Waiting for a Fate
“The warrior,” Nightshade said as the ponies all huddled inside the prison cell. “The one named Dalen--formerly ‘Straker.’”
“What about him?” Basso muttered.
“He is not quite with it,” Nightshade nibbled on a ration of moldy bread, swallowed, and said, “Mentally, I mean. The stallion is apparently struggling to reclaim a birthright that was once his, but was stripped of him due to unpreventable circumstances.”
“Why should we care?” Zetta remarked. “The pony betrayed us all. Let him rot in his own troubles.”
“The reason why we should care, my little pony, is because he’s made the error of exposing us to a vulnerability.” Nightshade’s cold eyes reflected the equines in the other room. “And when a pony willfully exposes a chink in his armor, that typically means a cry for help.”
“What would a Xonan like Dalen want from us?” Zetta asked in a whispery tone. “He’s betrayed us and sent all of our fellow enforcers to Spark-knows-where!”
“Yeah, he’s done nothing but herd us around like sheep since the Lightning Bearer was taken!” Basso said.
“The Madame is right on the noggin’, though,” Zaid said, stifling a yawn from where he was slumped in the corner of the cell. “That dude seems totally out of sorts. Ain’t nothing worse than being distracted on the job. If you ask me, I think it’s a matter of not liking his boss. Heh…” Zaid smirked. “I’ve been there.”
Zetta squinted at him. “I can’t imagine you ever having a job.”
“I usually have multiple ‘half-jobs.’ It all comes together in the end.”
“So, let’s say this is true,” Basso remarked, rubbing his muzzle. “If Dalen needs something, how can we take advantage of that?”
“I’m not all that certain we can,” Nightshade murmured.
“Then why’d you bring it up?”
Nightshade nibbled on some more bread and said, “Because it’s simply an observation worth noting. Every other warrior on this floating structure desires glory for their esteemed goddess and nothing else. But Dalen--this one stallion--cannot share that glory. No one pony can be completely selfless and humble all of the time. He’s falling apart at the seams; I know it. And yet the Xonans have entrusted him with the security detail over the book of runes. It seems like an opportunity too great to pass up.”
“Well, I’m afraid we’re going to have to pass it up,” Zetta said. “Not much we can do from in here. If Rainbow Dash’s Searonese friend was to pull off a trick--”
“Yeah, those mares are made for each other!” Zaid sat up. “But we haven’t heard anything yet! Which means--”
“Something terrible must have happened to one of them,” Basso said. He gulped. “Or both.”
“Listen to me,” Nightshade said in a firm tone. “We cannot rely on both of those mares exclusively.”
“Why not?” Zaid’s muzzle twisted. “Haven’t they caused enough explosions?” He smirked at the others. “I like to rate ponies based on their explosions-per-minute quota. Y’know, EPM?”
“Their luck will run out,” Nightshade said. “Assuming it hasn’t already. As for the rest of us…” She pointed at her stubby horn. “We need to use our intellect and our wits to get out of here.”
“But you said it yourself!” Zetta exclaimed. “None of us can reach Dalen!”
“That’s because he’s suffering from the same xenophobic mentality that possesses the bulk of his brothers and sisters. He’ll never trust a Ledomaritan, be it an enforcer, a technician…” She glanced aside at Zaid. “...or whatever the blazes you are.”
“I’m a temp worker.”
“Most certainly…”
From a few feet away from Zaid, Kera looked up, shivering slightly.
“Yes…” Nightshade finished the last of her bread, gulped, and said, “So long as none of us have tattoos or a brand of the Goddess Nagu’n on our flanks, then I fear we have no alternative but to wait here and see what fate destiny brings.” With a blink, her eye darted to the side, looking squarely at Kera. “If only our good fortune matched our courage…”
Kera bit her lip. She shivered some more, hugging herself as she fought to avoid Nightshade’s gaze.
Not long after, a loud rumble echoed throughout the chamber. The bars rattled while the confiscated materials on the table beyond the cell began shaking in their containers.
“What… what the heck is going on?!” Basso exclaimed.
“Earthquake!” Zaid squeaked.
“We are in a floating mountain, imbecile,” Nightshade droned.
Zaid blinked. “Skyquake!”
“Unnngh!” Zetta huddled, clutching her head as her horn glowed in random spurts.
“Zetta!” Basso held her, steadied her. “What is it?”
“The… the wailing noise…” Zetta squealed, her eyes tearing. “It’s louder than ever!”
The entirety of Sacred Hold rumbled around them, and then everypony felt their organs shifting as the whole room leaned a few degrees to the side.
“Fillies and gentlecolts…” Nightshade stood up, her eyes sweeping across the stone ceiling. “I do believe we are moving.”
Glowing serpents shrieked and twirled around one another, breaking the clouds up in the gray sky. Xonan battleships spread apart, giving the floating mountain a wide berth.
With the sounds of muffled thunder, the ginormous shape of the Xonans’ Sacred Hold pivoted northwest and accelerated towards the valley beyond the nearest mountains.
In the distance, the tell-tale signs of exploding shells lit up the smoky horizon.
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... When gods go to war, mortals lay bodies deep in the mud beneath them, casualties to power they cannot understand.
Those poor, poor Xonans and Ledomaritans.
So how long before they run into Shell?
To the machine layer! Off we go!
~Basso
Shit is about to get even more realer than realest real.
Now, can Kera appeal to Dalen? As one displaced Xonan to another? Probably.
I've got a feeling that Josho reached the General.
Hopefully....
Well we all know where the flying turd mountain is heading. Now we just need Shell to intercept just as Basso arrives leading an entire invasion fleet with Seclorum locked up in the captain's cabin. Then we can have our royal rumble. It would be even better if a group of Searonese fighters arrive as well, having been busy bounty hunting in Xona when Searo fell.
Onwards to victory! Onwards for the glory of Nagu’n!
So. Lets see.
Nevlamas Xonan army. The captives they are taking with them. The not-captive metal mare they're taking with them. Seclorum's enforcer stronghold. Josho. Shell and his lost sojourn. The misplaced Jury. The meat of Deep Ridge. Axan and her dragon spies. Terra and the Searonese vengeance. Khao and the Herald. And almost certainly the loose ends and plotholes that I've forgotten.
They all seem to be going to the exact same place.
If there somehow isn't a ridiculous battle royale, I am going to be rather disappointed.
Even more than the lack of chaos spirit Jörmungandr.
This is probably one of the best cliffhanger-type chapters I have ever read in my entire fanfiction career. Oh crap, so many stuff to explode, so many ponies to get killed, so many boss fights that can occur...
I have no idea where the fight will start, but this place will turn into a freakin' freaky hell.
Commonwealth shall preveil.
- Verlax
every hundred chapters or so the battles get bigger, if this continues much longer there won't be enough room on a continent to house the battle
You know, despite not having my name, you sure got my spirit. The higher the EPM, the better I await their next appearance.
3516709
i171.photobucket.com/albums/u298/SandwormPhish/GurrenLagann.jpg
Don't worry. The universe is big enough for the battle.
3515953 I think those "tell-tale signs of exploding shells liting up the smoky horizon" may be Shell and the Steel Wing.
I may be wrong, though...
Action go!
Princess Laserfelafel had better watch out, because I have a feeling Belle and company will find their way onto the scene very soon. And Roarke is totally going to go 'take no prisoners' mode on any Xonan jerkface warrior guys dumb enough to try to stop her.
Yeah, if she knows what's good for her, Princess Lesserfail won't stick around.
I think Dalun is a red herring. I think the real question here is 'when will the giant mutant magical grasshopper parasite dwelling within Kera's large colon finally speak up and have her deliver it to Nevlemas, whom it will promptly enter and whose mind it will take over, force to gobble up Princess Lemonflan and then, in appreciation for the splendid dragon in which it will asexually reproduce and raise its larvae, grant Dash & Co safe passage through Xona?'
...What? It could happen!
Stop glaring at my comment! I get chills.
This is really a puzzle wrapped in an enigma. How the machine world is open at that point since no surface dwellers weapons can even scratch it, the fact that floating battle island has all that chaos crystals, metal, and that dragon seems to be happy within it. So the Island cant eb the machine tower, because the dragon would, should, remember it being removed, and if it isnt, its the only thing with enough firepower to open up the machine world, again, the dragon should remember?
Unless the Enforcers find them, theres only one thing I can even think of for the crew of The Noble Jury.
Flight Of The Phoenix.
So, Dalen the turncoat is the weak link, Kera may be on the Quest for the Burning Book, and Here Be Explosions.
I can't wait.
Just caught up, excellent so far now im just sad theres not a massive amount left to read and the waiting has begun.
There's a fine line between using your wits to escape a difficult situation and twisting someone's feelings for your own personal safety. The former allows you to flee from your enemies, but the latter creates new enemies.
Yes... That is all
IC has finally found the units I use to measure chapters. An awesome chapter has about 5-10 EPM, decent 1-5 EPM, poor .5-1 EPM.
It is also how I measure my mornings.
This chapter has a sky quake in it which is approximately equal to 20 explosions....
divided by 10 minutes..
folks, this is a decent chapter at a whopping 2 EPM!
Nice job IC, we can expect some better chapters up ahead I'm assuming but this is a good start for now!
Looks like the story's EPM is about to skyrocket. I wonder if it's Josho to the rescue (kind of odd for him to just show up, without telling of how to got to and met Seclorum, unless IC is going for a Gandalf-at-Helm's-Deep sort of thing [y'know, if Gandalf belched constantly]), or perhaps some new bit of fuckery (because that's what this story needs).
I hope they can get Dalen to help. I have to believe there's some good in at least some of these Xonans. Granted, Kera and Nightshade's foals and their parents seemed a decent sort, so they're not all serpent-riding batshitters.
Also, reading "ginormous" outside of dialogue is always a little surreal to me.
3517828
Hey, I've been waiting for 15 months now... It's not that bad... Ok, it is a little bit, but the comments section sates the thirst a tad.
Axan intervening when Nevlamas finally reveals herself, anyone? I mean, she's been lurking since Austraeoh, what better moment for a grand showdown could there ever be? The ultimate showdown of ultimate destiny with some minor factions (you know, like Xona and Ledomare, who even cares about Ledomare) in between? Dash using her ultra Spark powers to blow up all of reality?
Seriously though, aside from Axan I'm not sure who could even have the strength to stem the tide of shit that's about to go down. I wouldn't be surprised if she was forced to act now. And despite all the plot importance that the Divines have had so far, we've never seen either of them demonstrate the true extent of their powers and seeing Axan in action would be pretty damn spiffy - I'm positively thrilled. Related picture for today:
i.imgur.com/XrOj5aV.jpg
3515950 Yet dragons run when a good mare goes to war.
3517164 What do you mean, asexually? Not even in scenarios involving Xonan colon parasites do I ever get some, damn you!
Seclorum?
"into the breach meatbags"
Rainbow finds a why to nullify lots of choas energy.
That's another possible solution.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Alright, cool. This'll probably come back to bit Dalen in the end. Also, Shell. Gooooooood. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
Well, at least there is now an inkling of a plan. Hope still exists! I just don't have enough of it without adding in the blessing of plot armor.
3519201
That is a sweet pic!
Huh...I'm not even gonna make predictions about what's about to happen. There's so many people who want to attack other people that it's better to just keep reading. In which case it was unnecessary to leave this comment.
Deal with it.
Or don't.
Onward!
It's... It's moving?
I thought it only moved slowly.
-SPirit
4445124 it does move slowly. if a floating mountain island could move like an airship...or goddess for-BID a managlider....uhhh-uh-uh-uh-uh -shivers- i dont even want to think about it lol Sx
Now shit is definitely going to hit the fan.
God damn, Zaid, you charmer.
And hell, looks like we've finally reached the fabled war front... admittedly, not on the side I originally anticipated, mind you.
How the Hell is Seclorum gonna stop a flying mountain?
6195072 with all of the dakka.
6260791 Not 'nuff dakka. MOAR DAKKA!
I'm really liking that parallel between RD having the ability to move mountains literally and figuratively.
3519201 one hell of character you've got there mate
6636365 s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/8f/3a/6e/8f3a6e93991f0bd9b2cd2bf270eff601.jpg
3519201
I have great sorrow for your PC. First she get's infected with chaos, then she's doomed to a life of eternal celibacy while a nutjob Xonanian princess uses your life essence to feed her power. Although it will be awesome to see what your Divine Dragon form can pull off.
Zaid ships it.
Sadly not exploding Shell; it's high time.
Well that's one way to build up the suspense.
05/24/2017 23:41 UTC
I'm imagining Nevlamas herself pushing that thing. It's pretty obvious they are more powerful then alicorns in several ways
Unrelated to most of the comments below, but I'm really starting to warm up to Nightshade. Gotta love her cunning intellect and sweet tongue.