“Well, CC. It's... uh... it's a desert,” Rainbow Dash said.
“I most certainly did not expect an ocean of smooze,” said the crystal sound stone in her grasp.
“Ocean of what-now?”
“Before your time, filly.”
“Whatever.” Rainbow Dash flew under the burning glint of morning. The flat landscape stretched out desolately before her. The world was still an endless plain of dirty yellow rock. The sky had lost its blue texture, favoring a sickly pale eggshell color. Rainbow Dash's eyes were protected behind a pair of tinted lenses inside her goggles. “Long story short, it doesn't look like there's much to get freaked out about beyond the ravine. It's just a bunch of... nothing.”
The sound stone echoed the stallion's voice, “A bunch of dry, arid nothing, I imagine.”
“Yes.”
“And you are taking necessary precautions?”
Rainbow Dash sighed, her lips curving somewhat. “Yes, CC.”
“Rationing the water we gave you?”
“Absolutely. You'll also be pleased to know I wash my bridle everyday and don't accept drinks from strange stallions.”
“Now, filly, there is no need for sassing me. Don't let the dull appearance of the landscape fool you. You are still in a great deal of danger if you underestimate the severe lack of resources at your disposal.”
“Hey, I've flown through rough places before,” Rainbow Dash said. “I'm pacing myself here. Trying not to go too fast or too slow. If I just glide and let the air carry me, then I'm exerting only half the effort and—” She blinked, then smiled nervously to the sunlight. “Well, that's pegasus stuff. I dunno if you can relate.”
“I think I understand what you're getting at well enough. I know it may seem like nothing to you, but I find your current discoveries amazingly fascinating, filly.”
“Uh huh...”
“It boggles the mind to think that the injured earth pony could have dragged himself for so long across such a barren landscape.”
“Yeah, and I was thinking about that too,” Rainbow Dash muttered. “He had to know a thing or two about what lay beyond this stretch of desert. I mean, it's a crazy distance to gallop on hoof, much less drag oneself across. What are the odds that he and his fellow ponies knew that Darkstine was waiting for him to the west?”
“Or he could have been making a blind run when he approached the ravine.”
“Uhhhh... what for?”
“Because whatever it was that chased him out of his home, it was horrible enough to warrant the suicidal venture.”
Rainbow Dash took a deep breath, squinting at the pale horizon. “Well, I guess we're both going to find out, huh?”
“So long as you don't fly out of range of the stone's enchantment first.”
“Boy, wouldn't that ruin your day...” Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. “And speaking of enchantment, I think I'd better cool it before this stone blows up from the awesomeness of your voice.”
“Well, if you insist.”
“I'll fill ya in on my progress tomorrow, old stallion,” she said. “In the meantime, hit Desert Light for me.”
“I'll strongly consider it.” And Cold Canter's voice dwindled in the air.
Rainbow Dash pocketed the stone away, took a deep breath, and glided eastward at an accelerated rate. “I'm sick of this place already,” she muttered.
The flight ahead was identical to the previous thirty-six hours. There was no break to the flat topography. Occasionally, lines would form in the sand from what Rainbow Dash judged were ancient river beds that had since dried up. She'd also discover a cluster of rocks that would be lying upon the desolate surface for no apparent reason. She paused once to examine a pile of stones, only to touch one and witness it crumbling into smaller, ashen pebbles. If she didn't know about the earth pony and his horrible fate, she would have guessed she was the only pony to have graced these parts in millennia.
Rainbow Dash was starting to wonder if the entire world was nothing more than a desolate mystery. When she grew up, she always had the deeply-seated assumption that Equestrian society had spread to the four corners of the physical plane. What she was beginning to discover, however, was that the world she lived on was simply tiny patches of society spread thinly between huge stretches of untapped wilderness.
In a way, she was excited. This meant that there were innumerable spots to discover and witness first-hoof in ways that those before her never did. This also meant that such amazing places... stood to not be so amazing after all. After a day spent with Cold Canter and Desert Light, building up so much fear and supposition about what lay beyond the ravine, she was “discovering” a whole lot of nothing. And she wondered if perhaps the rest of her journey would be more interesting if spent in the mechanical bowels of the realm than above it.
“Hmmmm... Meh...” She smiled as she glided eastward, undaunted. “There are more explosions up here... occasionally.” Suddenly, she squinted. She raised a hoof up to her goggles and removed the tint to see the horizon far more clearly.
The east desert was growing thick with dust and haze. Soon, a swirling wall of grit and sediment was kicking up, forming a solid tempest of billowing sand. She couldn't even see the sunlight through it.
“Huh...” She clenched her jaw. “Well, that doesn't look good.”
Uh Oh -- sandstorm ahead. Either that or a dune worm.
What phase of the moon are we in at the moment? It has been a while since that was breached (Actually I have wondered if that would be nice included on each page -- IE a picture of the moon in its current phase). The only thing that made me think otherwise is once Rainbow is on the bottom of the world, such would have no meaning. It is also scary to contemplate that Rainbow would have to face all that utterly alone.
Alternative Chapter Title: "In Which There Is A Depressing Lack Of Smooze"
Desert Light "Sincere Observation: This is why one who would be outtrotter should never complain about things being uninteresting."
I've got a bad feeling about this.
hahaha such a genius exchange!
Title Obtained: "The Brave"
-Minty
Trophy Get: Sixth Sense...I Guess?- Make an obvious prediction or observation.
What's the bet that it is an underground society?
Sand Sucks
CC? Why not just call him... Csquared! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Rainbow_dealwithit.png
1282500
IC is a genious and obviously loves you guys.
FINALLY CAUGHT UP!!
And what a ride that was...
Upon seeing this in the Feature Box I never expected to be drawn in and immersed in such a collosal and captivating world...
May the stars of Aeos shine ever bright upon you and the four moons of Aurorus guide you to great bounty.
1282859
I've been reading too much yaoi to ever see that scene and keep a straight face....
1280703
It would be a bad day to have a Maker coming after you.
It's an ALASKAN BULL WORM!!
1283859 WTF are you on about precious?
You should change Rainbow's line from "I mean, it's a crazy distance to gallop on hoof, much less drag oneself across" to "I mean, it's a crazy distance to gallop on hoof, much less drag yourself across" since her saying "oneself" in any manner that isn't sarcastic doesn't seem likely.
YES! I'VE FINALLY CAUGHT UP!!!
The sandstorm is clearly being caused by a herd of Graboids. Aha! Fire breathing Graboids! That is my new prediction for what offed that earth pony guy. Also, at the Smooze exchange. Onward!
IIIIIt's Dashie's Thanksgiving Day Marathon Evaluation Time Special!
Alrighty, so I'm pretty sure we're going to encounter a sandstorm in the next chapter. But I have two ideas as to what's going to happen from here on out - first, Dash will find a way to get past the sandstorm and continue east. Second, she is knocked out by the storm and rescued by a group of traveling ponies - nomads, perhaps? If this were to happen, I would expect there to be a dream chapter following it. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. Awwww yeah! One left!
1284013 WE'RE FUCKED
1284013>>1673206 Oh fuck no. Where the hell did this come from?
I find it mildly amusing there's a gap of eight weeks between one comment to Dashie's comment.
1284013>>1673206 I loled so hard.
Uh oh sand. And damn this world they live on is HUGE! Which reminds me I really need to read terry pratchett's disc World Series.
3326941 YES! yes you do
“I'll fill ya in on my progress tomorrow, old stallion,” she said. “In the meantime, hit Desert Light for me.”
A shuffle echoes from the sound stone, followed by a muffled thump.
"Confused exclamation: He who would be Cold Canter, why did you hit me?"
"Hehehe"
"Ha, I'll call you tomorrow CC."
Oh if only.
Into the storm.
Oh no. A sandstorm. Venturing into the storm.
Someone get darude up in here, were about to have a sandstorm!
so im currently reading uroringer... around chapter 50-60 or so... and one of the comments directed me back to this chapter. oh the delicious foreshadowing... and he who would have his intestines collapse didnt even know it when he wrote this. dontya just luuuv time travel?
Spoilers in this comment; you have been warned.
5833864 Oh, hey, it's that time traveler from Lerris. Did you say hi to Shell?
Similarly to the menace of what could lie beyond the ravine created by the sheer mystery of it, the complete and utter emptiness of the desert is equally unsettling. Even thought it's so open, and one could see anything coming from a mile away, it still manages to be extremely scary. What could possibly be out here that could do such horrible things to the few ponies who were so spooked that they traveled such an astronomical distance as they did? It's almost too disturbing to fathom, and gosh, do I love that feeling – of giddy fright that you've built over these last few foreboding chapters.
5563936 here you go
Also, G1 reference.
Hahaha!
Never ration water in the desert. Many people have died with water left in their bottles. Rationing water is bad, and leads to dehydration. If you are thirsty quench your thirst. Especially don't take small sips. If you are dehydrated taking small sips of water will dehydrate you FASTER than not drinking at all.
Your best bet is if you are thirsty and have water, is to quench your thirst. Your chances of survival will drastically increase by doing this instead of rationing water.
Also, if you are stranded out in the desert, don't eat. Eating and digesting food will use up water. Unless you have a steady supply of water, you will never starve in the desert before you die of dehydration.
Eh, she'll find out in about a year.
Hue.
Long before.
Soundtrack: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6120QOlsfU
♫ "Nothing can stop the smooze!" ♫
I love RD and Cold Canter's relationship. He's like a worried dad, and she's the annoyed daughter trying to convince him she can take care of herself
8037041
Why did I not see that coming?
Ha! This was a genius reference!
Achievement unlocked: 4x4
Break the fourth wall in four lines or less
8537125
The hay are you talking about I didn't see any 4th wall breaks?
8634349
The Snooze I guess?
And after yours, old-timer
Okay, can we take a moment to appreciate how unbelievably immense this world must be? Let's be generous and say that Rainbow paces herself and travels at the average cruising speed for a large bird, which is about 25 miles an hour, then bump it up to 30 because it's Rainbow Dash. At that speed, traveling roughly 15 hours a day (which seems reasonable enough), she would circumnavigate Earth in just shy of 56 days.
However, she has now been traveling almost constantly in a straight line for literally months and has been told that she may have thousands of miles left to go. This megastructure the Alicorns found floating in space must be absolutely fuck-off huge.