//------------------------------// // The Waters of Forever Sinking // Story: Utaan // by Imploding Colon //------------------------------// Waves crashed, spraying mist high in the thunderous air. Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth as she tightly gripped the hull of the Stardust near the bow. Before her, the eastern horizon bobbed up and down—and the ever-nearing flicker of Yaerfaerda danced along with it. Kepler held his claws to the rudder wheel. Squinting beyond the peripheral of his glasses, the wyvern spotted the escort of six midnighter craft cruising alongside the Herald on both the port and starboard sides. The Bleakweed vessels rippled just beneath the surface with a luminescent silver glow, slicing through the wake left by the Stardust's engines. Together, the seven ships pierced the choppy waves, leaving Bleak's Plummet far behind until it was a distant haze in the west. Leathery bodies glided overhead; Nightblood warriors covered the skies, forming flitting silhouettes against the starlight and sporadic flashes of lightning. Enix flew at the head of the group, shrieking commands to the various squads in Moonwhinny as they scanned the horizon. "It's... grnnngh..." Pinkie shook all over, phasing through the bobbing hull of the Stardust. "It's g-getting cr-crazier!" "I think this is what we can expect the closer we get to the very edge!" Twilight Sparkle exclaimed. "If it's this bad so close to the Seed—only Celestia knows how rough the final horizon is!" Rainbow was too busy staring into the skies—at the bubbling black clouds that rippled westward, drew up into gigantic porous anvils, and collapsed once again before settling in necrotic sheets. "First thing's first," she muttered—nearly slipping as the Stardust shook again. She was sprayed with seawater—but simply shook the moisture out of her short mane. "Flynn!" She called out over her shoulder. "How's she holding up?!" "Brotherr!" Kepler echoed Rainbow's voice. He leaned forward, shouting down towards the lower deck from where he was perched. "The Austrraeoh beckons!" A nasty roll of thunder deafened the scene. At last, the unicorn in question poked his head out—squinting his natural eye into the mist. "The engines are purring like a kitten! But I don't know for how long!" He pointed into the cabin. "If we keep going at this speed, we're likely to burn out! I dunno about you, but I want to make it to the Sixth Seed in one piece!" "Time's not really on our side anymore!" Rainbow exclaimed. "I only have about twenty hours tops before I lose communication with Princess Luna! I wanna find out what's at the last flame before we split ways!" "Well, okay then!" Flynn exhaled with a huff. "And if the manacrystals implode, you want Wildcard and Bard to go out and push?!" "If it comes to that," Rainbow said, facing east again. "Or else I'll hitch a ride on one of the midnighter ships." Swoooosh! Enix touched down beside the mare. "That may not be possible, Blood of Luna." Rainbow glanced at her. "Wow, you've got good hearing." "Could she care to elaborate?" Rarity remarked. Rainbow cleared her throat, facing Enix directly. "What's the problem?" "My brothers and sisters have learned a very long time ago to avoid the maelstrom that circles the S'yllpa yln H'symmlym." "The Slippy and what—now?" Enix took a deep breath, timing her explanation between rumbles of thunder. "The closest translation is 'Waters of Forever Sinking.'" Enix turned to face east. "The pull of the maelstrom is dangerous beyond compare. Even in our expertly crafted submersibles, we've fallen pray to the currents. I've... had to mourn many a noble warrior who've been lost forever to the depths due to having cruised too close to the golden structure." Twilight and Rarity blinked. "So there is a piece of the Machine World there!" Rainbow exclaimed. "It is indeed some metal construct," Enix said. "We always assumed the ponies of the frost queen built it ages ago—perhaps as a magical means of wreaking control over the edgewaters." "And since then..." Rainbow cocked her head aside, struggling to stay upright amidst the rocking. "You've never bothered to get close? Or even investigate it?" "No living thing that ever crosses the S'yllpa yln H'symmlym comes back alive," Enix said. "At least not by water." She gestured towards the thundering heavens. "When our ancient siblings of the Dark Vigil crossed over, they knew ahead of time that it would be a singular, fateful journey." "And... your fellow bros and sisters won't go near it?" "I'm afraid not, Blood of Luna." "But..." Rainbow gestured at the Bleakweed vessels cruising alongside them. "You've agreed to escort us to the Sixth Seed." "There will come a point of no return," Enix declared. "For your fellow pilgrims' sake, I suggest you lay anchor the very moment our ships cease their eastward motion. By then, you will easily make eye contact with the construct." She took a breath as thunder rolled. "I am entrusted by Xarchellus to assist the Blood of Luna in her current endeavors, even as the Maria Matriarch mulls the wisdom given us by Princess Luna." She held a hoof over her scarred chest. "I will personally commandeer a winged envoy to follow you to the threshhold of your 'Sixth Seed.' While I will not needlessly risk the lives of all my siblings, my fellow Nightblood warriors and I are not afraid of the destination ahead." "Thanks... that's really swell of you." Rainbow gulped. "But I'm sure my friends will be able to help me all the same once we get there." "Are you certain of that?" "Huh?" Enix's slitted eyes narrowed. "You have evidently traveled many miles and crossed countless continents. But this... this juncture ahead of you..." She gestured towards the increasingly choppy waves. "Are you confident that even all of that experience will prepare you for the next step that needs being taken?" "That's the thing about doing this whole awesome schtick, gal," Rainbow said. The boat rocked once again, and she clung to the bow as she and Enix were sprayed with seawater. "It's all about going beyond."