Chapter Fourteen
A Sad Miscellany
In which lessons that are difficult to learn
produce knowledge that is unpleasant.
July 4th - 8th, 1012
Equestria
We sighted the Equestrian coast in the early evening. I was at the helm, alone on the quarterdeck.
"Position?" I asked the lookout.
"South of Vanhoover by a few leagues, capt'n. We should see the lights of Tall Tale off the starboard bow within the half-hour."
"Very good," I said, and snapped the cover of the speaking tube shut. I shoved the lever that engaged the self-steering mechanism and went to the aft rail to take a reading with my anemometer. I noted the airspeed in the log and then took the wheel again. Six hours out from Canterlot.
Applejack came up from below and climbed the ladder from the waist up to the quarterdeck. I frowned and kept my eyes on the horizon. The hint was clear but she didn't take it.
"Twi, I ain't one of your crew, so don't get all captain-y on me, y'hear? This is gonna be hard enough as it is."
At least she had managed to engage my curiosity. I glanced at the compass and then up at her.
"I'm gonna ask you for a big favor. I'm gonna ask you for a princess favor, and I wouldn't feel right doin' it if'n it was just for me."
I didn't feel much like talking, so I simply cocked my head.
"It's for Fluttershy, y'see." Applejack looked down and scuffed a hoof across the deck. "An' it's Princess Luna that'll have to help her. I want you to ask the princess for me if she'll…"
"No nightmares. Got it."
Applejack looked at me for a long moment. "Yeah… that'd be nice, but it ain't the main thing."
I raised an eyebrow.
"I reckon you're gonna find this out yourself, Twi, and I'm pretty sure you're strong enough to deal with it. I ain't so sure about Fluttershy. Y'see…"
She paused for a long while, and just when I thought she was going to give up and go away, she began speaking again. She never once took her eyes off the deck while she spoke.
"Y'know I lost my ma and pa awhile back, so this is somethin' I know about." She paused again briefly, swallowed, and went on. "The nightmares are bad, yeah, but it's some good dreams that're the worst. You'll be doin' somethin' ordinary, sittin' on a log and eatin' an apple, maybe. An' you'll look up, and there they'll be, smilin' back at you, maybe talkin' about somethin' or other. You know how dreams go. You just accept it. Maybe you say, 'Hey… for some reason I thought y'all was dead.' And they'll laugh at that, and you'll laugh, and you'll go on, havin' a good time.
"And then you wake up.
"That's the worst, Twi. It weren't no nightmare, but when you wake up and you know it was only a dream… well… it's pretty hard to take. Fluttershy loved that ol' pony, an'... she don't need that wound poked at. I don't know if Princess Luna can do anything about those kinda dreams, but if you could ask her for me, I'd be mighty obliged."
Applejack attempted to make it all sound casual and impersonal, but I could see her pain in the way her mouth tightened and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. I thought about my own parents and how I would feel if… I tried to stifle a sob and failed. She looked up at me then. "Aw… aw, Twilight, sugarcube, don't cry! I didn't mean to… aw, ponyfeathers! C'mere!" She flipped the self-steering lever on the binnacle, and pulled me into a hug. I curled my neck around hers and sobbed for quite some time.
= = =
Applejack had just gotten me settled and was trying to convince me to go below and get something to eat when the guards arrived.
"Permission to come aboard?" the pegasus in bright armor called out as he came up fast from astern.
I glanced at the other pegasi following in his wake. "Yes, lieutenant, you and your flight are welcome aboard. I'm Captain Blackmane. What can I do for you?"
The lieutenant landed on the quarterdeck, his ponies on the main deck and fo'c'sle. "May I see your log and manifests, please," he said.
"Is there a problem?"
"No, ma'am. Just routine."
I knew routine when I saw it, and whatever was going on wasn't it. But I nodded and made for the companionway. "I'll get them for you."
He moved to block my way. "It would be better if you sent a crewpony, ma'am."
I couldn't help but notice that he and all his ponies wore short swords, and that they were carefully watching all of the hatches.
We held our course for Canterlot while the lieutenant went through our papers and the guards went through the ship, comparing everything in the cargo hold to the manifests, and even going so far as to thump the decks, bulkheads, and overheads in search of hidden compartments. The only thing I had hidden away was my magical instruments and the letters from Luna and Celestia. Lacking a high-level unicorn, they would never be able to find those.
"I have been very patient, lieutenant," I said, around the end of the third hour of the "routine" inspection. "Would you do me the courtesy of telling me what this is all about?"
He held up the ship's log and gave me a long, hard stare. "It says here you were attacked by pirates. Not a lot of detail to the entry, though."
"That's right," I said through clenched teeth. "They attacked us and we fought them off. They're dead and their ship is sunk. Not much more to tell."
"I see." He tucked the log back under his wing. "You've got an awful lot of weapons aboard for a merchant vessel." He let the observation stand, not asking a direct question. No doubt he was hoping to get me talking and perhaps letting something slip out.
I said nothing.
The lieutenant then held up a set of the little weighted silver chains. "Were you aware that possession of these weapons by civilians is illegal?"
"We took those from the pirates. Keep them if you like."
"So you disarmed the pirates before you killed them?"
"Now look here, you consarned…" Applejack began, stepping toward the lieutenant.
There was the hiss of a sword coming out of its scabbard and AJ turned to see one of the guards holding his blade pointed just behind her ribs.
The lieutenant gave up any pretense of politeness. "We have a report of a merchant airship being sunk by pirates two days ago. The description of the attacking vessel matches yours. Not many ships with dark blue envelopes in the sky."
"What?! But that's crazy! We were the ones what got attacked!" AJ growled at him.
He nodded to the other guards and they closed in on the quarterdeck. He pulled out a suppressor ring from under his wing, and one of his ponies produced a couple of sets of hobbles.
"Then, I'm sure we'll get this all straightened out in a day or so. In the meantime…"
There was a loud thump from the main deck and the guards whirled, all swords coming out of their scabbards at once. Then there was the clatter of all the armored ponies coming to attention at the same time.
The lieutenant dropped the suppressor ring in his haste to salute. "Your Majesty!"
Princess Luna coolly surveyed the scene for a moment. "You are from the Vanhoover garrison?"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
She nodded. "This is not the ship you are looking for. Canterlot is under two hours flight from here, so you and your ponies can spend the night in the barracks there and return to Vanhoover in the morning."
The guard frowned in confusion. "Yes, but…"
"You are dismissed," Luna said quietly.
He hesitated only a moment before snapping off a second salute and calling out, "Flight! Formation on me!" He dove over the rail and the other pegasi followed.
Luna gave me a level gaze from beneath lowered eyelids and smiled. "You should be at Canterlot by midnight, Captain Blackmane. I hope you enjoy your stay in the capital."
She reared up, spreading her huge wings so that they caught the wind, lifted her from the deck, and carried her over the rail. She disappeared into the night almost instantly.
"Well, i'n't that somethin'!" Halter Hitch said in a low voice. The rest of the crew on deck muttered their agreement.
= = =
We cleared customs and paid the various fees and tariffs, which took most of my attention for several hours. I paid the crew and gave them promissory notes for their share of the profits when we sold Nebula's cargo. They secured their personal effects and said their farewells.
"And, as for me, Captain?" asked Khaatarrekket.
"If you take the morning express for Ponyville with the girls, you can change trains there for Dodge Junction. That'll put you pretty close to your hive. I'd advise a different disguise, though. A zebra in the territories is just as likely to cause a commotion as a changeling would."
"You're not going to take me to Celestia for an 'interview,' then? She won't be happy about that."
I shrugged. "You've given me all the information you're willing to give, and that will have to do. I don't think she'd coerce you even if I didn't consider you a friend."
She carefully considered me for a long moment. "Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. I think we will meet again."
"I look forward to it, Ket."
We had an early breakfast in a restaurant near the station, and afterwards, I said my farewells to the girls and made it a point of telling each of them how much they meant to me, singling out Fluttershy for an extra-long hug and nuzzle. Rarity said she'd be back in two days to assist in selling off our cargo.
I stood on the platform for a long while after the train had departed. Spike finally nudged me and complained that he was cold.
"Okay, Spike." I said. "Sorry about that. I was just thinking… woolgathering, Mom used to call it. We're going now."
"Good! Uh… where are we going?"
Celestia was waiting for me.
Luna was waiting for me.
The weight of my crown and a thousand responsibilities were out there, lurking.
I took a deep breath. "We're going home, Spike."
= = =
My parents were surprised but delighted to see Spike and me. They loved the little gifts we had brought them from Zebrica. They made the usual fuss over Spike, and I got the usual interrogation about my life and travels from Mom. I glossed right over the terrible part, which didn't fool her for an instant, but we all silently agreed to accede to my editing of reality.
I had Spike send a couple of short notes to Luna and Celestia, and then I took us out for brunch at Mom's favorite place. Afterward, we walked through the gardens surrounding the Royal Museum of Art and puzzled over the new "installation" beside the koi pond.
"I think it's a bird's nest," my dad said, tilting his head nearly horizontal and squinting.
"It's an expressionist piece, dear," my mom replied, patiently. "It's not meant to be a particular object."
"I'm a scientist. I like things to have meaning."
"But it does have meaning! You remember Twilight's first burst of magic? When she threw the whole bowl of pickled beets at the wall? That spatter was a representation of an emotion, something one can't directly depict. Expressionistic, you see?"
"Anger," I said, an image of red splashes against a smooth surface suddenly leaping into my mind.
Dad looked back at the jumble of poles and boards. "Really? I don't see it."
I forced a laugh. "Not this, the beets. I still don't like pickled beets!"
"Well, thankfully, the curators have placed a little informational plaque here," Mom said, levitating her reading glasses out of her bag. "Let's see… oh. Oh dear!"
"What is it?"
Mom straightened up, putting her glasses away. "The art piece is due to be installed next week. This," she said, blushing slightly as she waved a hoof at the jumble, "is scaffolding."
We left the museum and ambled through the old neighborhood, poking our noses into shops and chatting. We bought lemon tarts from a street cart and ate them while Spike rampaged through his favorite comic shop.
In the afternoon, we had tea at the Phaeton Hotel and Mom filled me in on the news from the Empire. Little Flurry Heart was growing like a weed and having truly epic bursts of magic that were driving Shining and Cadance to distraction. (Nothing like they had been, thank the fates!)
The day was unremarkable. It was ordinary. It was exactly what I needed.
"I'll see you again, soon," I said to my parents as I kissed them goodbye. "Thanks for looking after Spike for a little while."
The little dragon in question stood with a foreleg around one of mine, reluctant to be parted from me. "You sure you don't need me, Twilight?"
I gave him a hug. "I'll always need you, Spike. But it's all going to be pretty dull stuff for a while, and those comics aren't going to read themselves!"
"Okay, I guess," he slowly let go of my leg. "But come get me if there are any emergencies, alright?"
I nodded and gave his head spines a ruffle. "I will, I promise."
= = =
"I'm glad to discover that the reports claiming you had turned pirate were slightly exaggerated," Celestia said, as we shared a pitcher of iced tea on her private terrace.
"How could they have gotten it so mixed up?"
"Sky Dancer's captain saw the engagement through a spyglass from almost a league away. And when a ship is so quickly and thoroughly destroyed, some assumptions are reasonable."
"About that… When I get angry I… I stop thinking. I act. I'd like to blame it on the Nightmare's magic I carry, but the truth is that it's always been a part of my character. Sometimes my actions are appropriate, and sometimes they're not."
"Yes," Celestia said, studying her glass of tea carefully. "Inappropriate and unfortunate, but I understand how, in the heat of the moment…"
"'Inappropriate?' But I… I killed those—"
"You are a princess of the realm," came a low, sultry voice from behind me. I turned to see Luna standing in the shadow of the archway that led into the castle. "You have the right of High, Middle, and Low Justice. Your word is law, and if you condemned those ponies in your heart, what you did was right and proper."
"Hello, Luna," said Celestia. "Won't you join us?"
"Thank you, sister." Luna poured herself a glass of tea and added a sprig of mint, but didn't emerge from the archway. "I will stay here, if you don't mind. I find the summer sun a bit oppressive." The glass floated over to her. "No offense."
"None taken," Celestia said, smiling. "I know you can be somewhat delicate at times. Incidentally, the laws of Equestria have changed a bit in the last thousand years."
"Perhaps, but the essential rights and responsibilities of royalty have not changed," Luna said as she sipped her tea. "I read that in a book, written by a very smart pony." Her smile was bright in the shadow.
"Legal or not, I don't want to be the sort of pony who would do such a thing!" I protested.
"Present regret often moderates future behavior, I have found," Celestia said. "If you find yourself in a similar situation in the…"
"Fie!" Luna snorted. "They were murderous villains. Such as those deserve no mercy!"
Celestia didn't continue after the interruption. Perhaps she didn't entirely disagree.
I couldn't think of anything appropriate to say, so we all drank our tea in silence for a while.
"Maybe I shouldn't mention this," Celestia began.
Luna chuckled.
Celestia threw her a look.
I waited patiently.
"Discord came to see me this morning."
"Discord? What did he…" Then my brain caught up with my mouth. "Oh. Fluttershy."
"Yes," Celestia confirmed. "He had set up a welcome home party for her. Bunnies big enough to ride on, flying weasels, cupcake trees... things like that. But Fluttershy wasn't in the mood for a celebration, of course."
"Was Discord…"
"He was most vexed with you, Twilight," Luna interrupted. "But I will wager not for the reasons you might imagine."
"I took his best friend into danger. She was almost hurt, and I—"
"Hah! I am victorious! Thou owest me a forfeit, dear Twilight. Discord was wrathful that thou didst not afford him his own revenge upon the knave who touched fair Fluttershy! Hadst thou not slain the villain, e'en now he would be wishing himself in Tartarus to escape the clutches of Epona's jester!"
Celestia's glass hit the table with a sharp clack. "Luna!"
"Thou thinkest it not a subject for levity, sister?" Luna paused, cleared her throat, and took a sip of tea. "Well, perhaps not. My apologies."
"We have other matters to discuss," Celestia said. "The changelings, for instance."
"Yes," I nodded, glad to change the subject. "I apologize for not bringing you Khaatarrekket, but I don't think we would have learned much more from her. And she did save us all from the pirates."
Celestia nodded. "No, I think you made the right decision about her. I have made sure my ponies in Zebrica know about the changeling presence. That situation will need to be closely monitored."
"Wait," I said. "You have spies over there, too?"
"Not spies, Twilight! Just ponies. Diplomats, merchants, and travelers who correspond with me on interesting or unusual things they might encounter."
Luna snickered.
Celestia sighed.
"Okaaay," I said. "There's also this 'anti-ponification' charm that Ket had. I probed it a few times and I'm almost positive it's the work of my old Amulets and Charms professor or one of her students. Since it is exactly what Chrysalis asked me for two years ago, that probably means it was she who… commissioned it."
Celestia nodded. "I will look into that."
"And the hive in the Smokey Mountains?" I asked. "We've got to verify that, and take action as quickly as possible."
"Yes… about that," Celestia said. "There is a changeling hive there."
"Ah!" Luna smiled again, and it wasn't a very nice smile. "Should we don our armor? It has been too long…"
"No, Luna! That attitude is exactly why I haven't told you about this until now. This is not a situation that can be resolved by galloping in, horns blazing."
"Is it not? You disappoint me, sister. How otherwise can we root out the vermin?"
"We can't. Not yet, at least." Celestia looked a bit sheepish. "There are complications."
"What manner of complications? The most intricate knot will yield to a keen blade, thou knowest."
Celestia gave an exasperated sigh. "We can't take action against the hive, because it was created legally!"
There was a long, shocked silence, and then Luna and I simultaneously said, "What?"
Celestia began to look downright embarrassed. "The Smokey Mountains have been given a royal charter as a nature preserve. Endangered species within the preserve are protected by a very stringent set of laws, and any species that undergoes a drastic population reduction can usually qualify for endangered status."
The horror of it began to dawn on me. "You mean…?"
Celestia nodded. "Chrysalis filled out all the correct forms and paid all the necessary fees. A Parliamentary committee approved the designation by a narrow vote a month ago. And yes, I will be carefully looking into those MPs who voted 'yea' on that bill. But, at the moment and because nopony thought to limit the original legislation to unintelligent creatures, changelings are officially an endangered species. Her hive is perfectly legal, and protected by the full force of Equestrian law."
= = =
Luna hung the rug I gave her on the wall of her bedchamber, as if it were a tapestry. She placed two short pillars bearing nightpearl lights to either side. "There! 'Tis a proper setting for so noble a gift!"
"I'm so glad you like it!"
Her response was non-verbal. And wonderful. And long.
We spent the next two days together, alone or in disguise when we went out. I told her everything about the trip, even the unpleasant details. She listened carefully, but didn't offer much comment, at least not immediately.
It was on the second day, when we had gone flying after lunch, that she suddenly said to me, "You must rid yourself of the Nightmare's magic as soon as may be."
"Really? I've planned to for quite a while. I know the way to do it properly now, but I haven't gotten around to it. Why the rush?"
She stilled her wingbeats and settled into a long glide. "Because the Nightmare's… because my magic has influenced you, and I would not have it so."
I side-slipped, moving closer to her and matched her glide. "There's a certain… attitude to it, but I'm fairly confident that there is no agency within the magic, I'm sure of it, Luna. I'd love to have an excuse for my behavior, but I can't justify it."
"There need be no intent to influence you, my love. To a pony who wields a sword, all problems become foes to be defeated. That you cut your way out of danger is a deed to be laid at my hooves."
"The danger was over, Luna. I killed those ponies only because I was angry."
"Mayhaps. And yet, that speaks to my character, not thine own."
"You can't take responsibility for that, Luna!"
"Can I not?" Luna shook her head. "I am closer to the age of chaos and war than any pony alive, Twilight. My thinking, my magic, was shaped in an age of violence and struggle. I truly see no wrong in your actions, which my sister asserts is a fault in these times. You carry within you not only that power and mindfulness, but its less constrained half. It is a danger to you, and what ill befalls you because of it is a wound unto my heart."
I still wanted to argue the point, but I could see that Luna felt very strongly about it, so I only nodded and said, "I have all the materials I need to make the amulet. I can do it, and make the transfer tonight, if you like."
Luna smiled. "It would ease my mind greatly."
= = =
I hadn't thought I would miss it, but the next day as Rarity and I bargained with the spice merchants and various other traders for our cargo, I kept probing at the space where the Nightmare's magic had been. It's not a very good analogy because there wasn't a particular allotted place the magic had occupied, but it was an awful lot like constantly sticking my tongue into the empty space where a lost tooth had been.
"Twilight?"
"Mn?"
"Darling, aren't you happy about the deal? I got us a very good price for the cloves."
"Oh, no, not at all! I'm kind of astounded at the profit we're going to make, and that's all down to your skill, Rarity!"
"Is it about the pirates, then? I know you blame yourself, but…"
I almost didn't tell her. But she was one of my closest friends and it wasn't a secret I could keep for long. "I've done a lot of thinking about it, and I can't help but conclude that, logically, I was in the wrong. But that's not what I feel." I paused. "Oh, Rarity, I really hope you don't despise me for saying this, but in my heart, I want to hunt down all the pirates preying on innocent ponies and kill them!"
I waited, dreading her reaction.
Rarity lifted her head and calmly regarded me for a moment before speaking. "Did I mention that I've rearranged my schedule?"
I couldn't believe it. I had bared my most shameful secret to her and she was going to ignore me?
But then she went on. "I'll be in Canterlot an extra day every week, because I've engaged Maestro Flèche to teach me telekinetic fencing. Pirates, darling? Just point me at them!"
= = =
=
rarity gon' stab some mofos
6807119
Yes. Yes, she is.
Huh, i didn't expect her to get rid of Nightmares magic just like that, i wonder if there will be any lingering effects.
6807119
6807123
Well, hey, rapiers are kind of like really big sewing needles, right? :)
6807192
Oh yeah! Rarity's gonna have you in stitches!
Oh man the bit about Chrysalis new hive for endangered changelings almost had me in tears. Amazing.
6807464
Yeah... we all knew she was evil, but stooping to bureaucracy? Shocking!
Oh Twilight. It's not like your parents won't understand you defending your life and the lives of your friends and crew
I would still have left out the fact that you were all mostly safe and that it was mostly done in vengeance.... but if you have a healthy relationship with your folks "I have taken life" is definitely on the "talk about" list.
It should honestly be pretty easy to start that dialogue, considering the end of the last fic.
6807168 From the future chapters, it seems like one side effect is that the nightmarish part of it is more intense when she does break down and use it, which she seems to do on a regular basis?
6807478
Legal trolling to maximum from Chrysalis it seems.
Good chapter!
The timeskips are a little confusing, but I think that's only because the chapters are being posted one at a time, and they aren't being read all at once. I am happy that you are branching out and stretching your author muscles by trying this more advanced literary technique! Once it's all posted, I'll probably re-read them all at once like a novel, as intended.
6810425
That's a very good observation. When it's finished, it will be easier to read, and I've found that most of the views on my stories come after they're finished. But I don't see much I can do to help out the readers now... except a, "Last time on The Twilight Enigma, timeline one."
Late readers could even read the past timeline and then go back and read the "future" ones to get everything in chronological order. I wouldn't recommend that, because I've set the whole thing up to be sort of a chess game between Past Twilight and Future Twilight, and the "moves" don't make as much sense when they don't alternate.
You're right; this is an experiment for me, and I'm very grateful for the readers who are kind enough to put up with my messing around!
6811532
I'm not... I mean I've written a few things, but my primary medium isn't the written word. My primary medium is textiles, and the biggest project I ever undertook, with the most fabulous results, was 80% just me messing around. I knew the dimensions I wanted it to be, and had ends per inch mapped out and all that, and I knew I wanted it to be boundweave. I even had a little pixel art pine tree I was going to recreate, but the rest of it? "Hey, let's see what happens if I skip over four threads at once." "Huh that looks cool now let's alternate 3-1-3-1." "Ok now make it blue."
I ended up weaving a krokbragd tapestry.
So know that I speak from experience when I say, YOU ARE A GOOD ENOUGH AUTHOR THAT YOU CAN MESS AROUND WITH THE RULES ALL YOU LIKE AND THE RESULT WILL BE AMAZING. You're at the point where you understand enough about what you're doing that you can break convention. I absolutely trust you to post a fabulous story that will satisfactorily answer all the questions burning in the back of my brain between updates, because you've done it before and this is shaping up to be even better. I BELIEVE IN YOU, IISAW!
6812142
Thank you, and I hope your trust is not misplaced!
BTW, your weaving project sounds awesome! Do you have pics? I've done some simple bands on an inkle loom, and I bought a little table-top loom at a yard sale, but haven't had the time to even learn how to warp the thing yet.[1] But I know enough to be thoroughly impressed by the work of most of the craft weavers I know. The thought of "improvisational" weaving just tickles the heck out of me for some reason!
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[1] I have seven times as many hobbies as I have time for.
"a chess game between Past Twilight and Future Twilight"
Ohmygosh. OHMYGOSH. REALLY!?!?
Ah, long, non-verbal responses are the best!
The TwiLuna is strong in this chapter.
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6807464
That was one doozy of a loophole that she exploited. Of course Twilight cold easily turn that around if Chrisi got too impertinent:
- Hunt down, tranquillise, and ear-tag+radio collar all changlings in the Smokey Mountain Game Preserve to "monitor the migration patterns of an endangered species"
- Population culling to "ensure the resident population does not exhaust the habitat's resources"
- 24x7 surveillance to "protect a threatened species from poachers"
Careful what you whish for Chrysalis...
Love, love, love the way you write Celestia and Luna. Two sisters, both wielding the authority of an empire, both good, one a lot nicer than the other.
If Equestria's enemies are wise, they will play nice with Celestia. If they are not, Luna will play with them.
6813725
Thank you. Yeah, I think that dynamic works very well if the goal is to keep Equestria healthy and happy.
I agree with Twilight in some ways. It wasn't Luna's perspective that changed Twilight's attitude. Rather, it was having actually been at the sharp end. It's hard to maintain the refined liberal sensibilities of a Canterlot noble or elite intellectual when you have been to the places and fought the wars that Twilight has fought.
Equestria, perhaps, needed a Princess willing to go out to the edge of what is legal and precedent allows to confront the things that Celestia, in her indulgent and idealistic pacifism, allowed to take root. This won't be pleasant, nor will it leave any of the Bearers unscathed by what must automatically come as part of that but it I think it will only increase Twilight's support base amongst those ponies who do not have a high, heavily defended castle on a mountainside to call home.
I agree with what Luna said in one area: That pirate was lucky to die. The things that Discord would have done to him would have horrified the next dozen generations.
6816166
This is a very good observation. It's too bad Twilight herself isn't entirely convinced.
That's OK, did wonder what happened to it...
Does look like her... Apart from the bat wings of course!
6830244
Yep! Sorry for accidentally deleting your comment!
Celestia is turning into Yoda! Oh God!
No! Stop! Don't even start! Stop making me like Rarity!
6816166 Almost the first thing Twilight did in this cycle was promise to do such things to Chrysalis as to cause generations yet unborn to spit in fear and disgust. This Twilight has been riding the Nightmare for a long time.
Okay, back to the past, likely dealing with the fallout of the pirate atack, maybe getting back to canterlot. Also one issue from last past chapter, when were things taking place? It jumped around a bit. We go from Twilight in her cabin with Spike, to them in port, to the Pirate attack, was the first bit before the pirates? Just a bit confusing,
And given getting back means dealing with Chryssi... I'm not looking forward to this. Mostly because of how... negative... my overall view on this stories treatment of changelings are, just based on the hard facts it itself established about them not fitting how they are treated and, not sure if' I'll be objective about things there or get to over sensitive. Don't like arguing with you this much over things.. as fun as it could be, but just feels like there is a HUGE amount of unfortunate implications in the hypocritical way the story treats changelings, versus the facts it gives about them that, the story doesn't seem to realize are there.
Well yes, but what and what?
Okay so back in Equestria finally.
If she is alone... who is how is she speaking to them?
Okay, makes sense, just odd set up.
Likely becuase you have been giving this 'hint' the entire rest of the trip, and she realizes that bottling it all up is NOT healthy and that you NEED to talk this out and get the pain out... because well, the other half of this story is what happens when you let it fester inside for to long.....
And the only other pony more suited for this task would be Fluttershy... but in this case, yeah AJ makes a better choice since it's not about letting somepony get tears out, like with RD, but likely going to be some anger as well, and AJ would be better able to take it.
Wait... what? Okay so, this is not what I was expecting.... unless it's a round about way to get to it....
.... Ohhhhhh, nightmares I take it........
Damnit Twilight.... that's only HALF the point! And yeah, this is.. very very bad..... I get this is how she tries to stay functional, but it's not dealing with the pain, it's just blocking it away for now...
Okay, more about Fluttershy, or about trying to help Twilight?
Okay, this is......okay no clue what is coming but want to hear it.
Ohhh, trying to.. to help her friends.. deal with a loss like this.... and being the one who.. who's been through it, and worse........ oh that is just... so damn sad yet, so brilliant.
.......
All part of AJ's plan? Try to, to get through Twilight? the other have got to know this is tearing her up despite her facade. I can see them not noticing the bigger issues, since even Twilight is mostly hiding those from her self, but... this... yeah they have to know what is going on with her.
Applejack! No, bad pony! She needs this!.... kind of disappointed it wasn't to try and help Twi as well.... but well that dream bit it just... just....
But at least it did work to get her past that barrier..... granted likely just going to add to the other baggage she's dealing with that will lead to well, the other half of the story, but, at least she's dealing with it now.
Oh, so routine check.......... checking for changelings aren't they? Also thought at first it was a message FOR Twilight but, wow she's really sticking to this cover, and still don't see how the buck she thought "Blackmane" was a good idea before becoming a pirate. But yeah, changeling inspection makes sense after what she told Celestia and Luna.
So yes, Changeling search.
Given her state of mind.. yeah would not expect much detail.
Wow this has got to be annoying her, when just a quick drop of a spell and they'd be bowing to her.
Okay, this is a bit more serious then just a changeling inspection......
Oh that is NOT going to go well.....well REALLY don't see Twilight letting THAT happen after the whole thing with the pirates....
And one of the Sisters to the rescue. So, who reported them?
Ohhhhh yeah....... she is NOT going to be happy with these guys....
Leave now, or you will be spending the next ten years scrubbing out latrines.
Translation, get your flank into my bed ASAP! Still, they are REALLY going all out on keeping this secret...... They do know Twi is going to be doing some questionable stuff, and want to make sure she doesn't start feeling guilty for any political fallout from it.... aren't they?
Wait, didn't Celestia want to talk to her? Also, so, she just makes port, all the crew leave to find a new ship, and she just kind of leaves i there till time to go back out?
Even Ket knows that.
Well, good bit there. Yes don't see Celestia doing it, and thank you for backing that up. Also, her making friends with a changeling like this, just further makes the way they are treated all the weirder and more out of sorts. Are they innate predators who simply cannot be part of proper pony society because of their very nature being agsint it, or are they just like regular ponies? the story treats them both ways.
Also no "Give my regards to your Queen?" Did she really just burn Csharee off her 'friend' list?
Well we know that is the truth... Csharee send her back to help keep an eye on Twilight?
Ohhhhhh yeah... nice wording there. And yeah I am so seeing how just saying buck it and ignoring all that was suddenly, not just the story ignoring it, not some contrivance of it just not mattering, but yes was her intentionally rejecting those because she's been feeling stifled and constrained by them, trapped in a cage so, yeah her whole sky pirate act does make a LOT more sense in that light. And betting Tia saw this and wanted to give her some space.
Well, that is both good and bad.... I mean don't want to force her to deal with it, but at the same time, it would be god for her to make sure she's gotten it out and dealt with it....
Ugh... yeah I do not care at all for that type of thing.. at all..
I'm with her.. or is it him? Granted taking this to far is yet another issue with what Twi is doing.
Ehhhhhh I will admit that's a good argument for it, and not saying the whole idea is useless, and do get that idea behind it, but, yeah my brain just does not work in a way that would let it see things that way well.
And yes I do see how this plays into Twilight as well... she... does have trouble dealing with and understanding her emotions, which, yeah is not going to help what she's going to do... She isn't sure how to deal with all this stuff inside of her well enough and so lashes out....
Okay story that.. that was freaking AMAZING and yes, thank you for that REALLY good laugh, need it after the last few chapters just...... I love that you remember to, as the phrase goes. "For God's sake, tell a fucking joke!" And just, keeping things from getting TO dour and depressing. Laughter is one of the Elements of harmony for a reason.
D'awwwww.. also, holy shit this was written that short a time ago.. damn you are fast.
Yes, yes it was.
So why'd she leave him behind on that 1014 trip?
Ah, and well, yeah, not many ships like that deal with a super pissed off, super powered Alicorn. And not likely there were many, if any survivors.
Yes, but not just when you get angry, but also when you just get pushed to far in other ways.... and yes you know about it, but ti's all the more reason to be controlled and to learn to NOT get angry like that. But it is good she's seeing it is an issue.
And how many did they kill?
Well..... that might make it legally fine, and is a good point, and what I'd expect from Luna.. however....... that is not the type of thing Twilight needs to hear right now. Also, weren't they in international waters at the time? I mean Luna IS making a good point, and trying to help Twi in her own way but, that is NOT what Twi needs to hear or how to do it right now.
Are they bickering with each other? or is this just, playful sisterly ribbing on each other?
Ohhh nice one.
And instead of doing something to change herself and make her better able to control that aspect of her... she instead tries to change the world so that she never HAS to be like that and blame the others who put her in those predicaments.
In most cases yes, take his as a lesson for the future.
Luna, you are NOT HELPING!
True, or wishful thinking on Twi's part?
Well so far, he's actually been one of the best character in the story that, seems to really know exactly what to do in both big and small scale to help out.. in his own way.
Oh.....right... yeah that might get him a bit protective.
Well the Bunnies alone are great, the rest still sounds fun, but not quite like Fluttershy's cup of tea, still bet she wasn't all the eager for it.
Not for not stopping it, not for putting her there, not for anything that led up to the event... but for not being there to help comfort her afterwards.
Oh.... riiiight, that... okay yeah.... he would REALLY be wanting that. The good news is, he could still go get the one most responsible.
Yeah, I will fight most depictions of Discord that paint him as sadistic, or just, cruel for the sake of it, he's not like that... UNLESS you make it personal, you piss him off and....... yeah you will be begging for anything else. But also "Epona's Jester" wait is this, another Goddess? Where does "Epona" come in? And yes I just love how that name has become default for some hi goddess among Equestria.
Ehhhh yes and no, in general it could work, but in this case, not good timing.
Okay....*internal monologue: don't over react, don't read to much into it.. stay calm......
Seriously Twilight? Holy buck you are naive. Of course she has.... well maybe not 'spies' but some ponies to keep an eye on things... hell isn't there, you know embassies and what not?
Like this.
Is this a "Or as we would have called them in the old days "spies" type deal. Of knowing that, it's the same thing but Celestia is just trying to make it look prettier and not sound so wrong? Even though, you know, that sort of thing is not really THAT bad, and yeah, it's good to have a few unofficial ways of keeping tabs on foreign powers. it's all in just what they do.
Story you were doing well too. But "Anti-freindship" is just, utterly WRONG, it does not block Ket or any ling from becoming friends, it just fixes the error in the worlds magical laws that means they have to choose between who and what they are, and making friends. Very bad choice of terms.
But I'm guessing from the way she trialed doff, Chyssi isn't doing anything illegal and they have no real reason to invade without causing a huge incident.
Yup saw that coming. And Luna, just rushing in, cut first question never is not always going to work.
OHHHHHHH that.. that is just.... ohhh that is clever of the ragged old bitch. Because yes, her hive certainly falls under that. Of course, doesn't that mean that if she breeds above a certain number she loses that protection?
Well that COULD be taken that wrong way and a sign of her up to no good, interfering with thing she disagrees with, but given ti's you know Chrysalis, it really is prudent to make sure that those MP's haven't been placed under her thrall or replaced... or just bribed.
Well, are they REALLY? Given, you know Csharee's brood too? Make a case for the two to still be the same species and so not endangered? Then again still had a drastic reduction in population due to the whole, you know...
Holy shit she DID turn it into a tapestry!
Umm I'm counting this as a CALLED IT!
Still can't help but wonder if they've gotten past Twi's not being attracted to Mares thing and she's gotten used to Luna's real form....
Luna noting some little tells in behavior form it?
That would be a yes.
No not it alone, it's not out right controlling you, but it IS influencing you in small subtle ways. Not enough to make it not your own decision, but in ways that make certain decisions seem more palatable.
Also this, just by it's very nature of being power.
I'm with Twi here.
Yeah I get what Luna is saying and why but, don't think she's QUITE right, she does have A point, but I do think she might be going a little to far, just a little but still it's a warning Twi should be listening to. But yes do think Luna might be over doing it on how much this is making Twi take those actions, trying to absolve her of to much guilt and taking more on herself then needed.
Oh nice comparison, and yeah that does take awhile to get used to.
And.... a great way of putting it. Though I'd say logically you did right to end them, just the issue was, doing so out of anger like that and... and... holy fuck she IS merging with Littlepip! Ending a threat like that, there is noting wrong with it, how many innocent ponies have they killed? Or worse? Ending them WAS the right thing to do, but lashing out out of anger and rage, not so much. Basically once again, same argument as Steelhooves agsint Littlepip following Arbu. It wasn't what she did that was wrong, it was WHY, out of rage and pain rather then cold logic.
And Twi is about to go full Stable Dweller on their flanks. BRING FORTH THE HELLMARE! And yeah.. I see the issue I see how, this is adding to Twi's problems and yet, well, Like I keep saying my all time best pony IS Littlepip, and for, much the exact same reason. She hates violence, hates killing, is disgusted at herself at times for being so good at it, for doing what she does, she wants nothing more then to live in a world that is peaceful, where ponies like Velvet are right in believing in non-violence and peace. But, she knows the hell hole her world is. When she sees some pony, some thing, that is a direct threat to innocents, be it raiders, hellhounds, Enclave, slavers. Anyone who preys on the innocent, any threat to others. She will END THEM! Quickly, decisively, without remorse, without pity, and without regret for the deed itself. She would rather take the pain of having to kill on herself, then allow even a single other pony be harmed by those she has the power to stop. As Kkat so aptly put it in a recent blog post. "A Red Rage of Compassion" And this is exactly what I see in Twilight right now. Though in her case, it's tinged with hints of vengeance that, really is not such a good thing.
Just, yes I am loving both the story going here, and for keeping it grey, complicated, Twilight is not wholly right here, but she's not wholly wrong either. And I'd be all for this, if not for knowing that, this is just one more thing that will add to Twi's large issues. But still think, doing this IS ultimately the right thing. Scum like that does not deserve mercy.
Hell yeah RARITY!
Ummm, I think that's hinting at something larger. That is agreeing with you.
OH BUCK YES! Yeah just, awesome and, they need this. Just, I know this is going to lead to issues later, however... well I can't really fault them much and, I agree overall this IS the right thing, it's just, as I said, how I see this playing into the larger story that gives me any hesitation at all, knowing this is not going to be good for Twilight in the long run in some ways.
Many laughs had by this chapter.
You know, it's really hard to be both sympathetic to this Twilight and terribly disgusted by the present Twilight. I'm finding that I do like the duality of the story though. It's also nice to see the "synopses" becoming more cryptic.
Ah, so this is the start of the whole "piracy" thing. I look forward to seeing how it developed from this point on.
And this, is the strength of rarity at play.
I had a dream like that about my grandfather. I'm no stranger to death. Those are the worst kinds of dreams. When I woke up, I cried for three hours, and no words were heard from me the entire day.
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It's all in how you describe things--a seafood place is a halfway house for battered fish, is it not?
Abstract art jokes? Too easy.
I must be going crazy. It seems as if, right now, I'm in a more merciful mindset than the princess of friendship. But that couldn't be true . . .
Could it?
Also, Telekinetic Fencing sounds like the most badass thing ever.
I do not get why Twilight is upset about killing pirates.
I reread this chronologically and I believe that Miss Applejack Underestimates Miss Fluttershy:
Veterinarians see 5 times more death than HospiceWorkers. Maybe, you should read 500 Little Murders, and its unofficial sequel Eternity:
reminds me of a story where someone who worked at an art exhibit mistook a piece of "art" for "an old drop cloth"...
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she a pony
she have magic
she could
magic imprison them
death sentence is 2 big of a sentence 4 a nice pony 2 consider
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These pirates murdered a member of her crew in cold blood. She is justified in using lethal force for defending her crew. Let me quote Malcolm Reynolds:
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As much as I love her, I've got to say that Twilight is in the wrong here. She didn't logically evaluate the situation and come to a decision, she acted from pure shock and emotion. She didn't consider, she reacted. Now, she might have done the same thing after carefully thinking about it, and she would have been within the law to do so, but she'll never know.
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At any rate, I shall not lose sleep over those dead pirates.
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There was any always time to think. If someone pulls a gun and kills the friend next to you, then holds the gun to another friend and threatens you, you don't have time to consider.
What if you hesitate and another friend died. That's why police only ask once to drop your weapon. They must assume if you don't drop it, the someone else may be hurt. They don't have time to aim for the leg or pause between shots to see if the criminal surrenders, they need to put them down as quickly as possible.
Twilight can feel bad about this, but what she did is understandable. It's not her job to endanger her crew by taking a bunch of murders prisoner. In addition to that it was only moments after cold blooded murder.
The longer you wait, the less justified it is.
Lovely chapter. I'm glad that Twilight's emotions and stress about killing the pirates is being addressed, and I hope she's able to beat all of the influence of the Nightmare. That bit about the scaffolding and mistaking it for an art piece was pretty dang funny too lol
"Of cause i did, Dead Pirates ain't got no use for Weapons now, do they?" just a little something, 😜
God damn it, you can't do this to me.