Council
“The broodlings are becoming unpredictable,” Sam Rose spoke boldly before an auditorium full of elder ponies lined up on marble seats. Bright torches flickered behind him as he dutifully faced the council. Several armored ponies, guards, and royal subjects stood in the background. “They are going on more excursions into the wastelands beyond the capital. What's more, their trips are becoming more frequent and brief. If I was to guess, then I'd say that the dragons are narrowing their salvage of the landscape to an area located just outside the immediate radius of the sunken ruins.”
Rainbow Dash trotted in on this. She watched from the far side as the royal prince spoke to the remainder of the Silvadelian leadership.
“As a result, I cannot lead my expeditions out into the wastes without expecting an interruption at any given moment. The dragons can and will be anywhere at any given time. I've lost four of my subjects in the last month alone.” He took a deep breath and uttered, “Now Stu is added to that deplorable list.”
One of the many elders leaned forward, speaking solemnly before Sam and the others in attendance. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends of your most loyal subject. We hear that he gave his life assuring that his closest companions made it away from a dragon's attack safely. He was a hero of great honor, and we shall respect his memory.”
“However, we cannot afford to give up reconnaissance of the upper surface,” another elder spoke. “We acknowledge the extreme difficulty and danger of the expeditions, but they are crucial at this juncture, especially with the Grand Project looming around the corner.”
“Word from the unicorn workshop is that Zetta is nearly complete with the weapon,” said another. “The last thing that the Matriarch will ever expect is a bold and direct attack to her nest from underneath. We need her offsprings distracted along the surface just as much as we need our faithful surveyors to keep us abreast of the Matriarch's whereabouts.”
Yet another council member remarked, “The goal of the Grand Project cannot be met if the Matriarch is not located within the nest at the precise time that the weapon is delivered.”
Sam Rose took a deep breath and bowed his head. “I understand the risks that are at hoof. It is not fear that makes me reluctant, but a severe lack of resources.” He looked up, his expression calm beneath a furrowed brow. “My elite guard is dwindling in numbers. There are fewer ponies qualified to assist me now than there were years ago. What's more, we are running out of materials for weapons and projectiles.”
“We are utilizing the minerals for constructing more farming equipment. The agricultural corridors are running low on nutrients, and the artificial light is dimmer with each passing decade.”
“With all due respect to the council,” Sam Rose said, “The Grand Project is far too important an endeavor for us to undersupply. If we put all of our resources into assuring the success of this strike against the Matriarch, then we will not have to worry about agriculture for we will not have to be holed up in these caverns anymore...”
Before he could finish his sentence, a rumbling murmur had passed through the crowd. Several Silvadelians—both elders and attendees—were looking over at the colorful stranger and whispering in shock to each other.
Rainbow Dash bit her lip. From the sidelines, Limey stared, adjusting the loose goggles on his tiny forehead.
One of the elders spoke in a loud voice, “The Council recognizes the pegasus, Rainbow Dash. Miss Dash, you have received our request to speak in our chamber, have you not?”
“Uhhhh... Sure?”
“Would you be so kind as to grace us with your presence?”
“Yeah, okay...” Rainbow Dash smiled nervously. She trotted over towards the center of the brightly-lit chamber. “It's not like I'm no sucker for attention, but this is a little intimidating...”
“You have nothing to fear from us, Miss Dash,” one the elders said with a gentle smile. “This is no inquisition. Very rarely does an outsider arrive in the ruins of our kingdom. We are merely curious about many things.”
“Right. I'm guessing you are.” Rainbow Dash glanced shiftily at Sam Rose.
Sam stared steadily at her like a statue, his limbs unmoving.
“Miss Dash, is it true that you came from the west?”
“You bet!” Rainbow Dash managed with a casual grin. “I flew all the way here because... well... you know...” She flexed her wings for emphasis. A few of the ponies in attendance chuckled.
“You are the first pegasus in recorded history to have arrived since the Matriarch's Labor,” an elder said. “It strikes us as a fantastic miracle that you flew over the landscape uninterrupted. Tell us, did you come across any draconian resistance?”
“Not until I arrived at your big palace place.”
“The Hall of Elders?” An old pony remarked. “You know of this?”
“Well, I didn't know the name of it. But I've seen what it looks like.”
“How so?”
“Like... on a medallion.”
“Do you have such an item with you?”
“Oh, totally.” Rainbow Dash reached into her saddlebag and raised the coin for Sam and the entire Council to see. “Take a look. I don't know what it all means, but it helped me figure some stuff out as I came upon your capital city... er... or what remained of it.”
“How did you come across such an item of great antiquity?” An old mare spoke. “The dragons have hoarded all precious metals they can get their claws on.”
“I found it on a pony way to the west of your kingdom.”
“A living pony?”
“Er...” Rainbow Dash winced. “No. He was dead. Long dead.”
“Do you have any further details of this pony?”
“Only that he made it as far as the eastern border of...” Rainbow Dash paused. She glanced around the chamber, but saw no sign of any unicorns. “Of Darkstine, the nearest province to your guys' home. The body of the pony had decayed a heck of a long time ago, and... uhm...”
“Yes, Miss Dash?”
“He wasn't exactly in one piece. I'm thinking a dragon tore him to bits. He must have been really brave to have made it as far as he did, despite his injuries.”
“Did he have any personal effects on him?” A stallion asked. “A chronicle of Silvadelian Culture, perhaps?”
Rainbow Dash winced. “That's just it. A smart pony or two that I was with at the time determined that the poor guy had died nearly a decade ago. Whatever he had on him, it had been destroyed by either fire or wind or both.”
The elders hung their heads solemnly. Sam Rose's nostrils flared. A sad murmur fell over the crowd.
“We sent messengers to the far corners of Silvadel,” an elder explained. “Years go, as we knew that our tunnels were being depleted of mineral nodes, several ponies gave their lives by galloping into every cardinal direction. It was our desperate hope that they might reach the lands beyond the Matriarch's burning reach and spread news of our plight.”
“However, it would appear that such noble efforts were for naught,” Sam Rose uttered strongly. “If all that they summoned was a single pegasus.”
“Well, to be honest...” Rainbow Dash ran a hoof through her mane. “I was kind of heaving east anyways.”
The elders merely squinted at her.
She winced. “I'm... uhm... I'm doing some sort of round-the-world flight. You guys ever heard of the Midnight Armory?”
She was answered with total silence.
“Right. D-didn't think so...”
“You are not on some errand of royal importance?” An old pony asked.
“Uhhh... Not really. No. Why?”
A few of the elders pointed at the golden pendant beneath Rainbow's neck. “You bear a most striking emblem. It was the assumption of the Council that you were a representative of a distant kingdom.”
“Oh, you mean this?” Rainbow Dash's hoof traced the jagged ruby symbol beneath her chin. A crimson blow emanated, causing the Council members to stir in surprise, along with Sam Rose. “Hey! Don't be scared! It's totally harmless. It's a little piece of home... and then some.” She cleared her throat. “And though I may not really be some crusader or something, I guess you could say I've been buddy-buddy with royalty before. In fact, I wouldn't be wearing this if it wasn't for two alicorn princesses with whom I used to—”
“I beg your pardon...” A stallion stood up halfway. “Did you say... alicorns, Miss Dash?”
“Uhhh... Yeah.”
The old ponies exchanged curious glances. One of them leaned forward and remarked, “The alicorns are the oldest sentient beings on this earth. Even older than dragons.”
“Tell us. Do these princesses of yours have names?”
“Princess Celestia and Princess Luna,” Rainbow Dash said. “They're uh... eheh... they're responsible for the Sun and Moon.”
“Our history books speak of such names,” an elder said in a raspy voice. “But they have passed into the realm of legend.”
“If these alicorns were real, their power must be great, even greater than that of the Dragon Matriarch who has brought a blight upon this land.”
Rainbow stared at the council. She glanced over at Sam Rose, but the prince was already hanging his head. With a sigh, Rainbow muttered, “I'm so sorry. But... But I'm not here on behalf of my kingdom. There's... uh... There's a terrible rift of chaos energy erupting in the middle of the kingdom where I'm from. It's taking all of the power and energy of Princess Celestia to keep it from consuming the land around it. In the meantime, her lil' sis, Luna, is taking care of the cosmos. It's not just for my kingdom's sake that they're doing this awesome stuff, but for the whole world. I guess I can't honestly expect you all to believe that. But, trust me. If they could divide their time and energy to save a place like Silvadel, they would. But, as things are, they kind of got their hooves full with keeping the world together.”
The Council responded much more swiftly than Rainbow Dash expected. “We may not understand you, Miss Dash. But we certainly believe you. We are sorry that you got caught up in our plight. As you may well know by now, we are upon the brink of changing the battlefield with the dragons forever. Hinging upon the success of this upcoming mission, we shall see what we can do about getting you out of this land safely so that you may continue your journey.”
“Oh... uhm...” Rainbow Dash blinked at that. “Wow. I... uh... Thanks. Super thanks, really. But... But how can you guys even bother about what I'm planning on doing? Don't you have enough junk that you're dealing with here?”
“Silvadelian problems are Silvadelian problems,” Sam Rose muttered.
Before Rainbow Dash could flash him a look, another elder spoke up, “His Majesty is right. Sixty years ago, an army of earth ponies to the south wandered into our landscape. They did not expect the ruins of Silvadel to be here. We opened communication with them, and they offered to lend their most gracious and courageous assistance to our cause.”
Rainbow Dash stared at the elders. “What...” She gulped. “What happened to them?”
“The Matriarch,” an old stallion said coldly. “She met their charge upon the fringes of the smoldering Capital, and she single-handedly decimated them. Thousands of ponies lost their lives, thousands of souls who would never get to return to their families.”
“So you see, Miss Dash...” Sam Rose placed his skull helmet back on and glared at her. “There's a reason for why we do not expect much help from the outside world.” His eyes narrowed like emerald daggers. “As well as for why we treat the dragons as they've treated all pony kind, with the spilling of blood.”
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Hmm... More mention of the chaos rift, but not too much else. I'm still wondering how Dash is gonna end up helping, if she can at all, really. More lavender light leading her to underground stuff in the dragon's lair perhaps? Hard to say. Still loving this, and as always, eager for the next chapter
Objective Completed: Speak to Sam Rose about helping Silvadel
Okay, this story is currently 176 chapters as of this comment.....WHAT IN CELESTIA'S NAME IS IT ABOUT?!
Cause to me it looks like the Homestuck of our fandom. With "Fallout: Equestria" being the Ulysses.
Ooh, exposition!
An Elder council that isn't overtly malevolent or corrupt? What is this madness!?
Heh, things are all pointing towards one heck of a climax in the war between the Silvadelians and the dragons, but I still can't help but feel that there must be something more to what is going on. Probably just the conspiracy theorist in me coming out >.>
All in all, it was a pretty good expositionary chapter. However, the casualness with which Rainbow Dash is mentioning the Midnight Armory seems a little bit off-key to me. A few arcs back she was reluctant to even mention Ponyville, yet now she openly discusses it with strangers along with her quest to the Midnight Armory. It's plausible, and quite likely, that her adventures have allowed her to come to terms with and be more open about what happened, and what is yet to happen, but it still grates on me a bit. But really, it's a pretty minor thing that hasn't cropped up noticeably before, and nor does it have an opportunity to for a while (seeing as how we should be moving into the action etc. part of this arc).
1388542
Certainly sounds like they're trying to pull a subtle conscription, and they may be full and well justified. Though Sam's last line is an interesting counter, centuries of wagon circling I suppose.
I still fully expect to see some more of the machine/factory the world is built upon.
1388582
It's about Rainbow Dash flying east.
1388648
1.bp.blogspot.com/-0OvCaWbplJI/UGFvAz_aMcI/AAAAAAAAAXI/r6mkZTN5hrM/s1600/52631___safe_rainbow-dash_animated_unamused.gif
I meant what's it about BEYOND that fact. Cause I'm not going to read 176 chapters without knowing what's gonna happen.
1388616
I know what you mean, the entire sequence is just begging for betrayal! Would be the ultimate bait and switch if they are actually 100% honest about what they say and this is the Honesty element.
I think Dash's openness about her mission is the result of a few things. 1) We're 170+ chapters in and know a little more, so it's not like it can continue to be a mystery from a writing standpoint. 2) The conversation with Whitemane really did a number on Dash, that event is what sort of caused her to be more open. 3) The further away from home she is the less the ponies she meets will understand any of what she's talking about, especially in Silvadel. That disassociation means you don't have to fear any repercussions from exposition, either positive or negative. Consider this:
Dash tests the waters, and is rewarded by confirming her predisposition that they wouldn't. Silvadelians have no concept of Sun and Moon and know alicorns as mere myth, nothing to fear by explaining her quest other than not being believed which ultimately she is (honesty again).
On the flip side, the closer she gets to the Armory the more she'll need to gather information about it and the more likely it is someone she meets will have some.
1388655
Nice gif
Look, it's like the last person I explained this to, if we summarize for you than it you'll miss out on all the fun that is had from discovering it all along with Dash. The Homestruck comparison is apt in a way. The chapters are short, you'll know within 30 chapters if you're ready to keep going or not. Don't forget to read the comments!
1388681
Yeah, each of those points are pretty solid. I kinda miss that feeling of discovery as the mystery is gradually unravelled before us. I mean, yeah, there is still a lot of mystery to be revealed, but we are at a stage where we have a fair grasp of what is going on in the overarching plot.
That said, my curiousity is still torturing me with questions about various plot points
1388681 well, I have more than 1,039 unread favorites right now. Hopefully I'll be able to get to it eventually. I know I won't read "Fallout: Equestria". If I wanted to read an incredibly long and complicated and depressing story, I'd just read Ulysses or something. Good thing I like random. Does the author actually intend to end this or is he just going to keep going and going and going and gong and going and going and going and going and going and goin- (gets strangled)
1388800
Nobody knows. It's been going for months now without any sign of ending. I look at it as a series or short stories that are each enjoyable on their own. The fact that they may or may not be leading up to a grand conclusion is really secondary in my mind. If it keeps going forever, then awesome - I get a daily dose of fun. Otherwise, it'll be a fantastic epic (in the literary sense of the word).
1388681
I think the Elder Council is actually a force for good here because they have so little to gain from a betrayal. They're fighting for survival, which doesn't usually benefit from infighting or backstabbing. As you pointed out, the situation is perfect for the element of Honesty to show up. It's usually foolish to make concrete guesses about Austraeoh's story, but I'll take a risk and say we're in for some Honesty.
Welp. There's the reason why Dash needs to get to the armory. That was rather straightforward. Though I can't help but wonder if there's a little more depth to the reason why Dash clams up so much when talking about it... and why she's so attached to that amulet.
1388800 Dude this is awesome. It chronicles Dash's thingy as she sorta explores. She fights a hydra, kicks a minatour in the nuts, talks with alicorns, goes to a steampunk city, and watches a dragon's head get cut off. What more could you want? Also RD may or may not be the container for Discord.
1389067
You should go re-read some of the earlier chapters and the stuff with Whitemane. Dash can't take off her Element of Loyalty because it's preventing her from being affected (too much) by the chaos energy Celestia is holding back, hence Dash's dizzy spells and eyes flashing Discord red/yellow.
1388616 Honestly I think the casualness of her statement is a subtle jab at commentors who chapter after chapter continue to complain how they have no idea what's going on even though it has been mentioned numerous times now.
1389238
That's what I figgered. But it also seems the necklace has some other form of value for her, almost like it's the only memento she has of her friends before shit hit the fan.
Legacy Of Kings - HammerFall
1389394
That would fit with the overall Elements of Harmony theme; the rest of the 6 are no longer corporeal and perhaps even fully dead. The trip to the Armory could very well be about more than just stopping the chaos rift.
It is time rainbow dash...time to split some wigs
1389394
Naw, there's probably still that weird book thingy in her saddlebag she doesn't even want to open for that.
Or something.
Edit: Just realized this is my first comment ever, huh.
Mmm, I have a feeling that things are going to start going bad and it's going to take a lot longer to get out of Silvadel than Dash originally hoped.
another chapter that I have read and even after 176 chapters of reading I still love it!
Hoboy. The Matriarch wiped out an entire army by her lonesome?
I'm lovin the Iron Man type thing with her amulet. My theory is that the element is suppressing the chaos that's infected RD, but the chaos has to build up and affect RD before the element detects it and dispels it, but when the element does dispel it, it uses some of RDs physical energy, thus causing her blackouts. From what we've seen, Discord can occasionally manipulate the chaos that he's planted inside her, like when he saved her in that sand storm.
HAH! I BEAT DASHIE AND IT WILL STAY THAT WAY!
Day 13. Nearly two weeks of this.
IIIIIt's Dashie's Seventh Marathon Evaluation Time!
So it looks like we've finally gotten a straight answer as to what's going on in Ponyville! It's not exactly anything new - we pieced together the general idea as to what was going on from bits and pieces of information left behind over the course of the story. But it's nice to see Imploding straight up tell us that we were right. Although I am starting to doubt my previous assumption that this arc's theme was Kindness...it's becoming more and more unlikely after hearing all of the horrible encounters the Silvadelians have had with the dragons. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. That's right! Again! I'M GONNA FINISH THIS!!!!
P.S.S. 1686383No! I'm returning with a vengeance! It doesn't matter if you finish Austraeoh before me. No matter how far you'll get, I'll always be right behind. And sooner or later, you'll hit the latest chapter of Eljunbyro! Muahahahahahaha!
I just realized, 176 chapters and we still don't know what that book is, besides its green.
I feel like the unicorns of Darkstine, what with all their technology and power, could probably lend a real helping hand to the Silvadelians if they knew what they were coming up against and had time to prepare, now that they're more united. Speaking of Darkstine, I wonder what CC thought of Dashie's sudden loss of connection, and if they'll ever resume contact. It would be a real shame for him to be left in the dark in such a way.
2303729 I know right? I feel bad that he probably assumes she was killed
>Years go, as we knew
Do you mean "ago"?
>A crimson blow emanated
Do you mean "glow"?
Ahh, the chaos rift appears.
2117627
I love that I came across this now, over a year later, when there's two more sequels. Pretty sure book five will be written after Odrsjot is finished...
Hey would you look at that.
Sam Rose has green eyes and I think he mentioned something about the harsh true of their situation.
New Element of Honesty?
Suddenly, abrupt exposition!
So it would seem that Rainbow has finally disclosed the nature of her journey. There may be more to it yet, as others have said, but still, it's was a pleasant shock with how casually the exposition was delivered by Rainbow.
I like that this elder council – so far at least – seem to not be the stereo-typically corrupt, we-make-the-hard-choices-for-the-greater-good-excuse type thing. I hope it stays that way. It would be a nice switch-up from the usual tone of such a story.
5564075 Except we already knew all this, so while it feels like we have new information. All we really have, is confirmation
.
Wait... no title for this chapter?
8254477
It's called "Council".
What do you mean?
2303729
I really hope they do. It would be sad if they never saw each other again, and that he just had to assume she was dead.
8427910
Lol, I was talking about Misplaced Modifier's fun titles on the comments. There's none. D;
Anyway, sorry you misunderstood. :'D
Heading east? Heaving doesn't make much sense here Also I continue my journey with the Dashie!