The Rarest Fire Still Burns
"It behooves me to mention once again..." Roarke droned. "...that I have claimed all your weapons as my own. That being said, we all know that you have the resources and wits to get out of the wastes safely. I suggest you return home to your brood." Her copper lenses glistened menacingly in the starlight. "Because if you don't, I will track you down and feed you more than your own skin."
"We'll pretend not to be insulted by the fact that you still feel the need to threaten us," one of the three Lounge members stated. They stood side by side on their ship across from the Jury. In the cold arctic air, their outfits once again brimmed with steam and amber light. "You have ridden us of the burden of a weak leader. We can now continue to accomplish that which we originally set out to do years ago."
"And just what is that?" Josho asked from the sidelines.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash glided in from the Tarkington and touched down on the opposite end of the deck. She quietly gazed at the exchange.
"Keeping the skyways safe for trade and mercantilism," a naga said. "With the Strip of Flurries no longer an issue, and the War in the West fully ended, we will be needed now more than ever."
Roarke's teeth grinded. "If you so much as think of transporting slaves and unjust prisoners anymore—"
"To fall back on our own habits would be an unforgiveable act of frailty," one spoke. "All Razzar's methods ever brought us was a cycle of anguish and failure. It would not be beneficial to us—or any other creatures—to repeat that."
Another Lounge member nodded. "We owe it to your intervention for teaching us that, Roarke Most Rare."
"Yeah." Josho smirked. "And all it took was the deaths of half your crew to accomplish it."
"Breeder..." Roarke hissed out the side of her muzzle.
"Vaughan's and the other's deaths were the consequences of their own failures," the Lounge said. "If their passing means that the ones still alive can warn the world of the Changeling Queen, then so be it. We will honor their memories under the shadow of Quezaat."
"Make sure you do that," Roarke said. "Just... far away from here."
"Please believe us," they said. "We have no long-standing affinity for this place. The Wastes can—in the words of ponies—go buck themselves."
That said, one naga signaled to the rest. The others nodded, then turned around. All three marched slowly into the bowels of the ship while the outer hull slid shut like a giant black clam shell. With a flash of amber light, the Lounge's ship spun around, descended, banked, and cruised its way east over the frozen waters.
Roarke took a deep breath, watching the ship disappear like a black dot along the starry horizon.
Josho shuffled forward. "From what I hear, you were on board that claustrophobic ship for a long-ass time." He squinted at her. "Feel a sense of attachment?"
"I am elated to be rid of its smell," Roarke grunted. She turned and glanced at several crates full of dismantled weaponry and energy conduits. "Besides..." She slid a hoof out from her cloak and felt along the metal braces clinging to her limb. "...I got what I wanted out of the whole debacle. An arsenal. The makings of a new suit. A transport..."
Josho raised an eyebrow. "A transport?"
"Mmmm. Yes. Vaughan's personal craft, a rather small yet utilitarian thing. Assuming it still exists beyond the former boundaries of Stratopolis, then I might be able to make a swift—" She turned, her copper lenses reflecting several colors. Roarke's words cut off.
Josho glanced at Rainbow Dash, then back at Roarke. "Ahem..." He shuffled past the two mares. "I'm going to go... be fat elsewhere..." He marched his way down the stairwell. "...preferrably below deck. Well outside of knife range."
Once he was gone, the wind occupied the upper deck with a deep chill. Somehow, only Roarke was trembling. When Rainbow Dash shuffled forward, the bounty hunter's strong gaze fell to her hooves. She may have even squirmed slightly.
"Hey..." Rainbow murmured.
Roarke took a deep breath. Avoiding Rainbow's gaze, she droned, "I hear you found a sword."
Rainbow blinked, then nodded. "Uhhh... yeah. An ancient artifact belonging to Commander Hurricane. From what I can tell, it's totally still filled with the same burning power that allowed her to drive the undead pegasi back to the heart of Stratopolis."
"So... an efficient killing device?"
Rainbow opened her mouth, blinked, and ultimately rolled her eyes. "Or, y'know, a righteous tool."
"We all call weapons what we like to, so long as they service us."
"Nnnngh..." Rainbow face-hoofed.
"I had not anticipated the presence of such a blade. If I had, perhaps I would have unearthed it myself and presented it to you—"
"Roarke..." Rainbow glared up at her. "Why did you come back?"
Roarke stood dead still, saying nothing.
"Roarke, look at me."
The metal mare nervously obeyed. A pale brown face hung from the fully retracted lenses.
Rainbow leaned forward, eyes thin. "I told you to scram. I yelled at you. I..." She winced. "I treated you like manure, and yet... here you are. All of that infiltration of the Lounge. The stuff you gave Pilate. Commandeering the lizards' ship like you did..." She bit her lip before blurting, "Why?"
"Back in Searo's Hold, we gave our lives for the legacy of the Goddess," Roarke droned. "We spilled blood in the name of strength and honor. We lavished Lady Pestiferous with food, treasures, docile studs, and the spoils of conquest. We never expected anything in return, save for the opportunity to kill and scream another day—"
"Roarke, Searo's Hold imploded. I was there." Rainbow slowly shook her head. "But we're not in Searo's Hold anymore, are we? I'm here, and you are here. And against all odds too." She gulped and murmured, "Why? Why is that, Roarke? I need you to tell me..."
Roarke opened her mouth, but lingered. She stared past Rainbow Dash with nervous exhalations. At last, a quiet voice came out. "All of my life, all I ever expected to do was die. I never thought... th-that I would feel guilty... and that I would have the tenacity and foolish courage to live with that guilt. I did a disservice to your friends, Rainbow Dash. In some way or another, I brought pain and misery to the lives of the ponies you care for... the only souls left that you love. I thought I was doing something right by influencing Kera, but—in the end—all I did was ruin something... ruin the one thing that..." She clenched her teeth as her words trailed off.
Rainbow Dash stared at her.
After a deep breath, Roarke managed to say, "I gave myself one last chance, a chance to fix things. I knew that saving the day myself would not accomplish what needed to be done. But if I enabled somepony like Belle... or in this case Pilate, then I might help him finish the task. I could plant a spark of hope where Shell had dredged an impossibly black rift. But... even that was an inept plan at best. Once again, my foolishness almost cost the life of a pony you cared for. If Pilate had died on board Stratopolis..." She winced. "If you had died..."
Silence.
Roarke's gaze fell. "I... I only know how to do one thing. I am the weapon, Rainbow Dash, not you. You were right to banish me when you had the chance. The fact that things ended up for the best does not excuse the vicious cycle of my inane philosophy. I appreciate the fact that the Jurists have allowed me a chance to house my equipment here for the interim, but the first opportunity I get, I shall take my leave of this ship and—"
Rainbow Dash marched forward.
Roarke actually flinched—until she felt a warm pair of forelimbs around her, legs that pulled her in tight and tighter.
Rainbow clenched her eyes shut as she buried her sniffling muzzle into Roarke's cloak. "Thank you," she exhaled.
"R-Rainbow, I cannot expect anything from you for—"
"Thank you." Rainbow squeezed her, murmuring. "Thank you... Thank you, Roarke..."
Roarke's lips pursed. Her lenses clicked as she stared over Rainbow's shoulder. After several seconds, she finally exhaled, her body going slack in the pegasus' grip. She brought a hoof up and tentatively—awkwardly—patted the back of the mare's neck.
The two huddled there in the cold breeze, though all the chill was gone.
At last, Roarke breathed, "Perhaps I will delay summoning Vaughan's transport until everypony is well situated—"
Rainbow's voice was like rust: "If you even think about leaving us again, I'll replace your spine with Commander Hurricane's sword."
Roarke gulped, and in a noticeably squeaky voice uttered, "Yes, ma'am."
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Aaaaand reunion is at hand.
This chapter satisfies me.
Welcome back, Roarke Most Rare.
You were missed.
This started playing in my mind when Roarke opened up.
Welcome back to the Jury, Roarke.
You sure there isn't away to bring the personal craft along? Is there somewhere it can dock on the Jury? I've actually forgotten how big Nancy Jane is.
That's far too adorable to be Roarke. I swear.
4537617
Slightly tsundere perhaps?
About damn time. With the "closure" she got from "Applejack," maybe now we can just get on with the RainbOarke.
Thirty crunches, ):(. Knock 'em out!
4537617 Ponies change, my friend. It's called character development.
Roarke once again proves to be Generosity. Brutal, merciless, but generous.
... My paranoia of everything going to shit is RAPIDLY rising.
IC's had too much effect on me. I'm askeered.
What's this?
Emotions from Roarke?
Maybe everyone did die in Stratopolis, and this is all some weird afterlife/hallucination thing...
or y'know, it could just be character development...
:3
I wonder if Roarke would qualify for the Element of Generosity?
4537977
Let me Slendermane youre mind. Given the comments of the previous chapter.
Rainbow Dash reaches the Midnight Armoury, epic battle, twists and turns the master plan. The amulet is placed, and light arises.
Rainbow Dashs last words as she sees her freinds of Harmony once more?
Well, that worked.
I am filled with indescribable amounts of squee.
i1.ytimg.com/vi/YKUOB8MN4Kc/hqdefault.jpg
awww the feels
Are badasses supposed to be this adorable?
Finally, glad this is out of the way and the last of the inter crew problems are patched up.
And then they fucked.
And before we leave, I also want an update on Eagle Eye/Ebon.
Welcome back, Roarke.
-SPirit
I think Roarke's dialogue was a little off, and by that I mean it didn't really feel in character, even down to the formal word choice like 'shall'. If somebody asked me, which they didn't, I would say that Roarke should have been more self loathing and less dramatic. You can still have a lot of drama with the same feel, but keep it Roarkified, ya dig? More sighs, grumbles, threats, less extended speech and what not. Although, popular opinion seems to be against me, so maybe I'm just a cynical old man waving his fist at horsewords that weren't specifically aimed at him in the first place.
Roarke Most Redeemed.
Was the word "Jurists" a new thing?
Then suddenly, a hole appeared in the Noble Jury....stay tuned to find out if Josho has enough skin to cover it!
Glad rainbow is sorry for what she did even though we've known for awhile she is. but it all worked out!! Man roarke has some deep feelings for rainbow, dash better not string her along. All we need now is for zaid to get his grilled cheese.
4537586 i like that idea
added fire-power and all that
4537980 i'm reading your comment in a sontaran that's hilarious
4538317 squee while you can, few chapters later you'll back to nervewracking uncertainty, fear, and tears
4538108
How many times does }:{ need to say Roarke Most
before everyone gets that?
I think that should have been Roarke, but whatever. Lovely chappy.
Now Kiss!
There is love in your body but you can't hold it in,
It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin.
Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks
And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts.
Healing hurts. But it hurts so good.
4539272 There's already a hole in the Jury. :P
Yeah! Roarke is back! Never ever leave us.
This says my opinion on Rainboarke.
4540946
I know. I figured it was forgotten.
Wooooooo! I caught up! Wow, this part of the journey sure had some unexpected twists.
Predictable and boring are certainly two things this story never is.
A rare glimpse at the true dom/sub dynamic of Rainboarke.
5393584
Megalomaniac? I think you need to re-aquaint yourself with the A-word.
Good to see Roarke back on the crew. But now it's time for them to kiss already, dammit!
Y'know... As a gay guy I gotta say, it's kinda hot when rainbow threatens roarke.
Side note. Roarke is the weapon, but a weapon is only as good, bad, useful or dangerous as the one who wields it. And I think that is part of why their relationship works. Because in rainbows hooves roarke is a powerful weapon for good.
I say summon the transport anyway. Pretty sure the jurists would find a use for it.
where's the kiss man
where's the kiss
6056524
Is it bad of me that when I read
I got the image of Dash repeatedly stroking Roarke's 'button' till she 'fires' in my head?
Although I think Dash and Roarke are hot together period. Even when Dash isn't pwning her or threatening her.
Oooh boy, it's smooch time.
Please do not mind my squeeing.
Like motherbucking FedEx. That's all I'm saying.
Where's Zaid when you need him?
Seriously, I'm expecting him to jump out at any given moment and ship them so hard a foal will pop out from nowhere!
1:46 a.m. MST 6/20/2017
Ship
8244576
Here it is! My favorite story of how foals are born! The Legend of Zaid: Foalmaker
Wow, that's rather dominating.
Wow, that's pretty fucking submissive for what's supposed to be the metal laden badass incarnate of the team.
Roarkeee
Time to set out on some new adventures with some new gear and reunited best friends.
Catharsis achieved.
The family is BACK TOGETHER
Now to continue their great journey east.
09/17/2019
02:34 UTC