Astral's jaw was agape. He stood stock-still in the center of the gigantic, metal domain. The rest of the escapees around him trotted limply about the corridor leading down the center of the impossibly huge interior.
All the while, Rainbow Dash flapped her wings and hovered nonchalantly overhead. “Huh,” she uttered. “Well this place is cozy.” She flew forward. “Let's see what's in this direction.”
“Wait!” Astral hissed at her. He waved his forelimbs wildly. “You can't possibly insist that we trek through this... this... this ancient place!”
“What's so ancient about it?”
“It's buried in the center of a mountain, Miss Dash!” Astral's left eyebrow twitched as he stammered, “There's incredibly huge machinery and pillars made out of metal that escape any record I've ever read! I mean... I mean this could very well be a forgotten wonder of the world!”
“Cool. I wonder if there's anything to eat.”
“Miss Dash!”
“Nnngh—What?!” She glared back at him. “You're really cramping my style here.”
“Huh?”
“I wanna check this corridor out,” she pointed ahead of them both. “Maybe we can march through this place.”
“To what end?!” Astral squeaked. “There's no telling what sort of unspeakable danger could be awaiting us!”
“Hey, if you wanna go back the way which we all came—which is nowhere—be my guest!” Rainbow Dash chuckled slightly. “I dunno about you, but I see a road ahead. Sure, it's a cold, dim, freakishly clean road flanked by metal columns—but hey... it's at least a road. Besides...” She smirked slyly. “If there was something so big and bad about this place, how come it opened to my touch?”
“Why DID it open to your touch?”
She shrugged. “I dunno. Magic?”
Astral stirred his hooves atop the glowing seams in the metal floor. “And this light! What could possibly be empowering it?”
“Magic?”
“Miss Dash!” Astral frowned. “You cannot explain every phenomenon on earth with 'magic!'”
“Ewww, seriously, bro?” Rainbow Dash gave him a pathetic look. “You're a unicorn; are you even listening to yourself?”
“I mean it!”
“Explaining it all as magic's worked for me throughout the years. I don't question something awesoime when it's given to me.” She turned and looked at the rest of the ponies. “How about you guys?! Wanna go back into the cave of darkness, water, and uncomfortable boat seats?”
There was a loud, resounding “NO!” from the entire group.
“See?” She pointed back at them with a blue hoof. “They're not too freaked out by this place.”
“But... But...”
“Hop along, Astral!” She giggled. “It'll be fun!” She flew smack-dab into a gigantic cog that groaned loudly, spilling dust across the floor. “Owwww... Eh heh. Well, mostly fun. Hey, what does this lever do?”
“Don't!” Astral winced violently.
“Hahahahaha...” Rainbow Dash winked. “You're so easy to mess with. Remember, that horn's on the top of your head and not on the bottom where you sit for a reason. Now relax and stay within sight. I'm gonna have a little look-see.”
“Miss Dash—” He called out with an outstretched hoof.
She flew ahead in a sapphiric blur.
He groaned and fell on his haunches, his voice echoing in the large chamber. “I swear, nature made the brain the lightest part of the pegasus.”
“Yeah, well...” Red Turnip Senior marched past him. “More room for the spirit, eh, buddy?”
“Oooh! Daddy!” Rockspot bounced atop Red's spine as he pointed at the mysterious heights of the gigantic chamber. “It's like a giant music box!”
“I know, kiddo! But let's wait till we're home before we make music.”
“Heeheehee...”
Astral sighed as the rest of the ponies marched slowly and curiously past him. “Perhaps this is simply an opportunity to know more about the makings of this world.” As he said this, the door that led them inside closed automatically with a thunderous clap. He bit his lip, sweated, and galloped swiftly to catch up with the group.
Finally! I was twelve chapters or so behind - well worth it. Yee!
887912
Only 12 chapters behind? I started yesterday and there were already 107 chapters
So many chapters dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Lyra.png
There is no i in awesome. There's a me, though.
I'll bet it's a giant robot. Or maybe it's a mining machine? Either way, onwards!
-THEpandaman007
I started today and there were 156. Onward!
1282134
right behind you my friend
A message from MASH-
What's up, evaluators? Just wanted to let you know that I'll be on a slight hiatus for 2 to 3 days on account of I need a break after having finished my Second Marathon Evaluation Time last night. My schedule of 1-3 chapters per day will continue after this brief hiatus, so stick around!
-MASH
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
So in this chapter, we don't get too much plot. But that's fine because Dash and Astral have a really funny dynamic together. I'm not too sure what sort of machine is in this iron temple, though...but it's got to have to do something with the the Elements. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
P.S. Aaaaand I'm back! Like I said, my official schedule is now 1-3 evaluations daily, so I'll see you guys tomorrow!
1049452
I started when there were 170. So. Much. Read.
1380621 I started at 200, biotch!
1380621>>1614040
200 here, too
Ha! I started today and am already a quarter and a half done! top that suckers!!!
That last exchange between Rockspot and his dad just sounded wrong to me...
129 to go! ...Well, technically 329 if you could the sequel...balls. Onwards!
887912 1049452 1380621 1614040 1747712 2245932 Including all the stories I am 551 chapters behind... I am fucked... Whelp, no time like the present.
>let's wait till we're home before we make music
HAWT
I'm half expecting some shrine to the elements that's going to make Rainbow Dash break down in tears. And yes, I know my recent comments have been short, but I don't have time to leave, long comments if I ever want to catch up to where the series is currently at. I need to get reading!
3673584
No.
Into the belly of the beast.
3859838>>3859842 stop dubl posting plzsz
3230702
Considering I (for some reason I cannot fathom) decided to reread it, I have over a thousand chapters. Beat that.
Seriously, though, why on Earth did I decide to reread such a long story, and how the Hell am I going to catch up all over again?
I have come to the conclusion that I will never catch up on this story. I probably won't even get to Yaerfaerda until Season 5 ends
It is both wonderful and frightening to start a story that is already this far in. Wonderful because it is an amazing tale and there's just so much of it. Frightening because I don't know if I'll see it all through.
5266945 I'm 24 weeks behind you so yeah, beat THAT. And I'm not even rereading it, it's my first time.
Hm, now this is interesting.
You know, I think I grossly underestimated how quickly I can read this. Fimfiction predicts a week. I'm not sure I can make it.
awesome
___________________
6967548 maybe she spelled it with french accent - awesoime?
7097848
Nah, french people say Awesome pretty well, and have some pretty spiffy words for awesome.
3230702 5266945
Lol. One thousand, five hundred and fifty five chapters. I don't know why I stopped reading this the first time (halfway through Eljunbryo, or something). I then tried to start again where I had stopped, but couldn't remember anything, so I started from the beginning. And then I did the same thing again, without even finishing this one. And then I think I started over and quit a third time, although pretty early. Maybe this time I'll actually keep reading until the end. I wonder if I'll be able to catch up to it before it's over?
7459736
I'm one thousand eight hundred fifty chapters behind. I really would like to catch up by the time Skirts is finishing up the final book! Will I be able? I don't know.
3230702
As of now, I am precisely 1893 chapters behind the story! Hurray!
He groaned and fell on his haunches, his voice echoing in the large chamber. “I swear, nature made the brain the lightest part of the pegasus.” LOL
Why do I get the feeling that this is going to be a recurring motif for this series.
1148346
Awe so i me
Its a better spelling as far as i’m concerned.
First glimpse of the machine world!
Huh, that word first appeared a lot earlier than I remembered.
1049452
I'm ten years and at least 6 books behind