“I’m moving! I’m moving!” Josho grunted as he pushed a cart full of equipment onto the Noble Jury from an adjoining platform. “Don’t get your pretty saddle in a twist. I wanna get out of here as much as you do.”
“Every minute we waste is another mile or two that the Xonans will have carried Rainbow and Kera into Tattoo Territory!” Eagle Eye grunted as he strained to pull a cart half the size as Josho’s. “Nnngh!” He struggled behind the obese stallion, his petite limbs covered in sweat. “Roarke’s given us the coordinates! Now we gotta… unngh… take off!”
“We don’t even know where we’re going, kid,” Josho exclaimed. “We could be taking a massive left turn at Seclorum’s for all we know.”
“Still, the sooner we… g-get out of here… the b-better!” Eagle Eye hissed.
Ebon Mane past Eagle Eye, pulling his own cart. He paused and cast the stallion a worried glance. “You need some help with that, EE?”
“No!” Eagle gasped. “I must… p-pull my own weight… for Rainbow Dash!” He strained and strained, legs quivering. “The mares… n-need us…”
Ebon smiled. “You know, there’s no shame in asking for help.”
“I’m not… g-gonna be… weak!”
“Who said you were, buddy?”
“Then let me do m-my part!”
Ebon shook his head, smirking. Adjusting the rigging on his shoulders, he continued pulling the scrap metal towards the edge of the loading dock.
Dearest Mother,
This is a stressful time, and yet I’ve never felt more relaxed in all my life. It helps to be in a place where you know who you depend on and who depends on you. These ponies… these friends of mine don’t know when to quit. Three of our closest companions are stuck far behind enemy lines, and yet every member of this ship is ready and willing to give their all for a seemingly suicidal rescue operation. Their faith and commitment to each other astounds me. I am lucky to be counted with their lot.
“For glimmer’s sake!” Floydien snarled from where he sat in the cramped cockpit. “Just drop the excess steam containers in the room of paper spit!”
“The navigation room?!” Pilate stammered. “But, Mr. Floydien, you can’t allow it! If one of the cartridges bursts and spoils all the books inside the library there--”
“Then striped boomer will have to wipe his flank with something else!”
The zebra’s muzzle hardened into a frown. “That’s not what I mean and you know it…”
“The world is in short supply of paint buckets. Let boomers dead and gone worry about words that are dead and gone. The room of navigation will become room of steam reserves. The boomer has seen one chamber of Nancy Jane’s womb; the boomer has seen it all.”
“Mr. Floydien…” Pilate scuffled forward across the metal floor. “I must insist.”
“Beloved, let it rest,” Bellesmith said, reaching a hoof forward.
“But… but…” Pilate turned towards her general direction with a pouting expression. “The books!”
“You know how much I love good reading,” Belle remarked. “I love Rainbow Dash and Kera more.” She smiled. “If that’s the only place we can afford to put the backup steam containers, then shouldn’t we accept a solution when it’s presented to us? Especially with such little time?”
Pilate sighed. Shuffling about with the aid of his manasphere, he trotted firmly onto the open deck. “What I wouldn’t give for a week when we could fly by squirrel wheel.”
A shrill barking sound.
“My apologies, Simon.”
“We should be ready to disembark soon, Mr. Floydien,” Belle said, turning towards the front of the cockpit. “I know that this is not the sort of thing you had expected to be doing after we escaped the clutches of Prime Enforcer Shell, and you undoubtedly have many things you wish to accomplish with Nancy Jane back in your possession, so I would like to apologize for--”
“Is boomerette going to stand there spitting or help with paint bucket retrieval?!” the elk snapped, his red eyes thinly glaring past the cockpit windows. “Floydien has a family to save, after all.”
Belle smiled, her eyes slightly moist. She leaned in and gave his massive body a hug from behind. “You’re one in a million, Floydien.”
“Gaah! You are touching the coat of Floydien! Stick to boomer’s side of Nancy Jane!”
Belle giggle and galloped off to resume the labors of preparation. Ebon watched as she breezed by, and he breathed in through a pleasant smile.
There was a time when I felt useless, as you likely know, mother. There was a time when I felt alone and without hope. In many ways, I still feel like the same weak, needy stallion. But somehow, I am able to blend in here. I’m not sure why I ever doubted it to begin with. With these ponies, I feel an impenetrable resolve. I suppose it is a good substitute for strength. Only time will tell, and thankfully these ponies have a great deal of just that to offer me.
“You mean it?!” Props leaned forward as if her toothy grin weighed a ton. “You’re gonna stick around with us?! Like… super-sticky-wicky stick around?!”
“Yes, I…” Ebon glanced towards the side. Past where Josho and Floydien were loading a last container with the help of Simon, Eagle Eye made eye contact. With a calmer breath, Ebon said, “I think I’m stuck with this ship for the long-haul.” He gulped and smiled at the mare. “Just like you.”
“Wooo to the hooo!” Props leaned in and hugged Ebon, spinning the three of them around twice. “Squeeeeee! I knew it! I just knew it! We’re totally destined to bump beauties!”
“Nnnngh--Ahem…” Ebon parted the hug and chuckled at her. “What?”
“Hearts, silly!” Props stuck her tongue out. “We’re like long lost twins of the spirit string! Some cosmic cat’s waiting to tug at us and it’s oh so supertastical! I can’t wait for us to reunite with Uncle Prowse again!”
“Heheh… yeah…” Ebon smiled. “And you can sure bet that after we bust Rainbow and Roarke and Kera out of their mess, we’re totally gonna find him and--”
“The Kingdom of Zabaduzabadu!”
Ebon frowned. “I thought it was’Zadubadabu.’”
“That too!” Props side-galloped towards the nearest stairwell of the ship’s top deck. “Heeeee! I’m leaking with heart juice! I can’t wait to plaster it all along the walls of Nancy’s womb!”
“Yeah…” Ebon turned about and waved at Eagle Eye. “You do that.”
The ex-mercenary waved back, smirking placidly.
There is no limit to what we can do or where we can go. It isn’t steam that runs this ship, or skystone crystal, or any magically glowing book. It’s our charisma, our trust, and our camaraderie that keep breaking the clouds before us. I worry for any Xonan, Ledomaritan, or “Nagu’n” that think they can stand in our way.
Eagle Eye crawled into the cockpit from the windswept top deck. “That’s it, Floydien! We’ve broken free from Gray Smoke’s air traffic!”
”Good riddance to all that soot!” Props’ voice said over the ship’s sound-stone powered intercom. ”The city’s great and all, but it doesn’t have the same ol’ lift when my Uncle isn’t around!”
“Another day another spitwad,” Floydien grumbled, adjusting several levers with his hooves. “Floydien is ready to try out this new propulsion. Is Nancy’s womb jacked up?”
“Snkkkt…” Pilate doubled over, hissing.
Belle looked over. “Darling, are you alright?”
“Ahem… yes…” Pilate tilted his head back up, fighting a furious snicker. “As fine as I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
“Hmmm…” Belle smirked. “Don’t worry. We’ll get Rainbow and Kera out of there.”
Pilate tilted his head towards her. “Who’s worried?”
Belle blinked, then smiled rosily. “Right…” With a warm breath, she gazed forward. “Right.”
”Ready to shoot some steam, handsome!” Props’ voice sing-songed.
“Now’s your chance, Mr. Floydien,” Ebon said. “Kick it.”
“Settle down, sailboat boomer.” Floydien charged magical energy through his antlers and into the flight panel. “Floydien never kicks his beloved. He nudges her.”
The ship’s manathrusters powered down, and the vessel wobbled slightly. After a slight drop, Belle stifled a shriek--but the ship recovered swiftly. In place of the dwindling skystone reserves, a loud ventilation of steam was keeping the vessel upright.
“It’s working!” Eagle Eye chanted. “It’s working!”
“One thing at a time, lavenderette!” Floydien growled into the nearest sound stone. “Blonde boomer?”
”Purring like a ghost kitten bursting out of a volcano! Let’s see how she accelerates!”
“Yes, let’s,” Ebon said. “The fewer psychotic analogies, the better.”
“If boomer insists.” Floydien pushed a lever forward.
The Noble Jury accelerated successfully, maintaining altitude as it sped up faster and faster. The ponies on board cheered, their merry voices accompanying the airship as it burned its way southeast and away from the hazy mass of Gray Smoke behind.
Yes, Mother, for the first time in ages, I no longer feel anguished or distraught.
I feel loved. And where there is love, there is hope. Wherever you are, I certainly hope that whatever you’re fighting for is just as noble. No pun intended.
Sincerely,
-Your son, Ebon
At least it wasn't love juice
Ahhh, Ebon...
And we really need that Xonan Languages book. All I have is Dreit.
Just #@!& already!
Again with the letters. I wondered when they'd be back. Now they're foreshadowing something coming soon. If not during the coming conflict, then immediately after.
I really love the optimism on display here. All these characters really love each other. They have come such a long way.
Well, I'll be god-damned, ):(. I think I may head down to the patent office and patent the East Horse workout, cuz I scored a 295 on my APFT today! For those of you playing the home game, that's 72 pushups, 92 situps, and a 2-mil time of 12:21! Best damn score I ever got! Now, it's y'alls turn! Two minutes of pushups, two minutes of situps, then a 2 mile run! Post your scores. Make it hurt so good! Knock 'em out!
Oh you crazy ponies. You make Pinkies ghost proud with your crazyness.
I don't know why, but that sends off alarm bells. I have a sinking feeling a plot twist is going to slap me. His mom is fighting for something. Fighting. A soldier? A warrior princess? Bounty Hunter? Guard?
And away we go! More adventure!
I hope that Ebon's mystery is fully revealed one of these days. I'm still banking on him being a changeling, but it'd be cool to find out for sure one way or the other.
It's heartwarming to be reminded that, for all the violence and death and terror running rampant in this story, friendship is still magic. If it were possible, Twilight would shed a manly tear.
"Heart juice"? Really, Props? But Floydien/Nancy Jane is canon! I can't be swayed to Props/Nancy Jane so easily ... I hope.
Aww EbonEye
Heart juice. Well I. Just.
~Basso
3452962 Remember...
"Ebon Mane, son of Queen Ledo, Prince of the Seas, Conqueror of Hearts"
I still mantain my position of Ebon being the lost son of Queen Ledo, until blatantly proven wrong.
I just realised that the chapter in which Ebon wrote to his mother was called "There are no brakes"
Clever, IC.
Alternate Title: Letters From Ebon Mane.
I do like these preparation/exposition chapters, they're a good insight into the minds of the characters.
3451765
Ah, thank you. I wasn't aware there was a wiki.
I still like the idea that Nagu’n is a coatl (or whatever the general name for the type of being that Quetzalcoatl is.) Something about a rainbow hued, winged serpent just seems appropriate, somehow.
And I can't see a reason that it couldn't be one of the dragon gods. After all, going by appearance coatls look like a midpoint between the Western dragons we've seen so far, and Eastern dragons (which may or may not exist on this world), with rainbow feathers thrown into the mix.
I don't think Ebon knows who his mom is. I think that the letters are just a way to express himself and maybe his mother will someday read them.
3453159
Well that's dark.
3453055
Alternatively, coming from one of my/everyone's earlier speculations:
Prince Ebon of the Changelings.
*shrug*
Wait, "steam reserves"?
Are they literally carting around big wooden boxes labeled "STEAM"???
That's the best thing.
3452942
I got a 311, but that was in 1972, and the test was slightly different. (I probably couldn't get the 11 today.)
This whole part:
Poor EE can't catch a break.
Ebon Mane's mother is either Nightshade or Laisfirion. Ba-dum.
3452919>>3452898>>3452968>>3453055>>3453159>>3453193>>3453783
Considering the bombshell of Imre and Shell, coincidences like this are entirely probable.
Ebon could be related to Queen Ledo... or Nightshade... or Lasaifar--- some unknown Xonan.
He could be xonan; he could be a changeling, but Luna does not entirely trust his voice...
3453138
I'm curious about which enconter comes next: NJ reaching Seclorum, or Khao reaching RD.
(shameless plug) Also, If anyone has anything to add (ideas, translations, theories) about the Xonan Language help out "here please"
3453710
EE deserves worse names for that line.
mutantreviewers.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/swtpm10.jpg
Annnd, just as Im reading the end of this, the radio starts playing Bitter Sweet Symphony.
Foreshadowing?
Like a dinosaur looking up at a certain approaching rock.
3453914 Hey, what are the chances that the Noble Jury runs into the repaired Steel Wing?
3454029
Enemies of my enemies' enemies much?
It's so convoluted; I like this idea.
Only, problem: Belle might want to beat the snot out of Shell
Wait...I just had a thought...is Ebon Nighthade's son?
3454040 "The enemy of my enemy is my enemy's enemy. Nothing less, nothing more"
And I'm pretty sure they have a better chance joining the crew and overthrowing Shell at this point.
3453961
I recall going to see that movie...but I don't recall the details of seeing it. Such as that line, for instance.
3454082
Imo, unlikely. He was imprisoned in there for a while, and he would probably flinch about RD beating the snot out of her multiple times. And how he should know Nightshade is in with RD. Unless he doesn't know his family at all.
3454029
About one in one. You can tell because they've fixed their ship, nobody's technically fighting for their life at the moment, and they have a plan that doesn't incorporate Shell showing up.
...is it bad that the first thing I thought after reading this nice, optimistic chapter is, "Oh gawd, I wonder who's gonna die..." ?
Also, my shipping senses are tingling something awful (is it technically shipping if it's two OCs?). I had a feeling, from the very moment Ebon was introduced way back, that he and EE were gonna get their pheromones on. Either Ebon's gonna end up being EE's "somepony to come home to" or he's gonna Viggo EE's Miranda hard.
...Well I wonder how this plan's gonna be fucked, and who's gonna die along the way. I'm expecting Shell to make a reappearance at some point; he's been awfully quiet as of late.
24
D'awww...
I like how Floydien is porttrayed here. Its not often that he shows he cares for the others.
On a side note, whenever there's italicised segments breaking up the chapter, it always makes it seems so much more cinematic to me. If that makes sense.
3454518 Fair point, I just got hit with the thought reading the end of his letter, where he says, "I hope thatwhatever you're fighting for is just as noble." Sounded like irony foreshadowed (is that even good grammar?).
3450842
Leader dies of natural causes, campaign looses steam. It could get very explosive up to her death, but after that, it will fall apart.
wonder how far they actually are.
Ebon's gonna meet his mama at some point, I just know it. Maybe not soon, maybe not later, but at some point in one of these fics, they're gonna find Ebon's mama.
Also, Props... Don't ever change.
Sincerely,
-Your son, Ebon
I suppose some wounds best heal silently.
There, there! That's all the proof I need! They're practically dating already!
3452943 Thank you for reminding me that Pinkie Pie died an agonizing death.
3453138 It fits that the Xonan's heraldic animal is a serpent, but for Nagu'n to be a feathered snake (which is how I call the species at least) I feel there are some elements missing - especially the colourful splendor they always come with (frankly I'd rather associate the Heraldites with that, probably partially because I've always pictured Khao looking like the female version of Quetzalcoatls human form). Perhaps it's just me, but given the profound knowledge that the Xonans possess about the Spark and most likely the ring I, as mentioned, would rather expect Nagu'n to be the Leviathan/Jormungand kind of gal.
3455248 "Mom, I'd like you to me meet my friend Floydien..."
3455263
I'm throwing ideas at a wall, seeing what bounces back. Could be another of the Divine Five, your name just happens to begin with N
3455294 You're welcome.
Next time on Odrsjot... Who ARE Ebon Mane's parents? Chief Thunderhooves? Or is it the the chef? Is it Marephesto? Or is it that little diamond-dog guy who follows him around?
Or is it Mrs. Mareison?
Is it Josho? ... Or is it Prime Enforcer Seclorum??
Who could it be (Interrobang)
I just thought of something.
Josho tried to kill Dash. Josho lost his position. Josho joined the Jury.
Roarke tried to kill Dash. Roarke lost her position. Roarke joined the Jury.
Khao tried to kill Dash. Khao has an important position.
This can only mean one thing: EE and Ebon are dating!
~Basso
3455613, 3455151
"Ebon Mane, son of Queen Ledo, Prince of the Seas, Conqueror of Hearts"
I'm not letting that die.
3455750 Even after it's revealed that he's the daughter of Nagu'n? (Yes, daughter.)
~Basso
3455745Then who was phone?
So much happiness here. And right before they head into Xonan territory. I don't see any way this could end tragically. No sir.
3452942
Results from Navy PFA:
Push-ups, 2 min: 95
Sit-ups, 2 min: 120
Run, 1.5 mile: 8:08
And they didn't select me for Intelligence... Surface Warfare for now.
3455761 Are you implying that Nagu'n is Queen Ledo herself?
3455965
Very nice! NOW WRITE SOME DAMN R.A.I.D!
Just because no one has pointed it out...
The Ship runs on the Magic of Friendship.