Eljunbyro

by Imploding Colon

Passing Word

"What amazes us is how fearless she is."

"Indeed. That is one of her most endearing qualities."

"For instance, earlier today, when she saved us from that giant, rampaging centipede, she didn't even break a sweat!"

"It hath long been misconstrued that 'loyalty' is a passive trait. We hath observed for ourselves that true loyalty inspireth unlimited action."

"But, for some reason, I think it's different now, Your Highness."

"Oh?"

"Yes. When she risked her neck for us today, it was only because it was a last resort. I mean, she could have battled the monster while it was inside of the cave..."

"Very true..."

"Instead, she grabbed my beloved and I and sent us towards the forest."

"That is hardly surprising. We perceive that she was thinking entirely of thee."

"Yeah, but I know for a fact that she's used to channeling everything through her anger. That didn't happen this time. I think... I think she's getting a bit level-headed..."

Rainbow Dash stirred, her lips parting as her forehead tensed under a gently-stroking hoof.

"Rainbow Dash hath been through a lot. Thy presence in her life is most fortuitous, for she must learn the hard way that there are limits to things... especially when it comes to this world..."

Her ruby eyes opened. She gasped and sat up, only to have Belle's calming hooves hold her in place on the forest floor.

"Well, sounds like somepony's up and at 'em!" Pilate said, smirking as O.A.S.I.S. hovered over the open pages of an ancient tome. A sheen of moonlight cascaded off his stripes and runed plate as he motioned his head towards the source of Rainbow's breaths. "Your subject is here, Princess Luna."

"H-Her Majesty?" Rainbow Dash dryly stammered. She gazed down at her glowing pendant, then up at the brief break in the forest canopy that allowed the lunar light to peer through. "Oh goddess, how friggin' long was I out?!"

"Several hours, Rainbow Dash."

"Oh darn it!" Rainbow winced, slapping her hooves together. "One way or another, I'm always wasting time!"

"Rainbow Dash..."

"I'm always making you wait for me, Your Majesty!" She gulped and tried sitting up. "How much time do I have left?"

"Shhhh..." Belle squeezed her shoulders, smiling as she eased her back down. "Not much... but don't worry. Pilate and I filled her in."

Rainbow gulped, sweating. "Ya did?"

"Verily, Rainbow Dash, your friends hath delivered an extremely detailed account of the events preceding this evening. We found it a most informative and felicitous discussion. The zebra in thy company, Pilate: his critical analysis would be priceless in the halls of the Canterlot archives."

"Heh..." Pilate shrugged and gestured a blind hoof into the air. "Just happy to be of service, Your Majesty."

"She has the utmost respect for you, Princess Luna," Belle added. "She says so all the time—"

"Hey hey hey!" Rainbow squeaked. "I'm awake now, alright?! No need to talk like I'm not here..."

Belle blushed. "Sorry. It's just, you saved our lives today." She gulped. "Again. And we know you wouldn't come out and just say something like that—"

"Oh really?" Rainbow Dash exclaimed. She blinked, then frowned. "Just how much else have you told her—?"

Luna's voice emitted something that sounded like a cough over the magical airwaves. "Fear not, Rainbow Dash. They simply regailed us with the tale of thy victory. We trust that thou wilt be heading further from Ledomaritan civilization?"

"Yeah... uhm... we're in a forest of some sort. Foxhound or something."

"Foxtaur," Pilate corrected, flipping a page of the book.

"Right. And apparently it's a really huge place. Heh. Wanna bet that next time we chat a month from now, we'll still be stuck here?"

"We trust that thy speed and resourcefulness shalt take you much further, Rainbow Dash, especially with the resources and assistances of such dependable friends. They truly hold the utmost admiration for you."

"Yeah... uhm..." Rainbow fidgeted, her ears drooping. "I'm starting to notice the pattern myself..."

Pilate and Belle exchanged smirks.

"So this is it, huh, Your Highness?" Rainbow Dash remarked, gazing sadly into the patch of starlight overhead. "Dead silence for another moon cycle? I'm not sure I can go on for that long, to be perfectly honest."

"Verily, we hath taken that into consideration, and we hope that thou wouldst not protest the actions we have decided to take."

"Huh?" Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"Seeing as this is the last evening that we have to converse with thee, we invited somepony into the palace to be present at such an occasion. When we heard that thou wert unconscious, we weren't sure if such an event should be delayed..."

"Well, I'm here, aren't I? What's the big deal? Just who is it?"

"A few seconds, if thou wilt..."

Rainbow Dash sat awkwardly, watching as the dim glow to her pendant shimmered briefly. There was a rustling sound, haunting, like hooves clapping against a wide hallway of stone. Then a filly's voice echoed against the trees of the place.

"Uhhh... Rainbow? Rainbow Dash?"

Rainbow Dash squinted in confusion. "Hello?"

The voice on the other end squeaked with an emotional gasp. "Oh, it's you! It really is you!"

"Uhhh... Hi there..."

"I never thought I'd get to hear you again! Oh, this is so awesome! Princess Luna was right all along! I haven't been this excited since I got my cutie mark!"

Rainbow Dash blinked... blinked... then jolted. "Scoots?"

"Hey, Rainbow!"

"Holy crap! Scoots!" Rainbow Dash sat up, her wings twitching as she smiled brilliantly into the nightly glow. "Killer! Wow... Your voice is—like—totally different!"

"Is it really? Sweetie's mom says so all the time, but I didn't believe it until you said so!"

"Sweetie? Don't you mean Sweetie Belle?"

"She only likes being called 'Sweetie' now. She thinks the 'Belle' part makes her sound like a big baby."

"Oh... well... heh..." Rainbow Dash smirked aside. "I can totally relate."

Bellesmith rolled her eyes. She scooted over and sat beside Pilate as the two smiled at Rainbow's conversation.

"In fact, Sweetie's all about looking and acting like an adult. A local talent agent heard her singing at a school play one day and got her to release a single. Ponyville's all buzzing about their newest, youngest music star."

"Screw that marshmallow and her ditzy ballads! Tell me about your talent!" Rainbow Dash leaned forward, grinning into the forest. "Gears and a wrench, huh? Who knew you were such a grease monkey?!"

"Yeah. Weird, huh? One day, my scooter got run over by a mule cart, and the stallion running the local sporting goods store said it was beyond repair. Well, I didn't buy that for one sec! I got my own toolcase and went to town! Not only did I make it as good as new, but Apple Bloom was asking me to fix her roller skates! And while I was at Sweet Apple Acres, I decided to tackle the plow that's been giving Big Macintosh a hard time over the past few months! Before I knew it, I couldn't stop tweaking or fixing things, and I nearly passed out. Then I woke up to Apple Bloom shouting her mouth off, grabbing me and hugging me. Turns out I got a cutie mark in my sleep!"

"Haaahaaahaaa!"

"What?!"

"Ohhhh that's so perfect! All that crap you went through to get that darn thing on your butt, and you get it while sleeping in axel grease!"

"Well, I got it, didn't I?! I sure as heck ain't complaining!"

"So what are you now? The town's local expert on rust buckets?"

"I don't really know yet! But every time we have a parade, I get to work on the floats to get some more practice! Cuz as I learned, getting a cutie mark isn't everything. Once you have your talent, you gotta perfect it!"

"Darn straight."

"I'm getting better and better at what I do everyday, Rainbow Dash. Just like you were all about being the best. And it feels so great, Rainbow. It really does."

"Doesn't it, though?" Rainbow Dash smirked. She slicked her mane back with a hoof. "Of course, being able to fix broken clocks doesn't even remotely stack up to flying faster than lightning, but hey—we call can't be perfect, now can we?"

"Heeheehee—Oh! Uhm... I don't think I have much time left..."

Rainbow Das winced, seeing the light in her pendant going dim. "Hey, tha's alright." She gulped and gazed back up towards the stars. "Scootaloo, promise me something."

"Anything, Rainbow!"

"I want you to round up Sweetie B—er, Sweetie—and I want you to grab Apple Bloom too. And I want you to, like, have lunch or dinner or something with them..."

"Heh. What, you think we're growing apart or something? Come on, Rainbow Dash, we're the Crusaders! We hang out all the time! We always will!"

"Yeah, well..." Rainbow Dash took a deep breath. "Just humor me, will ya?"

"Uh... okay..."

"Do you love your friends?"

"...huh?"

"What, are mechanics deaf or something? I asked if you friggin' loved them or not!"

"Well... uh... sure! I mean, of course! I totally do..."

"Then you should totally tell them that, Scootaloo," Rainbow Dash said. She inhaled sharply. "Just this once, at least, so they can—y'know—hear it and remember it and stuff."

"Uhhh... okay! Yeah, I can do that..."

The light was dimming even more.

Rainbow Dash's ruby eyes skimmed the darkness as she exclaimed, "And while you're at it! You can tell them that..." She bit her lip. "You c-can tell them that I told you that I love you too!"

"Awww... now you're just being sappy—"

"I mean it, Scootaloo!" Rainbow's voice cracked. "I love you, kiddo! You keep being awesome so I don't have to kick your butt!"

"Heeheehee... Oh, Rainbow Dash, you're the best. And if it makes you feel better, I love you t—"

The pendant dimmed.

Rainbow Dash sat, breathing heavily.

Belle and Pilate gazed in silence.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, inhaled long and hard, and brushed two hooves across either side of her face. After a few moments, her lips formed a calm smile, and she turned to gaze at her friends.

"Rainbow?" Pilate murmured.

"Are you..." Belle fidgeted. "Are you alright?"

"More than alright," Rainbow said softly. Her eyebrows waggled. "I'm friggin' starving!" She jumped up to the sound of her friend's dry chuckles and began pacing in circles. "Why haven't we started a campfire yet?! Did we or did we not steal some friggin' potatoes the other day?! Come on!"

Comments

[Pilate]

What a fantastic scene. Seeing Rainbow's growth is really heart-warming, especially vis a vis Scootaloo. This whole sequence really stands well on its own as a character moment. It does a nice job in really framing the perspective and attitude shift of Rainbow, particularly as it relates to the theme of companionship. Where as in Austraeoh, Dash was loath to make emotion connection, Eljunbyro has given her the tools necessary to heal and grow, in both cases maintaining an unparalleled awesomeness. That, and it's a really touching and tender moment of raw emotion, versus Rainbow's previous aversion to such (preferring instead to channel rage).

On another subtle note, Sweeite's desire for maturity and a single-word name hint that she is still harboring some serious psychological trauma, and is trying to emulate her sister Rarity. It is a great detail, and one Rainbow even addresses indirectly, perhaps unknowingly, in her parting words to Scootaloo.

[KMCA]

Manly tear

[Flutterbrave]

So many feels. So very many.
static4.fjcdn.com/thumbnails/comments/Warrior+gets+to+me+every+time.+Fuckin+feel+overload+_63714b98ff3b96337c58a29ccd1ac95f.gif

[Meta Four]

Tell them how you feel while you can.

Lovely.

[Time4Ponies]

"Rainbow Dash shat up, wings twitching as she smiled brilliantly into the nightly glow"
I really hope that's a typo.

[dawn_rising]

global3.memecdn.com/the-feels-stir-gently_o_779965.jpg

[destinedjagold]

lovely chapter

[Pilate]

1982114
When we talked about this the other day, I was amazed nobody had thought of it before. It's a spot on comparison.

[MellowMabari]

More adorable Scoot/Dash interaction! Rainbow's clearly grown a lot, which is nice to see. I'm still thinking that the trio is going to be abducted by elf/ponies while in the forest or something, but I can't say that guess is founded on any type of logic. Maybe it has to do with the release of the Hobbit movie? Eh, rambling aside, this was a very nice chapter. Until tomorrow!

[Psyco Josho]

Surprise guest!

[dafiltafish]

it is good to see a character come to terms with herself, makes it a bit more heartwarming.

[Personifire]

1978792
These other readers can't deny

When a book walks in with a good plot base and a big spine in your face, you get sprung

[Personifire]

Man, if I were Dash, I'd be crazy jealous of Scootaloo. Getting to hang out with friends that are alive, being able to not die due to an ancient chaos god, and not having to run away from crazy unicorns trying to kill you doesn't seem like a lot until you don't have any of it.

[Khao]

That was simply awesome.

In such a different way from usual, but awesome either way. Dash really needed that conversation, and Scoots probably did too.

[Ledomare]

It's great that Rainbow's opening up. Maybe she's finally coming to terms with her mortality; she's realizing that ponies grow older, and change, and that itself is making her realize that she, like her friends, will one day pass on, whether on her journey or long after it.

I dunno, maybe I'm being too deep. Seems to work for Pilate, though:

"The zebra in thy company, Pilate: his critical analysis would be priceless in the halls of the Canterlot archives."

[Blue Nova]

Austraeoh: a story of physical limits.
Eljunbryo: a story of mental healing.

Keep writing. I'm always looking forward to the newest update!

[Aqua Fortis]

1983895
I don't know how seriously you're taking your descriptions there, but they're awfully accurate. Looks to be leading into a story of emotional closure, if I had to guess. Can you imagine 200 chapters of IC stirring the feels pot? It would be difficult to read without tearing up eventually.

[Blue Nova]

1983969
I was indeed taking them seriously.
And yes,
I expect many feels.

[zaponator]

"How much time do I have left?"
"Shhhh..." Belle squeezed her shoulders, smiling as she eased her back down. "Not much..."

Double meaning all the way.

Also, that Scoots scene was...

[Keratin]

Wow, Pilate just got a hell of a compliment.

I like the little hints at the slice-of-life adventures that the Crusaders must be having back at Ponyville. It's nice to know that life goes on back there, even when there's a barely-contained chaos rift in the middle of town. There's a sadistic part of me that wishes Scootaloo's cutie mark was a toaster oven, but that reference would've strained my suspension of disbelief in addition to my sides, so I'll let it slide.

In other news, I've finally caught up again. To give you some idea of how long I've been procrastinating, the last update I was here for was #67, "Things Grown". It's good to be able to talk about events with people in the skype chat again instead of just nitpicking Background Pony for the nth time and worrying aloud that I'm falling out of love with fanfiction.

[Ender Roarke]

Aww, Scoots. That was really cute, especially directly after the exciting and very violent previous chapter. It's almost like you enjoy balancing these things out.

[-Rarity-]

128 chapters... I can't believe I have been reading for so long.

[Hoof of Approval]

1984204

HE HAS SUCKED YOU IN. JUST LIKE THE REST OF US.

[-Rarity-]

1984284
Good.....

[Relevant Heavy Metal]

Pictures Of Home - Deep Purple

[Jake The Army Guy]

Wow. I want to say something meaningful about Dashie's growth, her maturity. About the amazing feelz and the su[erb subtext, or the general awesomeness.

Yet, I read comments by 1983109, 1983895, and 1983731, and I realize it's all been said.

No push-ups this chapter, ):(. But dammit, all these fucking feelz!! Quick! I need something to reaffirm my masculinity!

*sigh* okay, that's better.

[AppleTank]

D'awwwwwwwwwwwwww

[Axan Zenith]

A lotal talent agent

Should be "local".

"Scootaloo, promised me something."

Drop that D, if you please.

Also: dem feels.

[Future Regret]

Oh God its a sad chapter. Brace yourselves

[AdobE]

Rainbow Das ist am besten Pferd.

[Steel Wing]

"The zebra in thy company, Pilate: his critical analysis would be priceless in the halls of the Canterlot archives."

Ain't that the truth.

[CrimsonPhoenix]

You know....I kind of wish I could hear Scoot's new voice.

[dashie76]

IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!

As a respectful and kind reader and as Imploding's official evaluator, licensed by Dashie Industries Inc., I would just like to point out that the chapter is a KNIFE IN MY FUCKING SOUL.
Yeah. 
That's right. 
I just swore.  Now you know it's serious. 
Before the feels that were sent from heaven itself, I just want to say that the banter between Belle and Luna was good at the beginning of this chapter, you know?  It was just nice.  Then there were the feels...haaAAAaaagh.  It starts off with Dash and Luna just chilling.  Dash suddenly makes a morbid comment about how she may not live to talk to Luna in another month.  Then Scootaloo comes on.  And I did predict this, remember.  I forget which chapter it was, but I mentioned Scoots talking to Dash and causing major feels in one evaluation.  Scoots is getting all grown with her cutie mark and everything.  And this is one of the saddest parts.  It really is.  Scootaloo's diction and her while manner of speaking feel very distanced from Dash.  It's clear that she's starting to forget her idol.  Forget her hero.  Forget who she always looked up too.  She's moving along with her life (subsequently away from Dash), and Dash won't be there to see it.  This really hit home for me. And then there was Sweetie - and yes, I know Pilate already said this, but I can't think of a better way to explain it, so sue me.  (But I really am sorry, Pilate.)  Sweetie confining herself to a one word name and acting all grown up is very reminiscent of Rarity.  It shows that the Discord incident is still a fresh wound for her, and it causes her to act the way she does.  Finally, there's the love in this chapter.  Dash never got a chance to tell her friends - and Applejack specifically - that she loved them.  She didn't want the same to happen to Scootaloo.  So she told her to tell the crusaders she loved them.  This scene was amazing, and ending off with Dash loving Scoots and Scoots loving Dash was a great finish.  And them Dash at the end - so content with everything after talking to Scootaloo.  She accepts the fact that Scoots has moved away from her and is glad that she made one final impact on Scoot's life.  This chapter is one of the best feels chapters yet.  This was amazing, Imploding.  You are amazing.  These are my thoughts so far. 

-MASH

[IfOnlyICouldDeactivate]

This......

d'aaaaaaaaawwwwwwww, that's nice for a last thing to read before going to sleep for the night!

That's all I've been able to do for today, looks like I'll resume catching up tomorrow!

Onwards! (And goodnight all!)

[Riverwing]

1983109

Pilate: his critical analysis would be priceless in the halls of the Canterlot archives."

Is it just me, or is IC alluding to something here?

[Tetrominon]

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, inhaled long and hard, and brushed two hooves across either side of her face.

Me too, Dashie. Me too.

[Davidp1522]

2050124 God... I didn't even notice the feels until you pointed them out. I need to slow down and read.

[tailspin]

Rainbow dash, you beter as hell make it back to ponyville to scoots again!!!

[writer]

"Yeah... uhm... we're in a forest of some sort. Foxhound or something."

METAL GEARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

[Super Trampoline]

Huh. I'm surprised no one has pointed out that whenever Rainbow Dash is about to be confronted for being the feelsy pony she is, she quickly changes the subject to how hungry she is.

Everytime I binge read this story, I ask myself what I was waiting for!

[whizzball1]

Scootaloo! We finally get to talk to her! I loved this chapter. I see a lot of feels mentioned in the comments, but they just... Won't.... Show... Up...

[CasualMarshmallow]

Being all caught up on the reading, I really wish we could have a follow-up conversation with Scootaloo sometime.

[JustAnotherTimeLord]

2023099
I do, too.

[JustAnotherTimeLord]

This chapter was such a pleasant surprise.

[Regidar]

i.imgur.com/x652ZLy.png

[aRestlessCreativeGamer]

By the end of this, i had a goofy lookin grin on my face and water in my eyes. Twas good....twas good

[Tim the Planes-pony]

"She has the utmost respect for you, Princess Luna," Belle added. "She says so all the time—"

I am starting to wonder if this Rainbow is starting to see Luna as a 'surrogate mother' of sorts. A nice talk with Scoots and Dashie's growth rounds off this feels chapter.

[djthomp]

You know, it might be for the best that Belle and Pilate got a chance to talk to Luna while Rainbow was unconscious. As great as Dash is, she's so...Dash. She has a certain slant to everything in life that wouldn't have been patient enough for an exhaustive discussion of the events so far.

Scootaloo! Great cutie mark story, too.

Rainbow Dash closed her eyes, inhaled long and hard, and brushed two hooves across either side of her face. After a few moments, her lips formed a calm smile, and she turned to gaze at her friends.
"Rainbow?" Pilate murmured.
"Are you..." Belle fidgeted. "Are you alright?"
"More than alright," Rainbow said softly.

[Real_Atomsk]

Oh yeah those are the warm feels I crave

[CrystalWaters]

Bellesmith and Pilate get to talk to Luna.
Luna gets to talk to Bellesmith and Pilate.

Scootaloo gets to talk to Dash again.
Dash gets to talk to Scootaloo again.

So awesome.

Interesting sidenote, apparently Dash doesn't have to be conscious for the moon-talky thing to work., simply present.
That's interesting.