Two Birds; One Stone
"Right in here, Rainbow Dash," Rarity said—her voice touched with an ounce of worry.
Rainbow Dash trotted into the large lobby of a skyscraper. She wasn't alone. Seraphimus shuffled in after her, her gray feathers reflected in the sheen of multiple glass sheets. An elaborate arrangement of glass panels—perhaps magical in their ancient purpose—stretched in finite geometric patterns across the heart of the large chamber.
"I fail to see why you insist on us conversing here," Seraphimus stated in a calm tone. "No doubt your traveling companions outside would desire to hear what you have to say."
"I've already told them enough." Rainbow Dash glanced at Rarity, Twilight, and her other friends before stopping in her tracks and turning around to face the former Commander of the Talon. "I wished to see you," she said. "Just as you wished to see me."
Seraphimus was deadpan. "What do you mean, exactly?"
Pinkie Pie face-hoofed. Rainbow ignored it and replied, "It's been two weeks since we both went down to meet Abaddon. You've been asking the Herald periodically about my condition ever since I went unconscious." Her ruby eyes narrowed. "My friends... my ghostly friends have sensed you flying restless circles around the city for days and days on end."
"Can you fault me?" Seraphimus asked, headcrest raising slightly. "Living to the incessant prattle of your so-called 'Herald' is migraine-inducing."
"Well..." Applejack winked aside at Rainbow Dash. "Reckon she's got a point there."
Rainbow calmly responded to Seraphimus. "Nevertheless... you've had countless opportunities to leave by this point," Rainbow said. "I distinctly remember you telling me that it was what you wanted back before the visit with the Winter Children's mother transpired."
"An opportunity that I still cherish—"
"Stuff it, Seraphimus." Rainbow took a few bold steps towards her. "Why are you still around?" Her fuzzy brow furrowed. "What are you waiting for?"
Seraphimus' beak tightened. A flick of her lion's tail, and she said: "Did the spider venom give you anything? A vision? Some sort of unheard portion of the song conveyed?"
"You want answers..." Rainbow Dash breathed warmly. "You want to know more... just like I wish to."
Seraphimus fumed. "Is that why you brought me to this isolated place? To gloat and lord over me with your knowledge?"
"Seraphimus, Abaddon talked in circles—just like her Song. I scarcely know more than you do."
"I find that very hard to believe," Seraphimus grunted.
Applejack looked at Rainbow and nodded.
Rainbow sighed. "You heard the same words that I did, Seraphimus. Abaddon spoke to you and Wildcard as well down there..."
"But you were given the privilege of seeing more," Seraphimus said. "The venom... what vision did it grant you?"
Rainbow ignored her. "You heard Abaddon speak of Endrax... of the Sarcophagus of Ages... of the mysterious origin of this world and how it's fated to miraculously return to Urohringr... assuming that the forces of Harmony defeat the chaotic night attempting to secure the Prism—"
Seraphimus sneered: "That is all a pedantic mountain of useless information—"
"Is it?!" Rainbow's eyes sliced across the shadowed room. "It's all 'Blighted,' right?! Falsehoods?! Lies?! Heretical information relayed by a big friggin' spider deep in a world of eternal night?!"
Seraphimus' wings coiled tightly. "It..." She gulped, looking strangely vulnerable. "...I can't pretend to—"
"It's all real, Sera," Rainbow Dash said firmly. "You can't play it all off as hogwash from 'beyond the Blight.' Not anymore." She shook her head. "Not after all that you've seen. Not after all the blood that's been spilled—and most of it glowing. Jordan's not the only griffin with good eyes. Are you really going to insult me—and yourself—by continuing to deny what's happening here?"
Seraphimus looked away. A tense breath, and she muttered: "It was you who was summoned. Surely—in your comatose experience—you were given information that Jordan and I weren't—"
"Just about everything Abaddon told me, I already pretty much knew," Rainbow Dash said. Her ears twitched. "Just as the things you've heard were all that which I already told you."
"... ... ..."
"This is no longer the world that you once knew, Seraphimus," Rainbow said. "In fact... the world you knew—under Verlax—simply never was." She looked at Twilight Sparkle and the others. "I knew a world once. And while everything in my life has changed... I've learned long ago that it was simply a small piece of the big picture. And—each day—that picture only gets bigger and bigger."
Fluttershy and Rarity smiled.
Rainbow cleared her throat. "But... with as far as I've come... and with all the challenges I still have yet to face..." She looked at Seraphimus again. "I know that the old world I was foaled in will only get tinier and more precious. Home is still important to me, but I've got to keep my eyes set on what is ahead. And if I pay attention to what is behind, I will only benefit from having an honest... clear picture."
Seraphimus was chillingly silent for a good, long while.
Pinkie and Twilight looked nervously at one another.
At last, it was Rainbow who broke the quiet: "You've always thought I came to destroy Rohbredden fully and completely." She shook her head. "It's not what I wanted to do. But..." She bit her lip, ears drooping slightly. "...perhaps the truth itself would just... make that inevitable, Sera..."
"How was Endrax related to Verlaxion?" Seraphimus suddenly asked.
Twilight and Rarity blinked.
"She was her sister, Seraphimus," Rainbow explained in a cautious tone. She studied Seraphimus carefully. "It was Endrax whom Verlax ventured here to find... and then she went mad with her obsession over the Sundering."
"And that creature from the Edge..." Seraphimus stared daggers into the shadows. "Axan..."
"Also a sister... having taken the form of a pony—Remna." Rainbow took a deep breath. "Just as Verlax had taken on the form of 'Verlaxion,' your savior... in a long and epic farce to fool your entire civilization. A farce that worked."
Seraphimus eyes were darting. Searching. Glossy.
Applejack turned to look pointedly at Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow saw it. She slowly trotted towards Seraphimus' side. "You had asked me what the point was for bringing us here? To this building?" She gestured towards the sheets of glass looming everywhere. "Well, Rarity tells me that everything in here is... very brittle."
Seraphimus' muscles tightened upon hearing that. Her eyes peered throughout the room in a daze. On scraping talons, she shuffled forward—limply at first—but then with heavy and heavier steps.
Rainbow and her ghostly companions looked on, silent and reserved.
At last, Seraphimus stood in a halo of gray reflections, all of them peppered in dust and obscurity. A dozen former Commanders gazed at each other... and a ripple of searing anger rolled through, converging in the center as the real one formed her talons into fists and launched herself at the nearest panel within screaming range: "Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaugh!!!"
Rainbow closed her eyes.
SMASSSSH!
Seraphimus twirled like a serrated cyclone, smashing her fists into panel after panel, filling the chamber with echoes and covering the floor with glittering shards.
CRASSSSSSSH!
CRKKKKT!
SMASSSH!
Twilight Sparkle shivered.
Pinkie's tail twitched over and over again.
Fluttersy and Rarity hugged each other, wincing as they stared at the tense display.
Twenty seconds into the mad melee, Seraphimus—exhausted and even cut in a few places—fell to her knees amidst a weighted cascade of hyperventilation. She seethed and raged. Her hawkeyes—reduced to slitted pinpricks—took note of the faint ethereal glow coming from her injured flesh. It only infuriated her all the more, and soon she was clutching her scalp—plucking a few quills bloodily loose—as she howled into the emptiness of that abandoned hovel.
"HAAAAAA-AAAAAAAA-AAAAAAAAAAUGGGHHH!!!"
Rainbow Dash stood her ground.
At long last, Seraphimus had spent her full breath. But not her passion. She fell forward, barely held in place by four quivering forelimbs. Something sprang from her now that Rainbow had never witnessed before, and although Rainbow had always suspected they could exist, the sight of them chilled her nevertheless.
As Seraphimus wept, her beak hung low, scraping dust and shards of grass with each lunging breath. She shivered in that dark cold place, like a penitent soul collapsing in a wintry forest. Only this time the anger had been spent, and what dwelled beneath—there was no flying away from.
The echo of her screams had barely settled when Rainbow heard a dark rush of wings. She turned around to see Wildcard speeding violently—worriedly—into the mouth of the chamber.
"!!!!!!"
Rainbow said no word. She simply held a hoof up.
The Desperado stopped in place, gripping Bard's staff. He maintained a distance at Rainbow's request, but his goggled eyes reflected Seraphimus' collapsed figure.
After a few somber minutes had passed, Rainbow dared to approach the sobbing griffin. She squatted low, close to her side. "The world's a big place... and its skies even bigger." Her ears dropped. "Even still... there's no greater height to fall from than yourself."
"It's the second t-time..." Seraphimus stammered, sputtered. She clenched her beak and shook her disheveled head. "Twice now... I have lost everything..." She sucked her breath in and seethed: "...all that I ever b-believed in..." Her talons formed shivering fists against the dirtied floor of that place. "Do you have any earthly idea what th-that's like...?!"
"I do."
Seraphimus flashed Rainbow a teary-eyed look.
"I also lost everything," Rainbow said. "In a blink." She slowly looked at Twilight, Fluttershy, Rarity, Pinkie, and finally Applejack. "All that I loved and cherished. All that I was loyal to. You think you're mad right now? Girl, it ain't a drop in the bucket to the rage-fest I had... the things I broke... the sheer chaos I unleashed." She stood up tall, wings flexing. "All that loss and pain and confusion... I couldn't live in the vacuum left behind from it. And that's when my journey began. And yet... years later... after all that I've learned and all the purpose I've gained... I still feel that loss every day."
Seraphimus simply gawked at her. The griffin's beak hung agape, pitiable and quivering.
"I shouldered that loss like it was all I had to define myself," Rainbow Dash said. "I traveled alone for so long. But something changed. It wasn't just what I had learned... but I discovered that I needed help to overcome my obstacles... for they were turning bigger and bigger than I could ever have fathomed." After a firm breath... she bravely held a hoof down towards the former Commander. "Those obstacles are in front of me again... and they're so big that they defy comprehension." Rainbow's eyes narrowed. "I... would very much like your help in dealing with them, Seraphimus."
Applejack, Twilight and the others looked between the two with held breaths.
Wildcard's grip of the staff tightened.
Seraphimus looked at Rainbow's hoof... then at Rainbow herself. There was something delicate beneath her breath for a moment there—like a nervous peep from a hatchling—and then her adult voice crept through, weak and trembling. "I can't imagine how you could possibly forgive me..." A tear. Two. "...f-for what I have done in the past."
"I've committed some pretty nasty sins too," Rainbow said. "And yet... I have friends who have forgiven me." A tender smile. "Friends who have helped me. Without them, I couldn't have gotten as far as I have." She stretched her hoof even further. "I can help you get far too, Seraphimus. Further than you can possibly imagine."
"... ... ..."
"I won't promise that it will fill in the space of what you've lost," Rainbow added in a somber turn. "But some broken things in this universe can be fixed. That's what badass souls like you and me are made for."
"... ... ..." Seraphimus didn't take Rainbow's hoof. However, she did stand up, calmer and quieter than she was seconds prior. When she looked at the petite pegasus, it was at eye level.
Rainbow lowered her hoof, blinking at the former Commander.
"You... n-need help with the blighted forces at play in this realm?"
Rainbow nodded firmly. "And how."
Seraphimus sniffled. She dried her face with the back of her talon, staring off across the sea of broken glass. "... ... ...then—for the time being—I suspect that remaining in your party would be for the best." Her headcrest rose. "Increased numbers sounds... exceedingly adequate."
Rainbow smirked devilishly. She reached out to pat Seraphimus' shoulder. "Wrong A-word."
Stats
Page generated in 0.041 seconds
Total duration
1,028 users online
1,510,723 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 Seraphimus has started to let go of what she had, and to understand that she was never going to get her family back. She seems to be done with lying to herself. All she can do now is push forward, and make the most out of the future, whatever it might be.
This makes me happy. I missed Seraphimus.
And now we have Sera once again!
It's a good thing too, because we're gonna need all the badasses we can get in our party!
This was so satisfying. I'm glad she is ready to join as a permanent member of the team.
Ayyyy redirecting the murder chicken to good ends
IT FINALLY HAPPENED
Talk about a long time coming. Glad to finally see it happen, though.
Congratulations
Seraphimus has joined your party
She's finally fully with the party. And that was extremely satisfying how it played out.
And for the first time in over a million words, Sera opens her eyes.
Rainbow is just this Pale Blue Dot, floating in a black infinity.
Mostly Harmless.
8758698
Best not to say in mixed company.
Somebody stop the seraphimus solo chapter counter please!
Pretty powerful stuff.
As close as it will ever get. But they are officially on the same side now, so everything is fine.
8759210
Not sure if that is a good analogy. It does not bode well for her future.
Finally! That took a while to catch up!
Mirrors, as close as she can get to destroying her old self.
...man, she is gonna have a heyday if a changeling decides to adopt her form to fight in. She'll be able to beat the shit out of herself for all her past transgressions. It'd be a very cathartic experience I bet.
Seraphimus has faced her own darkness, and gained the courage needed to face the trials ahead.
-Through the path long forgotten, into the darkness long begotten. Ofolrodi.
Everything after this got me the feels.
Amazing to see such softness, finally.
WRONG A-WORD!
It's been so long!
8759284
Well called, good pony.
Over 1 million words to get to this point. Worth every second.
Sometimes you just feel the need to smash EVERYTHING.
About damn time! Let's kill some stuff, Murderbird!
Finally
derpicdn.net/img/view/2012/12/13/181926__safe_pinkie+pie_wonderbolts+academy_animated_crying_faic_happy_wavy+mouth.gif
Austraeoh Fact Checker, can I get some analysis on Wrong A Word's usage throughout the series? Something like number of usages per book or something similar?
This chapter was great, you took my heart and was about to do something to it. What that was, I'll never know, because my roommate said something so incomprehensibly stupid that it took me out of the moment entirely and ruined any and all immersion.
Oh well, at least Death Pigeon joined the party.
*shuffles around*
Now where did I put that dang thing...?
*checks closet*
Nope, not in here. Hells bells, I swear the story takes a break for just a couple of months and I lose track of my one schtick-
*trips over object in question*
Wha-!? *SMACK*
Guh... stupid... Oh, there it is! Just got to dust it off and plug it in. *checks story* Just in time for the big moment too.
*cracks knuckles* And without further ado, seeing as everyone's favorite death-sparrow has come quite a long way, far more so emotionally than even physically, let's get the final count:
*flips switch*
Seraphimus Solo Quest Chapter Counter: 39 (Final Number)
Ah, and it didn't even take as long as I thought it would. Guess I need to find some new gimmick now. Random exercises have already been taken, as have impromptu poetry slams. Besides, doing counters is kind of my thing now...
...*smirks* Oh, I think that'll work. Just need to adjust a few things here.
*fiddles with object*
There we go, this should take waaaaaay longer I'm thinking. *flips switch*
Seraphimus x Logan Ship Confirmation Chapter Counter: 1
8760299
I'm betting 215 chapters from this point.
Now that murder turkey joined the squad, its time to get shards ya'll!
Character unlocked: Seraphimus.
I don't envy any of the factions with what's coming at them now.
8759945
One side of Pinkie's smile is oscillating more rapidly than the other side.
FINALLY! Let's go kick some flank!
Oooh this is a good line, I'm gonna hold onto this.
Another good one!
-Homuncolossus, the Shadow King.
At last! Tranquil has finally caught up to the comment section! (Took me three weeks of constant reading to get here).
But alas, here is to hoping a character by the name of Tranquil Claws or some other such appears in the story to come. Keep up the
amazingawesome work IC!Now all we have to do is wait for someone to think up the plan of mailing Dash and Sera to Tchern's layer in a shipping container.
8759792
Honestly, that sounds like a lot of fun.
Cue MGSV style intro:
Seraphimus
A sinner betrayed by her faith.
Sweet acceptance!
Party Get: Murder Birb aka The Avenging Angel
I'm so glad that Sera is finally accepting the reality, for as much as Rainbow and the rest know, of the situation.
Also...
...classic Austraeoh awesomeness right there!
Whoop!
Murderbird has joined the party!
Edit:
8759284
Hah, I should have known.
8759284
Bravo.
8759202
Sera sees the world from where RD stands.
And sees many blighted asses to kick.
Woo! Seraphimus has joined the party now!
8780047
took me long enough
"Seraphimus is now available to be recruited as a companion."
Nice to see that the writing has only improved
Rereading this I think I now understand what Rainbow sees in Seraphimus that made her decide to spare the Griffon. She sees herself, but without something or someone (like a suicidal eastward quest and Luna) to guide her anger and self loathing into a productive direction. Hope Rainbow can give her those things so she can recover, better than ever.
05/08/2018
02:44 UTC
Reference to Utaan when Sera stripped of her armour and broke down in a forest (near Frostknife?). Tried to find it, but after a half hour of searching I gave up.
Austraeoh fact checker, would you be able to find the chapter?