Life Is a Creek
“I believe it would be a far wiser thing to let me take point,” Nightshade said.
Kera frowned, marching ahead of the mare as the the two trotted south along the steep west bank of a rapidly flowing river. “There’s no point to prove. In fact, I’d like it better if you didn’t talk at all.”
“No, I said ‘take point,’ meaning to march in front of you.” Nightshade gestured towards the dense line of trees lingering ahead of them. “After all, I know where we are going, and it would be best that I be the first to bear the brunt of any dangers that may lay before us.”
“All we’ve dealt with so far have been a few snakes and a bunch of bugs,” Kera grumbled, trying not to trip on the brown fabrics of her cloak. “I really don’t think it makes a difference.”
“I simply do not want you to get hurt while I’m around to look after you--”
“Darn it!” Kera spun to seethe at the mare. “Stop pretending like you give a crap about me!” She trotted backwards with a sneering expression. “I know what your game is!”
“Do you now, child?”
“You want to snap my horn off and hook me up to a machine so that you can learn about an ancient ringworld that belonged to a bunch of dead pegasi!” Swiveling about, Kera faced south, trotting a little bit faster this time. “Well, it ain’t happening!”
“You’ve obviously have no grasp of the big picture at hoof, little girl,” Nightshade said. “I am far beyond the capacity of hooking anypony to anything.” Her nostrils flared as her haggard face gazed into the raging rapids below. “I’ve been branded an outlaw, had all my assets seized, and every ally west of the front alienated.”
“Then just where the heck are we headed, anyways?”
“I still have scattered facilities spread throughout the continent,” Nightshade said. “Hidden laboratories, supply caches, communication arrays…”
“And brain tubes, huh?” Kera gnashed at her teeth. “Bet you can’t wait to turn me into one of your drooling information slaves.”
“I have sequencing chambers hidden in key places as well. But they are of no use to me, now. Besides, unlike my supply stations, their locations have likely been compromised the very moment the Ledomaritan Enforces infiltrated my headquarters.”
“So, sucks to be you, lady.”
“I’m more resourceful than you think,” Nightshade replied. “My family would never have amassed fortunes in the first place if we didn’t have a set protocol for salvaging a worst case scenario. I was prepared to move all of my belongings and closest associates to a place of safety before the Council of Ledo caught up with me, but--alas--a living pegasus and her accomplices wrecked everything I had ever put into motion.” She sighed. “But all is not lost. I still have friends in the military. Even if they can’t save this continent, they can give me sanctuary until I can think up a new way to bring about a benevolent revolution.’
“You’re still on that garbage, huh?!” Kera scoffed, smirking over her shoulder. “Give it up, lady! You’re washed up! There ain’t nothing to fight for!”
“My brother is still alive,” Nightshade murmured, her face solid and eyes piercing. “Novus now lies in the hooves of heartless fascists, and at any moment his life could be made forfeit… if it hasn’t been already.” She bit her lip, but persisted in her gait. “I mustn’t give up hope. None of us should give up hope.” She gazed ahead. “Even you, child, could have a future. Once I get back on my hooves, I can even give you a solid livelihood--”
“Buck off!” Kera growled, glaring back at her. “Seriously! You’re no pony! You’re a creepy, creepy cow that lost her horns in a straight jacket accident! I don’t want no part of you!”
“And just who will provide you a better future? Hmm?” Nightshade tilted her head aside. “Dr. Bellesmith? Her disabled beloved? That audacious pegasus pathetically attached to them? They’re fugitives of the state, child. Everypony swearing allegiance to the Queen wants nothing less than to murder them and mount their heads on a zeppelin’s bow. This far out, their only escape route is through Xonan territory, and if you think those religious fanatics are any more merciful than the Queen’s Army, you are sorely mistaken.”
Kera bit her lip, gazing down at her hooves as they scuffed along the rough edge of the river bank.
“That is hardly a healthy lifestyle for anypony, much less a young filly who’s still growing up… and with such marvelous gifts to boot.” Nightshade’s voice carried over the rippling of cold water below. “You think I only meant to rob something from you. What worth is a horn? It’s the mind that’s worth being stimulated, so that the knowledge can free the spirit inside. So many ponies for so many decades have been focused on the exterior, on might, on the savage thrust of a sword, when we should be seeking to enrich what is inside. You could very easily have partaken in that enlightenment, but you choose to ally yourself with total vagabonds.”
“Enough…”
“As if the only ponies you can afford to love are those stuck to the lost streets of this world--”
“Will you shut it already?!” Kera turned back, trotting blindly forward. “I don’t want to hear another word until we get to that communication array! And once we get there, you’d better call me a ride to Grey Smoke.”
“Grey Smoke? What an interesting choice. Somepony you know there?”
“None of your business--” Kera slipped. “Aaaaie!”
“Look out, child!”
Kera fell down the steep bank. Her cloak billowed and her body spun head over hooves. She slammed against a mound of dirt, bounced off an exposed tree branch, and plunged deep into cold, cold water. The rapids surged all around her. She flailed her limbs wildly, trying to reach the surface of the rolling currents. She finally found dry air, bobbing upside down. Rolling over, she gasped and sputtered, struggling to keep her chin above water as the stream carried her violently forward.
Up above, Nightshade was shouting something. Through the filly’s peripheral vision, she thought she saw the streak of a pale body with a dark mane.
“I.. c-can’t… c-can’t…” Her muzzle was dragged under. Her body spun and rolled before bobbing up again. Her breaths came in panicked gasps, with the bone-chilling water threatening to spill down her throat and drag her at any second. The cloak weighed a ton by this time, with the tome-shaped bulge acting like a lead anchor. Kera found herself fidgeting between desperate dog-paddles and foolish attempts to keep the book from surging out of her grip.
The cold knifed into her skin, and soon her nostrils were surrendering to the splashing rapids. Bubbles and bubbles and more bubbles exploded around her. Kera sank into a deep darkness, her eyes rolling back as she surrendered to the submerged grave.
One beats. Two beats. Three beats. Four beats.
Warm air flew down Kera’s throat.
She thrashed like a fish. Her head arched up as her esophagus vomited up river water. Following that, the filly coughed, sputtered, and wheezed for breath. At last, delicious oxygen filled her lungs, and she curled up into a fetal position, quivering all over. “Mmmmmph… B-Belle… Belle…” Tears squeezed out of her eyes as she lifted her shivering head, squinting at an ultrabright grassy knoll on the edge of the winding stream. “Where… how…?”
Her gaze spun about, and she caught sight of Nightshade’s concerned face.
“You’re alive. Hmmm…” Nightshade tilted the filly’s chin up. “Resilient.”
The filly gasped and jerked away from her. Shivering, she realized she was naked, then flashed a look to her side. Her sopping wet cloak lay in a damp heap. She scurried over towards it, fell, and resumed her gallop. Sliding to a stop, she felt the bundled mess of fabrics.
“Well, at least we know you’re still healthy.” Nightshade stood up. “See what I said about allowing me to take point?”
Kera was too busy feeling the damp fabric. To her relief, the book-shaped lump was still there, hidden between the mass of Heraldite material. She collapsed on the grass with wheezing breaths, relishing in the touch of golden sunlight.
Nightshade sighed heavily. “Right. Well, while you recover, I’ll go search the nearby area for food. However, I insist that I lead the way from now on. It’s only the smartest choice, yes?”
Kera squinted at her, biting her lip. “Why…?”
“Hmmm?”
“Why’d you d-do it?” the filly repeated.
Nightshade actually looked hurt. “What kind of monster do you take me for?”
“...”
Shaking her head, Nightshade silently trotted away, leaving the filly to her own wet thoughts and shivers.
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Somehow I don't think Nightshade's in any position to lecture Kera about the company she keeps. Can you say hypocrite?
Nightshade couldn't possibly have missed the book.
Nice job insulting the Xonans in front of a Xonan, Nightshade.
~bass
Go with the flow, Kera.
So Nightshade isn't quite a sociopath, but she's still a little deluded with her ideals. I wonder if she's gonna become attached to Kera and have a bit of a change of heart.
pinkie.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw9272-1356304060713512.png
She may not be Shell crazy, but I'd be hesitant to say she's still all there.
I hope another fight scene happens. There's something awesome about a pint-sized thing throwing around ponies twice her size and thrice her age. Hopefully a show of force will convince Nightshade that Kera's not to be condescended to.
Well, barring sudden rivers.
I'm happy Nightshade cropped up in this story again, even if it took two or three ridiculous coincidences to make it happen. She's got interesting motivations and the story never really got a chance to play all of her cards.
If I were Kera, I wouldn't let Nightshade get too close, no matter how many times she saves my life. There's already an endeavor under way that will uncover the fate of the world, and it's being undertaken by a pony far, far less insane than Nightshade.
Forget Mirvin, these are the sorts of guys that really, really make me want to bring the Hooffall.
I so want to see Kera link in with that book. Hi, hi mr happy what mountain time.
Well at least it wasn't tree sap...
Nightshade definitely knows Kera has the book now. There's no possible way she would have missed something like than when dragging the cloak out onto the riverbank. My only question is now, how does this change her plans?
24
I mostly agree with what Nightshade wanted to do, but its hard to fully support her when IC is trying to portray her as a bad guy
Good ol' Pony CPR.
Pony Cardioponyresuscitation
Damn you, college!
Why do you keep me away?
In any case, all that water can't be good for the book.
Hmm for now I will remain cautiously optimistic that Nightshade may indeed get a redemption of some kind throughout this part of the story. If she really wanted the book and now knows Kera has the book, as many people have said on here, then what was to stop her from just leaving Kera to die and not bothering to revive her?
If she really wanted the book and nothing else there was no reason for her to save Kera. However, like I said: cautiously optimistic. I'm simply hoping this turns out well, not saying for sure that's what will happen.
I hope Nancy Jane's womb doesn't mind a water-logged book.
I dunno about Nightshade. I mean, yeah, she's done some villain-y things and has historically shown every sign of being a few feathers short of a duck, but I've never quite found her as loathsome as Shell or Khao. I'm willing to give her a chance, at least. Not that I'm trusting her completely yet.
I like Nightshade. Her political mind is interesting.
Considering all you've done? A pretty damn BAD one, bitch!
Life is a waterfall:
We're one in the river
And one again after the fall.
As much as it pains me and as much as I love her: so as long as she retains her arrogance and fanatism, I don't see how all her redeeming qualities could ever sum up to an actual redemption. If our great and authorious overlord in His mercy does not decide to give her a change of heart, I predict doom and gloom.
3333895 She has never killed anyone in her entire life - nor has she let someone die. She has tortured people in the name of the greater good, but her entire psychology has shown that it very much affects her, otherwhise she wouldn't need all those excuses (I mean, she even tried to justify the crippling of the foals as something that was for their own good!). She has stated that she is willing to become a monster in order to see her vision fulfilled, but as long as matters don't concern her plans in some way, she is a perfectly ethical (though extremely arrogant, probably another side effect of her need for justification) old lady.
3336821 I read the first three lines in Serj Tankian's voice.
I don't see Nightshade as much different from the Eljun Bureau -- both have the right goals and a very wrong idea of how to achieve them.
I've finally reached Odrsjot. Rainbow Dash's companions at the end of Innavedr are an interesting group, I can hardly wait to catch up.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Eh...I don't take Noghtshade for a monster. She's certainly not as far gone as Shell is or was, but she's also quite misled. Although it's unlikely, it would be cool if she were to have a Josh/EE-esque arc where she realizes her flaws and becomes a better pony. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
3381201
I don't know, what she did to all thoughs filly's and families is just unforgivable. I don't care if she realizes that she is miss led and changes. She should be stuck in that small room with shell for the rest of her days
Ah, crap, I'm starting to kinda maybe sorta like Nightshade. A bit. I'm such a chump.
Ah well, if she pulls a double-cross at any point in the future it'll be my own fault for being tricked. Fool me once, yadda yadda. Of course she could still be redeemed, though it'll take a bit more elbow grease than saving Kera from drowning in her own cloak to atone for all the drama she pulled earlier. Time will tell, I suppose.
Onward!
I find it kind of odd that this chapter actually inspired altered opinions on nightshade. She never once expressed a lack of either the value of human connections or the value of life. And yet, indeed, what kind of monster had people been taking her for? Villainization is a consuming thing.
>leaving the filly to her own wet thoughts
Oh my~
So...
Nightshade's not so horrible anymore?
I don't trust Nightshade...
Although maybe there's the chance of her being redeemed?
-SPirit
I hoe this gave nightshade a better dea of what kera thinks of her
Nightshade was always just a deluded I'm-the-mare-to-save-the-world - with any luck Kera can put her substantial potential in a better direction. Doubt it though.
Saved by the one you hate. Now that's a rude awakening right there.
Nightshade's not as bad as everyone makes her out to be—she's not even close to Shell levels. She was just very detached from reality, but now that it's all coming crashing down around her, she's being splashed with cold water.
er... sorry, Kera.
Interesting....I already felt a little bad for Nightshade, but she had the perfect opportunity to steal the book. I figured she wouldn't hurt Kera....yet. Perhaps Night thought the cloak was heavy from the water..
Now's not the time to go swimming, Kera.
Not saying Nightshade can't see the error of her ways, but it's gonna take a TON of time for me to trust her.
check the book
Nightshade keeps secret facilities all over Ledomare, in case of facility emergencies.
The difference is that they see her as MORE than just a means to an end. They actually give a damn about how she feels, which is a far sight more than Nightsociopath.
05/22/2017 17:46 UTC
Wet thought
Nightshade was never a bad pony. She was simply doing all the wrong things for the right reasons, like the majority of misguided villains in this story.
It kind of strikes home when Nightshade asks that question...