Belle didn't dare ask where they were taking her; she barely had the will to breathe. She trembled in the telekinetic grip of the unicorns as she heard their marching hooves echoing through long corridors all around her. Shell's heavy limbs had disappeared in the sweat slick cacophony of the moment. A band of light strobed through the dense canvas material of the bag before her eyes, and she heard a swish of metal. She was lowered onto a metal platform that shifted with her weight. She heard the hiss of hydraulics, then the closing of the metal doors as an elevator began moving. From the direction her blood was rushing, she knew that they were descending.
Belle's heart pounded in her ears. Thirty seconds passed, a minute, a minute and a half. She could tell from the hum of the mana conductors that the elevator car was gliding downward at excessive speed. She was at a loss to guess how deep the unseen shaft led. Were they headed towards the very core of the world?
Finally, the blood settled in her veins. The doors opened, exposing her to a gust of hot, stuffy air. A voice shouted in what could only be Shell's tone, and she hoisted once again off her hooves. She drifted into the dank nothinginess, taking a winding path. Every now and then, a cleft of uneven rock would brush against her dangling hooves. She wheezed as layers of exhaust filtered in through the bag's material. She heard deafening salvos of industrial machines grinding against brittle substances. But that wasn't nearly as alarming as what she heard next.
Where she was, the place was crowded. What sounded like muffled raindrops grew more distinct in her ears until she realized that it was the shuffling of dozens if not hundreds of hooves. A low drone of countless moaning, grunting, hyperventilating equines echoed in the mysterious expanse around her. She heard the occasional cry, followed by an authoritative shout and the unmistakable snap of a manataser burning the air. For a few seconds, the hellish ambiance would grow silent, and then pick up again in rhythm with clanking and clattering machinery.
One groaning sound in particular echoed to Belle's right. She gasped and tilted her head aside. A breath escaped her at the startling familiarity. "G-Garnet...?"
Enforcer Shell said something, and Belle was tugged faster, straight ahead, against whipping artificial winds of heat. She coughed a few times, then sense a constant glow lingering just beyond the bag.
Finally, the magic field died, and she was dropped onto her hooves. Before she could gain her balance, the bag was hoisted off her eyes. A blinding world exploded in front of her, and she winced, trying her best not to collapse onto her haunches.
The peripheral of her vision came into focus first. She became aware of bodies, service workers in soot-stained blue uniforms. They were being ushered swiftly out of the room by unicorns with tasers. One figure in particular glanced across the cavern and met Belle's eyes. She gave him half a glance, noticing his shaggy coat and ram's horns.
Before she could utter his name, her attention was directed towards the spectacle before her. The clouds of her vision had dissolved, and she was staring at a great blue sheet of pale metal. It was unlike anything of Ledomaritan design; the surface was smoothe, pristine, immaculate to a perfect shine. She could even see her own reflection from the conjoined array of multiple mana lights propped before the solid wall that had been mechanically chipped away from solid bedrock.
There was only one noticeable anomaly along the flat surface of glistening material. Just as Belle started fixating on the engraving, Enforcer Shell marched into view. He saw where here eyesight was pointed and gestured swiftly towards the two symbols in question.
"Is this what you now know the name of?" he asked unemotionally.
She blinked. She saw a hoof-print on the left overtaking a solar crest on the right. The lines were thin, dark gray, and carved with perfect, geometric precision in what otherwise looked like unbreakable metal.
"Yes," she said simly, reaching a hoof up to straighten her mane from the haphazard trip down there. Her eyes briefly darted up towards the ominous stalactites. "This... this place..."
"Say it out loud," Shell said.
She looked at him, her face grimacing in confusion. "Huh?!"
His eye narrowed. The tip of his horn glowed.
Belle blinked, then gasped as she felt her forelimbs being yanked forward in the soldier's grip. In less than two seconds, she was thrust against the wall. Shell slapped the bottom of her hoof against the omega symbol.
"Touch the metal surface and say the name of the symbol!" he said, loudly this time, in her ear.
"Nnngh!" she winced, caught her breath, and sputtered forth. "Au-Austraeoh!"
Nothing happened. The guards glanced at one another. The back of the cavern echoed with the dozens of bodies beyond.
"Louder!" Shell snapped, crushing the silence like a dying insect. "Clearly! Facing the door!"
"D-door?!"
"Do it!"
She gulped. Steadying her shivers, she faced her reflection beyond the symbols and spoke as solidly as she could. "Austraeoh." Her voice echoed, then died. "Austraeoh," she repeated. Agian, there was nothing. Her chestnut eyes darted nervously towards the Enforcer.
Shell took a deep breath, then leaned in so that he spoke icily just between the two of them. "Is that not the name that was given to you in your vision?"
"It... It was, s-sir..."
"Did you just make it up to appease the Enforcers of Ledomare?"
"No! I-I know it's the name! I just don't understand what—"
"In all of your sequencing, did you ever have a moment when the subject used the word or embodied it in any fashion?" His brow furrowed. "If so, what did she do? What did she say?"
"Rainbow... is... th-the Austraeoh," Belle murmured.
Shell leaned back, the good half of his face twitching to match the scar. "Rainbow?! What the devil—"
"Give her wind..." Belle murmured, her eyes lighting up. Her heart skipped a beat. Other symbols were forming in the wall. She saw two parallel lines and a serpentine shape. "Eljunbyro..."
"What?"
She glanced aside and saw more lines, more figures, more geometric patterns forming in the immaculate surface. Soon, an entire halo of glyphs had morphed into being around where her hoof was making contact. "By the Spark... do you see them all?!"
The guards behind them murmured confusedly.
"Doctor, I don't see anything but a confused mare," Shell said.
"It's beautiful. She must have known..." Belle gulped. "She needs me to deliver them. That must be it. That must..." Her eyes widened.
The solar crest was burning, glowing, pulsating with lavender light. It rose over the edges of her hoof, filling her soul with warmth and purpose.
"The sunrise," she whimpered. "I must..." Her coat hairs twitched on end, but there were no feathers to answer her call. Instead of flying, she fell, and fainted in Shell's forelimbs.
Something tells me Shell is going to be very unimpressed when Belle wakes up.
Hello Rainbow.
I get the feeling an RD persona will be showing up shortly.
I'd prefer it if she were in her own body, though.
Also, lol @ "She's insane".
EDIT: Damn, Pilate got here before me.
You seem more definite about it though.
1545605 "I see!" said the blind man to the deaf dog.
Duuuuuude.
-Minty
1545973
I try.
Question: Answered.
Other things of note, well, the whole chapter really. Slave laborers, mining work, so on.
Multiple symbols, more than just the two (four) we've seen.
Aloha Spark/Twilight/Magic/Austraeoh/Rainbow Dash!
Two things, sunrise ties into the east theme and is another callback to several other instances of Rainbow or Belle seeing the sun/a bright light and then nothing. Someone with more time than I currently have should be able to find a lot to say about this imagery. Secondly, this is as sure as we've seen Dash at the forefront of Belle's mind, at this moment here she thinks of herself as RD, not Belle.
Umm... You OK Belle?
154601
The sequencing thing sure does run deep. How permanent will it be, I wonder.
Your point about multiple glyphs is interesting, as is the confirmation that RD is Austraeoh. Calling it now, Belle is Eljunbyro.
And then there'll be a whole slew of these! Maybe.
Still need to figure out what these runes are. I wonder if the entire quest will run deeper than the Midnight Armoury and further into the origins of the world.
Damn... All those people who got "relocated"...
It's gettin' Temple of Doom up in here!
On an another note:
One can only hope that Belle is now going to rescue Rainbow Dash in order to bring her to the door (she seems compelled to do it). Dash will then escape through the machinery of the world. She'll tell Belle to come with her to safety, but Belle will refuse. There will be a poignant scene in which Belle will stay behind rather than abandon her beloved. Knowing full well it likely means her death as a traitor to Ledomare. Good times.
The reason I say 'one can only hope' is because there's always the alternative: Dash is already dead.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!!!
Even if Ledomare has much more advanced technology than the minotaurs, I don't think they're going to break through those structures any time soon
Yo Belle! Yall'right?
1546129
There is no alternative.
Banish these foolish thoughts from your mind and go sacrifice a few children to help bring RD back.
1546249
Good idea!
Sacrificing children is my go-to solution for any problem. (and in typing this, I've had a thought...)
Anthony Sullivan here with "Zaap Nator's Guide to solving all your problems through ritual sacrifice of children"
Do you have problems?
Do you wish you didn't?
Well wish no longer!
Just by following my simple 2 step program, any problem you're having can be overcome.
Simply mail $19.99 to 'Duke Zaap Nator, East New Ring, Darkstine' for your copy of the program.
But wait! There's more!
Order now and you'll also get your very own 'mini-obelisk' (patent pending) for help with those little problems that you can't be bothered to kidnap several children for.
Just throw a small animal (animal must be a baby) down the shaft you keep your mini-obelisk in. And Presto! Kiss those little problems goodbye.
That's the 2 step program and the mini-obelisk all for the low low price of $19.99!
Order today.
Orders to Silvadel not accepted
Children sold separately
1546117
Yes. Yes, that is very possible.
I think this marks the first time Belle has fully believed that she is RD outside of sequencing. There have been hints, but she's never tried to fly without wings before. I had fully expected this transformation to be a long, drawn-out process, like Dash's struggle with chaos. Looks like it will come to a head long before the end of this. And then... who knows?
At least Shell bothered catching her when she fainted.
Only good thing I can think to say about him. Have to wonder though, is he just following an evil program that was given to him by someone higher up? Does he have a Beloved that he worries for?
I want more RD!
Perhaps a few chapters of work with Garnet are going to happen? Probably filled with deep thought and dialogue, about finding Rainbow.
After all, it would be kind of unnecessary to place that in the story unless they were going to meet up or something. (Or perhaps be used as a bargaining chip)
So that's what that is.
Mine Are The Eyes of God - Corrosion Of Conformity
I can never get to these BEFORE everyone else comments.
New mission: Make it in before the 5th comment.
In other news: Questions answered, questions surfaced, the Austraeoh appears, and Belle suffers more brain damage (being unconscious for long periods of time is bad for your health, who knew?).
I cannae wait for the next installment.
1546321
I read that all in Anthony Sullivan's voice. It was glorious.
I feel so awesome right now. For once, my predictions are totally right.
Austreaoh is Rainbow Dash and is the symbol that Rainbow saw so much of.
Eljimbryo is the essence of another pony, maybe belle, but I'm gonna bet that Eljimbryo somehow ties back to AppleJack. That relationship has been referenced much more in this part of the story. Whatever phycological conflict that is in store for RD because of her lost love is likely to come to a point in Part 2.
I am gonna solidify my standing here and now that each element has its own symbol and ancient word. All are necessary to light the spark which keeps the world alive. RD is Austreaoh, but will have to obtain all of the essences inorder to deliver the spark and revive the world. Belle is going to help find Eljimbryo for RD, and then RD will find the rest either through self-discovery, the help of other ponies, or some dues ex machina found in the midnight armory.
1546221 Let me tell ya, that pony sure does love phycological trama
1547051 I don't think he is a bad pony per say. I think he has the wrong objectives in mind, he doesn't see the light. If this story has any sort of pattern to it. This sub-arc will not complete when RD defeats him, but instead when shell is set down the correct path.
1548334 Yes, I'm betting on the element-word pairings as well. And with the focus on beloveds and pairs in this story as well as the Appledash we are aware of, I think Eljimbryo ties in to AJ.
Austraeoh is another name for the Spark, isn't it? Whitemane said the Spark had several names, and that Rainbow would bring about a spark that the world sorely needs. And now in this chapter, Austraeoh and Rainbow are finally shown to be one.
Oooooh, even better, it's clearly obvious that Whitemane knows a heck of a lot more than was shown in Austraeoh. And she said way back when, that the journey WILL kill Rainbow. Perhaps she knows that to make the spark, Rainbow has to die.
[/wild theories]
Huh? What?
I'm confused...
After the last chapter I was under the impression that Austraeoh was the symbol, and it was confirmed here:
But then not much further along, my theory was blown right out of the water when this was said:
Now I don't have a clue about what to think. The only way that I think both of these statements can be true is if Austraeoh means the symbol, and the symbol means Rainbow Dash...
Now hello, maybe I do have an idea. If that symbol did mean Rainbow Dash, (or rather the symbol means Austraeoh which is Dash) then it would make sense as to why she can interact with it, opening up the way into these mysterious chambers, and that nopony or nobody else can. That would also explain why Axan can remember Austraeoh at the sight of Rainbow Dash...
I know some might say: but surely that's not right! Axan dodnt realise Dash was Austraeoh until she saw the pendant! Well my friends, isn't the pendant fairly similar to Dashie anyway? The pendant is the element of loyalty, and Dashie is the bodily form of the element, and a pendant will be more recognisable than a pony, albeit a cyan Pegasus with a rainbow mane, but that's not the point.
So, more theories now (I'm on a roll, rambling for days, but there's a lot to think about.) Because we are all now pretty sure that Rainbow is Austraeoh (the evidence is pretty undeniable) I have an idea as to what, or rather who Eljunbryo may be.
I now believe that Eljunbryo is Belle.
Why? A few fairly small reasons, mostly because Eljunbryo hasn't been discussed much in the story. But my current reasons are that a few chapters ago, Whitemane told Belle that Eljunbryo was required to bring the wind to Austraeoh, and that Belle was meant to help RD. Ny other reason is as single as the fact that the first story was called Austraeoh, and RD/Austraeoh was the main character. And now in the second story, Eljunbryo, Belle/(mebe) Eljunbryo is the main character.
Also, (yes, yet another theory) if Belle is Eljunbryo, I have a hunch that the other symbol she found throughout her journeys through Dash's memories, means Eljunbryo. Something that I would now like to see, is a wall similar to this with the rune for "Austraeoh" on them, however with this other rune which I believe means "Eljunbryo." I believe that is this is found by Belle, that she will be able to interact with it, as she is Eljunbryo.
I hope you guys don't mind me rambling on, it's just a good way to get things sorted in your head.
And I think we all want more, and are eagerly awaiting the next chapter.
Onwards!
1548334
Just read what you said about Eljunbryo being AJ, just after my lengthy theory suggesting otherwise.
However, I still think Eljunbryo is Belle. I see what you mean about the focus on relationship potentially suggesting that Eljunbryo is AJ, however I don't recall the emphasis on relationships being strong around the times when Eljunbryo and Austraeoh have been the main focus of the story.
1548662
Clearly Whitemane does know more than was shown in Austraeoh. But I get the feeling that the only reason she seems to know more now, is because she only knows more now.
I might be desperately hoping that the theory that RD has to die for the world to be saved is wrong, but I get the feeling that Whitemane knows more than she did in Austraeoh.
The possibilities are endless, we'll just have to wait and see who's right and who's wrong...
Figures they'd be studying one of the old machines. And, of course, nopony but one with a connection to the spark (Belle can do that shit because she has sequenced so deeply with Rainbow Dash) can get any sort of reaction from said machines... Or see the results. To everypony else she's batshit crazy.
Oh man, I'm crazy late for this. Anyway, my thought: Does the "halo of glyphs" bear any relation to the Elements of Harmony, or are they something much older and more powerful? I suppose it's food for thought.
How did I skip this chapter? So Dash is definitely Austraeoh, and the other elements must have/be symbols as well. Can't wait to find out how this all works out! Onward!
The sun rises in the east.
IIIIIt's Dashie's evaluation time!
Alrighty, so it looks like the conspiracy stems back to the Machine. They've been taking Ledomareitans and forcing them to work down in this mineshaft in order to find a way to open the Machine's door. However, they cannot, as only the Elements are capable of opening the door. Keep in mind, though, that lavender light makes an appearance at the end of this chapter, as well as Belle realizing all at once what Whitemane wanted her to do. I get the feeling that Dash will be showing up very, very soon. These are my thoughts so far.
-MASH
I wonder what Whitemane is doing right now?
so close...
GUESS WHO'S BACK?
Also, what a coincidence!
1946913
You know what I think?
This might be your reference or maybe one of yours.
Why can they see the glyph? Only Rainbow could see the glyph before.
I'm thinking that
Austraeoh = Element of Loyalty = Rainbow Dash
and
Eljunbyro = Element of Honesty = Applejack
and now that Austraeoh has lost its wind, or Rainbow Dash has been prevented from carrying out her quest, then RD's strong affection for Applejack (or Eljunbyro) must be utilized, by Belle, to give Austraeoh its wind back and allow RD to continue her journey.
Maybe it will turn into
Eljunbyro = Element of Honesty = Belle
ummmmmm.... why is homey tiger always confused!
curse you auto correct! Honeytiger shall have Honeytiger's revenge!
IT CONTINUES!!!
>He saw where here eyesight was pointed
>"Yes," she said simly
So many symbols. What is this.
3685582
I can see my eyesight.
And here we go.
Oh my!
"Well, I do hope someone picks up that phone."
"Monsieur Cooler, I don't-"
"Because I [EXPLETIVE]ing called it!"
Belle's getting Eagle Vision! She'll probably be tortured and her loved ones hurt, but she knows what she has to do now!
Oh man, this fic is escalating faster than RD at Cadance's wedding.
Because... You know... She did a Sonic Rainboom upwards.
...I'm funny, I swear!
Belle isn't Hawkeye. With the random blackouts, she's obviously Alfonse.
This chapter was awesome. More of the machines and what-not are being found, and now... now another can serve as the key. It's a good thing these doors are so big, because with 12 books there are going to be a ton of symbols spreading out on them. Heh.
6497165
I love that reference right there. Got a laugh out of me.
~SolidFire
Ah, of course. If the symbol didn't come from Belle's sequencing, there was only one obvious conclusion.
Ah, so Belle is the deliverer. She shall grant Rainbow her duty once again.
Although...damn, I didn't imagine she would just suddenly see all the symbols at once.
How jarring and divine it must be to have literally the answers to the world just pop up in front of your face.
6497165
Oh yeah, definitely gonna be tortured and marked as a madmare
roll credits *ding*