Fluttershy wouldn't have us do!” She turned once again towards the scripture, taking a deep breath. “Besides... I-I think I may have found something useful.”

“You have?!” Pinkie chirped, zipping up to the table. “Lemme see! Lemme see!”

“Pinkie!” Rarity rushed in, pushing the mare's fluffy head out of the way. “Don't crowd the poor mare!” Calmly, she looked at Twilight. “What is it, darling?”

“Yeah, fill us in,” Rainbow added.

“Well... I'm about two thirds of the way through Revelations of the Plight. Most of the book—it seems—is made up of written amendments that were made to the original Luminard Catechism.”

“Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...” Rainbow slurred.

Twilight sighed, then breathily explained: “This book was written much later than the others, and it appears to have several written changes to the original canon rules of the Luminar scipture.”

“Whoah... really?” Rainbow leaned back. “Religions can do that?”

“Why, yes, rainbow.” Twilight smiled back at her. “You may be surprised to find that religion is malleable over time, like a language.”

“Wow!” Pinkie grinned. “Does that make me a saint for preserving twelve years of crossword puzzles off the backs of cereal boxes?!”

“... ... ...anyways...” Twilight's hoof ran along a paragraph while the other mares watched. “Listed here is one of the 'Nine Rules of Kyron the Wise.' We're talking about the pony who was anointed 'Kyron' about fifty generations ago.”

“Naturally,” Rainbow droned.

“Apparently she had a vision from Verlaxion in which she ordained a new sacrament... a manner of allowing penitent investigators to commune even more deeply with the holy Reed... even if not fully anointed.”

“Now that is interesting!” Rarity exclaimed. She winked. "Not to mention terribly convenient."

"Mmmm... I dunno," Twilight muttered.

“What does it mean by 'investigators?'” Rainbow remarked.

“I think that's a generalized term for non-anointed ponies who are receiving the Word of the Reed.” Twilight glanced back at her. “Basically you, Bard, and Wildcard.”

“'No relation!'” Pinkie giggle-snorted.

“Right. Cool. Whatever.” Rainbow nod-nod-nodded. “So—like—what do I need to do?”

“Uhm... although it says that 'communion with the Holy Reed' is the end goal of such a sacrament, it does mention that... well...”

“Well, what?”

Twilight gulped. “There are... trials involved.”

“Pffft.” Rainbow rolled her eyes. “Of course there are.”

“Trials to see if you are truly penitent, or too weighed down by sins.”

“My goodness...” Rarity remarked. “Are we certain this isn't suggesting the normal anointing process of a Luminard?”

“No.” Twilight shook her head. “Because it lists that an 'anointed anchor' must always be present.”

“Huh?” Pinkie blinked.

“If I understand this passage right...” Twilight turned to face the others. “The simplest way Rainbow can be allowed into otherwise off-limits sanctuaries is if she were to undergo these trials. Then, in accordance with the 'Penitent Sacrament of Anchorage,' she would be allowed into any of the chapels—so long as she would be accompanied by an ordained pilgrim who is already anointed.”

“So, in essence, she would be communing with the Reed, utilizing a higher-anointed pilgrim by proxy,” Rarity said.

“Exactly.”

“Meaning...?” Rainbow squinted at the others.

“Kyron would assign you an anointed pilgrim,” Twilight explained. “That pony would serve as your 'anchor.' You'd perform a series of trials under her or his watchful eye. Then, once you have proven yourself to be 'penitent,' you'd be allowed deep inside the chapels so that you could meditate in the presence of Verlaxion.”

“What... like, only once?”

Twilight shrugged. “It doesn't say.” She glanced back at the scroll. “From the descriptions leading up to the sacrament, I do believe this was brought about in an amendment that was meant to allow foreign dignitaries to undergo a swift and simple version of the anointing process.”

“To what end?” Rainbow asked.

“Probably to promote diplomacy,” Twilight said. “And to allow the message of the Plight of Luminar to spread far and wide across Rohbredden.”

“Hmmmm...” Rarity leaned back, folding her forelimbs. “Never underestimate the power of politics.”

“Seems pretty clear-cut to me,” Twilight remarked, shrugging. “To function, the Luminards need more converts. This was their way of getting the word out.”

“So... we gotta convince Kyron and the Kyron-lites that Dashie here is a foreign dignitary?” Pinkie asked.

“Oh, don't be silly, darling!” Rarity waved a hoof. “It couldn't be that simple.”

“Can it?”

Everyone looked at Rainbow Dash.

She looked back, swallowing a lump down her throat. “We've been asking ourselves this one question as of late: What would Fluttershy do? Well, I think we're already doing this the kind way. Almost a bit too kind.” She brushed her hoof over the weight of her Element. “And because of that, we've all been floundering. I've even spread that clumsiness to Bard. Well... maybe we should be asking ourselves what another pony would do...” Rainbow Dash glared past the faint yellow haze of Yaerfaerda. Her eyes turned glossy. “...and whether or not she'd be so keen to trip over herselves.”

“Rainbow?” Rarity floated up, her expression full of curiosity and concern. “What exactly do you mean?”

Rainbow shuddered. “Let me put it another way.” Her eyes narrowed. “With all of you gals by my side?” She smirked. “What am I if not the true represenative of Harmony?”

Rarity and Pinkie exchanged glances. They smiled.

“Rainbow...”

Everyone looked at Twilight.

The unicorn bit her lip. “These trials... uhm...”

“Lemme guess...” Rainbow droned. “Tough. Stupid. Maybe even uncomfortable.”

Twilight gulped. The nodded.

“... ... ...” Rainbow devilishly smirked.


“You want to do what?!” Antsan gasped, his eyes wide. “But... but... that hasn't been executed in hundreds of years! Not since the rift between the Colonialists and the Continentalists! What makes you think—?!”

“Antsan... child...” Kyron gently brushed the stallion aside. He trotted past Nicro, Sonikah, and several other curiously gazing pilgrims. “Miss Dash... would you mind repeating your statement for a very old... very weary pilgrim?”

Wildcard and Bard stood in nervous silence while Rainbow Dash trotted past them.

“It's all rather simple, elder,” she spoke. “But it comes with knowing who I really... truly am.” She brandished her Element, allowing the ruby lightning bolt to glint with the candlelight from the far end of the shack. “I am the lone surviving Element of Harmony from the kingdom of Equestria, ruled by Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I've come all this way on a mission of extreme Harmonic Importance. I seek many things in my travel, but the most important of which is the strength in Harmony to carry my journey to the end. That very same... pilgrimage has brought me here... to the Holy Reed... the Sanctuary of Goddess Verlaxion, growing miraculously in the Quade.”

Kyron glanced at the others. He turned back to Rainbow, smiled, and bowed his head. “It is an honor, oh Humble Rainbow Dash. Now...” He stood up straight. “What exactly do you request of us?”

“I ask of you... humbly...” Rainbow took a deep breath. “...that I might be allowed to undergo the Penitent Sacrament of Anchorage.”