Trade Your Compass for Pearls
“I'm... uh...” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat. She shifted where she sat in the sofa across from Nana Pearl. “I guess you could say I'm headed east.”
“Now there's a vague job description if I ever heard one,” the great grandmother muttered. “Dare I ask where you're headed to, specifically?”
“Would you believe me if I told you the dark side of the world?”
Nana Pearl gently nodded. “Perhaps if I was in the mood to.” Her wrinkled brow furrowed above a pair of gray eyes. “Nevertheless, there's a continent between here and there, my child. If you had in mind a destination within Rohbredden, I just might be able to tell you where to go.”
Rainbow tilted her head, looking out the window. Yaerfaerda shimmered dimly in the distance.
“I hesitate to say it,” Rainbow muttered. “But... I believe I'm headed for the top seat of the world.”
“By that, you mean Verlaxion's throne room?”
Rainbow exhaled. “Most probably...”
Her mare friends fidgeted where they floated.
“You don't take much pride in this,” Pearl murmured.
“I'll only take pride once I've passed on through,” Rainbow said.
“You're the kind of mare who embraces what's uncomfortable, I take it.”
“I've been through enough hairy straits to know that we rarely get where we need to go with ease.”
“Yes. Not all of us are as lucky as you.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow.
“Mmmmmm...” Nana shifted her weary bones. “Nopony... dear child... ever enters the actual throne room of our beloved Queen.” Her muzzle scrunched, turning twice as wrinkled. “No mortal or immortal—aside from Verlaxion and her frost vessels—have ascended or descended the frozen step in eons.”
“Frost... vessels...?”
“Spirits of the Goddess,” Nana explained. “Empowered by her power to thaw. The anguished essence of a windigo is compressed, harnessed, and used as a shroud to carry the voice and visage of our Queen. Or—at least—so the legend goes.”
“And the legend has something to go on.” Rainbow shuddered. “I've... seen some of these frost vessels up close.”
Pearl sat still, although the dying afternoon light caught the slightest hint of goosebumps across her aged flesh. “Somehow... I don't think you're blowing hot air up my skirt.”
“I'd do anything to avoid encountering those things again,” Rainbow muttered.
“And yet you're headed straight for Verlaxion's throne room in the hight mountains.”
Rainbow nodded. “Mmmmhmmm.”
Pearl took a long breath. “Most sane... self-respecting souls would only go as far as consulting the High Council. To reach such a lofty court, they would take the passage up the bay of Frostknife. The inlet begins far east of here, along the southern frozen coast. The harbor slices a wedge out of the continent, forming the heart of all Rohbreddenite trade, diplomacy, and commerce. There along the frigid bluffs, steep steps lead to the Council's auditorium upon the hooffalls of the Goddess' throne.”
“Yeah, that's... t-too many ponies to cross paths with.”
“Mmmmm... of course, there's the possibility of northern passages into the high seat.”
“And how many ponies have made it to Verlaxion that way?”
“None,” Pearl said. “At least none that have lived to tell about it.”
“I see...”
“Up in those frosted peaks, the blight of yesterday's cold still looms, held at bay by Verlaxion's awesome power.”
“You don't say...”
Pearl nodded. “A pony's blood can freeze upon contact with the very air there. There is no heartbeat that can outlast those heartless, howling blizzards. That's why the kingdom's left a circle-shaped hole in the middle of Rohbredden. A place that no Prefecture or Magistrate can lay claim to. They call it the Starkiss.”
“Heehee...” Pinkie smiled at the others. “Kinda cute!”
Fluttershy gulped, trembling slightly. “Too cute...”
“Beneath the Starkiss, in the coldest, bleakest mountains, Verlaxion has set up her throne,” Peral said. “It is there that she absorbs all of the frost of the world—a necessary burden that she's taken up since the first Month of Thawing, ages ago.”
“When she defeated windigoes and united the Six Warring Tribes.”
“Indeed.” Wrinkled lips smiled. “You know the story already.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow. “'Story?' You say that as if it's fictitious.”
“So are all things, given enough time.”
Rainbow frowned. “I find that hard to believe.”
Nana Pearl gave a quiet shrug. “What's it matter to most mortals?”
Rainbow blinked.
“Whatever Verlaxion may or may not have done eons ago, the fact of the matter is... she maintains the temperature of this land. And to do so, she makes the coldest... bleakest spot in all of Rohbredden her home... so that we may not have to live there.”
“Sounds... uh... sounds like quite the sacrifice.”
“Indeed.” Pearl nodded. “So is any attempt made to reach her.”
Rainbow bit her lip.
“Have you given thought as to how you might reach there, child?” Pearl swallowed. “And live?”
“I... uh... plan on taking one hoofstep at a time.”
“Mmmm... a patient spirit. But patience will only get you so far. The rest depends on knowledge.”
“And you have plenty to give, I assume.”
“There is... only one chief way to head east from Kunmane,” Pearl said. “And that is to head north.”
“Right.” Rainbow Dash nodded. “Your great grandfoals... Reeds and Sweet. They mentioned something about a passage through the rest of Stone Prefecture.”
Pearl chuckled dryly.
Rainbow blinked. She exchanged confused glances with Twilight and Rarity.
“Mmmff... 'passage' is such a cute way of putting it, my dear,” Pearl wheezed. “It is more akin to an avalanche with features. Nonetheless, it is beautiful. Even if you fell to a grisly death, you'd be inspired to write poetry on the way down.”
“That's... not exactly making the route very appealing.”
“Mmmmf... what's to complain about when we have little to no choice in the matter?”
Rainbow had no response.
So Pearl continued. “They call the landscape north of Kunmane the Mist Cliffs. They are very old mountains... older than time itself. Entropy and decay have done their damnedest to chip away at the weathered granite and weeping elm trees. But nothing can fell them. Not completely. Like magic, they fight gravity, jutting out of the sundered earth at irregular intervals. Practically floating. Countless equine souls have fallen in their futile attempt to span the lofty reaches, and their souls are forever lost to the precarious limestone and marble. Over the centuries, mists have settled in the crevices, sealing the spirits in. The very air you breathe is filled with the dreams and fears of generations previous.”
“Soooooo...” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. “Can these dreams and fears keep me from falling?”
“No. At best, they can only enlighten you as to why you made the suicidal sojourn to begin with.” Pearl shook her head. “Alas, braver souls than the two of us combined have not only scaled the mountains... but have hammered together structures to help successive generations in the otherwise fool-hardy trek.”
“Are we talking townships?”
“Bridges, child. Beams. Shacks. Rest huts. And—most important of all—support railings.” She gestured with a gnarled fetlock. “Most times of the day and night, it is next impossible to see one's hoof in front of one's face, much less the sudden drops into gaping canyons below. You will have to rely almost entirely on your sense of touch.”
“So... I should find a railing and... follow it upwards into central Rohbredden?”
“Well, that depends. For there are three separate sets of railings, and they will lead you to three completely different and perilous destinations.”
“Good heavens...” Rarity fanned herself while looking at the others. “I do believe I'll have my work cut out for me.”
“And just which path should I take?” Rainbow asked.
“Hmmmmmm...” Nana Pearl laned back, rubbing her wrinkly chin. “You say you wish to go east... and yet you are heading north.” She smiled. “I am intrigued by your unpredictability. In truth, there is only one way to go.”
“Yes?”
“That would be the barbed path, child,” Pearl explained. “Even if I was capable of seeing, I wouldn't be able to describe it visually. For everypony who enters the Mist Cliffs is blinded at some point or another.” She gestured. “Those who built the railings ages ago hammered several iron pegs into the length of the eastmost path's railing. They then varnished this over to make it more smooth. However, with the passage of time, the wood has likely worn away, gotten frayed and splintery. I would highly suggest you emply a set of gloves.”
“And... feel around for a railing with multiple notches in it?”
“Multiple metal notches,” Pearl explained. “It will lead you along the Barbed Path... which takes you to the eastmost destination beyond the Mist Cliffs.”
“Got it.”
“Be sure that you do,” the old mare said, her voice taking on a deep tone. “The smooth railing and the porous railing will take you too far west, and you will have to backtrack if you want to make it to Ivory Prefecture.”
“What's in Ivory Prefecture?”
“The closest way to ascend the mountains that eventually lead to Frost Plateau... and the northern crown of the Starkiss.” Pearl took a deep breath. “There are many townships in Ivory Prefecture, for it is one of the last provinces where the weather is generally gracious year around. The first village you'll find is likely to be Braum. And then there's its sister township... a large assortment of factories and train depots known region-wide as Steamfall.”
“Did...” Twilight leaned forward. “Did she say 'train depots?'”
“There are locomotives in Rohbredden?” Rainbow asked.
“Why, of course, child!” Pearl nodded. “Why wouldn't there be? It's how the central prefectures receive their dredge coal, after all. Without them... they simply wouldn't survive the cold.”
Rainbow took a deep breath, nodding. “Very well then. What lies after Ivory Prefecture?”
“That depends.”
“On what?”
“On what hardship you prefer over the other,” Pearl said. “For no path taken alone into the mountains is easy. That's why they built train tracks and steam lifts—to assist the citizenry who wish to dwell in such inhospitable regions.”
“If those places are so darn terrible to live in...” Rainbow made a face. “Why do ponies bother to begin with?”
“Mines,” Pearl swiftly explained. “Rich deposits of iron... mountain coal... frost rods.”
“Frost rods?”
“Crystalline fossils of the hearts of windigos,” Pearl explained. “Petrified by time with their enchantments richly preserved. They make for a priceless resource that unicorns and can then engineer into the reagents of spells.”
“Nifty.”
“But over half of the mines still present in the northern prefectures are largely abandoned. That is where it gets treacherous. Choosing to climb a path through the likes of Dust Prefecture might assure a lone traveler some degree of anonymity, but it will be a grim fate indeed—devoid of any helping hooves—if one was to collapse or be stranded in those perilous reaches.”
“Yikes.”
“Heading northeast is path most ponies might take,” Pearl explained. “A lot of the railroads span that area, stretching into Lichen Prefecture. But it is difficult to travel throughout without getting noticed. And my grandchildren have informed me that there's been a rise in abominable terrorist attacks as of late.”
“Yeah...” Rainbow's ears folded. “So I've heard...”
“And then, due northwest of Ivory Prefecture, there's a sparsely populated plateau of frost and frozen mountain peaks known as Wyvern Point.”
Rainbow's jaw dropped. “Is... is that where...?”
Pearl slowly nodded. “And next to no pony or griffon has ventured into those hidden, lofty sanctuaries in generations. I don't even need to tell you how impossible such a path would be.”
Rainbow gulped. “But...”
“Assuming anyone made it to Wyvern Point, it would be the most accessible way to trot across the Frost Plateau.” Nana Pearl swallowed. “At least, according to legend.”
“Like... when was the last time any mortal made it between there and the edge of the Starkiss?”
“At least one millennium ago,” Nana Pearl explained. “There's no telling if the ice shelf to the north has fallen in that time span or not. The oceanic passage between Northern Rohbredden and the skystone fields is far too narrow for even the most daring of seven seas privateers to sail, so there's no eyewitness account as to the structural integrity of that part of the continent.”
Rainbow Dash took a long breath. “Jee... you make all of these routes sound so enticing...”
“Mmmmm... sarcasm.” Pearl smiled lightly. “Has such a bittersweet taste to it. I can't say that I miss the sensation.”
“For real, though, Pearl.” Rainbow gulped. “You've been a super big help.”
“I can only mark the way for you, child,” Pearl said. “The rest of the endeavor is up to you.”
“But why give me any pointers whatsoever?” Rainbow cocked her head to the side. “For all you know, I could be a big crazy imposter out to... like... betray all of Rohbredden or something.”
“You mean like a 'Rainbow Rogue?'” the old mare blindly blinked.
Rainbow winced—as did her marefriends.
“My eyes may not work,” she said. “But my ears do. The entire town is abuzz. It's no wonder someone like you is so paranoid.”
“If... you know who I am... like really know... then why are you even bothering to talk to me?”
“Ah. But I don't know you, do I?” Pearl bore a wrinkled smile. “Do you even know yourself?”
Rainbow was silent.
“I've said it before and I will say it again, child. You bring change. Is it good change? Is it bad change?” She performed a shuffling shrug. “It is difficult to say. But the last time anyone brought change to this continent, there were Six tribes at bloody war with one another. And today... they are not.”
“And just what terrible stuff am I preventing, exactly?”
“You're the one brave enough to scale your way to the Throne of Verlaxion. You tell me?”
Rainbow's ears folded. She rubbed her other arm with her hoof... pensively.
Nana Pearl leaned forward. “Quite frankly, you carry about you an air of mystery. I find it exciting. When you reach my age, you start believing it's not possible to be excited anymore.” She shuffled back with a sigh. “I am quite happy... quite ecstatic to be blisffully proven wrong.”
“Yeah, but isn't that dangerous? For you, that is?” Rainbow bit her lip. “I mean... there are ponies out there who believe that... like... the 'Rainbow Rogue is the coming sign of the apocalypse' or some nonsense.”
“Let me tell you something about the apocalypse child,” Nana Pearl said. “So long as there are ponies dying, it happens every day.” He wrinkled brow furrowed. “Don't concern yourself with the end of all things. Focus on the next heartbeat... as you do with the next hoofstep. If you spend too much time and energy concentrating on that which you can't predict, you'll find yourself looking back and seeing a life bereft of energy... bereft of excitement... bereft of joy.” She shrugged her shoulders to the dying light. “So what if a strange rogue from beyond the Blight brings an end to this continent? Hrrrrmmff... I've lived in harmony and bliss with my family for over a hundred years. I've made friends... and those friends have made friends. End of the world or not...” She smiled. “...that was a world worth experiencing.”
Rainbow exhaled. “I really hope I meet more ponies as thoughtful as you.”
“Every pony is thoughtful, child,” Nana Pearl said. “Not every one of them is honest. There are rarer things in this world, yes, but very few that matter.” She sniffed the air, her brow furrowing. “Baked sweets. Mmmmmm... Unification Day is coming to a close. Tell me, child. How bright is the daylight?”
“It's almost gone, ma'am.”
“Mmmm... then that's my cue.” Wincing, the mare struggled to get up. “Mrmmfff...”
“Here... allow me.” Rainbow Dash reached in with a helping hoof.
“Thank you, child.” Pearl exhaled, taking on shivering step after another as she walked with Rainbow towards the nearest door. “You never did tell me your name.”
“Uhhhh...” Rainbow reached over, plopped her hat back on her head, and continued assisting the old mare. “It's Rainbow. Rainbow Dash.”
“Meh...” Pearl's face frowned. “I was expecting to be surprised, there.”
“Heheh...” Rainbow smirked. “Well, that's the honest truth.”
“Is it, now?”
“... ... ...I have a middle name too.”
“Mmmm... I suspect you do.”
“Do you wanna know it?”
“Tell me another time.” Nana Pearl gently patted Rainbow's grip of her hoof. “When you get back from your journey.”
“I... uhhhhh...”
“Yes, child?”
“I'm... really not sure if either of us will be alive for when such a time will come.”
“Ah...” Pearl smiled. “There it is, then.”
“There is what?”
“The surprise,” Nana Pearl said. “Now, do help me down into the courtyard. I have an annual story to tell...”
“I can't wait...”
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Ol' Nana mentions mortals so often, it starts getting me to wonder...
Also I, for one, would like to learn more about these "frost rods".
What's Ruth got to do with all this? Leave the poor woman alone!
..Just what does she mean by that?
The most beautiful things are often the most dangerous.
Just ask Dash, she'll tell you about Roarke.
Prediction: Verlax is going to require Dash to kill her, thus plunging the entire continent into frozen Hell. Dashie won't do it, but there it is.
Thirty wide-arm push-ups, ):(. Knock 'em out!
I can't quite picture Rohbredden in my head, but the puzzle-pieces sure are something to look at.
Also, Pearl is best old person.
6786739
That's... actually a really solid theory. I like it.
Whelp, she has faces the heat and loneliness of the Grand Choke, allowing her to be melted and melded with other elements, then hammered by many challenges to shape and sharpen her. Now it is time for the Ice to harden her once more, so that she may be the blade that pierces the darkness.
Uh... is Pearl a zombie?
Huh. The old gal makes negotiating the Chang Kong Cliff Road sound like a walk in the park.
If this truly ends up being a Six Tribes Tour for our Dash, then not even Wintergate's mountainous eastern border would compare to the hoofbound trek mountain ahead of her regardless of any spectral advantages.
6786890
Ponified Li Ching-Yuen?
6786739
Now, if only there was another powerful dragon around, one who had some sort of elemental counter to cold, like fire for example, who could take Verlax's place in such a hypothetical scenario?
Punch Verlax in the face!
I'm getting The Long Dark vibes from these descriptions.
But then they start talking about winDINGos and abandon mines on top of a spooky mountain. Some Unit Dawn vibes in this as well.
I just hope there isn't a dilapidated sanatorium hotel up there.
So its a choice between several bad paths. I feel that is clearly a metaphor for something Dash will have to do later in the story, obviously. Hopefully she will fly when the time comes and make her own path.
6787051
Too bad Axan is the worst at magic of all the Divines.
So... much... map visualizing...
*thud*
Why doesn't Rainbow just stay undercover waiting for her wing to heal up? It's not like she's going to throw off the Talon by waddling along at a snail's pace, and this just sounds like a terrible plan.
Sinrar's going to have fun with this continent.
6787471
She's still dying a little every day, dude. She doesn't have time to muck around.
That's a lot of worldbuilding. Again. I wonder how much of this will actually become relevant, and how.
I think you meant "Her" there.
Loving Nana Pearl. At last a source of wisdom (and exposition) for Rainbow!
Long journey ahead. But I have total faith Dash will make it.
6788029 Exactly. Which is why she ought to take the journey with all due haste with her wings, rather than trudging a few miles every day. Physical exertion in harsh snowy environments tends to delay healing. Of course, IC also tends to delay healing, so I'm not really sure how fast she actually would heal by resting.
All aboard the hype train! We are in for a long and wild ride!
Wonder if we'll see the desperados again?
dropbox.com/s/3kx6d4f50387654/Applejack_blush_S02E14.gif?raw=1
I'm seeing a lot of Whitemane in Pearl here
Good on you Dash, for telling the truth.
6790252 Second sister of Whitemane maybe?..
One of these days, Rainbow Dash, the secret of your middle name will be revealed to us
All this talking, we're getting information here. Glorious information!
Very true. Every generation has its battles to fight. In every generation there are the signs. The end of all things comes at an hour that we do not know - but it could come at any time.
There's going to be a confrontation soon, I can feel it. Also, if Dash makes it to the mist, she'll have an advantage in navigating it.
6790698 I was leaning towards part alicorn, but you could be onto something.
Well, you all know the saying. When in Ruth...
It seems that we'll be having a very fun trip to the throne at the top of the world.
Nana is Tom bombadill confirmed
And Maud and Pinkie.
When the readers aren't watching.
Hopefully she does come back...I know she’s not gonna die I mean co e back the east way.
If she needs the flames to extend her life, but the dangers of the east side are gone, can she get back fast enough not to need them?
I really enjoyed the last few chapters. Great character and heads up for the journey ahead.
Well wasn't this just a humbling, comforting chapter. ImplodngColon, you are a well skilled orater/writer. ^_^
Uh oh. You don't want the A-word being used in conjunction with Verlax.
Thanks, I hate it! :D
6791971
We did get a hint, starts with a j.