A Most Noble Breakfast, Part One
Morning sunlight broke through the elaborate bronze pillars that made up the Val Roan Royal dining balcony. Here, a massively long oaken table stretched, its top surface full of every pastry, baked good, fruit, potato, scrambled eggs imaginable. The aroma of freshly fried breakfast filled the sunny domain, and around the elaborate table were seated every member of the Noble Jury and the Tarkington.
None of them were eating.
Several ponies yawned. Several others blinked wearily. The ones who were fully awake merely squirmed in place, as if the ample meal was simply too much for them to dig in.
Basso blinked towards the spacious cityscape beyond the pillars while Zetta leaned against him. Zaid leaned forward, examining several different plates of cheese while Prowse gave him the evil eye across the way and Props merely smiled. Bellesmith and Pilate sat quietly while Kera—between them—kept glancing towards the far ends of the hall. More than once, her gaze fell upon Roarke, who sat at one end of the table in total silence, her eyes cool and distant.
At last, Arcanista's hoofsteps broke the silence of the scene. She arrived with Mamunia and Jet. Upon seeing the dormant faces of the ponies, she shuffled to a stop, blinking. “...well, this is most certainly... festive.”
“It's quite an elaborate meal!” Ebon Mane said, a hopeful smile flickering across his burgundy muzzle. “I can tell it took them a long time to make!”
“They're royalty, Ebon,” Eagle said. “They whipped it together overnight.”
Ebon bit his lip. “Well... it would have taken me forever to make it.”
“I'm so used to sailboat butt's cookings that I'm afraid my body will reject anything else,” Josho muttered.
“Then is that why you haven't taken a bite yet?” Arcanista asked, strolling over to where Floydien and Midnite sat. She smiled and curtsied. “Brother...”
“Pigeon-hoofed boomer...”
“Cute.”
Midnite giggled.
“Well, nice to know that somepony is in a good mood,” Arcanista said.
“He's alive...” Midnite exhaled through a drunken smile. She gazed across the table. “He's alive and in one piece. I... I simply cannot believe it. Queen Chrysalis was right.”
“Mother's made a promise,” Ebon said. “Is it really that hard to believe that she's given up on her dastardly ways?”
“Uhhhh... yeah, kid,” Seclorum rasped from across the table. He glanced aside at Arcshod. “I'm almost tempted to stick around with the world's biggest stick and see if candy will burst out of her the moment she makes a move.”
“Come on!” Eagle Eye frowned. “Give her the benefit of a doubt!”
Crimson waved a hoof. “Now... let's not get too excited. The Val Roans made us a wonderful meal here. We can choose to argue over things later.”
“It's good to know that you're thankful,” Arcanista said, taking a seat and scooting in besides her maidservants. “But actually eating would be a finer gesture.”
“Uhhhh huh...” Tweak stealthily slid several biscuits into his hat and planted it atop his crystalline head. “First thing's first.” Lucky Strike snickered, and the older sibling kicked his leg beneath the table before continuing. “What happens once we're all gone? I mean, assuming everything goes as planned.”
“It's noble that you'd express such concern for Val Roa in the long run,” Midnite said.
“Hey...” Zaid smirked, kicking back with a lazy grin. 'When the shoe fits, babe.”
“We came a long way to make sure that this kingdom didn't kick the bucket,” remarked Phoenix. “It... it only seemed fitting.”
“That's what I said!” Zaid said. Props slapped his shoulder. “Ow! Okay... that one was just to wake me up.”
Props giggled and turned to look Midnite's way. “We've learned long... long ago that flying somewhere is one thing. Making sure that the place you leave is in good spirits is another.”
Kera shuddered. “We've... not b-been so lucky in the past.”
Belle and Pilate hung their heads.
Roarke gazed on in silence, her brown ears twitching.
Arcanista took a firm breath. “Val Roa is headed for a glorious future. Of this, I am sure.”
“Belaseenu'm cranadrem viulen hreem?” Arcshod muttered, eyes narrow.
Seclorum cleared his throat. “Uhhh... are you really certain of that?”
Arcanista merely nodded. “Bountiful is having its seat in the Council reinstated. I just got done talking with Fishberry. Together, the Chancellor and I are setting aside our differences and preparing a commission to locate and root out sources of embezzlement within the Council. With the Constable's help, we'll be eliminating all seeds of corruption within Val Roa.”
“By the Spark,” Belle remarked. “That sounds... drastic.”
“It's been a long time coming,” Arcanista said. “Much like it was in Ledomare and Xona, discord and disharmony had been nestled deep within our culture, and it took a malevolent force from outside to exploit it and balloon it into something far worse.”
“But now that Chrysalis is defeated, all of those dark pockets are laid to bear,” Midnite said. She smiled up at Floydien, then gazed warmly at the rest of the table. “In a way, I suppose you could say that Chrysalis was the best thing to happen to Val Roa.”
“You mean the bloody defeat of that pisstaker,” Prowse's voice growled. He pointed with his good hoof. “Lest we forget that it took a lot of dead goblins to make this cheery little morning meal possible. Not that I sympathize with the little buggers, but no victory is ever that squeaky clean, now is it?”
The table hung in silence. Everyone looked at their food as if it was miles away.
Roarke spoke suddenly—which caused the whole table to flinch. “Chrysalis was the best thing to happen to the Cartel too.” All eyes rested on her as she stared back. “Val Roa didn't need a change. It simply needed a savior. But the Cartel?” She slowly shook her head. “It's been destined for ruin for a long time. You can't rearrange that without bloody scars. The goblins from the south will be reeling from what happened yesterday for a long time. But they will climb back from their loss, and they will find themselves in a better, healthier place.”
“Because of you, Roarke,” Pilate said. “Yes?”
The metal mare nodded. “I was instrumental in both their downfall and their rescue. The Lounge are still here, minding the southern edge of the Capital because of an agreement that I made. It would be pointless to let the imps down now. I owe it to them... and to myself to see that they find a better future. I would like to think that my experience at Searo's Hold will be instrumental in this process.”
“Then...” Kera bit her lip. “You're heading south to the Cartel?” Belle rested a hoof on the tiny Xonan's shoulder. “Will we ever see you again?”
“That depends,” Roarke droned. She looked up across the table at the filly. “Will your eyes be open when I visit every month to check up on Belle and Pilate?”
Kera blinked... then smiled.
“Wait wait wait!” Props leaned forward, her jaw agape. “You guys are staying?”
“Erm...” Belle glanced aside at Pilate, smiling bashfully.
Pilate reached over and rested his hoof on Belle's side. “I suppose the truth would come out eventually. And... well...”
“We didn't want to discuss it aloud,” Belle said. “Not yet. Not until... well...”
“Well what?” Props squeaked.
“Don't you think something is missing?” Eagle Eye remarked.
Just then—with the flapping of wings—Rainbow Dash soared in from the balcony, breathless. “Whew! Sorry... sorry, guys. I sh-should have been here earlier, I know. But I'm here now.” She shuffled up in s chair next to Roarke, shuddering. “It's just that somepony didn't wake me,” she grumbled, giving the back of Roarke's chair a heavy swat.
Roarke droned, “Somepony deserved it after all she did yesterday.”
“Deserved what?” Booster Spice asked.
“I... uh...” Rainbow blushed, her ears drooping. “I overslept.”
Booster's goggles nearly fell off. “You overslept?!”
“Yup.”
“On the morning of the biggest, most amazing celebration breakfast in all of Val Roa?! You overslept?!”
“Yuh huh.”
“The hay's gotten into you?!” Booster Spice cackled.
“Look...” Rainbow spoke above the sound of Props giggling. “I had a super heavy dream last night.”
“Did you, now?” Zaid smirked. “Just how heavy was it?”
“You tell me,” Rainbow took a sip of orange juice. “Your Mom was in it.”
Phoenix spat. Crimson chuckled while Lucky Strike and Tweak leaned against each other, cackling.
“Heeheehee!” Props slapped the back of Zaid's back. “You got serrrrrved!”
“Ughhh... be still my shattering ego.” Zaid rolled his eyes. Then gestured a the table. “Why don't you serve me some cheese and grits?”
“Sure thing, Zaidy Waidy!”
“Mrmmff...” Zaid hid his blushing muzzle into his glass. “My mother was a saint. A skinny saint.”
“Hmmph...” Prowse managed a red-bearded smirk. “I'm likin' this breakfast.”
“Then eat something!” Arcanista exclaimed. “All of you!”
“Yeah, what gives?” Rainbow bit into a biscuit, her blue cheeks bulging. “Mrmmf... dig in!”
And just like that, the audible mirth and levity of the balcony lifted by several decibels. Belle prepared a plate for Kera. Basso dug into the scrambled eggs and sausages. Midnite held a piece of toast up to Floydien, and the elk rolled his eyes before taking a bite. The two Xonan warriors delicately nibbled on hard-boiled eggs.
At the end of the table, Rainbow spotted the warm gazes of Belle and Pilate. She smiled at them, winked at Kera, then glanced aside at Roarke.
Roarke glanced back.
The two mares smiled, and enjoyed their breakfast liberally.
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Best, and most important meal of the day.
*sigh*...Looks like everyone's staying, though.
You know, I'm kind of wondering why Arcanista or anyone else Val Roan hasn't said anything about the other Xonans.
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Um... guys... getting some serious deja vu right now... and it's not a good thing...
i.imgur.com/dCBh8RL.jpg
Hmm, i see toast, so a toast may be coming in part two. I also spotted flapjacks, so there's that. No grasshoppers though? Kera is dissapoint, IC.
Part Two: Rocks fall.
If I'm right, I can say "I told you so."
If I'm wrong, well, that wouldn't be bad eh?
Can't start breakfast without the guest of honour.
I was almost expecting Dash's dream to be some new vision of Yaerfaerda or similar...
Spoiler alert: Khao was actually Zaid's mom.
Looks like Zaid's gonna need some img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110515175143/pokemon/images/f/f4/Dream_Burn_Heal_Sprite.png
5600202
NOPENOPENOPENOPENOPENOPE *puts fingers in ears*
5600237
That's...slightly depressing if you think about it...
I wonder if we'll finally get to see more of Rainbow's dream, from earlier on in Yaerfaerda.
Also, if Belle, Pilate, and Kera stay in Val Roa, then Kereine might eventually become a thing, for all you hopefuls out there.
img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140127070531/powerlisting/images/2/2b/Apply_cold_water_to_burned_area.jpeg
Bittersweet breakfast is bittersweet. But pairing the bitter with banter will certainly sweeten the deal. I'm gonna try really, really hard to just enjoy the almost diabetes-inducing good vibes. I'm confident that the rug under our feet is securely fastened.
Big meal is big, long lasting freindship will last beyond teh end of the world.
Now focuses back once more, totally, on Rainbow Dash?
5600202 Fairly par for the course to expect things to go pear shaped shortly after isn't it?
IC is making us all paranoid, but I'm with 5600286 on this. Shell is dead, Haman is dead, the bug is dehorned and in a prison cell.... there's really nothing that could really screw them over for staying.
The rug isn't fastened, but there are no hands/hooves/magic aura's grabbing at right now.
5600202 If there's one thing we know about IC, it's that he never does the same thing twice. We're all expecting a Lerris. So Lerris won't happen. I hope.
5600260
Kera's going to have a hard time living in Val Roa with a lovesick price trying to get her attention. I don't envy her.
Why must you be so mean RD? Why?
Still waiting for that hidden third shoe to drop.
Classic rainbow dash.
Yum I wanna tuck in! Oh wait... I cant cause I died...
This is going to be twenty chapters worth of good byes isn't it?
5600667 More like 54...and that's not a good thing.
5600676 Nah I meat I was expecting each character to get a chapter to say farwell before Rainbow flys off to find out what that symbol is leading her towards, after all it shares the name with the story we are probably going to learn something about it eventually.
5600784 Yeah, even if every character gets a chapter that still leaves 20-ish remaining, I hope the worst of those will be Rainbow struggling with Yaerfaerda.
5600202 lalalalala I cant hear you!
Some sick burns from RD there. I really don't know how this is going to go anymore, even if it means losing all of the Jury I would rather have this end with just them saying good bye then something start killing them off. Though I do think that regardless of how it will end its going to go two ways; either some (or all) will follow RD into the other side or it really is what it seems to be and they all stay and just say goodbye. I don't think its going to go badly really.
5600202
Then there is stuff like this that makes me paranoid again.
5600597 Says who? We never saw your body. Nightshade will come to Val Roa and... that's the ending no one is prepared for.
That horrible, truly terrible moment when you realize... you're 105 chapters behind. Hello everyone, it's been a whiiiiiile... oops...
5600202
5600929
Deja Vu with some old ghosts thrown into the mix. Sounds like a plan.
Okay, I'm thinking there are a few chapters for the rest of this day. Two or three dedicated to conversation and getting Rainbow some new supplies for the journey. One last night talk with Roarke? Maybe a Luna chapter before she sets off? Then you have a couple with goodbyes. And then the rest is left to the Choke. Storms? Sand snakes? Who knows.
Wanna go with the "IC doesn't do the same thing twice?" Maybe we'll get our hearts ripped out when something happens and rainbow has to leave without giving goodbyes.
What's the edge of the earth gonna look like....
5600929
5600597
By that logic we still might have to worry about Shell. I can't take that risk. Sorry Nightshade, you're dead
Until we see you on the dark side of the world because you found a passage there through the machine world.
F'naa
5600202
Shell confirmed.
5601115 Neither could survive their injuries alone, so they merged into a single being.
Is anyone prepared for that?
5600177
my man zaid gonna need some aloe for that mad burn
5600202
I knew something seemed familiar.
Well, if anybody needs me I'll be sitting here panicking.
I wonder what else is going to happen. I'm expecting at least 14 more chapters of lull before Rainbow start leaves for the Grand Choke on her own, hopefully with a sound stone that wont get crushed easily by a dragon.
gah
another chappy makin me hungry
5600202
oh
oh god
there went my appetite, nevermind
5600202
Stop it! No paranoia at the table! Just be quiet and enjoy your food.
Damn, Zaid just checked every box on the list.
What list, you say? This list.
☐ Not REKT
☑ REKT
☑ REKTangle
☑ SHREKT
☑ REKT-it Ralph
☑ Total REKTall
☑ The Lord of the REKT
☑ The Usual SusREKTs
☑ North by NorthREKT
☑ REKT to the Future
☑ Once Upon a Time in the REKT
☑ The Good, the Bad, and the REKT
☑ LawREKT of Arabia
☑ Tyrannosaurus REKT
☑ eREKTile dysfunction
img.pandawhale.com/84489-how-much-breakfast-is-that-mem-kqaP.jpeg
I have no idea why I thought of this specifically, but here it is!
5600202
5600408 Also, Lerris was the windfall of a loose end. We had descriptions of Shell shambling after them dozens of chapters beforehand - we just forgot or chose to ignore. The question of whether or not there is a loose end here solely depends on whether or not Floyd truly was abducted before Chrysalis even showed up - then we'd have another culprit. Archer claims this is certain, but he hasn't as of yet told me why.
5600408
*cough* giant centipedes and metal spiders *cough*
5601115
Shell was clearly implied to have been killed by Rainbow (plus, she wouldn't have left him alive). Nightshade, however, just disappeared into the depths of the Machine World. There's nothing to say she's actually gone. I like your Dark Side theory, though. So much better than another you-know-what.
Can Rainbow be alone now and the chapters go back to being <500 words? I liked those days.
Also which characters name can I have so I can fit in with the "comment every single chapter because I want to get noticed" club?
I would freak the hell out if Nightshade returned.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Though not as much as Dash would...
5602080
Shhhhh! You're not supposed to mention that. Imploding Colon might catch on.
Good to see everyone in better spirits now and that Roarke will visit at least. This is still gonna feel so weird though, continuing with less characters I mean.
...This is reminding me a lot of another breakfast we had a ways back.
5601154
5600202
This shit right here is why I avoid breakfasts in general and move straight to lunch.
That explains why nobody seems to have an appetite. It's also remarkably dorfy.