Don't Dash, Don't Tell? Good Luck...
“Well...” Theanim was the first to step into the hotel suite. Dim orange light from the metal ceiling reflected off his mane and goggles as he trotted into the middle of the room, followed by the rest of the group. “...all things considered, it isn't too terribly cramped.”
“Two bedrooms,” Echo wheezed. “Praise the Mother of Nightmares...” After Wildcard momentarily pulled loose his bindings, the dazed sarosian limped off into the next room and threw himself onto the first mattress he could find. “Mmmmmfnnghh... probably my last decent bed in ages.”
“Just what are you anymore?” Bard asked, scratching his head. “At first, I had ya figured for nocturnal, but now I just plum dunno anymore.”
“I'm dead, that's what,” Echo snarled, curling up into a fuzzy ball. “Close the door. And if I start to smell, just throw me to the sharks...”
Bard cracked the door to the room shut, smiling at the rest of the assembled group. “I gotta say, we'll have no problem makin' him look like a convincin' bounty before the Southern Hoof. He's got the wretch-on-the-run thang down pat!”
“Yes, well, hopefully all of this absurdity will convince him to turn from his conniving ways,” Theanim remarked.
“You really intend to look after the feller? Even after all the hogwash that's gone down?”
“But of course!” Theanim set his things down, examining his camera bag. “He and I go way back. And, truth be told...” He fidgeted a bit in place. “...I feel somewhat... erm... responsible for his current state of being.”
“Ya didn't exactly go back in time and write 'flankhole' into his DNA, Doc.”
“Even still, Mister Bard, a commitment's a commitment. I'm certain you'd be just as honorable with the likes of Wildcard.”
“Mmmm. Reckon so. But he dun smell nearly as bad.”
Wildcard shuffled past, motioning something with his talons.
“Hah!” Bard smirked. “Well, good thang ya gave up eatin' carrion years ago, mofo!”
During this entire exchange, Rainbow Dash had trotted slowly towards the looming balcony on the far edge of the suite. Her nervous eyes darted left and right.
A wide black swath opened to rippling sea water. Rainbow could only spot a craggy chunk of rock and several strands of waving kelp. A school of fish swam by, followed by a stingray or two. With a pensive shudder, the mare leaned forward, raised her hoof... ... ... and made contact with a curved sheet of glass.
“Whew...” She exhaled, ears folding back as she smiled. She delighted at the sight of her breath fogging against the transparent glossy material. Just a few inches beyond the barrier, she could detect the tell-tale quiver of a layer of magically displaced water. “Echo's not the only pony who can sleep easy.”
“Miss Dash, how's your head?”
“Huh?” Rainbow turned around, then blushed slightly. “Oh... I-I'm in okay shape at the moment.”
“Are you certain?”
“Totally, Doc.”
“Hrmmmff...” Theanim Mane tapped his chin. “Good to know. Still, it wouldn't hurt you and Echo to rest. You've been through a lot.”
“Darn tootin',” Bard said, sitting down on a couch and unloading his things with a tired groan. “Reckon these Desperadoes have just 'bout Despy'd themselves out, too.”
“No crime in admitting that,” Theanim said. “In the meantime, I'd very much like to scope out the local district.” He turned towards the griffon. “Would you care to lend me your eagle eyes, Mr. Wildcard?”
Wildcard nodded.
Theanim smirked slightly. “I trust they are eagle eyes under those goggles.”
The griffon's feathers ruffled a bit, and he pointed an angry talon out the door.
“Right, then.” Theanim tucked his camera away and shuffled off with the bounty hunter in tow. “Rest up. We shouldn't be long.”
Rainbow nodded, then turned to gaze out the balcony again. A lavender shape phased in and out of the water, eventually drifting towards the pegasus with a cooing voice.
“It's... it's just so much to take in,” Twilight said, smiling tiredly. “The magic. The architecture. The sheer scale of peaceful coexistence.”
“It's certainly a sight prettier than Rust, that's for sure,” Rainbow said with a nod. “Let's just not forget that the Syndicate is still alive and kicking here.”
“This must have been what you felt like in Val Roa,” Twilight said, stifling a yawn before bearing a sleepy grin. “Surrounded by so much beauty... and yet wary of a creeping evil.”
“I dunno who's greedier,” Rainbow said with a gulp. “Chrysalis or the Southern Hoof. Either way, I'm willing to bet that the Syndicate here just won't give up when push comes to shove.”
“One thing at a time, darling,” Rarity said. She leaned against Twilight, nuzzling her shoulder. “Mmmmmm... such a magical place...”
Twilight giggled. “You're tired, Rarity.”
“Hmmmf...” The mare yawned... and yawned some more. “So are you, Twilight.”
“I'm guessing all of the reserve harmony has run thin,” Twilight said with a delirious chuckle. “Seems ready to recharge.”
“But... I do not wish to...” Rarity nevertheless dangled off Twilight's side, her eyes shut above a dumb grin. “Pinkie Pie... our beloved Pinkie Pie is somewhere deep inside this dazzling city... and we've got to find her.” She yawned, her voice mutating to fit her widening jaws. “Also, siren princesses. Mmmmm... I love princesses.”
“Yeah, who doesn't, right?” Rainbow winked, then pointed at her pendant. “Hop in, girls.”
“But... but there's still the Syndicate to contend with,” Rarity protested. “And you can't navigate this confusing domain with some extra senses...”
“All the more reason for us to take Rainbow up on her advice,” Twilight said, shuffling Rarity's figure. The two drifted closer to Rainbow and her Element. “If we're going to help her, we have to be in complete control of our faculties.”
“Mmmm... faculties...” Rarity exhaled, eyelids fluttering shut. “With... pretty pink bows... and lace...”
Twilight rolled her eyes, then winked at Rainbow. “One track mind, am I right?”
“Take care, Twilight,” Rainbow said. “I'll give the pendant a little shake if there's an emergency.”
“Hopefully it won't come to that,” Twilight said. “Emergencies are always so stressful. I shudder to imagine an emergency at the bottom of the ocean.”
“Don't stress,” Rainbow said, giving the pendant a slight stroke. “Dream of books n'stuff.”
“Way ahead of you.” And—like ribbons of white and lavender light—the two mares disappeared in a flash. Rainbow gasped slightly, then patted the edges of the ruby lightning bolt with a smile, basking in the warmth of the harmonic resonance.
“Givin' yer friends a kiss goodnight?”
“Huh?” Rainbow jolted, turning towards the sound of plucked guitar strings.
Bard sat lazily on the couch. He had his instrument out, and was woefully playing a bluesy tone at a glacial tempo. He looked up from the guitar strings with a neutral expression. “I've long pondered just what that there pendant means to you. Obviously it's a weak spot...”
Rainbow frowned. “Yeah... cuz you tested it once.”
“Heh... do we have to bring up the awkard past?” He winked. “I didn't say it was all weak. It's obviously what makes you strong as well.” He glanced back at his guitar, diverging the tune into something livelier, happier. “So is that where yer friends live or what?”
Rainbow squinted at him. “...does this mean you actually believe what Theanim said about it?”
“Well, reckon there's gotta be a reason for all the glowin', hmmm?” Bard plucked his hat off, revealing his full head of silken brown mane hair. He placed the article onto the couch cushion beside him and took a deep breath. “To tell the truth, I'm more amused than anythang by the idea.” He smiled gently, plucking strings. “Havin' one's best friends hoverin' all around yerself? That's gotta be the best and worst thang ever. Like... how do you even go to the bathroom?”
“The opposite of you,” Rainbow droned. “I use my butt.”
“Heh heh heh heh heh...” Bard smirked, twanging away. He reclined fully on the couch with a masculine sigh. “Ahhhh that's a good one there, Rainbow. Heheh...”
Rainbow cocked her head aside. “You didn't call me 'Missy.'”
“Eeyup.” He arched an eyebrow in her direction. “What about it?”
“I dunno, it's just... just...”
“Do you already miss me flirtin' with ya, darlin'?”
“What? Heck, no!” Rainbow wretched. “I was only... a bit surprised you finally got it out of your system.”
“Well, figured I'd might as well drop it,” Bard muttered. “On account that there's point.”
“Right.” Rainbow shook her head. “I'm just... not in a place where I could humor such a silly thing.”
“Naw, I meant ya ain't into stallions.”
Rainbow Dash did a double-take, jaw agape. “Huh?! What... that...?!” She gritted her teeth. “Dude! How could you even—”
“Oh please, Rainbow...” Bard smirked, glancing at her knowingly. “Anypony with workin' peepers could see ya practically droolin' over those showmares we brushed by a few hops back.”
Rainbow recoiled hard, her cheeks instantly blazing. A nervous hoof clamped over her lightning bolt, as if trying to drown the sound of Bard's voice out.
“And—goddess have mercy—I sure as Hell can't blame ya!” He winked. “For lookin', that is. But them flanks are nothin' but trouble and deep bit bag debt in the makin'. As a matter of fact, I'm rather proud ya didn't go crawlin' after them—what with yer wings raised to the blazin' heavens. Heh... ya coulda broken the ocean's surface with yer wingtips by the way you was gawkin'. Hahahah...”
“Okay... just... just stop rubbing it in—”
“No wonder you've been such a feisty fire cracker since the day I met ya!” Bard chuckled. “Days, weeks—and from what the good Doc says—months of just flyin', gallopin', skimmin' yer poor lonesome way east? Whew! By my book, that's a hardcore recipe for runnin' low on the filly-foolin' fuselage!”
“Yeah. I know. Will you just—”
“Hell, Wildcard's had weeks where he's been run so dry, he starts eyein' up fat seagulls! But even still that dun beat the way you was whimperin' after those mares—”
“Just shut up, okay!” Rainbow snarled. “Stop drawling—talking... whatever! Just let it go!”
Bard blinked at her, pausing in his guitar tuning. “... ... ...a thousand pardons. I didn't mean to rub no sore spot.”
“Just... please...” Rainbow adjusted the pendant around her neck, trotted closer to him, and spoke in a quiet tone. “Promise me something.”
He shrugged. “Sure thang, Rainbow.”
She glared, brow furrowed. “Don't talk about this ever again. Not another peep.”
Bard curiously squinted at her.
Rainbow stomped a hoof. “Promise!”
“Alright! Alright!” He raised both hooves. “I promise! Heh...” He resumed twanging at the guitar. “But, honestly, girl... ain't no thang to be ashamed of!”
“I'm not ashamed of who I am,” Rainbow grumbled.
“Heheh... ya sure about that?”
“Look, maybe you've made a life reading into other ponies so you could scam or rob them...”
“Ouchhhh—hoo hoo hoo...” He chuckled breathily with a crooked smile. “That's dayum cold.”
“...but from now on, if you make any new observations about me... just keep them to yourself.”
“Reckon we gotsta know each other if we're gonna work with one another.”
“We're not going to be working with each other for long, Bard.”
“No?” Bard struck a note off-key. He winced, then sat up, clearing his throat. “Ya mean ya dun have any services for Dubya-Cee and I after this here shindig with Echo and the Southern Hoof?”
“I know you want our cut of the heist, Bard,” Rainbow droned. “But give it a rest.” She paced across the suite. “After I pay back Theanim for the Midnight Dreary, I'm taking as many bits with me on the flight east.” She gulped. “I'm... pr-probably going to have to buy my way through Rohbredden.”
“It could be a mite bit easier if ya had a pair of guides.”
Rainbow looked at him.
Bard smirked, wagging his eyebrows. “Especially from a pair of varmints who hail from that neck of the woods.”
“Didn't you hear me the first time?” Rainbow sighed. “If you want more bits, you're gonna have to take your services elsewh—”
“Do ya really think that all Dubya-Cee and I do is go chasin' after bits?
“Dude. You're friggin' mercenaries.”
“Who murder, maim, and kill for the cheapest shiny coin, amirite?”
“Well...” Rainbow squirmed. “...n-not that I've seen.” She gulped. “Not yet, anyway.”
“Eheheh... there ya go, betrayin' yer true colors, Rainbow Dash.”
“And what would you know about my true colors?”
“I've seen enough to figure you for a mare who does her best when she doesn't try.” Bard set his guitar aside and stood up with a slight groan, joints cracking. “You simply are the best... and the best dun make compromises and the best dun take sass from nopony. Sure, Dubya-Cee and I are always lookin' to score some bits, but we like to do it the right way... and the honorable way.”
“No wonder you guys were so desperate at Rust,” Rainbow droned.
“Heheheh... yeah, well...” Bard slicked his bangs back, staring out the watery balcony. “Lemme put it this way. Life ain't worth livin' unless the next day is a great deal more righteous than the one previous. My partner and I? We seek to be better than we was the sunset before the last, and you?” He turned towards her with a solemn expression. “Yer on your way to righteousness. A fella like me can smell it on ya.”
Rainbow simply stared at him.
He smirked, shrugging. “That, and a pinch of vanilla. Must be all them colors squeezin' off of ya.”
“Ungh...” Rainbow grumbled, trotting off towards a nearby door. “I'm gonna get some shuteye.”
“The midnighter's in there.”
Rainbow about-faced and trudged towards another door. “You play that guitar loud, and I'm gonna turn it into a necklace.”
“You can try yer damnedest, ya scamp.”
“Meh.” And Rainbow shut the door behind her.
Bard smirked. He backtrotted, slumped back onto the couch, and plopped his hat over his muzzle and eyes. “Mmmmfnnngh...” He rested his wings. “'Turn it into a necklace,'” he muttered tiredly. “Maybe I'm wrong about her, cuz that's exactly what my lil' ol' ex did with the last one...”
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Huh...
How long until Bard figures out that Rainbow hasn't told her invisible friends?
Also, why is this a conflict again? Rainbow doesn't want to talk/think about Appleroake?
HAH!
Bard. Stay a bit.
Simmer down Dash.
Seriously. Bard and Wildcard are nice creatures. If a little eccentric.
I understand not wanting to forge anymore bonds if it just means you'll have to leave them behind at some point again, but still.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Does this mean Pegasus-Braeburn and Goggles McToothpick will stay with us a bit longer? Hallelujah!
Okay, in all seriousness, why is she so reticent to come out to Twi and Rares? Does she think it'd weird them out? Surely she knows them better than that.
And speaking of hiding things:
Heh.
Good luck Bard in getting Rainbow to swing for the other team. You're gonna need it.
Oh, you.
6302519
Because wangst.
Fifty side-straddle hops, ):(. Knock 'em out!
Hmm... This presents an issue. If AJ does come back with truth sense, Rainbow's not gonna be able to hide anything from her. Imagine that if you will
6302597
I also find it a bit strange that this far into her journey she would worry about coming out to them this much. Maybe be a bit apprehensive due to how Twilight reacted to other cultures at the start, she might think they would be put off by it or hate it sure. But it has to happen eventually she can't really avoid it forever.
Bard also took that well, I figured he would be more disappointed then he was I guess.
I do like watching Bard and Rainbow play off each other. Wonder how Dash would react if Bard got hit with a gender swapping spell during this adventure? What? Weirder things have happened in this series.
So, Dash all but confirming the fact none of her friends knew shes into mares.
Bet right now she's really feeling the ocean on her shoulders.
the bioshock references will not be stopped
Aww. Personal time. Also, Rainbow, hurry up and break down. Rainbow and the Desperado's mad cap race, across Rohbredden.
6302597 To me Rainbow seems like a character that has trouble opening up about anything. With the emotional toll her journeys slowly taking on her she probably just doesn't want to have to deal with it.
I'm with you though on her not having anything to worry about. The girls would have to be the biggest bigots in the world to have a problem with Dash's orientation after all she's been through to bring them back.
I love being dead on accurate with a joke.
didn't think that her sexuality was that much of a sore spot. Now I'm not sure whether or not it'd be worth seeing Twi and Rares 'learn' (assumin they don't already know) about it.
Rainbow Dash staring as El Kabong?
Wildcard would be Deputy Dawg?
Echo is Daffy Duck?
Bard ?
Theanim ?
6283172 Picard and Dathon at El-Adrel
This was fun
6303407 And then of course Colon goes and makes a Star Wars prequel reference in the chapter titles, so screw us, I guess!
6303213
6303158 you have to remember, She's not really ashamed of it but she NEVER told ANY of her friends. It came up a way back in the series how she didn't want her feelings for applejack to change things so she kept it to herself. So no one else knows either. I figure mostly because her friends are terrible at secrets, Twilight would give it away, Rarity would just harass Dash about it non-stop, Fluttershy would crack the moment she even THOUGHT someone suspected she was hiding something from them, Pinkie pie would actually be okay though... Nobody breaks a pinkie promise and all that.
As well, I have a feeling she knows they'd be okay with it, but if/when they find out she wants to be the one to tell them, not bard or giving it away by accident like a doofus..
6303457 Star Wars = INSTANT AWESOMENESS
Foreshadowing.
Well, I was wondering whether Rainbow told Twilight about Roarke, but I guess the fact that she hasn't even come out yet sort of confirms she didn't mention it.
Now, Bard. That she likes mares doesn't mean she doesn't like stallions. It just means you are not as charming as you think.
6302652
You need more than luck. You need a parallel universe.
Fluttershy will be a harmonic omni-translator ghost babel-fish for rainbow.
Its the only way her special talent can be applied by her while still invisi-ghostly.
6303714 IC doesn't foreshadow, he foreeclipses.
6303441 well, that was my thought: it's a very raw wound, she found love that she accepted and was comfortable with, that was returned in full, all while knowing that it would be ripped away. That was one of the most impactful part of the story, imo
I knew somepony has seen her. Heh Bard you are terrible.
Yeah, I think that's a sore spot because she's left so many loved ones behind. ...Plus, there's still Applejack she's heading towards. Even if we're not sure if it'll be reprociated...
6304223 Dammit... I miss Roarke. And Rainboarke.
6304832 'Twas a glorious ship... I'm still holding onto the tiniest fragment of hope that they will somehow eventually reunite or at the very least, get in touch again
6304900 Holding on? I'll never let go of Rainboarke.
6305602 never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down
I know that Bard has been saying that he tries to be honourable this whole time, but this chapter really hit it home for me.
6303648 I would never have imagined that someone with that profile pic, named Revan, would possibly be a SW fan
I'm just not personally a fan of the prequels. The originals, however, are masterpieces and I can't wait for the new trilogy. #InAbramswetrust
Oh also does this story have any formatting or pictures of any sort. I'm thinking about reading this off site but I don't want to lose anything by doing so.
Sheehs, this and Dash her behaviour in the previous chapter makes me think she seems to miss a certain bountyhunter mare
6306575 I like the prequels, but I'm highly aggravated that Disney threw out the entire Expanded Universe - now classified as the Legendverse - just so that they could completely shape the Star Wars universe any way they want to.
The Legendverse is 98% internally consistent - a tribute to the power of teamwork, given how many different people were at work in it. And it gives a galaxy of possibilities, and a depth that reminds one of the 'feeling of antiquity' in the realm of Middle-Earth.
Without it, the Star Wars universe is far emptier and thin - the movies don't give a lot of depth to the universe.
I'll watch Episode VII and the countless sequels that Disney will churn out, but I feel that it will be decades before the depth of the Legendverse will be equaled - and may have far less variety, given that Disney is writing all of it.
So it looks like Bard and WC are hoping to stay on after this job eh? I hope Rainbow will let them, this is a pretty nice group she's got going so far for this new adventure. Can't beat the Noble Jury, of course, but this new group has that similar feeling of well meshing 'friends'. Except Echo, he's gonna have to step up a bit more.
6302989
That would be a hilarious bit of shenanigans to lighten up the journey, that's for sure.
6302519
One could assume that by the way she held her hoof over her pendant and the way she begged him not to talk about it, he might have some inkling that it's related to her invisible friends. Though, not knowing really anything about them or the conversations Rainbow has with them would make it difficult for the inkling to become anything more than that.
I have a feeling that something is going to happen to Bard. All this talk of making the next day better than the one before, continuing with Rainbow? It stinks of bad events. In these types of stories, party members join in the middle of an arc, then either leave or spontaneously decide to join. They don't decide in the middle, and the ones that do die before the end.
6306834 There is, very occasionally, a symbol, drawn roughly in MS paint. It is generally well-described in the text, and the picture is unnecessary.
I read most of it as an offline .html on my phone while I was supposed to be working. At least until I caught up.
However, most of the comment section is interesting and/or relevant as well. It gives you a clue as to the origin of many of the characters' (and locations') names.
6302597 Discussing your sexuality with friends whose relationship with you has always been strictly reduced to asexual themes is always extremely awkward.
6311508 Not with that attitude.
And finally Bard believes.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
Hmm . . . I really want to know what's keeping her from telling her friends. Maybe she isn't ashamed of who she is, but I think she is afraid of what her friends will think. Since the main six are all female, maybe Rainbow is afraid that coming out might make them all feel uncomfortable being around her? That's a really sorry excuse, but it could be anything at this point.
I would think that the Elements of Harmony would be the most accepting of things such as this, so whatever is holding back Rainbow must either be really well thought out or really naive.
Sooner or later, it's going to come up, and it's going to be awkward.
Dash and Bard being deep...
in the ocean.
Twilight so needs to meet Eagle Eye in the future.
And they could use that princess-y stallion's talents right about now.
I do hope Bard and Wild Card stay along.