Friends, Invisible Friends, and Dry Landings
“Just a little more, Rainbow Dash!” Rarity exclaimed.
“Rarity's right!” Twilight Sparkle added, darting left and right ahead of the pegasus and her two Desperado companions. “You're almost there!”
“Swim a bit lower, darling,” Rarity insisted. “Trust me. You'll want to make this as soft a landing as possible—”
At first, Rainbow Dash didn't understand what Rarity was talking about. The glow from Yaerfaerda below practically blinded her. Then—with a flash of a different light, she plunged through a wall of water—or air. Either way, she was gasping when she and her two swimming mates passed through the barrier, only to instantly fall. Several feet later—
Th-Th-Thwump!
All three fell onto hard sandstone. A dim gold light kissed their water-slick figures, and they lingered there, momentarily writhing from the sudden shift in sensation.
“Grfff...” Rainbow Dash was the first to sit up, dripping all over. She swung her hooves up, fussed, struggled, and eventually popped her helmet off. Hissssss! The mare inhaled deeply, her eyes rolling back. After a few sputtering breaths, she relaxed... more or less. Rainbow Dash fell back on her haunches, staring weakly across the inexplicable interior.
She saw dull-brown walls with hundreds—if not thousands—of intricate etchings, carvings, and thin-lined illustrations. They depicted a variety of countless aquatic equines in motion, all swirling towards a narrow corridor leading towards the opposite end of the labyrinthine chamber. Lying around the edge of the room, Rainbow Dash could see various buckets, crates, and carving tools. It became apparent to her that—as elaborate as the interior of the chamber was—it was still very much unfinished. She pondered on this, until a scraping sound to the side stole her attention.
Rainbow Dash pivoted right. She gasped, then scampered over to where Bard and Wildcard sat. The griffon was already struggling to yank Bard's helmet off from the outside. Rainbow rushed in to assist, and the two gently removed the desperado's headpiece. Hissss!
Bard wheezed, wheezed, and wheezed some more. He collapsed, only to be caught by Rainbow Dash and Wildcard. The stallion shuddered, gnashing his teeth slightly. As the minute wore on, his breaths normalized, and his body relaxed slightly.
“You okay there, dude?” Rainbow asked.
“Guh... am... I... okay... and... a... half...?” Bard stammered.
Hissss! Wildcard had removed his helmet. The griffon winced, twisting his neck left and right as he got used to being able to look forward yet again.
“Guess... that's... what... I get... for... leaving behind...” Bard swallowed hard. “...my lucky hat.”
“Really?” Rainbow Dash arched an eyebrow, standing up. “Really, dude? After all of that, the only thing you can think of is your stupid hat?”
“Of c-course... I-I'm mighty thankful... for yer savin' grace...” Bard gulped, gradually tilting his weak head up. “But... I just... wanna understand... one thang...” His tired eyes narrowed. “...how in Hell's bells didja know that my air was depletin' back there?”
Wildcard gestured dramatically.
“Right...” Bard nodded. “And just h-how did ya know where to swim? All we saw was darkness!”
Rarity swooped in. “Rainbow, the corridor ahead leads down in a spiraling pattern and ends at a particularly thick doorframe,” Rarity said. “And beyond that is a large circular chamber of sorts.”
“The Machine World!” Twilight Sparkle exclaimed, grinning wide. “Rainbow Dash, it feels just like the place we entered back in the Nealend Atoll!” She danced I place. “Pinkie is here! I know it! I just know it!”
“Right.” Rainbow nodded, standing up tall. “There's no time to waste. Especially with Echo and the Doc putting themselves on the line up above.”
“Are we going to swim back?” Twilight asked.
“I... think there's another doorframe,” Rarity said. “I'm not sure, but I feel as though this shrine to the Sirens was built around the circular chamber below.”
“You mean there might be a way on the other side?”
“Still, let's not risk anything unnecessarily,” Rainbow said, stripping of her saddlebag and slipping out of her diving suit. “Let's find a place to put these for a return trip.”
“How?!” Twilight retorted. “The manatanks have almost no oxygen left!”
“We'll figure it out eventually.” Rainbow gazed ahead, ears twitching. “Somehow, we'll deal with it all... after the Machine World...”
“Hello?!?” Bard wheezed, eyes wide. He and Wildcard stared at Rainbow Dash, slack-jawed. “Did y'all hear a word we said? How in tarnation did you figure out that my skin needed savin'?”
“Jee, I dunno,” Rainbow droned, peeling out of her wet suit. “Magic... feminine intuition... you take a pick. Right now, we gotta be somewhere.”
“It... couldn't have been Princess Camellia,” Bard spoke out loud. “The most she can do is see through yer eyes, and you had your eyes set straight ahead! And in the darkness!”
“Look...” Rainbow Dash looked over at the duo with a slight frown. “Every answer you need to know—I've already told you. And, quite frankly, I don't care if you believe any of it or not. I'm glad you're not dead n'stuff, but right now I gotta get downstairs.”
“What's downstairs?”
“One of my friends.” Rainbow gnashed her teeth as she finally yanked the last of the suit's sleeves off of her. Her tail flicked loose. “And I'm friggin' tired of wasting time!” She stood free, catching her breath. With a calm gaze, she glanced at the two. “You guys good?”
Bard and Wildcard numbly nodded their heads.
“Good.” She spun and trotted swiftly down the neck of the winding corridor. “Then shake a leg.”
The Desperadoes lingered behind. They exchanged glances, and Wildcard gestured with his talons.
Bard nodded. “Reckon yer right, Dubya-Cee.” He scratched his head and looked after Rainbow's exit. “Just when you thought this world wasn't fantastic-like enough...”
Stats
Page generated in 0.061 seconds
Total duration
1,040 users online
1,559,839 hits today, 2,054,621 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
I think Bard just may be a believer now.
Welp...time to wander the machine world of the deep to find Pinkie.
What indeed ?
THE COUNTDOWN TO PINK APOCALYPSE HAS BEGAN.
I hope we actually get to stick around and see Pinks get freed instead of hardcutting back to Theanim and Echo doin' their thang.
I wonder if those tanks have a sort of ambient recharge? Do they need to be refilled with a machine, or do they just draw in oxygen from the air around them when not in use?
If the former, then they're effectively useless now they've been drained, if the latter, it's gonna take a long time for them to recharge enough to be useful.
Maybe Camellia sent out some seaponies to gather the other suits and deliver them to the tomb.
-Memories given light, ease a lonely flight. Ynanhluutr.
Answer to Life, Universe, and Rainbow Dash: Spookle.
6359163
Deez nuts.
Been trying to think of a paranormal play on Pinkie's name. All I can come up with is Pinkie Psi. *shrugs*
Belief is hard fought.
WC must be having some major neck pains after that ordeal. Also those friggin' goggles... how can he see two feet in front of him in dark corridors and on the bottom of the ocean?
6359175
There could be a tower that rises up after RD adds Pinkie to the party.
6359241 Well, during the heist in Rust, he demonstrated a clear ability to see fine in the dark. They might be auto-darkening, like some welding masks.
6359263 True, but if it does they're going to be on top of it, rising up through the ocean, similar to how the Nealand atoll tower just rose through the lagoon with the Swan Song on it.
So they're going to need those air tanks regardless, unless it rises up insanely quick, which is probably just as dangerous due to the sudden change in pressure they'd be experiencing.
Looks like we have to wait on figuring out what was wrong with the tanks or if he was just panicking. However I have a feeling it was some issue with the tanks themselves.
I think Bard and Wild Card are starting to believe Rainbow Dash here and really its kind of about time.
Whatever happens in the machine world, I bet it finally convinces Bard and Wildcard.
Further reinforcing my optimism for Remna's survival is the keen reminder he has Bard's lucky hat. How could anything go wrong when lucky hats are involved?
That aside, wonder if this place is going to have weird trap defenses, or if Dash and company will be able to just walk into the Machine World without problem? With luck we'll have ourselves a Pinkie Pie soon enough.
Oh silly, silly Bard. Following the Dashie will result in you seeing wonders beyond compare...and horrors beyond your worst nightmare. Fantastic is simply too small a word for what is in store for you.
inb4 they return to Shoggoth by shotting themselves up with a large—giant even—and pink party cannon.
6359231
Well Blinky was one of the ghosts in Pacman.
Blinky Pie?
Poltergeist Pie?
Is Pinky Poltergeist to long?
Ghosty Pie?
I'm out, need to sleep.
The Machine World extends everywhere. They could just stay within it and walk to the next exit point, or even to the next flame.
Nah... too boring.
6359397
"Blinkie Pie" could work. The only problem with that is that one of Pinkie's sisters is traditionally referred to as Blinkie (though I think Limestone is the Hasbro name).
Here's hoping Pinkie takes the transition well...though something tells me she won't have much trouble with it.
6359188 Hah! Got'em!
Bard confirmed for Harry Dresden.
If they think it is spectacular NOW, just wait until they get into the machine world, which I have a feeling is going to take care of the 'getting back' problem for them.
Honestly, I'm expecting Renma to survive, just so he can give Bard his hat back.
6359448 Inky and Blinky were fan names, their official names are Marble and Limestone.
6359409 For that matter, couldn't they march down through it and pop up on the Dark side? Or would that be too convenient?
So Twilight's seed restored magic to the grand choke and Rarity's was considered a gift by the Nealanders. Anybody got any predictions on what Pinkie's will do? I'm stumped.
If the answer is not in some way "throws a party" then pinks will be disappointed.
And Rainbow Dash saves the day once again! Onward to the Pink One!
Who wants to bet Pinkie's gonna pop up, instantly be aware of the entire situation and start the
ghost threesomehugfest of destruction and doom?6359785
I'd be more interested in finding out how thick this machine plane really is if they could. Though I can imagine Dash poking her head out on the other side after a 50-60 mile trek downward only to find a sign illuminated by bioluminescent mushrooms in the otherwise pitch darkness saying "AREA LOCKED: 1800 TOTAL CHAPTERS REQUIRED", muttering "Friggin' A" under her breath before zooping back "up".
Accept no substitutes for the long way round.
Completly unrelated to the current events, but I just found out something. Remember Uncle Prowse? I watched Star Wars Episode V yesterday and guess what? The guy voicing Darth Vader is named David Prowse. Heh.
6359448
6359612
6359397
Personally, I like the plain and simple Ghostie Pie. Giggle at the ghosties and all that.
6360118
6359785
6359409
since the machine world doen't have water or food, it would be kind of complicated to make the trip, since each beacon is like a few weeks away from the previous one.
plus : solitude.
6359291 Wasn't the elevating feature of the tower in Bellesmith's town activated from inside? Haven't read it in years, but that's how I remember it.
Blup, blup, thud.
Okay, who forgot the flashlights.
Illumination of a quite possibly excessive value rapidly approaching.
(Mostly) irrefutable proof.
-Spirit (Yeast and Treacle)
6359612 For the life of me I cannot figure out why this comment got a dislike.
Shreakamina Pie? Poulterpinkie? Ghastly Pie? Pinkie Phantom?
I belive Pinkie Phantom is the best. It also allows for Danny/Dani Phantom references.
And we're close...
So very, very close...
To freeing one Pinkamena Diane Pie from her slumber...
6359231
6359397 Pinkie Die maybe? I dunno, she's a hard one to rhyme.
6360371 I thought that was pretty odd too... Although I did get a chuckle out of picturing some random guy raging at his computer over the names of Pacman ghosts.
Well to be fair, Dash hasn't really told them anything, at least nothing concrete. All Bard and WC have had to go off on was what Theanim told them, and what they've observed Dash doing. Kind of a shame she doesn't trust them at this point enough to explain at least on the way, after all they've stuck with her quite a bit.
6359543
He probably will, the Seaponies should have some sort of system for rescuing ponies who perhaps wander a little too close to a water barrier.
6360076
I hope not, while it would save IC from having to do another explanation of what's going on, it would mean this Pinkie is 4th wall breaking Pinkie (or a super charged pinkie sense) and that's just too much power for a Pinkie to have.
Ya know thinking about Bard's questions here I have to wonder if Pinkie is going to somehow be able to interact with the physical world to a degree because Pinkie Pie.
So I guess we're not going to get an explanation as to what's going on with Bard? Or is he just gonna blurt it out because he can't keep his mouth shut?
Bard's lucky hat is gone for good
6360371 I guess some people don't like the official names of the 2 pie sisters.
Either that or someone's mad that they can't use Blinkie Pie as Pinkie's spirit name.
Or someone thinks I'm being an annoying know-it-all.
There are probably more reasons, but those are the most immediate to me.
6362101
6359231
Pooka Pie ?
6359231
Pinkie Sprite
6359188 Maybe I'm being dense but did I piss you off or something ?
wait... if they're regular workers going down there, they must have an o2 recharging thing down with them for the return trip!
And all shalt know the power of the PANK