A crystal giving Spike the ability to control and even rewrite the minds of others embeds itself into his forehead. Suffice to say, there's nothing left to do now but conquer the world.
Option 1... The Gems are currently suspecting him, is better to let them calm down first... Also, my suggestion is the sheep, Grogar appeared in pony myths and could be good to have it as a ally
Option 1: Bide your time Spike, Minos get that other Gem. I know you suspect foul play with the gems but you need as much power as you can get to in case Equestria comes knocking on your door early.
Option 1 - Stagial. They don't have ties to Equestria unlike the Minos. The sheep and goats could potentially be converted by claiming to be the chosen of Grogar and that the gems are his mark. For safety reasons, we should probably red gem someone from the neighboring kingdoms into a pet so Ember and Smolder have company while we're away. Likely any "high priest" claiming we're a liar.
Side note: You forgot to mark Smolder as having cracked. Unless that was deliberate?
Option 1: Stagial - Deer Spike has limited time until Equestria gets involved and I think we should hit Minos before that happens. The fall of Minos will probably get Equestria involved immediately but I don't think it can be left until last. Hopefully the sheep Cults can be overpowered easily at that point, though they are unlikely to side with the ponies.
I like the idea of Free the Peryton, but not going full erase the Gems (at least not yet). She's another infomation resource and possible ally if Spike found a way to control her.
I'd love to see Spike could check in with the Kitsune to see how they are getting along. Maybe give some pointers on the breeding .
An idea, since Spike already has agents in Equestria perhaps he should have a plan for when they begin to move against him. Kidnap Rarity, that breaks up the elements of harmony and gives Spike some leverage over the Princesses.
11719920 Which is what I meant when I said worried. Because they serve no real purpose. Not unless we have to deal with some major players, like F.o.E levels of dogmatism from the Stagial. Then we red gem the males and white gem the females. Why? Because the male deer in FoE are a threat to Spike and the current generation of males needs to be removed in order to fix that issue.
That he has no clue who Grogar is, is a BIIIIIIIG warning sign. He's the ultimate evil behind Tirek, except he knows how to RULE instead of just dominate! Also considering Grogar is pre-history of Equestria...
I'm still hoping one of the Gems turns out to be Void. (Look up 'Enter the Void' and Mu, entering a state of pure nothingness, no distractions, no limitations, you are nothing, so you are everything, you 'know' nothing: you are not blind to any possibility, you become so empty that it loops around and you become utterly whole.)
So much order magic was used in their creation, that it's said that draconequis chaos magic cannot affect the wearer or his slaves in the slightest."
For Discord, that just means teleporting a mountain above Spike's head, or opening a portal besides him leading to the surface of the sun. Travel between universes, get an atomic bomb, go back in time, and bury it right underneath where Spike will eventually stand, and set it off when it's in the general blast radius. Having no ability to affect his target or his slaves DIRECTLY doesn't shut Discord down, it's a CHALLENGE!
Now I'm wonder if the big twist will be STARLIGHT is one of the gems given pony form. Hey, it's not the first time a macguffin was in the shape of a person. (The key of Time and Doctor Who. The Pure hearts and Super Mario.)
I WANT to go with Option 2, but it's too risky right now. Right now Dominate and Punish KNOW Spike is up to something. But also, they've tip their hand that their partnership with Spike is one they're happy to terminate and turn on Spike if he goes in a direction they can't stand. Makes you wonder whose really in charge doesn't it? Spike needs the gems off guard FIRST, then make his move. Also, here's a question, if the Perytons all used their timeline skip magic to abandon this universe in favor of one where they still rule, why was THIS Peryton left behind? Did she believe she ALL BY HERSELF could restore order to the world with her people vision? Or was she left behind as punishment, and she put herself in suspended animation? With what the gems and kitsune have all said, I imagine she knows all the gems secrets. But if the Peryton were that rampaging specistist ... then it's a question how long HER alliance with Spike will last!
Spike needs more information before he stages his OWN rebellion.
He can never risk making that move again.
There's also the fact they kept the existence of the 5th gem from him.
I wonder if Punishment was the Draconequus, he's so nuts because he's being made to go completely against his true nature, he's being constantly tortured!!!!
Option 3. Spike finds a way to speak with the Peryton telepathically first? So she CAN'T do anything but speak to him? So all he can get from her is information? He can easily justify this since even the gems don't know much above themselves, but she might, and thus it's USEFUL to both Spke AND the gems to interrogate her!
So if Spike uses a red gem... ever... it better be someone he NEVER EVER plans on freeing... like someone whose committed a bajillion genocides or something ... though those aren't exactly easy to come by.
The thing is, Grogar LOVES order... Domination meanwhile just wants endless hedonism.
11720864 Grogar is the "god" of the villains. Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis retrieved his bell because they were being tricked by Discord who was also terrified by his very name.
Until the story proves me wrong, I'm going with the theory Starlight is the fifth gem in pony form, and the others wants to pretend she doesn't exist because she's not a hedonist like the others.
11726325 Nah. One of Spike's changeling spies saw the gem. A PINK gem. But since they weren't told the other colors, they also weren't told to keep an eye out for them. The element of Magic is the pony gem.
Spike has two "shift to the universe where his impossible victory happened" scrolls... There are two enemies he needs to save them for. -Discord, immune to Discord's magic means nothing if Discord could just teleport a mountain above Spike's head, or place a forcefield around Spike... it won't stop Spike at all, but it will stop the rest of the planet from being destroy when Discord opens a portal to the surface of the sun. Or turn the AIR around Spike to stone. -Starlight Glimmer... she was the master of brainwashing when Spike was still in diapers, and that was before she stopped repressing her own cutie mark. She doesn't even NEED to fight Spike directly to take him out.
11735727 Lol, fair enough! Just making sure you didn't forget about it! There's this StarCraft one I'm reading that hasn't been updated in 3 years... Trying to poke the author to figure out what's up, but...
Wow. It’s been a VERY long time since one story held me that much. I have to say, you have absolute amazing story here. Potential is used to the maximum. I honestly don’t know how to describe it. I discovered this story literally today (4 hours ago?) and it held me all till this chapter. Thanks for bringing this masterpiece and I’m awaiting the continuation :>
Option 1... The Gems are currently suspecting him, is better to let them calm down first... Also, my suggestion is the sheep, Grogar appeared in pony myths and could be good to have it as a ally
Option 3- make a deal to the minotaurs as they are a slave nation for breeding slaves.
Option 1: Bide your time Spike, Minos get that other Gem. I know you suspect foul play with the gems but you need as much power as you can get to in case Equestria comes knocking on your door early.
I choose option 1 placate the gems first, go after the sheep it might help Spike in the future against the ponies and the gems.
Resurrecting the Peryton should be an absolute last choice, like you said there will be consequences if we go down that route.
11719626
I agree.
Option 1
Minos - Minotaurs
Option 1 - Stagial. They don't have ties to Equestria unlike the Minos. The sheep and goats could potentially be converted by claiming to be the chosen of Grogar and that the gems are his mark. For safety reasons, we should probably red gem someone from the neighboring kingdoms into a pet so Ember and Smolder have company while we're away. Likely any "high priest" claiming we're a liar.
Side note: You forgot to mark Smolder as having cracked. Unless that was deliberate?
11719663
Argeed
11719784
I'm not worried about them. I just think there's no point to them other than torture. Rather than existing in a perfect mindless bliss.
Option 1:
Stagial - Deer
Spike has limited time until Equestria gets involved and I think we should hit Minos before that happens. The fall of Minos will probably get Equestria involved immediately but I don't think it can be left until last. Hopefully the sheep Cults can be overpowered easily at that point, though they are unlikely to side with the ponies.
I like the idea of Free the Peryton, but not going full erase the Gems (at least not yet). She's another infomation resource and possible ally if Spike found a way to control her.
I'd love to see Spike could check in with the Kitsune to see how they are getting along. Maybe give some pointers on the breeding .
An idea, since Spike already has agents in Equestria perhaps he should have a plan for when they begin to move against him. Kidnap Rarity, that breaks up the elements of harmony and gives Spike some leverage over the Princesses.
11719920
Which is what I meant when I said worried. Because they serve no real purpose. Not unless we have to deal with some major players, like F.o.E levels of dogmatism from the Stagial. Then we red gem the males and white gem the females. Why? Because the male deer in FoE are a threat to Spike and the current generation of males needs to be removed in order to fix that issue.
11719826
Oh shoot! Thanks for pointing that out, fixing now.
Also, everyone always forgets about Spike's third pet lol. He's cute, gosh dang it!
That he has no clue who Grogar is, is a BIIIIIIIG warning sign. He's the ultimate evil behind Tirek, except he knows how to RULE instead of just dominate! Also considering Grogar is pre-history of Equestria...
I'm still hoping one of the Gems turns out to be Void. (Look up 'Enter the Void' and Mu, entering a state of pure nothingness, no distractions, no limitations, you are nothing, so you are everything, you 'know' nothing: you are not blind to any possibility, you become so empty that it loops around and you become utterly whole.)
For Discord, that just means teleporting a mountain above Spike's head, or opening a portal besides him leading to the surface of the sun. Travel between universes, get an atomic bomb, go back in time, and bury it right underneath where Spike will eventually stand, and set it off when it's in the general blast radius. Having no ability to affect his target or his slaves DIRECTLY doesn't shut Discord down, it's a CHALLENGE!
Now I'm wonder if the big twist will be STARLIGHT is one of the gems given pony form. Hey, it's not the first time a macguffin was in the shape of a person. (The key of Time and Doctor Who. The Pure hearts and Super Mario.)
I WANT to go with Option 2, but it's too risky right now. Right now Dominate and Punish KNOW Spike is up to something. But also, they've tip their hand that their partnership with Spike is one they're happy to terminate and turn on Spike if he goes in a direction they can't stand. Makes you wonder whose really in charge doesn't it?
Spike needs the gems off guard FIRST, then make his move.
Also, here's a question, if the Perytons all used their timeline skip magic to abandon this universe in favor of one where they still rule, why was THIS Peryton left behind? Did she believe she ALL BY HERSELF could restore order to the world with her people vision?
Or was she left behind as punishment, and she put herself in suspended animation? With what the gems and kitsune have all said, I imagine she knows all the gems secrets.
But if the Peryton were that rampaging specistist ... then it's a question how long HER alliance with Spike will last!
Spike needs more information before he stages his OWN rebellion.
He can never risk making that move again.
There's also the fact they kept the existence of the 5th gem from him.
I wonder if Punishment was the Draconequus, he's so nuts because he's being made to go completely against his true nature, he's being constantly tortured!!!!
Option 3. Spike finds a way to speak with the Peryton telepathically first? So she CAN'T do anything but speak to him? So all he can get from her is information?
He can easily justify this since even the gems don't know much above themselves, but she might, and thus it's USEFUL to both Spke AND the gems to interrogate her!
So if Spike uses a red gem... ever... it better be someone he NEVER EVER plans on freeing... like someone whose committed a bajillion genocides or something ... though those aren't exactly easy to come by.
The thing is, Grogar LOVES order...
Domination meanwhile just wants endless hedonism.
11720809
Grogar isn't a "order" guy... He's a "conquest" guy.
11720863
I thought that was Tirek.
Grogar bothers to actually RULE his city.
11720864
Grogar is the "god" of the villains. Tirek, Cozy, and Chrysalis retrieved his bell because they were being tricked by Discord who was also terrified by his very name.
11720865
I was think of the my little pony episode Return of Tambelon.
11720866
Remind me of that one again...?
11720867
http://www.mylittlewiki.org/wiki/The_Return_of_Tambelon
Where Grogar and his army invade Ponyland.
11720869
Ah. The old Grogar. Think there's a big difference between the old villains and the new ones. Example, the Smooze.
11720871
Yeah, they were cooler back then.
Call me nostalgic all ya want.
11720873
Wasn't Rainbow Dash the fashonista?
11720881
That's G3. Which includes Minty, best pony of any gen.
11720883
Same gen as the Smooze, right?
11720894
That's G1.
Option 1 sheep
11720759
To be fair regarding Thorax... He's always getting the D. Smolder keeps getting promised yet it has yet to be fulfilled.
11722773
You right. I better write her being given the D more lmao.
So yeah, my vote is option 3,
Find a way to speak with the Peryton in the crystal mentally.
Until the story proves me wrong, I'm going with the theory Starlight is the fifth gem in pony form, and the others wants to pretend she doesn't exist because she's not a hedonist like the others.
My vote is the deer
11726325
Nah. One of Spike's changeling spies saw the gem. A PINK gem. But since they weren't told the other colors, they also weren't told to keep an eye out for them. The element of Magic is the pony gem.
Spike has two "shift to the universe where his impossible victory happened" scrolls... There are two enemies he needs to save them for.
-Discord, immune to Discord's magic means nothing if Discord could just teleport a mountain above Spike's head, or place a forcefield around Spike... it won't stop Spike at all, but it will stop the rest of the planet from being destroy when Discord opens a portal to the surface of the sun. Or turn the AIR around Spike to stone.
-Starlight Glimmer... she was the master of brainwashing when Spike was still in diapers, and that was before she stopped repressing her own cutie mark. She doesn't even NEED to fight Spike directly to take him out.
Sooo... regarding voting and the next chapter...?
Hello...? New chapter when...?
11735673
Soon lol
11735727
Lol, fair enough! Just making sure you didn't forget about it! There's this StarCraft one I'm reading that hasn't been updated in 3 years... Trying to poke the author to figure out what's up, but...
11735727
Blep
Took me way too long to count the votes but!
Option 1 - Sheep: 4
Option 1 - Deer: 3
Option 1 - Minotaurs: 3
Option 3 - Make a deal with the Minotaurs: 1
Option 3 - Speak to the Peryton telepathically: 1
11750319
Woohoo! Next chapter in a week, lol!
Wow. It’s been a VERY long time since one story held me that much. I have to say, you have absolute amazing story here. Potential is used to the maximum. I honestly don’t know how to describe it. I discovered this story literally today (4 hours ago?) and it held me all till this chapter. Thanks for bringing this masterpiece and I’m awaiting the continuation :>