"Do forgive me," Duchess Arcanista murmured, leaning forward with a slight shudder. "And correct me if I'm wrong in my attempt to recount that which I have just learned." She gulped hard, then glanced at each of the Jurists in turn while she spoke. "There is a race of equines who can shape-shift, and their Queen—the forbearer responsible for their very existence—has laid claim to Val Roa?"
Several ponies nodded and nodded.
Arcanista's eyes narrowed. "And this Queen can take the form of anyone or anything?"
More nods.
"And she is utilizing the skills of her 'hive' to perform subterfuge within the central kingdom?" She blinked. "With the purpose of sowing memory that she can then feed on?"
"It's... it's just her," Rainbow said.
"Huh?"
"It's Chrysalis and Chrysalis alone," the pegasus reiterated. "She no longer has any control over her broods."
"You're sure of this?"
"Pretty sure," Rainbow said.
Pilate spoke up. "We've already encountered more than one group of changelings formerly loyal to the Queen's cause. Without her influence, they're innocent... practically blank slates."
"Our major concern is that Chrysalis will do something in Val Roa to feed and become strong enough to control her hatchlings once again," Bellesmith said. "Considering how far-spread they are, not to mention how vulnerable to her telepathic connections, you can imagine the great need we have to prevent this sort of a thing from happening once again."
"The dayum metamorph has already laid waste to an entire continent," Josho grumbled. "Hundreds of thousands died thanks to her meddling."
"She even infected an immortal dragon with chaos," Pilate said. "One of the Ancient Divines—dead now, thanks to Chrysalis and her hatchlings."
"Good God..." Arcanista blinked. She turned towards Rainbow Dash. "This war... this Xonan and Ledomaritan conflict: it began without her?"
Rainbow nodded. "At some point, several years ago—we think—Chrysalis sank her teeth in and steered the conflict in the direction she wanted."
"Single-hoofedly making it far bloodier than it needed to be," Pilate remarked.
Josho pointed. "What he said."
"Then..." Arcanista couldn't help but shudder. "If Chrysalis is indeed at work beyond the West Gate—"
"She's got a lot to work with," Roarke said bluntly. "Especially if what you say is true." Her ice-blue eyes narrowed. "Conspiratorial back-stabbing... bureaucratic intrigue... secret murders, secret burials, and secret embezzling."
"You see, what Chrysalis does, is—like..." Rainbow fidgeted from where she hovered. "...t-take a place that's already got a bunch of bad crap going on and magnify it by a gazillion. But she does it slowly, so that you can't tell when the normal evil ends and the changeling influence begins."
Ebon Mane shuddered. Eagle placed a gentle hoof on his shoulder.
Rainbow gulped. "No offence, buddy."
Arcanista blinked. "What bothers him so?" She craned her neck, peering straight at Ebon. "Did changelings affect you terribly, good sir?"
"It's m-more than that..." Ebon stammered. "I... uhm..."
"He is a changeling," Roarke blurted.
Eagle glared at Roarke. He opened his mouth to say something—
"No. It's... it's okay." Ebon smiled weakly. "It was going to come up eventually."
"A changeling in your midst?" Arcanista remarked.
"He's all Jurist!" Eagle exclaimed.
"And our cook," Zaid said with a smirk. "So—yeah—we love the dickens out of 'em." Props giggled.
"I... must admit that I am rather curious," Arcanista said. "If not a bit concerned. Would you mind if...?"
Eagle's brow furrowed. "What?"
"I think she desires a demonstration," Pilate muttered.
"Well, he's not a trick pony!" Eagle grumbled, voice cracking. "We got the Duchess her brother back. Isn't that enough to trust us by—?"
"EE, please," Ebon sighed. "Don't make a show." He smiled faintly, stood up, and concentrated.
"Don't strain s-something, Ebony!" Props squeaked.
Relaxing, Ebon allowed his burgundy coat to vanish with a cascade of green flame. He stood before the Duchess with twitching wings.
Arcanista recoiled slightly. The reindeer guards at her side flinched, their antlers brimming with dim beams of mana.
"Settle your glimmer," Floydien suddenly hissed, startling half of the souls in the room. His red eyes flared briefly. "The boomer is Floydien's friend..." With a sigh, he hung his head, returning once again to his quiet corner of the room. "...plus, sailboat makes good munch munch."
"Do... d-do forgive me," Arcanista remarked. "This is a lot to take in. I was merely startled. I have every faith in your character, Mister...?"
"Mane," the changeling said in a warbling voice. "Ebon Mane." He closed his clear eyes, concentrating. "And I don't blame you for being startled. This is... t-taking some getting used to me as well." At last, his body flickered with green flame. He blinked with violet eyes, tossing a purple mane. "Whoops..." Concentrating again, he exchanged his unicorn horn for a bergundy coat. He turned towards Eagle Eye with a sheepish smile. "Sorry... it's the qu-quickest way I know how to revert back."
Eagle smiled goofily. "I'm not complaining."
"You can turn into anything?" Arcanista asked, leaning forward. "Anyone?"
"No. I... n-not reallly." Ebon leaned into Eagle, shivering slightly. "I-I really don't have a mastery over the shape-shifting. I can take the shape of my close friends here, but only for a sh-short time." He gulped. "This—what you see before you—is the only form I can keep for long."
"Why is that?"
"It's... how I remember myself," Ebon said with a sigh. "My Mother—... Chrysalis, she... she..."
Rainbow Dash hovered forward, clearing her throat as she took the torch from Ebon. "Chrysalis had a strategy that involved planting several amnesiac hatchlings in random or strategic places throughout the world."
"That's... terribly cruel!" Arcanista's brow furrowed. "What the devil for?"
"They could do their job better."
"And what job is that?"
"Assuming the identities of replaced ponies," Rainbow Dash said. "If that's happened in Val Roa, I'm sure the whole kingdom would know about it by now. However, I'm willing to believe that only Chrysalis has been in Val Roa this whole time. She was controlling the changelings in Ledomare, Xona, and Stratopolis from long-distance. Meanwhile, she's stationed herself in Val Roa as a fallback. Once she had fed from the misery caused in the west, she'd use this kingdom as a springboard."
"A springboard for what?"
"To carry her brood past the Grand Choke," Rainbow said. "And—east beyond that—the edge of the world."
"She wishes to rejoin her sister Tchern on the Dark Side of the world," Pilate said. "There's a conflict called the 'Trinary War,' and Chrysalis' ultimate goal is to raise an army empowered enough to turn the tide for dominance of the Plane."
"Wait..." Arcanista's eyes narrowed. "Dark Side... of the world?" She blinked. "Why, whatever do you mean?"
Pilate opened his mouth, lingered, and smiled tiredly. "Perhaps... it's best that we stick to the circumstances at hoof."
"Chrysalis is the sole reason we came to this part of the continent to begin with," Rainbow said. "Otherwise, I..." She faltered, cleared her throat, and said. "We would have gone further south to continue with our journey."
Roarke glanced at Rainbow. She blinked over at Belle and Pilate. The couple had their heads bowed.
"What we want to do... need to do is get inside Val Roa and sniff out Chrysalis so we can end her Reign of Terror once and for all," Rainbow Dash said. "I mean... why not? We've had so many run-ins with her, and after Stratopolis it would be practically criminal to leave her to her own devices."
"And that is the reason why the Noble Jury has remained in this kingdom for so long?" Arcanista smiled slightly. "Because you have been dedicated to finding a way past the West Gate?"
"Oh, we've had a ball! Believe it!" Kera grinned, tattoos flickering briefly with charismatic mana. "Kicking goblin butt?! Saving towns?! Earning flower necklaces?!"
Zaid did a double-take. "When did you earn flower necklaces?!"
"But it's all too easy, y'know?" Kera stuck her nose towards the ceiling. "We want a real challenge! We wanna kick the bugshell butt of the Queen who caused everything to begin with!"
"And by 'everything' she means genocide," Josho said in a dull tone, eyeing the Duchess wearily. "So perhaps you can see why we're so damn itching to get into your Ledo-forsaken kingdom and clean house!"
"Not an easy task, I assure you," Arcanista said.
"Shouldn't it be as simple as..." Booster Spice shrugged, blinking. "...rooting out the most likely candidate within Val Roa?"
"Candidate for what?"
"For being the Changeling Queen!" Booster Spice exclaimed. "Just think—of all the power players in your kingdom, who stands to gain the most from all of this subterfuge and backstabbing?"
Arcanista practically hissed: "Fishberry."
Bellesmith and Rainbow Dash exchanged glances.
"Are you so certain of that?" Roarke spoke up. "You seem rather biased there."
"She's marginalized Bountiful into nothing, disrupted the right to representation, and overseen the drafting of heinous and abominable laws!"
"And she's also responsible for the incarceration and supposed 'murder' of your brother," Roarke droned. "That's a good enough reason to despise her, but would it be a changeling Queen's work?"
Arcanista shivered slightly. She glanced aside at Floydien.
The elk said nothing.
With a sigh, Arcanista hung her head.
"How about this..." Rainbow Dash paced in mid-air. "Who's the most powerful pony in Val Roa?"
"Prince Eine of House of Evo, of course." Arcanista blinked. "Soon to be king."
Rainbow pivoted towards her. "Are you certain of that?"
Arcanista fidgeted. "Grand Secretary Sharp Quill has been acting steward of Val Roa for a long time, but as soon as Eine is crowned the new King, Sharp Quill steps back to assume the role of chief advisor, just like when the previous monarchs were still alive."
"You're talking about the ones who died in a fire?!" Zaid raised an eyebrow. "Yeesh, what an lucky 'unlucky' guy Sharp Quill must be!"
"Are you insinuating that Sharp Quill is directly responsible for the King and Queen's deaths?"
"If it was my mother in diguise..." Ebon Mane shuddered. "I c-certainly wouldn't put it past her."
"She'd be in the right place and the right time to control an entire kingdom during its most turbulent transition in years," Roarke said. "Murder is likely a tiny stepping stone towards achieving that. Who's to know what else Sharp Quill has accomplished?"
"Wait a second..." Booster Spice spoke up. "Didn't the Duchess say that the military's line of defense is broken up towards the south?"
"Yes..." Arcanista nodded. "It would seem as though General Saikano has need of the troops elsewhere."
"And that's a clear advantage to the Cartel if they wanted to invade from the southern border?" Booster blinked at the others through his goggles. "Well, wouldn't that be a stroke of brilliance on Chrysalis' behalf?"
"You... you mean..." Arcanista leaned forward. "General Saikano could be...?"
"From the way it looks," Eagle Eye spoke. "Your kingdom is full of suspects."
"I... I..." Arcanista ran a hoof through her mane, shuddering. "I-I think I may need to lie down..."
"It's not all hopeless!" Props said, blinking. "All we need to do is get in and have a look-see for ourselves!"
"Allow me to guess..." Arcanista gazed at her lethargically. "You've invented a 'changeling-detector' during your travels?"
"Well... it's not quite like that!" Props grinned. "But we do have Ebony!"
"Erm..." Ebon bit his lip.
"Props." Eagle squeezed Ebon's shoulders protectively. "We are not about to use him as a metamorph counter!"
"Well, can he sense Mommy Dearest or can't he?!"
"He can't! And he won't!"
"It could be a viable option, EE," Pilate remarked.
"Says you!"
"Eagle... s-settle down, darling." Ebon gulped. "Please..."
"Look... first thing's first..." Rainbow Dash hovered forward, waving her forelimbs. "We have to get inside that place! And we haven't been lucky on our own! But you, Duchess, you have connections on the inside! You know names! From the sound of it, you might even have a familial acquaintance with Saikano."
"Unless... he's actually a she," Arcanista stammered. "A changeling queen, she."
"Still, can you get us in there?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Can you get us inside?"
The room dropped into a cold hush. Several Jurists leaned forward, anxiously. Kera glanced at everypony with bright, blinking eyes.
"There is a way," Arcanista ultimately said, though with a reserved tone. "But it will be difficult."
"Define 'difficult.'"
"It will require a certain degree of Val Roan subterfuge of our own."
"Well then..." Zaid smirked and cracked the joints in his neck. "If it involves dressing as giant slabs of grilled cheese sandwiches, count me in."
"Zaidy Waidy..."
"Okay. Intermission." Kera hopped off the sofa before Bellesmith could hold her back. "Where's the noble Crapper of Sehlp?"
Don't grow up Kera.
So plenty of candidates just as I thought, now its time to infiltrate Val Roa and figure this whole thing out. Also thanks Kera I think we all needed that
Changelings. Changelings everywhere.
If M night shaymalalalalain was writing this then Arcanista would be chrysalis in disguise
"He makes good munch-munch". Oh, Floydien.
Yeah...let's save that for another storytime.
Graceful.
My money's still on Saikano being the imposter.
5128968
5129099
That is a good point, though. Arcanista could be the imposter. She's adored and loved by the people she governs, she's still in a position where she has a degree of influence in the kingdom. Plus, we've only heard one side of the story thus far. What do the other houses have to say on the matter?
Still think it's Saikano, though.
Wait, elks have manes?
Never underestimate the powee of quality noms.
5132923
thats.......a good question...........maybe?
Unless Chrysalis doesn't want to be on the front lines and is actually pulling the strings from the shadows.
On a completely unrelated note, how is Midnite Bastion?
5132947
ThisiswhatIwanttoknowaswell
ujszo.com/sites/default/files/photos/promoted/bond-james-bond.jpg
okay that is quite enough thank you
Will Arcanista be personally assisting their entry into Val Roa?
images5.fanpop.com/image/polls/992000/992904_1333640110281_full.png
5132894
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WHAT A TWIST
I was gonna suggest the same thing as Eyes of Avo. We have three prime suspects for Chrysalis, but we all know that IC likes to take the unexpected route. Arcanista would certainly be a surprising candidate. It would especially ironic if she's been unable to get into Val Roa, and the Jurists end up being the ones to help her get in.
I'm sure there are problems with this theory. Like, is it just a coincidence, then, that they just happened to stumble upon her location? Unless, of course, she was able to tap into Ebon to get information of his crew-mates (such as Floydien). Wouldn't that be a can of worms, trust-wise?
I dunno. I'm just throwing ideas at the wall and seeing if any stick. Don't mind me.
5133014
Well, yeah, but I have like several comments on why her previous characterization would make that impossible and kind of looking like an ass-pull.
Though I really thought the idea of her needing the Jury to get into Val Roa would be cool. That actually was an interesting thought, though I don't know how she'd be able to use her position as Duchess of a backwater that snuck into the kingdom to claim ultimate power. We know that Chrysalis likes going for the flashy and important, like generals and viziers, I just don't think it would be like her to be Arcanista.
5133079
Generally I would agree. But if what I said is true, and Chrysalis has been unable to get into Val Roa, Arcanista might have been the next best thing. She might even have been counting on the Jury heading her way, getting into the role of their pilot's sister to leverage herself into their sympathies.
But overall, I agree with you. It'd be a big stretch. I just like to explore possibilities, even the unlikely ones. Because you never know. There was a time when changeling!Ebon seemed like a crazy idea.
What I'd like to know is: am I a pony or something else?
5133014
It's an awful lot of fabrication and collaboration to make a story that intricate. Background is real, and we haven't seen any indicator that this is mother. The only reason we think it might be Arcanista is the jury has every reason to trust her.
Besides, she's too nice. I think chrysy has to much pride for this level of subterfuge.
5133114
Oh, well, yeah, crackpot theories are fun, and yours was more interesting and thought out than a lot, it would just bother me if that was the case because it would be more of a stretch than any crap ):( has pulled in the past. I just don't see how cosplaying as Arcanista would benefit her that much.
5133130
You're probably right. Like I said, it'd be a stretch. It's just that sometimes the stretches are what you have to look out for.
With changelings, you never know who you can trust.
Wouldnt it be the twist, that given all the powerful oponants all behaving as such in ways to make them look like prime candidates, its only because they are being controlled by Chrysalis, who is disguised.
As The Prince.
How Machievellian.
5132947
5132969
Me too.
Probably will reveal more clues to the lies and fabricated past created by duchess chyrsyista.
Floyidien totally doesn't remember and that bothers me. Like, to the point where I put on my tin foil hat and say they're all in on it, midnight bastion, saikano and Arcanista, with fishberry being their only obstacle to prevent the coming coup.
5133168
Yeah but
I'm using it.
No, seriously, I'm reading this on a potty break right now.
Sorry, Kera.
5133115
Since I'm so late, allow me to belatedly congratulate you on your naming.
Thankfully, I will not be late in offering you my condolences for the accompanying existential crisis.
Good luck!
5133220
GOD DAMMIT MORE SHIT-MOUTHING OF MY PROVINCE
FUCK YOUUUUU AAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
I think it's still Fishberry. Consider: has Fishberry been seen posting in these comments since he appeared in the story? No. Damn suspicious behavior, if you ask me!
5133115
ThisisalsosomethingIwishtoknowaswell.
5133193
I misread that as "Duchess Creepypasta" for a moment.
Yeah, the same thought crossed my mind as well, but I don't know how it'd work out, and it can't be extra changeling imposters because Chryssy has no control over her brood right now.
5133256
*huehuehuehuehue*
that ending line
5133207
Woo! Quotes!
5132923
images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/005/cache/elk_520_600x450.jpg
us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/tiffanyvest/tiffanyvest0801/tiffanyvest080100017/2413200-female-elk-in-jasper-national-park.jpg
they do seem to have some thicker fur around the neck, but i don't think it classifies as a mane
5133308
stream1.gifsoup.com/view1/1377878/chamber-of-understanding-o.gif
Sharp Quill be like
"If anyone needs me I'll be in the chamber of understanding every plotline in Yaerfaerda."
5133328
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5132852
You reminded me of Peter Pan.
Unfortunately, that reminded me of this.
media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/b1/3c/67/b13c67164765c4eed9f9749932cbc4fb.jpg
Sorry.
5133220 Let Kera use the crapper already and get back to work on chapter 4.
So... I really need to stop not reading these chapters for nearly 2 weeks. I miss so much every time. But I'm caught up now, so I'm gonna have to comment something intelligent to make up for my absence.
Chrysalis is obviously disguised as random background royal guard number 66, in charge of protecting the soon to be king and making sure all possible threats to the stability of Val Roa are dealt with. Especially those that arrive in Skystone ships powered by magical books. It's so obvious guys, I mean random background royal guard number 66 has all the power in Val Roa.
5133619
31.media.tumblr.com/0ea6478675ec95c03cadd3093b44e794/tumblr_n5fnk3bq6p1tt9noro3_1280.jpg
LOOMYNARDY CONFIRM111!!!!111!!!111
[suggesting Saikano could be Chryssy]
Seems she's particularly worried about this... seems like she might have a deeper connection to Saikano...
5133750
I did not have sexual relations with that, uh, general.
What, me, no.
How could you even
suggest
that
Who's to say that Chrysalis doesn't have daughters/sons?
Also, I'm calling the next chapter name: The Crapper of Sehlp Number One.
There may be a sequel.
Alright.... hands up who sees the jurists being tried as vigilantes/criminals by the val roan council,only to be saved by the one that Chryssy is disguised as?
5133862
Chrysalis DOES have daughters/sons. That's where changelings come from.
5133863
That would be a waste of her time, from what we've seen of her she always wants the most important role- which could be Sharp Quill, like you said, but also Eine, Saikano, Fishberry, or a character we haven't met yet. I don't think she had to be Buch Tania Lasairfion for her plan to have worked in Odrsjot, but disguised herself as the leader because she enjoys having that position of power.
5133256
Haha. "Shit" mouthing. It's funny because crappers and toilets and poop and stuff.
5133559
Hey man, shut up. I might have had a little to drink. Just a bit.
5133888
It's also easier to control and manipulate everything beneath you if you're in a position of power.
5133888
There are three major qualities to a villain in any story that I think this comment covers.
1. Grandeur - The villain has an extreme sense of self to the point where tactical decisions are based on it.
2. Obsession - Villains want the power to do as they wish without imposition or restriction, and thus are extremely focused on this concept.
3. Mania - Some form of impulse that they have to follow, the usual driver of the villainy. The villain that can keep this under wraps is far deadlier, but this is still underneath.
Given these three qualities, I have determined that since Saikano is under the command of the Val Roan nobles, and thus limited in what he can do, the General is out in my book. There are now only two possible candidates.
5133952
Troubles are fun.
5103383 5106424 5107809 5109943
I still hold that the Elements of Harmony will be revitalized through ships.
Rainbow x Roarke = Loyalty
Bellesmith x Pilate = Kindness
Ebon Mane x Eagle Eye = Honesty
Floydien x Midnite Bastion = Generosity
Zaid x Props = Laughter
All that's left is Magic. Perhaps either Josho, Booster Spice, or Kera with somepony else we haven't met yet?
Has anyone thought arcanista might be chrysalis?
5134161 yes.
With my namesake entering the world of this story, I very nearly left the world of the living.
Earlier today I scavenged a hoard of chestnuts fallen from their tree. As it turns out, they are the poisonous variety. I decided to research my find online, and I'm glad I did, because eating them surely would have killed me.
Horse chestnuts (or Buckeye) contain a poison named esculin. I have to wonder if anyone has ever been assassinated by concealing the poisonous variety in their food. They are said to have a bitter flavour, but I imagine it can be disguised.
My completely outlandish bit of speculation is that ALL THREE suspects are in fact Queen Chrysalis, and she's jumping between them like only a super awesome changeling queen can. Thought I'd throw that in the waters.
5134304
Remember to research your nuts before you put them in your mouth.
/me wonders if chestnut poisoning will become a thing now in story. Would be ironic if Fishberry died from it in character. It could happen; blatant assassination by another council member for what they suspected Fishberry was doing. Unless of course Fishberry is Chrysalis, in which case she probably wouldn't be so susceptible to it.
5134320
I have this theory too, though I doubt she's all three. I would say that all of them are under her control one way or another though.
Midnight bastion might be complete fabrication, the general might be an impostor (maybe Chrysalis herself, depending on her characterization), and Arcanista is being manipulated somehow.
I think things will either begin to fall apart, or come together, once Floydien starts to recover his memory.
Also, what if Chrysalis never shows herself? Just stays off to the side lines, waiting for rainbow to die. She of course knows its happening, so why not just wait for rainbow to kick the bucket? Meanwhile the Noble Jury goes around creating chaos trying to find her.
5133985
I think the better question is,
is this all the filler we've gotten in two years?
5133952 Making ALL the troubles. And darn tootin best hair conditioner, I -am- a spa pony after all!
5133220 Damn it, you've been intertwined in my mind with Sweetie Belle thanks to that story of yours and now all I an imagine is Rarity standing outside the door as Sweetie sings a patently lewd song punctuated by grunts, groans, and pauses.
I hope you're happy, snappy.
So I know it's far down the comment chain, but I have another theory going on here. Ya'll can call me crazy for it, but here's what I think. I think Chrysalis is going to be the next Jurist.
Hear me out. She has seen first-hand what can be caused by Dash and the other Jurists. I think she will (in disguise) fake her own death to the Jurists, or some other means, and then take the form of the next Jurist. She may regain control of JUST Ebon for it, who knows. But I think she will then use her new 'form' to indicate a way through the Grand Choke, and give up that knowledge to return herself, and then use the Jurists as an unwitting weapon against Tchern in the Trinary War.
Just a suspicion of mine. It's what I'd do in Chrysalis's shoes/hooves, to be honest. Rather than try to rebuild my own infinite army on a time crunch just turn the weapon that defeated me against my enemies and lay claim to victory through subterfuge that way.