Chapter Eight: Shining Armor and Cadance
“Thanks for coming, everypony,” Twilight greeted once Spike returned with the rest of the group, Applejack having arrived toting a cart full of fresh apples. Everypony, with the exception of Chrysalis, stood outside the front door of the library, anxiously tracking the rise of the sun and fearing what would come when it cleared the horizon.
"We're here for her," Rainbow Dash clarified. "Not for you."
"You're here for both of us," Twilight countered. "I don't know what's taking her so long to come out, but... I had something to say before she—"
"Save yer breath, sugarcube," Applejack interrupted. "Ah ain't mad about what ya said yesterday. Ah mean, Ah am a little... but Ah know ya didn’t mean it. Ya weren't thinkin' straight."
"That's not an excuse," Twilight continued. "I was horrible to all of you. I said terrible things that I had no right to say. I let my feelings for Chrysalis get in the way of everything else. You... you were all right about her, and I was too obsessed to see it. I was too scared of her taking you all away from me... and I'm still scared that I might have driven you away myself."
Twilight felt herself coming to tears again for what must have been the hundredth time, but the feeling subsided when Fluttershy broke off from the group and embraced her. "I already forgave you, Twilight," she assured her, sounding close to tears herself. “One fight won’t change anything between us.”
“Your words were harsh,” Rarity added. “And they resonated on a very personal level. Nevertheless, you are still my friend, and I find it rather difficult to hold it against you.”
Oddly enough, Pinkie Pie remained silent. Her mane still drooped, and her colors were still muted. Her characteristic cheer hadn’t returned since last night, it seemed. In fact, she actually looked somewhat depressed. It concerned Twilight enough to break free from Fluttershy’s hug and walk towards the pink earth pony.
“Pinkie, what’s wrong? I thought you’d appreciate that I was apologizing.”
“I do,” Pinkie replied. “It’s just... what you said was really mean. You sounded like you hated me. You said I didn’t even deserve to be the Element of Laughter! I... I thought you didn’t want to be my friend anymore.”
“That could never happen,” Twilight assured her. “I love all of you too much to push you away. I don’t know how I could live without laughter in my life. You’ll always be my friend.”
Pinkie’s typical vibrancy returned in an instant, but there were still tears forming in her eyes, and the smile she wore was warmer and more subdued than her usual brand. Without another word, she offered her own hug, which Twilight all too gladly accepted.
All that was left was Rainbow, who kept a safe distance away from Twilight even as she approached Pinkie for a hug.
“What about you, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight inquired. “You’re not still bitter, are you?”
“I have the right,” Rainbow replied. “I know, you were stressed and you didn’t mean it, but you still said it. You still crossed that line, and crossing back over doesn’t mean it never happened. I won’t say we’re not friends anymore, I could never do that to you. But just the fact that you could even bring my loyalty into question and insult everypony else...”
She paused a moment, on the verge of succumbing to tears as well. “I... I think I know how it must have felt for you when Discord got to all of us. It really hurt to hear you say that, Twilight. I don’t want us to stop hanging out, and I guess I forgive you and all, but I’m not just gonna brush that off. I’m sorry, but I’m probably still gonna be sore about this for a while.”
Twilight sighed. It sounded like she might have to work a little to fix things completely with Rainbow Dash, but they weren’t completely broken either. Just as Chrysalis had attempted with her, she would have to earn her full respect back. Making the Element of Loyalty feel betrayed was not an easy feat, and she feared that it would be even harder to regain her favor. It would be best to start immediately, to ask what could be done to make it up to her. Perhaps a pair of tickets to the next Wonderbolts show and a day in her company? It wouldn’t be cheap, and it would be nowhere near enough, but perhaps it would be a good start.
Before she could get the chance to make the proposition, however, she heard a sniffle coming from the library. Everyone turned around to see Chrysalis standing outside the doorway, levitating a book with her magic. She looked like she just made a trip from Everfree to Tartarus and back again.
“It was in with the anatomy books,” she stated with barely any trace of emotion. “I’d been searching since you left the room. I... needed the distraction.”
“Oh, Chrysalis, I’m so sorry!” Fluttershy cried, running over to comfort her. “Spike told me everything he knew. Losing everything you cared about like that... I don’t even know what to say. It’s so awful!”
“Leave the grieving to me,” Chrysalis replied. “They perished by no fault of yours.”
“Technically, it was Shining Armor’s fault,” Rainbow added.
“Rainbow Dash!” Rarity shouted. “What made you think she wanted to hear you say something so accusatory and inconsiderate at a time like this!?”
“Rarity’s right. Besides, if it’s anypony’s fault... it’s mine.”
All eyes turned to Twilight. She knew she welcomed it with her comment, hence her making it in the first place, but it still made her incredibly uncomfortable.
“I was the one who let this happen,” she explained as she began to pace around the yard. “If I’d just listened to Fluttershy and Rarity and given Chrysalis the benefit of the doubt, Princess Celestia would have already acted by now, and Chrysalis would have been gone. If I really didn’t want to deal with her, I should’ve just given her what she wanted.”
“Twilight,” Chrysalis started, “it’s not your—”
“I even knew I was letting more of the changelings die the longer I kept her waiting,” Twilight continued, ignoring the interruption and losing control of the wavering of her voice with every word. “And it still didn’t stop me. I let them all die because of some stupid grudge I couldn’t let go of!”
“Twilight, please, do not blame yourself for—”
But Twilight still spoke over the interruption, and she started pacing faster, tears streaking down her face. “I was so convinced that I was being the hero that I managed to make myself the villain! If anything, I’m worse than I ever thought she was, because at least she never committed genocide!”
“Enough!” Chrysalis cried, looking ready to succumb to her emotions again.
Twilight fell silent at Chrysalis’ outburst. Somehow, she didn’t blame her for the deaths of thousands. She withheld from Princess Celestia the information she would have needed to save them, and she did it very much intentionally, so how could the queen of the newly dead not blame her? Who else was there to blame?
Without another word, Twilight telekinetically grabbed the book from Chrysalis’ grasp and opened it to a page the queen had helpfully marked. This was the exact spell she had been looking for. Long-distance communication. It looked incredibly complicated, but manageable. It may be close, but she was sure she could perform it and still be left with time to spare.
And while they all waited for the arrival of Princess Celestia, she knew exactly who to contact with it.
It was to be another early morning for the Royal Guard. Shining Armor had returned from his honeymoon just the previous night, and he’d suspected that readjusting to the waking hours required to perform his duties as captain would be a chore. To his surprise, however, he was awake and alert right on time, like the routine had been hard-wired into his subconscious.
Cadance was the one who struggled to get out of bed. It wasn’t the first time she’d asked to join him for morning duties, and she didn’t think it would be the last, but waking up just as the moon was coming down was always the hardest part. She figured she’d be fine once she got some caffeine in her system, and lo and behold, she was now almost as alert as her loving husband.
They stood together at Shining’s current post by the gateway leading into Canterlot Castle. It would be time to begin rounds soon, but for now, they were content with watching the rising sun, with Cadance sipping coffee as she leaned affectionately up against her husband. The perfect start to what could shape up to be a perfect day.
The pair looked up to the tallest tower of the castle, to the balcony adjacent to Princess Celestia’s private quarters. Sure enough, the regal alicorn was standing out on that balcony, her energies focused on raising the sun. Neither had the best of views of her from their current position, but even from such a distance, she seemed somewhat preoccupied, as if some urgent matter had come up. Shining got a sneaking suspicion that she would have a new briefing for his Guard once her daily duties had been performed.
Not that he could entertain the thought much, though, because his attention was abruptly grabbed by his wife.
“Um... Shining? I think Twilight wants a word with us.”
Chrysalis was rather impressed. The spell seemed to work without any major complications, and she could actually view the couple in their current location without actually being there, as if seeing Canterlot through a window. And a window was exactly how it appeared: a small spatial window rimmed with a faint magenta glow. A light prod confirmed to her that it was indeed more akin to a window than a portal, and hazarding a glance behind it let her see that she... well, couldn’t see it from the back. Twilight had effectively created a limited gateway to another location.
“I... I think it worked,” Twilight panted, having exerted herself far more than she must have been used to in order to perform the spell. She looked ready to collapse, but Fluttershy stood beside her to help her maintain her balance.
Chrysalis saw the wife grab the husband’s attention and direct it towards the portal. He looked excited, if confused, to see his younger sibling again. “Twily! Wow, that can’t have been an easy spell to pull off. Must’ve taken a lot out of you.”
“I’m better than you think at this,” Twilight greeted, her physical state contradicting her words. “But right now, that’s not important. Something awful has happened, and I think you and Cadance need to know.”
“Need to know wha—” Princess Cadance began, but stopped herself the moment she noticed the changeling queen off to the side.
Chrysalis locked eyes with the mare on the other side. She had wronged this mare not long ago, imprisoning and impersonating her so she could feast on her groom-to-be’s love and weaken his hold on the force field spell. And she’d gained so much energy from Shining Armor; it was enough for her to surpass Celestia in power and sustain herself for days, if not weeks.
None of this came to mind, however. When she looked into the alicorn’s deep purple eyes, all she saw was red. She’d escaped the caves. She’d blown her cover. She’d rejuvenated Shining Armor. And together, this couple sent an entire race hurtling to their deaths with the force of their love.
They were the reason her original plan failed. They were the reason her subjects died.
“Twilight, get back!” Cadance shouted, clearly alarmed by Chrysalis’ presence.
Shining took notice of her as well, and he immediately shifted into a defensive stance. “Twilight, why is the changeling queen there with you!?”
“It’s a long story,” Twilight replied, “and she’s the reason I had to try to talk to you now. It’s a lot easier for me that you’re both together, since this is something that I think affects both of you, but I promise, Chrysalis isn’t here to hurt anypony.”
“I wasn’t,” Chrysalis corrected her. “But I also never intended to see these two again. I could die happy if I never did.”
“Same here, changeling,” Shining retorted, which riled her up even more. “What are you even doing back here in Equestria? Trying to get to my wife again?”
“Don’t tempt me,” Chrysalis hissed, stepping into full view. “Right now I think I’d love nothing more than to take one of you and suck your love dry whilst I make the other watch.”
“I’m not gonna let that happen. And you still haven’t answered me. Why are you here?”
“It’s of no consequence to you,” Chrysalis replied. “And what does it even matter now? I’ve already failed.”
“Then you won’t mind if I send a few of my pegasi over there to collect you,” Shining threatened, slowly advancing towards the window. “I’ll let Princess Celestia decide what she wants to do with you from there.”
“Why not simply wait?” Chrysalis remarked, advancing from her own end. “She’s due to arrive once the sun rises. And I believe her judgment earns more precedence than yours, as well as more respect.”
“Don’t you dare insult my Guard!” Shining yelled. “How would you like it if I took pot shots at your changelings?”
“I will kill you where you stand if you even try!” Chrysalis shouted. The two now stood face-to-face, their horns scraping the portal on their respective ends without passing through it. “I am in absolutely no mood to put up with such grievous disrespect, especially not from the likes of you!”
“And what makes me so special?” Shining inquired. “Why am I so awful that you won’t let me say anything about your subjects?”
“How about the fact that you and your beloved wife killed all of them!?”
Shining Armor backed away at Chrysalis’ outburst. He had no idea how he was supposed to react. He’d never been accused of massacring an entire race before, and of course, he didn’t much appreciate it. It was impossible to imagine and even harder to believe, and accusing Cadance of the same was completely, unthinkably out of line! The whole thing was too outlandish to take seriously.
Then again... he never did hear from the changelings again. He never got any reports on changeling activity since the invasion. At the same time, though, he never considered that the reason for that was that there wasn’t any possible way for them to act anymore. And every changeling forced out of the city, Chrysalis included, had been thrown far out of sight, so it wasn’t a stretch to assume that there were a few casualties, but surely not all of them, right?
“You’re lying,” he asserted, though the panic in his voice betrayed him. “Twilight, please tell me she’s lying!”
“She’s not,” Twilight replied. “The ones that didn’t die from their injuries went out starving. She tried linking to their hive mind, but it was empty. And she’d been here for two days before I finally trusted her enough to send the cry for help to Princess Celestia, but I stalled it long enough for them all to waste away.
“Basically... the three of us drove the changeling race to extinction.”
“Not you,” Chrysalis corrected. “Only them. And if I can’t save my changelings, I will gladly make the trek to Canterlot to avenge them!”
“You don’t want our blood on your hooves,” Shining argued.
“With all the blood on yours,” Chrysalis countered, “how will I know how much of it belongs to you? It was your force field. It was your spell. It was your love that slaughtered countless thousands of my people! My head should be filled with the voices of my loyal subjects, but you silenced each and every one of them!”
“Stop it!”
Cadance had to shut Chrysalis up. She couldn’t believe this. She’d planned for a pleasant morning in Shining Armor’s company, watching her aunt raise the sun while her husband did roll call and whatever else his position demanded of him. It was her first day back in Canterlot, and she wanted it to be at least some close approximation of perfect. After the wedding debacle, she didn’t know if she could hope for true perfection anymore.
Instead, she was looking through some window to Ponyville that the young mare she once foalsat for created, listening as the thing that had nearly stolen her husband away from her accused them both of committing genocide.
And she couldn’t argue with it. She never tried to kill any of the changelings she helped repel; she just wanted to force them out of the city so they’d stop attacking everypony. At the same time, though, she didn’t try not to, and the act of expanding the field as quickly as possible also sent them flying as forcefully as possible.
She couldn’t deny that it could be true. But she couldn’t stand being vilified for it.
“Please, just stop,” Cadance insisted, eyes misting up and voice wavering. “I’m not going to act like you’re wrong about anything you’re saying, but what else could we have done? Your changelings were attacking ponies!”
“My changelings were starving!” Chrysalis spat back. “They needed love to survive, and there was nowhere else to get it within the city. The whole reason I chose Canterlot on that day was because I’d hoped to feed all of them at once. Hundreds of thousands had gathered to witness your wedding, and it would have been enough to sustain them all with plenty left to spare.”
“Did you even think of what you’d be doing to those ponies if you drained all of their love!?”
“I didn’t care,” Chrysalis responded. “And with the state they were in, I couldn’t afford to. Most of them would have been dead in days, if not hours, if they did not find something quickly. I pose the same question to you: what else could I have done?”
“Can we please stop fighting?” Fluttershy interjected, moving away from Twilight so she could try to stand on her own. “None of you could have done anything else to help those you were meant to protect, and none of you can take back what happened because of it. Even though it was still wrong, you can’t be faulted for doing it.
“But... you’re still sorry for it, right?”
There was a very long, very awkward pause after Fluttershy basically told them to apologize for invasion and mass murder. She buried her face behind her mane and attempted to hide behind Twilight.
Chrysalis was completely speechless. As much respect as she had for the timid mare, she thought it foolish to apologize for trying to solve the problem of her race’s starvation. She may not have thought it through enough, but she wasn’t convinced of the existence of another fast enough solution.
However... she was aware of one thing she could apologize for.
“I never did hold your race in high regard,” she began. “I figured that fraternizing with ponykind was equivalent to playing with your food, because for a changeling, that’s exactly what they were. The most loving race on this earth, and thus the most plentiful banquets for my own kind.
“But I had to set that apathy aside to further my goals here. And meeting Fluttershy... then Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, and finally, your sister... it’s given me some legitimate respect for you ponies. I have made friends in Ponyville these past few days, and I have seen their worth of my sympathy.”
She paused, grimacing. This was all so agonizingly difficult for her to swallow her pride and say, especially to the ponies responsible for her predicament. She couldn’t bear to make eye contact with them as she concluded her apology. “With that in mind... I apologize for my subjects’ behavior and assault at Canterlot, and for all the ponies that may have been harmed. At this point, it is far too late for them to apologize for themselves.”
Another silence. Shining and Cadance looked at each other, apparently contemplating their response. Chrysalis hoped they would apologize in turn, or at least attempt to, because she would not be held accountable for what she might do to them if they dismissed it and fought her further.
“I... I guess I’m sorry too,” Cadance finally replied. “Shining Armor and I did what had to be done to protect Equestria, but I never wanted to wipe out your race like that. If I could’ve done it any other way, I would, but... this is just a horrible thing to have on my conscience. How am I even supposed to react to—”
“Why did you only apologize for what they did?” Shining interrupted. “You’re not exactly blameless either.”
“Fine,” Chrysalis relented. “I’m sorry about imprisoning your bride and siphoning your love for her. But my actions were necessary, and I will not say I regret it.”
“Well, then you’re not really sorry, are you?” Shining countered. “And even if you were, actions have consequences. I don’t care what you’ve been up to for the last two days, you still attacked Canterlot. You still kidnapped my wife, used me like a pawn, and directly assaulted the ruler of this kingdom. I’m going to see to it that you answer for those crimes.”
“Then you’d better make sure we answer for ours.”
Everypony turned to look at Cadance, in utter collective shock over her statement. “I don’t know how you can be so calm about this, Shining,” she stated tearfully. “We took from her everything she ever loved. If her actions deserve punishment, ours deserve worse.”
“Cadance, she tried to take over Equestria!” Shining countered.
“And we killed her subjects for it! We did what we had to do, but I wish we didn’t. I don’t even think I’ll ever be able to sleep at night knowing I helped make this happen.”
“Plus,” Twilight added, “I think she’s paid enough. I’ve been making her work for my trust at the library, and she did everything I asked her to without fighting me over it. If I wasn’t convinced by then that she suffered enough, I think her finding the hive mind empty a few hours ago did it.”
After a brief pause, Shining addressed his sister. “Twily... I’m sorry about all this arguing. You probably didn’t need all this stress. But I don’t really think it’s up to you to decide whether she’s paid her dues.”
“You’re right,” came a voice behind Shining. “It’s up to me.”
Chrysalis watched anxiously as Princess Celestia descended from the sky and came into view on the Canterlot end of the portal. Everypony else bowed before their ruler, but she paid them no mind. Her harsh gaze was directed squarely at the changeling on the other side. It was enough to make Chrysalis back away despite the miles between them.
Celestia focused her magic on the portal, replacing Twilight’s magenta glow with her own golden aura. The gateway expanded further, touching the ground and giving the appearance of an open doorway. After hesitantly prodding at it and seeing her hoof move beyond its boundaries, Twilight stepped through and motioned for the others to follow. Once the six ponies, Spike and Chrysalis crossed over into Canterlot, Celestia closed the portal.
“Celestia,” Chrysalis began, “I know my actions were—”
“You’re coming with me,” Celestia declared. “All of you.”
Celestia’s horn glowed with a blinding light, and with a flash almost bright as the sun itself, all eleven of them vanished.
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Tragedy tag... Not sure if want...
Keep up the good work and great story!
Fuck.
catmacros.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/cat_faucet_shit.jpg
Time for DIPLOMACY!!!!
Shining Armor is kind of a failboat in this. Chrysalis's actions were wrong, this is not in question. But they're not even REMOTELY comparable to genocide, so he's just making himself look disgustingly selfish, because "some pretty things happening to a few people HE cares about totally takes priority over the death of an entire race hurr durr".
what was it that Captain Carpel said in Star Wars 1? Ouch Time?
Uh-oh... looks like things just got real!
Keep it up.
What kind of twisted logic is going on here? It wasn't genocide. They were repelling a deliberate, premeditated invasion. If the invaders happened to die later on, that's not due to a deliberate action and thus not genocide.
The ENTIRE responsibility lies with Chrysalis. She was the sole instigator who allowed her subjects condition to decay to a lethal level and then decided on a plan that would have led to the enslavement of the entire pony race and the deaths of many of them.
Anything that happened as a result is her fault alone.
1569683 Genocide is a deliberate slaughter of another race. This was an accidental consequence of the Changelings' invasion. ACCIDENTAL being the key term there.
Thus, it cannot be genocide.
Now, what I'd have done to them WOULD have been genocide. I would have hunted down and killed every last changeling, saving Chrysalis for last, then mocked her utter failure as I use the "Death of a Thousand Cuts" technique to slowly slay her.
THAT'S genocide.
But it seems none of the ponies are smart enough to figure any of this out.
1569683
It is within human nature (and presumably pony, and possibly Changeling nature) to view one's own transgressions as less severe than others', especially enemies'. This is doubly the case if one can justify one's actions, because in any situation where one or one's loved ones are hurt, it is very difficult to separate oneself from the pain and understand the justifications of the other.
Dumb and disappointing, but perfectly reasonable reaction.
On the edge of my seat, waiting for Celestia's judgment!
1569759
Accidental or not, they're (as far as they know) responsible for the deaths of every changeling. And any person with a shred of decency (who wasn't actively attempting to get that result) would feel devastated by that information. Yes, I realize Chrysalis is ALSO responsible by letting them go without sufficient food for so long, her involvement is not in question.
1569771
I didn't say it wasn't believable. I said he's a selfish failboat, and that I found his lack of perspective (regarding the scale of events) and compassion (for the dead changelings, not Chrysalis) disgusting. It was an expression of dislike for the character, not a criticism of the writing.
Also, it's 'human nature' to do all kinds of horrible things. That is not even remotely functional as a counterargument. It actually supports my comment, in that the person in question is in fact horrible by choosing not to be better.
1569777 Well, perhaps they would be more inclined naturally to feel it were the Queen not acting like a prick. She has the gall to accuse Shining Armor and Cadence in her unceasing arrogance. She dared to ask them what they would have done in her place? Well right back at her! What would SHE have done in the PONIES' place? I know her nature well enough. Answer: DELIBERATE GENOCIDE.
No, I would not feel sorry for her at all in this situation.
I feel zero pity for those whose evil acts backfire and result in their own destruction. That is as perfect an example of karma at work as one can imagine.
1569874
It's not ABOUT her. Her suffering is her own problem and I'm not sorry for her at all beyond understanding the pain of her loss.
It's about the changelings and how dead they are, and how they're basically the victims of Chrysalis's stupidity and the ponies' accidental overkill.
1569777
Ah, my mistake. I assumed you were attacking the writing by calling Shining's actions here OOC.
1569900
I did not realize I had failed to make the specifics of my complaint clear until after you mentioned it. Sorry about that.
1569759
Umm, may I recommend anger management?
Well... that escalated quickly. Viewing this predicament from a neutral point, both sides are at fault. Chrysalis, for whatever reason was unable to provide for her people, thus leading her to take the rash desicion of invation. Cadence and Shining acted on legit. self def, but the dying race proved to be to weakened to survive. This is a sad case... but shit just got real and that shit is about to hit da fan!!
I have a feeling Celestia isn't going to help...
I can honestly say, that if I was in Chrysalis's position, I would have done exactly the same thing without a doubt. And so would Shinning, Cadance, and even Celestia.
denver.mylittlefacewhen.com/media/f/img/mlfw4833-1335873138037.png
To all those saying this isn't genocide...
One pony IS truly guilty of genocide... Outside of any accident or war-time defense...
Twilight Sparkle, acted willfully and with forethought to the consequences that "time equals bodies" to deny aid to a diplomatic representative, seeking peaceful communication and aid.
Chrysalis and her hive lived in a buckin' desert, and did not have local "food" resources. Yes, she made huge mistakes, but it would have been negligent to her subjects NOT to go into Equestria. The sad truth, is if she had gone dimplomatically from the get go, she probably could have saved her changelings with no loss of life. "Please Princesses!!! We'll die if you don't let your ponies share with us with the magic of love and friendship!". Poor Chrissy... To proud to play with her food. I DO pity her. She made mistakes, but she ONLY ever tried to serve her subjects needs. She just made mistakes... LOTS of mistakes.
I get the impression that some people are wrongly thinking that the changeling attack would have been permanently or extremely harmful or deadly to the ponies. This is not true, and most making that claim simply skimmed over, what appears to me to be, a very important line.
with plenty left to spare
She would have occupied Canterlot, let her changelings get their fill in one shot, without it draining every pony to exhaustion or death. The point was the high numbers. Think of it like a blood transfusion. If it takes 10 pints to do a transfusion, taking it from one person might be fatal, but taking 1 pint from 10 people will be fairly harmless. The point was the MASSIVE turnout for the royal wedding would have spread out the drain. I thought this was made absolutely clear. The ponies were not truly under a permanent threat from the changelings.
As for Cadance and Shining Armor. What they did WAS in defense of the city. Was it overkill, maybe, but in the heat of the moment, if all you have is an RPG to take out the guy with a handgun... You use it anyway. If anything, I don't fault them for their actions, but I do feel it is FAIR that they understand what the extent of the excessive force behind their actions ultimately was responsible for. I suppose, in another sense, it's the wisdom and skill between being able to shoot the blade out of a would be attackers hand, vs unloading the entire clip into their chest and face. one is a might bit more permanent than the other.
I can't wait for the next chapter.
I really want to see what Celestia has to say about her most beloved student murdering an entire species due to hatred, vengeance, bitterness, and a betrayal of the magic of friendship. My Little Pony: Genocide is Tragic. This... This goes beyond a riot over a doll. This is an extinction event... Caused by one of Twilight's psychotic breaks.
I really am gonna be antsy waiting for the continuation of this story. It also needs FAR MORE views!
BTW... Does anypony still feel disturbed from WAY BACK when Twilight put the hole in the ceiling... What if that had HIT Spike! Nopony seems to have really considered how bad that could have gone.
Anyway... Pissedlestia incomming!
1572186 And the award for Most Lengthy and Thought-Out Comment in This Thread goes to...
Seriously, I read every word of that, and I'm honestly flattered. I LOVE seeing the readers put as much thought into this as I've been. Hell, a lot of what they've suggested about character motivation influenced what I incorporated into the story itself over the course of it. I don't even mind the genocide debate, since it means I'm getting them thinking.
Thanks so much for the dedication. Believe me, your comment's going to help the course of the next chapter more than you think.
1569683 Just going to say The changelings Were going-to commit genocide shining and Candice committed mass murder through self defense big difference
1569986 I'm not angry. I was smiling every moment I imagined her grief-striken, terrified, anguished expression. Her utter helplessness as I slowly stole the life from her.
*sneers wickedly at Chrysalis* I want to look at you when I kill you! I want to see the light leave your eyes! (Alondro = Voldemort) >:}
1573286
*Slowly backs away*
1572889 Hmm... clearly did not read my comment, or the author's comment. The entire PURPOSE of attacking the wedding was to have HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of ponies so the drain would be minimal. No genocide was ever intended... Read my comment, and the author's response and you'll see that the story EXPLICITLY states the changelings were going in to feed and leave, and most importantly, to feed and and leave the ponies intact.
Changelings were NOT committing genocide, accidental or intentional.
Shining and Cadance acted in defense of the city and went overboard... There could be consequences. It's against the Geneva convention to aim a .50 cal rifle at an unarmored human. It's considered inhumane and a war crime. Point it at a human through the armored door of a vehicle, and it becomes legal. There MAY be consequences. There may not. They DID act in defense of the city and nation in an invasion setting, with no references other than they were under attack. I'd say they were justified... But they will never forget what their actions have done, and might consider the consequences in the future... Cadance especially, since she is an Alicorn... She will have a long time to contemplate her actions.
Twilight. Unequivocally guilty of genocide. "Time equals bodies" was the phrase that was stated. She willfully chose to delay aid to a peaceful, diplomatic representative, with the conscious knowledge that delaying that aid would kill changelings, and potentially leave the race extinct. I think Twilight is in trouble. I do not think Celestia will be cruel... As the Bearer of the Element of Magic... and since Friendship is Magic... Twilight is the Bearer of the Element of Friendship... She has betrayed that, and though she has rediscovered her friendship... This is core to her very existence. Her reason to be, and it will haunt her. Horrifyingly so... I won't pretend to know what the consequences will be for her actions. I anxiously await the author's next chapter(s)
As for Chrysalis's subjects... I can ONLY HOPE that there are some unconscious, and unable to respond to the hive mind... but hopefully still alive. Hopefully Celestia can find a few... For Chrysalis's sakes! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Queen_Chrysalis.png
1572889 To add onto richfiles's response, I'd like to direct you as well to TitaniumGavel's comment (#47). He sums it up as well as I could: in order for the changelings to feed off the ponies' love, the ponies need to be ALIVE to feel love. Slaughtering them all would be completely counterproductive and go against everything Chrysalis was working for.
1574583 I did read your comment and the authors however Chrysalis's stated that the Scouts (people who go in and out of an area after getting either a glimpse of defenses the item of value that they need proper Intel or scouting a area for a defense report) got greedy meaning the chance that hundreds of changelings with thousands of ponies wouldn't get greedy and drain as meany ponies as it would take to "fill" their hunger is likely Twilight may have killed a lot of the changelings though neglect however the law states that any citizen who aids a known terrorist and or a known criminal of the state can be executed we know twilight overreacts and possibly needs a few years of therapy would assume the worst if A)she didn't confirm the changelings and B) she obviously needs therapy and counseling for she has a lot of issues involving most things 1572371 you are correct in a way however you stated A HIVE-MINDED scout could get greedy therefore an entire race could annihilate the ponies in canter-lot even without meaning to which at best would be MASS MURDER How ever it would be following an act of war therefor genocide. I'm not saying you Both aren't correct in saying they're all to blame however you need to relies no one person is at fault it is a series or unfortunate events that everyone had a hand in.
1574715 Wow. I really hate to be a comment critic on my own story, but I saw... I don't know, TWO periods in that whole thing.
When I said that the scouts decided to fill themselves up instead of gathering love for the hive, I never meant or even IMPLIED that that would lead to them sucking ponies completely dry. And I'm pretty sure it wouldn't take the ENTIRE supply of love of even a single pony to fill up a changeling; Chrysalis filled up to the point where she could kick Celestia's ass without any permanent or even long-term damage to Shining Armor, and she's the friggin' QUEEN.
And on the hive-mind note: Chrysalis can link to it as well, and if she hears a giant cluster of "YEAH! SUCK 'EM DRY!" from several sources or detects mass thoughts of recklessness, it's completely within her power, and in fact her obligation, to tell them to cut that shit out and stick to the plan.
And I'm trying to let the readers decide for themselves who's more to blame for everything that's happened: Shining and Cadence for the force field, Chrysalis for the invasion, or Twilight for the willful delay. Personally, I try to write them like they're ALL guilty, and I leave it to all of you to discuss amongst yourselves who's slightly more/less guilty than anyone else.
1574815 Remember they don't know when Candace was replaced except the wedding at the time was taking place even twilight got the invite as a regular guest when it was her own brother place therefor she may have had weeks of feeding to gain that much power A STARVING CHANGELING wouldn't have had that much control include a potential resistance that would rise after the attack on I forget the place and Chrysalis wouldn't have had the time to monitor the hive mind twenty four seven therefor deaths would have accord in a probable vast quantity. Also i never stated or implied that the scouts killed anyone only that they got greedy and starvation and greed go hand in hand.
1574815 Ya when I get passionate about a subject I forget to correct my Punctuation.
1574904 Yeah, but a changeling that gets food (love) in him or her, even if not entirely full, is NOT starving anymore. Your argument regarding starving changelings is kinda irrelevant. Food is abundant. Besides, the hive mind IS wide open, and Chrysalis DOES have the ability to step in and issue commands. Yes, she can choose to close her connection, but why on Earth would she cut off her chain of command during a coordinated swarm invasion. That's like a General turning off his radio just as his men are on the verge of storming the front lines. It's absurd, and wouldn't happen. Besides, no pony could be permanently harmed by any one changeling for them to be killed. If even the Queen couldn't drain Shining Armor to death over the course of days or weeks, no mere subject of the queen would be able to do so either. The sheer NUMBERS of ponies at the wedding also means there is absolutely NO competition for food. Why suck love from a perviously drained pony when there are a dozen fresh ones for your picking?
The ponies only threat were some serious headaches and the trauma of being violated. While horrifying... It's not deadly. The Changelings are not a deadly parasite. If they killed their hosts, they would eventually starve to death. It actually makes SENSE that they would swarm, take over, get their fill, and then leave the love hosts intact, hoping to repeat the process someday.
Nom, nom! dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/lolface_Queen_Chrysalis.png
Also, regarding the greedy scouts... Their purpose is to collect love and bring it back to the hive for ALL the changelings. The greediness stems from the fact that they fail to return to the hive for long periods of time, gorging themselves on love, and keeping it for themselves. The greed is them taking the love for them selves and pigging out, rather than taking it back to the hive and sharing it. This has nothing to do with pony deaths. It has everything to do with, as an example, going to the buffet line and taking ALL the best foods, leaving nothing for anyone else. They're gonna put out more food. You haven't depleted the buffet or run it out of business. You just got greedy and left others without.
MOAR!
1575115 My good sir how about we agree to disagree for we both have our strengths and weaknesses yet it's like arguing if Stalin was a bad man of course he was but it's like arguing what made him bad a lot of things did there is no wrong answer here so i think we should just let sleeping dogs lie again ok?
1575135 Patience, my child...
1575175 ok prime
Ps. Keep up the good work!
1575175 Good fic though we may disagree but its still a brilliant story
1573374 *pokes the lifeless changeling queen's body* Awww, she's broken now. *slooooooowly turns to look at you with a smile that impossibly stretches from ear to ear* But you still look to be in good condition... we're going to have ever so much fun! *staggers toward you like a broken marionette, singing softly in tones that seem to seep from the very walls* Frère Jacques, Frère Jacques, Dormez-vous? Dormez-vous? Sonnez les matines! Sonnez les matines! Din, dan, don. Din, dan, don. *when the song stops, you blink, and the instant your eyes open you find yourself staring DIRECTLY INTO HIS WILD DEMONIC EYES ONLY AN INCH FROM YOURS!!!* I'm Chucky! Wanna play? HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!
1576263 Luna almost eradicated LIFE when she attempted to bring about eternal night in her jealousy corrupted form of Nightmare Moon. A world without a sun is a dead world... Still, once her heart had been purified, she was given forgiveness. Twilight has seen her wrongs... She has accepted that she did a wretched thing. There could certainly be a punishment. There is no telling what that punishment will be. Regardless, Equestria seems to be willing to offer redemption and forgiveness. Twilight's crime stems from going against this nature. Refusing to offer forgiveness. She wistfully hoped that Trixie would someday learn to change her ways. Pinkie and Rainbow offered Gilda every chance... Even though she refused to change. Those offers always were there. Friendship was offered, but not returned. Here, friendship was sought, but refused. I'm very interested in how this will play out.
I have... ideas... I still hold out hope that a few changelings teeter at the edge of life, and are merely beyond the capacity for conscious thought. Cadance seems quite remorseful for what happened. Shining is acting like Twilight did earlier... minus some crazy... dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/misc_Twilight_crazy.png
If Twilight, Celestia, and especially Cadance can convince Shining to let go of his hatred... I don't know... That love shield was made of love... maybe something can be done by the Princess of Love and her dearest... I just want to see some manner of hope... It's so sad...
I wanna hug Chrysy and Twily. dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Queen_Chrysalis.png dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/emoticons/shrug_Twilight_Sparkle.png
One has lost everything, and the other has lost her innocence. They both hurt. I want them to get better...
Ahhhh.....I love the smell of a good flame war in the afternoon
1572371
...Is it bad that instead of analyzing the main plot, I immediately thought about how they could use that communications spell to time the delay inherent in teleporting, and see if it breaks the light barrier, is equivalent to light-speed, or if it has a linear/hyperbolic/exponential increase in delay? Also, the spell itself is more easily testable than teleporting on its own, seeing as a flare set off at the midpoint of communications distance, both sides could watch for a noticeable delay between reality and the gate (if it is instantaneous, there will be no difference, if it isn't, the spell will take three times as long to display the change).
I don't know what Twilight would do with that information, or how she'd rope Luna or Celestia into being her teleport assistant over the breadth of Equestria (maybe even discovering if the planet is curved or flat in the process, or helping refine the numbers on its curvature if it is known)
Both Shinning Armor and Cadence and Chrysalis had they own justified reasons for what they did, the only diference is that CHrysalis actions did almost no damage, when Shinning and Cadence actions had terrible results.
I know that all are blame for what happened, or even the pass when Changeligns were not accepted into other countrys, so in the end they had to do what they need to survive, but in game of blame, it is the damage that decide who did worse.
If Chrysalis would win, it would be the damage she would do to ponies who were a food source for changelings, but since Chrysalis lost, it is the death of her race what are importand.
After all, if they would not ignore changelings and search for tham, they would find out the damage they did and try to help, but ignoring tham, like ignoring tham in the pass was exacly what lead to the situation in the first place ( also Chrysalis seems to make many mistakes, but it is not a best time to play blame games )
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1569874
I'm here to point out one thing. Genocide
cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/400x/23340250.jpg
Genocide is the destruction of a religious group or race. The Changelings aren't a race, they are a damn species, something people on this site forget a lot. So the correct term is xenocide, the destruction of a species......so technically it isn't genocide!
1569874
I know I'm replying to your comment really late, but you are being omega-retarded. Either you don't have any empathy/sympathy at all or you think entire nations/people/whatevers should be punished for the actions of their leader. That's pretty lame, dude. That's lame all over. That's as lame as a lame dog with a lame leg being lame at LameCon 2013.
1736990
Tomato, To-mah-to. Potato, Po-tah-to. Don't sweat the details so much when you consider those terms were made by the only sentient civilization on this planet, whilst in Equestria, there are dozens.
To all the peopel saying Chrysalis deserved it, YOU ARE WRONG, and here's why:
Sure she tried something evil, does that mean something evil happening to her is ok? NO two wrong's don't make a right.
Does killing ~30,000-50,000 (guestimated population of canterlot) justify the murder of ~80,000-120,000 (guesitmated with how quickly they took over the city)? NOPE
Welcome to war. That's the only thing I can think of after reading this chapter. Both sides did what they thought was necessary. Does that make them right or wrong? Both sides did things they regret. It's easy to point blame after the fact, but in the heat of the moment, when it seems like there is nothing to lose, is there really anyway to understand right and wrong? I want to blame Chrysalis for setting off the whole chain of events in the first place. It would be easy to say that if she hadn't invaded, then none of this would have happened. But looking at it from her point of view, desperate, hungry and with no regard for ponies, her actions seem perfectly justified. And that's war. Each side does what they believe is justified until there is a victor and a loser. Morals in war is still very new and honestly it sometimes causes more harm than good by extending wars longer than they might have gone otherwise, but again, that is hindsight and decisions made at the time never have that advantage.
3445868
When it comes to war, there are no true "winners". There may be survivors, but once the bullets start flying, nobody wins.
3445868 Chyrsalis is to blame though. Her arrogance prevented her from asking for aid in the first place. If she did it then instead of the invasion her race wouldn't be all but gone now. I'm not liking where this story is going. it was great at first but these last few chapters just hit me wrong.