Oooh! This is going to be good.

It is quite funny - just last week I was pondering this sort of event and thinking about, perhaps, seeing if I could place such a bug in someone's ear.

The Internet doth work in mysterious ways. :)

Being as my OC is one of the "immortals" this interests me greatly. See, I run a handful of 'pony' sims in SecondLife and am the ultimate power there - literally able to raise and lower the sun and moon, raise mountains, etc. So I set about creating a blatant violation of canon, working up vast quantities of back story, and like any 'godlike' character I'm only good as an NPC - but I tell you it's been a real hoot this last year or so.

So, thank you for attempting this. Again, I'm very interested to see how you work this out as everything else you've written as been both thought provoking and highly entertaining.

And here... we... GO!

Watching like a Hawk.

Sir, I take my hat off and dash it upon the ground, i'm looking forward to what happens next!

Also, I'm proud to say my guess on what you were doing with the story based on the title was completely and utterly WRONG

Oooh, this is something else, something unsettling. Celestia and Luna with something to... potentially hate and fear. In any other hooves I would be worried. I still am, and I think that's good. I don't know if I'll be happy reading this, but I know I'll like it.

Also, how did... comment... before posting... jealous now :(

Whooa, this sounds very interesting. Time to read!

Sweet.  Woke up on my birthday to see a new piece from the incomparable Chatoyance.  It's gonna be a good day.  *scrolls back up to start enjoying*

I see your using the inscrutable all powerful model for your Tia and Lulu (Oh wait... same as Taste of Grass, gotcha). One of the darker variants of the Conversion Bureau, but still.. marked and watching, I'm going to enjoy seeing where this one goes.

Holy mother of potatoes... That was... Wow... I can't even dicribe what I have just read even thought I write that was... That AMMAZING!!! Please write some more , I must know what happens next. Now I have to go back to my writing which looks terrible compared to this. Just please keep on writing.

... aaaaand cue the 'oh crap' moment.

This is going to be interesting indeed...

Looks cool, looking forward to more

Should be interesting.  I'd always figured the Earth governments would be actively attempting to sponsor such a thing, as that would be a potential advocate for humanity despite the change of form.  Also, a good excuse to call on the mane 6 to seek out the recipient.

I predict lots of fun with paranoia, short-sighted thinking, and characterizations.  Fire those friendship cannons!

Ah, I'd bashed together some daydreams like this to keep myself awake at work.  Interesting to seem it take on such a sinister note, though.  In my mind, they'd been more thrilled to see another with the potential to join their exclusive and painfully lonely caste.  We've only just had the first chapter, and I'm already tense and eager for a resolution.  Between the cover image, the teaser blurb, and the staff's reaction (the doctor seemed downright ashamed to have to call in a Code Majeste) I imagine things are going to get tense.  I can't wait to see this side of the Royal Pony Sisters.  Are they acting fearfully?  Out of jealousy for the exclusivity of their role and station?  Is there some dreadful side affect in store for a newfoal alicorn that would make her new life unbearable?  Do I have to sound like the announcer at the end of a Saturday morning cartoon?  All these answers and more.....oh, just write the darn thing.  Now I'm all anxious and such.  So much happy anticipation

Believe it or not, we have actually discussed Alicorns through comversion many a time before in the earlier days oc TCB. Of course everyone discussing the matter either didnt want to, lacked the skill or was busy with their own fics already.

You seem to be on the right track for making this most delicate of situations work. Godspeed Chatoyance, Godspeed and good luck. Its a tricky subject but if anyone can do it, its you. Or maybe Midnight. Idunnolol.

Can I has more?

YES! You're back! Oh, how I love these stories! GO GO GO!

MORE!!!

Don't think I ever said that about a fic, probably because I had an idea like this once. (Though not with this type of reception) Made for a damn effective cliffhanger though. That cliffhanger was just cruel!

Hope to see an update, great story!

Wow, easily tracked.

So once this gets out to the general pony public...  Is the HLF going to be in this story and actually do something intelligent for once?

By the way, could you please update your ponyhchan link in your stories?

Oh, good grief.......Lillian's life just got turned into a crap sandwich. Given her odd color scheme, I have a bad feeling that I know what's to become of her.........

I feel a sad yet epic story coming up. . Tracking now

I was afraid you'd do this.

Knowing what I know of  your writing, which happens to extend to only your Conversion Bureau work except, for some reason, Teacup, knowing that you seem fairly aware of the fandom (for better or worse) and that you are not afraid of touching on dark or sometimes cynical topics, and sometimes in a cynical way. Your stories never promise happy endings, and most often they do not promise happy rising actions or climaxes or even happy denouements.

In a way, though, that's kind of why I prefer  you over a lot of other authors. The Conversion Bureau universe for the most part promises and implies cynicism and depression, and yes, in a lot of the stories, that's evident; but even so in a lot of the stories I've read some authors tend to gloss over it, or super-idealize it. You do neither. Your world does not promise happy endings for those that do not work for them.

So when I say I'm afraid... well, I'm afraid for Lillian. I'm afraid of what she's going to have to go through to get to the end of this story, and I'm honestly afraid for everyone, and everypony, else too.

And yet I'm looking forward to it, too.

... There's also the fact that she looks kind of like Ditzy Doo and that kind of automatically invokes pity.

I too am looking forward to more. Glad to see you writing again. Now to go look at the other oneshots you put up that I didn't notice before this.

Argh. I'm looking at this with trepidation and excitement. To be honest, I don't know whether I want to read it. I'll give it two more chapters.

Golly! I can't wait to see what kind of zany conundrums she's going to get herself into! ten dollars says she's visited by a shadowy and mysterious guardian who informs her that she is, in fact, the CHOSEN ONE, who's destiny  is to overthrow the DREAD TYRANT CELESTIA as foretold by the prophecies.

(noses through the comments so far)

Wow - seems like quite the hot-button subject and I'm fascinated by the fact that Chatoyance's writing is powerful enough that there is some serious trepidation to even reading the story simply because of the subject at hoof.

We collectively need to remember always that the goal of art, and writing is art, is to make the viewer feel something - to invoke an emotional response - and not all emotional responses are happy ones.

Also, this is an alternate universe. This is not storybook Equestria. Things seem to be very grim and sharply defined here, and it is precisely this setting which allows Chatoyance to ask the hard questions of humanity; to hold a mirror before them and let them see themselves from another's perspective.

The reflection we see might be disquieting and maybe even make us upset - but I guarantee it will make us think.

And I'm pretty sure that's the goal. :D

>>121747121747

If Windfeather is anything to go by, the prophecies probably need updating

Pretty much anything I had to say has already been covered by everyone else here.  I'm excited and worried at the same time with a side order of squee.  

Also I’ve found it kind of odd that no one has taken the Alicorn conversion rout before, the rocky road of sue-ship that it sets out to be.   Yet I do not fret over this, as you’re quite possibly the one author that could pull this off.

Trepidations and anticipation abounds.

You got me curious...

*track*

*squeek*

YAY!  More from she who has the unicorn jelly cutiemark!

Well my friends keep telling me I'm easily impressed...

Well screw them I'm tracking this till doomsday!

Good luck to us both

Yeah, considering your track record this read as exactly as I figured it would. And from the summary and dream sequence Celestia and Luna are going to take even further huge departures in character than what you've done already; and from the sounds of it you might as well dress them both up as Snidely Whiplash and have them stomp on a few Human babies for the hell of it.

I know this is supposed to be an AU of an AU but for cripes sake.

When I saw it was going to be a newfoal Alicorn story I got excited as hell. Then I saw the summary and read the first chapter...

Edit: Edited to be less douchy.

New Chatoyance CB story?  Check.  Awesome concept with potential for awesome story?  Check.  Fillies and Gentlecolts, keep your hooves and legs inside the fanfic at all times and sit back and enjoy the ride!

This is gonna prove interesting....

Somebody move over, I want a seat. *grabs popcorn*

hmm... it seems the shiola has hit the overhead spinner... well time to hid behind umbrellas and watch the chaos *drinks the glass from around the chocolate milk*

Alicorn OC's are a massive pet peeve of mine, but you have previously proven that you are capable of turning potential Mary Sues into likable-but-not-too-likable characters rather than thinly veiled forms of wish fulfillment, so for now good sir, I give you the benefit of the doubt.

P.S. please either update only during the weekends or release short chapters, the taste of grass seriously cut into my schedules. Yes, it was THAT good!

p.p.s. How is your spouse doing with the whole regenerate-a-sarcophagus problem? I hope your spouse is doing well.

>>122250122250

>p.p.s. How is your spouse doing with the whole regenerate-a-sarcophagus problem?

so....her spouse is a vampire of some sort? maybe a lich?

I am a bit worried about how you're going to characterize Celestia and Luna. They may be Princesses, but they're also very much Ponies as well. I'm not opposed to doing a cannon character with a different personality than what's in (and implied in) the show, as long as it's done well. (Ex: Transcendence is a good example. However you characterize the Princesses, if you do badly everyone is gonna complain about it and that's not fun.

I can't be the only one who finds the picture for this story to be a bit silly. Celestia looks ridiculous.

hmm interesting the princess are afraid of humans that become Alicorns, hmm I wonder how many of the billions of humans that became ponies became alicorns?

>>122180122180

*Offers the wolf a seat next to her and passes the popcorn bucket.

You, mam, are a beast.

Lovely Chapter and MOAR PER I SAY. MOAR!

Damn man. I've had some bad days but boy howdy this one takes the cake. I mean even Joker, who had a really bad day would be like,

"You win, your day was waaaaay worse than mine."

And not safe anywhere? I'm curious where this is going, but I'm thinking this is going to end in one way. Put 'er down like a dog :(

Man, this keeps getting better and better. Keep it up

GLORIOUS!  

As always, masterfully executed.  I wait with baited breath for chapter 3.

>>122955122955

Glass half full: We may find that the powers of the immortals are, indeed, limitless - and we are dealing with a world where emergent universes are not only real, they're a major plot-point.

Perhaps young Lillian here might end up in one of her very own - safe from the forces that will undoubtedly hunt for her to the ends of the universe; either one.

Whatever the case, this is as always very well written and I patiently await the next installment.

Okay, we've established that she's in trouble and that Celestia is DEFINITELY not on her side.

We also know that she has a means to avoid her detection.

What now? Does she seek help from friends? Does she receive aid from an unlikely source?

How is she going learn more about what's going on and, in turn, enlighten the audience?

The only person I know of to get her own alicorn generally accepted by the fandom is Faust.  But Code Majeste is special because the alicorn aspect of the character is part of the conflict, if not its heart, and is just getting the character into more trouble.

An offhand thought on Original Characters:  OCs that claim the attention of your pony waifus become disliked, while those that might become waifus themselves are more accepted.  (Think Velvet or Echo Fleetfoot.)

-Verreaux

Questions, questions, questions.  Where did the  Equestrian Horn Ring come from, why would it be there, how would Olivia know about it, or how it worked?

What are the details and protocols of Code Mageste?  Nothing good, obviously, but I have one of those minds that wants to know, just because.  How many alicorns there have been or would be is not as important, it would seem, as how many were/are allowed to SURVIVE after their change......Ominous.

Okay, now that that's out of my system:  

So happy to see Chatoyance back at her stories!!!  I have a feeling I know where things might be going, but the journey is an adventure, and twists are well within our beloved authoress's venue.  I can feel Chapter 3 on the horizon, and with heated anticipation I await the notice for it's posting.  

Great......you'd think that Celestia would simply remove the offending horn and let the poor mare live in peace. Nope. She's got to treat her like so much Windfeather.

>>123449123449

"Instead, I think, you may find...."

You might want to try being a little less up-front about these kinds of details. Especially the last part. Think about how your average reader might react to knowing what kind of ending the story they're reading is going to have. Details or not, now I know what to expect. I haven't made an account here, but if you can edit or delete your comments, I would definitely recommend you get rid of what's basically a massive spoiler for the entire story please.

>>121542121542

Yeah, alicorns have been discussed, but they are very hard to do right. In standard fanfic, they have a very, very high chance of being a Sue. In CB fics they have a very, very high chance of being self-insert Sue.

As massively egotistical as it may sound, I trust Chatoyance to do an alicorn right - I know how I could end it, but I'm not sure I want to discuss it because I don't want to influence the story. For me, though (and I will say this), there is only two ways I could realistically end it - godhood or oblivion. My versions of Luna and Celestia aren't quite the same eternal beings as Chatoyance's are. Mine have godlike powers, and possibly created many things, and are quite possibly avatars, but aren't all-powerful or all-knowing, not even in their own realm. I prefer my gods more... human. I can't write an omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient creator reliably because everything that needed resolution would be resolved in very short order, and theodicy in such a situation is untenable without a god which has other priorities than molly-coddling.

Oh boy is this going to be a roller-coaster...

>>123414123414

The magic-inhibitor macguffin is relatively common, and the only real way to inhibit a unicorn is via the horn since that is often taken as the seat of their powers, or at least some focal point.

Using it is simple - it's an enchanted object, not a binding spell. The latter would require a ceremony and probably multiple casters. The former, the inhibitor ring, does its job by mere proximity. Presumably, with it on, others may not even see her horn (depending on whether it's supposed to be part of a camoflage set) or at the very least it will inhibit her magic and, at the cost of making spells impossible, also hide her as a winged unicorn from the baleful glare of the sun tyrant.

>>123465123465

Done. I hope I yet surprise you, though. I will try.

>>123498123498

I'm refusing to let myself comment on possibles - I know I'll be surprised.

"As bad as things are now they can ALWAYS get worse." - Me

Hm.  For some reason, Chatoyance's reply appeared on her story list, but not here.  Regardless...

Jennifer, I trust you to tell a story.  In fact, I find myself eagerly awaiting each new chapter you write, even now.  I was actually pointing out that you successfully side-stepped the potential Mary-Sue aspect of the alicorn by turning it into a problem and not a solution.  So long as being an alicorn is not the solution to Lillian's problems, this should continue to be true.  I doubt the Celestia you show in this story will fit in with my own views of her, but that's okay.  Stormfall taught me to enjoy the story for what it is and not worry about everything being "correct".  The one thing that does worry me is the suggestion that you'll go into another funk and possibly stop writing again.  Damnit, woman, I don't want another repeat of what happened after Takozushi!  I waited two years for you to start writing again!  And as I told you before, Takozushi doesn't count!

Ahem.

That said.  Please, keep writing this.  For me, if for no one else.

-Dave/Verreaux

You know, it’s weird how the most interesting details are often the most easily overlooked... like bruising.

Dear Chatoyance,

Please write some more.

Sincerely,

Da Bunnana King

One scene is almost never enough to get a good idea of a character; one short scene, even less so. So I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt here and withhold judgment on Celestia. If she is, however, treating the situation as seems to be implied, well...

You've probably heard this already. I'm probably not stating something new. And maybe I'm not being fair; after all, that you've put a great deal of thought into this, I don't doubt. But alicorn newfoal or not, I just don't see Celestia to be the type to automatically condemn. Maybe this is too much of my headcanon speaking; it wouldn't be the first time I've made that mistake. Celestia, though, to me, has always come across, first and foremost, as merciful.

This Celestia is not merciful. At least not from what has been shown, and what has been shown isn't much.

Like I said, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and no matter what, well, this is Celestia in circumstances you've dictated and therefore somewhere, somehow, and some way, it's all justified... but the idea of Celestia as an unyielding tyrant is not one I entertain, and for all intents and purposes, that's all we've seen so far.

Wishing you luck, and awaiting more.

(chuckles) Celestia's PR department is truly top-shelf.

Ponder a moment, if you will, the state of being one of the immortals - ageless, perhaps inconceivably powerful, and yet still possessed of the most pony of emotions: Love, fear, elation, and yes, anger. Knowing that your 'heart' makes you just as fallible as the mortal ponies, but with consequences immeasurably more dire for a misstep.

Imagine having to wonder "what if", for eternity - to question every outcome and wonder if you could have done better; have every doubt gnaw away at you forever. To understand with perfect clarity that every decision you make in the here and now will have repercussions that go on beyond anyone who would ever remember - save you.

Decisions that will impact lives generations distant, and only you can stand as judge to your actions.

Imagine having seen conflicts that would grey the colors from a mortal pony. To stand as the final answer in all things and having to ensure, at any cost, the continued existence of your people. To have - from necessity - had to perform perceptually 'evil' acts for the greater good, because the universe is neither fair nor black and white.

To live as a symbol of good, but forever with one wing dipped in blood.

Imagine seeing, truly seeing, that the world you so dearly love is nothing more than a stage and you are the only one sitting in the audience.

Celestia would, in all actuality, be so far beyond pony comprehension that any term, even 'merciful', may not actually apply.

I agree with Lysanderas Celestia has always come off as more of a benevolent merciful ruler, kinda hard to imagine her doing this even if Lilian is a threat. In this story Celestia comes off as a Benevolent Tyrant, sort of like the Patrician, Lord Vetrinari from Discworld. She wants what's best for her little ponies as a whole and is willing to deal with serious threats, without hesitation.

There's one other thing besides Celestia's portrayal in this story that bothers me. (I've decided this Celestia and this story takes place in a parallel Conversion verse. )  

The  thing I'm wondering is why The Bureau had those rings that can Mask a Unicorn/Alicorns presence in the first place. It seems a bit odd they'd keep that kind of thing in a Conversion Bureau. Unless a Newfoal Unicorn had a reason to hide from some pony or Celestia's authorities operate out of these bureaus and use them to stay undercover some how. I dunno the ring just seems a really convenient plot device that says "bitch I don't need to explain nuthin" of course without the ring Chatoyance would have to give Celestia and Luna limits on their powers.

Also on a less serious story related note, I for some reason or other, want this story to end with the lines "You would fight this war alone?" "No not alone" Cues the appearance of more Alicorns

More imagine they are to place on Newfoal Unicorns who loose control of their magic early on. You can't have some newbie unicorn atomizing sections of the Bureau randomly. Thus, for those that react poorly, or loose control, Bang... Inhibitor Ring.

I really do want to see how this goes. All of the Code Majeste precautions may just be to prevent the fledgling Alicorn from annihilating a city block, not as prelude to assassination. Though Chatoyance's Celestia is definitely all-powerful, and probably largely all-knowing too, she isn't overly benevolent. I'm still not absolutely sold that she's about to kill off the usurper, more that her displeasure is at having to deal with the matter personally.

Maybe, maybe not... we'll see.

Chatoyance's Celestia strikes me as hard, godlike creature trying to craft a world and a people who are...  better... than she is.

Question of the day:  What does Celestia's reaction to Lillian say about her relationship with Luna?

>>124391124391

Ooh! You have just clarified how I see Celestia for me! Brill, Verreaux!

I reason thus: Celestia and Luna lived during the reign of Discord. Life cannot have been easy or nice, and the very world must have been chaos general, well, discord. We've seen the grump grayness of ponies under his rule, and I cannot imagine either of the pony sisters having a kind, friendly relationship... with pretty much anything or anypony in their world at that time.

They must have known meanness as a way of life, back then, and only some wish for better would have driven them to fight Discord to free themselves and their people. It must have been very rough following that victory, with the harsh CANTERLOT VOICE needed to keep order and ensure their survival. And I think it explains Luna and her banishment; everypony would still be at each other's throats to some degree - one does not get over growing up under the reign of Discord overnight. Or even in one generation.

"You're still as grim as ever, Celestia." Discord may have been very honest here. Celestia would have to be grim, serious, and determined to save her people and create the Equestria we see today. She would have to be capable of being harsh, severe, and even iron-hoofed as needed to shape an entire civilization, and bring it back from literal chaos.

I have always felt that the slight, sad look in her eye, the way she is presented in the show reflects a tortured soul; she may be sweetness and light now, but I think a thousand years ago she was very different, because she had to be. And that part of her is still available, and we see brief glimpses of it, such as in Lesson Zero, where I personally feel Twilight was thirty minutes from becoming a garden ornament, if not for the pleading of her friends. Try watching Celestia in that episode with all of this in mind, and you will see where I am coming from with my depiction of princess Celestia.

I exactly think Celestia wants to create a world, and a people, better than she and her sister are. They have had to do things, be things, live through things that may not allow them to actually be as sweet as they try so hard to appear. I think that is their personal tragedy; they must forever look from outside at the happy ponies and happy world they have made while never being able to truly, completely be a part of it. They've seen too much. They've had to do things no pony should ever have to do.

Because they had to.

Man, I just want to reach into the screen and give her a hug. Excellent work Chatoyance, you made me poke my screen trying

Ahh, self discovery is always hard.

I like young Lillian here; smart and resourceful. I do hope the best for her as we continue on.

Oh my god, the Dressclub, my bastard child.

WHY?!

Awesome chapter though.

Noooo!

>>124881124881

Your Dressclub is a rational extrapolation of the given scenario, in my opinion, and that makes it good speculative fiction. Science Fiction in a nutshell; take a change to the world and extrapolate the rational, logical implications.

It is my opinion that some of your inventions are more intelligent, clever and reasonable that you yourself perceive them to be. I cannot ignore them.

Your speed is incredible. Two chapters in one day? Jeez.

Thanks for the update! Really wish I could make these comments longer, or have something to critique on. You got an excellent story going for you, personally I think it's better than The Taste of Grass. (at least on the exciting aspect, I was hanging on every word)

>>124935124935

>Dressclubs

>Rational extraploration

>Rational

>RATIONAL

I think my brain has some what imploded.

>>124987124987

Consider, Krass - they did the same notion with the Ferengi on the various Star Trek franchises; the Ferengi have a strongly patriarchal society where women are diminished by being forced to remain naked at all times, trapped in their homes. Culturally, clothed women are forbidden, therefore exotic, and ultimately erotic; many episodes dealt with Ferengi males being excited at Federation females wearing clothes, others considered this perversion.

Equestrians do not need clothing; they have a coat of hair covering their bodies as well as great amounts of mane and tail. Their native environment is essentially climate controlled; they know what the weather will be because it is manufactured to spec. The only times we see ponies wearing clothing is for show, for display, on special occasions, or during winter -scarves and the like. Beyond saddlebags and the occasional hat, ponies are nudists because that is only rational for them.

What is rare is exotic, and what is exotic is often exciting, and the exciting easily becomes the erotic. Humans dress to accentuate or enhance their sexuality, reasonably, so would ponies. Clothing is decoration as much as it is protection; for a species already cloaked in a coat of hair, clothing would become almost exclusively decoration.

Decoration is for beauty, and the primary value of increasing individual beauty is to attract others, especially potential mates, thus the most rational outcome would be that clothing would be erotic to Equestrians, even more so than it already is to humans.

Since being naked is the norm, and being clothed the exception, it is totally rational that the exception, being the more exotic and exciting, should also be the more erotic. This your Dressclubs make absolute rational sense.

That is my reasoning.

>>125084125084

1. Star Trek is a work of fiction.

2. As we have seen in recent episodes, the denizens of Canterlot wear clothes all the time.

3. Since when did you become a psychologist?

4. ????

5. PROFIT!!!

Wait.  

Dress Clubs...  Socks...  Maid outfits...

Stupid sexy ponies.

>>125227125227

Challenge Accepted!  

1. Star Trek is a work of fiction.

Written by professional writers that make use of their education which involves the history of storytelling as an artform as well as a general study of human psychology as well as many other subjects relevant to the profession of writing.

2. As we have seen in recent episodes, the denizens of Canterlot wear clothes all the time.

They are the elite, wearing fancy, sexy fashions in order to demonstrate their wealthy status just as the elite of our world do, and did, throughout history. Clothing has always been a decorative badge of status; consider the toga of ancient Rome.

3. Since when did you become a psychologist?

Since my two doctorates were awarded. Only one is in psychology and human sexuality, but it is enough. (Not really. Or is it?)

4. ????

!!!!! ! !!! !!!! !!!! !

5. PROFIT!!!

LOSS!!!

Hmm, going by some things in Lillian's description(especially if the title photo is consistent with the story itself)I may have an idea where this fic may end up, but I don't want to say anything in case I'm right(or wrong)...  

Also, "In Equestria, the equivalent of a strip-club involved the putting on of clothing, not its removal."   This...brings up...implications, when it comes to ponies like Rarity's parents, especially her mother.  No wonder she finds them embarassing.  

I see this Celestia as being a similar character to Baron Wulfenbach from Girl Genius (great great great webcomic. Go read it. No really, go, I'll wait), and her situation with Lillian is a lot like the situation the new Heterodyne puts the Baron in.

Baron Wulfenbach is a benevolent tyrant (despite what his rivals may tell you), who cobbled together a tenuous peace among the constantly warring Sparks, through complete and total military domination. For the first time in centuries, the only wars are small uprisings. Suddenly, there appears on the global stage a new Heterodyne, a powerful Spark and the heiress to a beloved and feared line of rulers. The many friends of her father and uncle will of course flock to her as a rival to the Baron. Her very existence threatens the peace that the Baron has worked so hard to maintain. He has no choice but to do everything he can to prevent her from coming to power, even though she has not done anything wrong.

m i the only one who see's a simple solution? send her out to another planet or dimension. also i seriously doubt the element bearers would hurt her themselves, not even under orders from celestia.

lastly ive been curious as to what could cause a human undergoing ponification to become an alicorn and i have a few possible reasons.

(1) there is a condition where different dna is present in one body. this is known as chimaeraism(not sure i spelled right) and if ponification serum turns you into one of 3 due to dna code..... multiple dna could cause it to turn you alicorn.

(2) dammit HLF WHAT THE FUCK YOU PUT IN THERE?

(3) dammit GOVERNMENT WHAT THE FUCK YOU PUT IN THERE?

>>125629125629

The events of The Taste of Grass imply that each conversion creates a new pony soul, which then enters the cycle of universal rebirth. If you assume that Celestia and Luna are natural features of the universe that they come from, you must conclude that some pony souls are also goddess souls. My theory is that every new soul created has a small non-zero chance of coming out as a goddess soul.

I agree with Tychomonger now I've had time to ponder about this story some more. Celestia does come off quite a bit like The Baron (Girl Genius is one of my fave comics btw).

I'm wondering a bit about PER, and what they would do to Lillian, she's like them a former Human now a Pony/Equestrian, she doesn't seem to have the same sort of feelings other Newfoals in your work's have. i.e. that sort of happy, high, euphoria but it's obvious why she isn't feeling that way, with Celestia trying to hunt her down and all. Would PER see her positively or negatively, they're already rebels, forcibly converting people against Celestia's wishes and discovering Celestia trying to kill one of their own turned Pony could have some very interesting potential in your story. Possibly turning PER hostile against Equestrian authorities as they protect Lillian.

Also Celestia's actions against Lillian if discovered by HLF could have the potential to ignite a whole new movement of hate and intolerance against Equestrians. Consider how the HLF could spin this, pointing out if you're too powerful Celestia herself will casually snuff you out without a second thought. And they have living proof Lillian being actively hunted by Celestia would be a major PR victory for HLF. So Celestia will have to tread carefully when hunting down Lillian, or risk alienating the rest of Humanity and potentially causing the deaths or capture of her subjects on Earth.

Also I'm wondering how Luna would react, granted in the dream she and Celestia seemed to have a unified front against Lillian but we don't see Luna trying to actively hunt down and kill Lillian like Celestia. Granted I know she's the younger of the two, but she was willing to fight and kill her own sister and bring about the eternal night when she was Nightmare Moon, and I imagine she was willing to fight against Celestia before she was Queen Moon. In Short Luna's no pushover. So I can even imagine Luna trying to protect Lillian or find some sort of compromise short of fighting her sister again.

And then what if the Elements of Harmony find out about Celestia trying to kill a Newfoal? We see the Elements overseeing Conversion's but would they be so willing, knowing that if the Newfoal is too powerful or an Alicorn, Celestia will personally hunt them down if they escape. I can't imagine Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy or Rainbow Dash willing to serve under a ruler who has no qualms about killing Newfoals simply because they MIGHT! be a threat. And the rest of the Elements probably wouldn't want to keep serving under Celestia either, and should the Elements of Harmony themselves find Celestia's action appalling what sort of message does that send back in Equestria. Celestia as an unfit ruler has potential to spark unrest and possibly Civil war, and who would make a better ruler? Well to the billions of Newfoals Lillian would seem an ideal choice, she's an Alicorn, a former human and represents all their hopes of Equestria.

Also their are the governments of the world to consider, they are in what I see an uneasy alliance with Equestria forced to compromise and deal with a God. With Lillian they could hold more sway and power, force entry into Equestria and thus hold the threat of Atomic war against a fairly primitive culture, technologically. Whose to say the Government wouldn't try to nuke the sisters and see if that would kill them. I mention using Lillian to gain access to Equestria because as mentioned in another Conversion Bureau Story, Celestia allowed certain probes access to Equestria and has since kept out all non-equestrian elements, excluding Newfoals of course.

And these are all just the obvious threats and worries to Celestia, their are also political entities back in Equestria that would likely love to rally around a New Alicorn and remove Celestia and Luna from the Throne. In theory, they'd have a single Alicorn that could with time take over the Day/Night cycle, thus eliminating the need for the Alicorn sisters.

I imagine there are other factions on both Equestria and Earth that you have yet to reveal to us, that would use Lillian. Background forces, illuminati style factions who if they had Lillian would likely seek to make more, since you said your conversion verse is as all-inclusive as possible, cloning is a viable and frightening reality that could see an army of Alicorns set loose against the Alicorn sisters.

Also I realized Lillian reminds me of one of your characters from 27 Ounces, the Newfoal Carmine who had a bit of a mental break due to being able to feel guilt over her heinous actions as a Human.

Both Characters had negative reactions to being Ponified, Lillian must now run and hide from Celestia in order to survive whilst Carmine shuns the greater Pony society for reasons of seeking to be worthy of Equestria. I could totally see these two characters meeting and possibly getting along, since both have nothing and both are in their own way, running from Equestria/Celestia. Of course I'm not exactly sure if they've been ponified around the same time as each other, but I think it's relatively close, according to my rough estimates from reading the time of the setting of 27 Ounces and Code Majeste they seem to happen rather close to one another.

I know you don't normally do tie in stories, they only character I can recall as being in more than one of your fics in person or merely mentioned is Doctor Pastern. And the sequel story Taste of Grass had Alexi and some of the other Newfoals in Summerland village. But I can see plenty of potential interactions between Carmine and Lillian, you did do the sequel A taste of Grass after all, so seeing Carmine again would be really neat.

>>125689125689

TL;DR dude

>>124757124757

Missed this earlier. Very plausible fannon, makes for a deep Tyrantlestia. I like it! Still technically doesn't match up since it's out of line for the tone of the show, and Faust did say that Luna became Nightmare Moon mainly because something made her that way. Also, I really disagree with you on Lesson Zero. I think this is an easy misinterpretation that I've seem a few times. Twilight may have caused chaos, but it's on the same level as Spike destroying half the town: Bad thing to do, but not a, uh, very bad crime. (I don't know the correct terminology, sorry.) Those kinds of disasters (apparently) get fixed fairly quickly. Anyways, when Twilight is talking with Princess Celestia, even though Celestia is doing the whole parental talking to thingy, she still says that Twilight is a wonderful student. Then when the friends come in, INSTANT PRINCESS POKER FACE. She goes from Mentor to Princess instantly (like a boss.) If Twilight's friends hadn't intervened, then Twilight would have gotten a learn-not-to-do-this-again talk, and then punishment on the same level with whatever Spike probably got for his destructive (but mostly harmless) greed-ramapage. (Community service, anyone?)Twilight didn't permanently mess with anyone's mind, she just influenced ponies. Nopony is shown as being injured at all, and there's no property damage either. Just because Twilight can use very powerful mind-magic doesn't mean she should be punished for what she could have done. If a skilled martial artist accidentally injured someone, you wouldn't execute him because he did a small crime and therefore might kill people. Anyone is technically capable of doing horrible crimes whether they have weapons or not. Therefore I don't see almost any Celestia, fannon or not, turning Twilight to stone for her want-it need-it spell.

Heh. Does this count as a lecture?

>>124867124867

I really want to give her a hug too...

>>125689125689

Great thoughts and observations! When this is over it will be quite interesting to look back on all of the comments here and see how readers perceived the story as it progressed.

I love how TCB stories, especially Chatoyance's, really get the community thinking and questioning the events, characters, and situations.

This is grand!

To be honest, I really don't like this all that much, just because of the interpretation of Celestia. The only thing that lets me want to keep reading is Tychomonger's comparison of Celestia to Baron Wulfenbach. Let's say two more chapters, then I'll comment again on what I think so far. This isn't a slight on your ability or imagination, it's just that tyrant!Celestia shouldn't exist in my mind.

>>126082126082

If I say anything concrete, I will spoil everything. Just accept that my characters always have reasons and that there are no true villains in my works; every antagonist believes they are doing what is right, and they have good reasons for their actions which can be supported from a certain point of view.

Celestia is not a cruel or evil tyrant in my universe - far from it. But she is a ruler, with all that implies, yet she cares absolutely about her universe and all life-kind.

>>126650126650

Alright. I suppose I shouldn't be judging this before it's done anyways.

>>126082126082

Good on you for giving the story more chance. :)

I just re-read everything and, with one small exception at the end the second chapter, all of Celestia's actions have been shown through the eyes of Lillian. So, really, we have no idea what Celestia's intentions are and we could simply be projecting Lillian's fears of Celestia onto her.

During the dream, their expressions are 'indecipherable' and we don't really know it was Celestia and Luna doing anything, or if they were what it was - the crushing sensation might have been the very fabric of Equestria for all we know.

The PA getting pulled back into the room: again, we don't know what happened. That might have been Celestia trying to protect her from potential harm if Lillian's untrained powers should decide to vaporize the building.

Celestia using the term 'usurper' is a bit pointed, but again we really don't know what's going on.

The devious little plot-twisting voice in my head is going positively bonkers with the directions this could still go. She keeps pointing at the Luna icon on the story and whispering "We ain't seen nothin' yet.". :D

>>126689126689

I foresee eight different ways this can end off the top of my head.

1. Lillian gets killed

2. Lillian gets altered to be one of the standard varieties of pony

3. Lillian gets exiled to somewhere else (where I don't know)

4. Lillian becomes the third ruler of Equestria

5. Lillian gets to live in Equestria as a normal pony

6. Lillian is on the run until she dies

7. Celestia and/or Luna dies

8. All the alicorns die

MORE FUEL FOR THE VOICES IN YOUR HEAD

>>126742126742

We can rule out 4, 7, and 8 based on other stories Chatoyance has written.

>>126762126762

If it's The Taste of Grass, then I wouldn't know. I didn't finish that. Otherwise, this could be later chronologically than all her other stories. It's not exactly stated.

I think Tychomonger and Tonto the Trotter have clarified why Celestia, regardless of how benevolent she truly is, can not allow another alicorn.  Especially a former human.  The best of the newfoals would rally to Lillian as their own goddess.  The worst would control and use Lillian as a tool to dispose Celestia and Luna and turn Equestria into New Earth.  Additional factors:  Newfoals will likely outnumber native Equestrians, and the existence of the P.E.R. shows that the government can create newfoals that retain the killer ape mentality.  The Plutocrats still control Earth and will conquer Equestria with modifed newfoals.  What Celestia and Lillian want doesn't even enter into this.

So what's left is to see how Celestia and Lillian choose to do about this.

>>126765126765

Teacup, Down of the Farm takes some years after Purification, and this one is clearly before Purification. In Teacup's story, Celestia and Luna are still rulers of the land.

>>126787126787

>>126742126742

Haha! Thank you. :)

Being as this is a 'shared universe' I'm certain Chatoyance will have to avoid flipping over too many tables and/or killing anyone who isn't 'hers'.

I don't want to go into any specifics out of courtesy, but the web that can be woven with the events we have seen so far is really quite immense.

I believe if Lillian is ever caught by Celestia, there will be a new garden statue at Canterlot Castle.

Another alicorn goddess is threat to security of Equestria. The life of an immortal is a very long one. From Celestia's experience, she knows that even the bonds of family, of shared experiences was not strong enough to prevent civil war. Now faced with a stranger, a human turned alicorn... who will probably feel more kinship with the newfoal.... for peace sake... this new goddess must be made into a block of stone.

Sadly in Celestia hunting Lillian to stop a war between two alicorns, she may just start one. This is a case of a self-fulfilling prophecy, as Lillian will have no choice but to fight Celestia and there will be ponies that will flock to Lillian's banner.

Luna could have attempted to broker a peace between the two allicorn, but it appears she is on the side of her sister.

I am surprised that the world government was not actively experimenting to produce an allicorn (Probably they were). Poor Lillian, hunted by everyone.

If only she can find the power to rip her own dimensional plane and build her own kingdom. Only then can she be safe.

>>126828126828

Thanks for the reminder. I'd forgotten about that.

aww, glad somepony showed her some kindness, even if it's because they don't know what she really is.

Keep em coming Chatoyance

Awww.

That cat...  It has large significance to me.

*Chatoyance Wrote:*

"she saw in that royal continence everything she had ever wanted"

I think you meant "countenance," but that looks like a spellchecker error to me.

"countenance:" Face, appearance

"continence:" the ability to control one's bladder and/or bowels

"continents:" Large land masses

Okay, there's some happy... how badly is it going to get smooshed next chapter?

I'm calling it: The cat's Luna.